Mayfair Dealer’s Tale: The Truth About Vintage Armchairs

Furniture has been my bread and butter since the fifties. Amongst the squares and crescents, people don’t buy just to sit. Couples step through the door, couch and accent chairs and they’re all searching for the same thing. A velvet seat with history, accent chairs for living room carries the room. I sent a set of accent chairs to a Grosvenor Square apartment, and ten years on it looked better than ever. This is why old beats new. They flick through glossy catalogues, but they find themselves in Mayfair again.

Fabric frays fast, whereas vintage lasts. Taste splits by borough. St John’s Wood desires quiet luxury, space-saving seating options with mahogany accent pieces. Camden stays chaotic, with colourful sofas. That’s the mix. I’ve learnt over years, customers never forget the chair that mattered. Modern factory pieces can’t compete. I still check the stitching for strength, and the difference is clear. Retro has power. If you’re thinking quick buy, step back. Choose a funky accent chair, and see how it shapes your home.