Head Down Brick Lane On A Saturday And You’ll See Vintage Wingbacks With Cracked Leather. They’ve Aged In Public But That’s Their Story

Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it was part of us. When the East End was full of voices, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. Chairs lived longer than flats. It’s in the weight of the wood. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but as soon as I sat down it felt right.

Friends always fight to sit in it. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Belgravia keeps it polished, http://corporate.elicitthoughts.com/index.php?title=User:TwilaJeffrey81 with deep sofas. Brixton thrives on colour, contemporary leather armchair with mismatched sofas. Every corner tells a different story. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Accent chairs from another era get better with years. Every stain has a story. When it comes down to it, an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss. Furniture should live with you. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, stop and think of the markets.

Choose a funky accent chair, and watch it age alongside you.