You can live without a huge house. You’ll never miss all your lead crystal glasses, silverware and the gilt-edged ‘good’ china. But no home can function without the essential kit. Try these:

• Saucepans and pots with thick bottoms and riveted handles that don’t get hot.
• A classic clock that will keep ticking when when there is a blackout.  
• Soft, fluffy towels: thin or thick, big or small.  
• A soulmate sofa
• A cup and saucer, to remind you that some standards are worth upholding 
• A tray that will last, in timber, rattan, wicker or quality metal.  
• Great glasses, neither too thick nor too thin.
• Quality dinner plates with looks that will last 
• A comfy bed, less than ten years old, with sheets made of cotton or linen 
• Feather pillows that always make you feel better.
• Great knives 
• Cutlery that is a pleasure to hold 
• Bowls, big and small 
• Good wooden spoons 
• A mohair rug 
• An ironing board that glides open 
• A good pair of scissors: the sort your mother used to have.  

A few others things you to live well include: A tape measure: surprisingly handy, a salad bowl and salad servers (not plastic); a wooden chopping board: thick, beautiful and made from a single block (no glue strips); a grater that works and doesn’t slide around or mash your knuckles, a decent dustpan and broom and garden secateurs; don’t wreck your knives or scissors.