Walk Through Portobello Market And You’ll Stumble On Sofas With Decades Of Life. They’ve Got Stains And Creaks But That’s The Point

Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. We had an old floral sofa that was patched and sagging. It weren’t showroom-perfect, but it was part of us. When London was swinging, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. Families saved for months to buy one piece. It’s in the weight of the wood. I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham. It weren’t pretty at first glance, but I knew straight away it had something.

It’s outlasted three flats and two relationships. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Mayfair goes glossy, with grand accent chairs. Shoreditch stays messy, with funky retro chairs. London wouldn’t be London without the variety. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Old-school sofas grow with you. They’re not perfect, but neither are we. Here’s the thing, I’ll pick a vintage sofa over new every time. A sofa should tell your story.

So next time you’re tempted by something new, designer armchairs go dig through a car boot. Save a battered seat, and unique armchair let it shout London every time you sit.