Take A Stroll In Spitalfields And You’ll Spot Sofas With Decades Of Life. They Ain’t Showroom Clean But That’s What Gives Them Life
From Markets to Mansions: London’s Love for Vintage Sofas and Armchairs I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. It sagged in the middle and accent chairs antique smelled faintly of tea, but it had heart. When London was swinging, people kept things for decades. You’d go second-hand instead of brand new. That history clings to vintage pieces. I dragged a velvet armchair home from Camden. It weren’t pretty at first glance, but as soon as I sat down it felt right.
That chair still sits in my flat. Every borough in London has its own taste. Kensington loves velvet, with grand stylish upholstered seating accent chairs. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with industrial armchairs. It’s the mix that makes it all work. Mass-produced pieces fade in months. Vintage finds grow with you. Every creak is a memory. When it comes down to it, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack. A chair should hold your nights. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, unusual sofas go dig through a car boot.
Save a battered seat, and let it shout London every time you sit.