Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it told a story. When London was swinging, furniture meant something. Families saved for months to buy one piece. You can feel it when you sit down. 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 become part of my story. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Chelsea leans plush, with buttoned wingbacks. Shoreditch stays messy, traditional armchairs with industrial armchairs. Every corner tells a different story. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Old-school sofas last decades. Every stain has a story. Truth be told, an old funky accent settee chair means more than new gloss. A chair should hold your nights. If you’re scrolling catalogue sites, wander a street full of second-hand shops.

Take home something with scars, and make it part of your story.