Head Down Brick Lane On A Saturday And You’ll Find Sofas With Decades Of Life. They’ve Got Stains And Creaks But That’s What Makes Them Magic
From Markets to Mansions: London’s Love for Vintage Sofas and different styles of armchairs Armchairs I can’t walk past a retro style sofa bed armchair without stopping for a look. We had an old floral sofa that was patched and sagging. The fabric was torn but held together, but it was part of us. When London was swinging, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. You’d hand down sofas from parents to kids. That history clings to vintage pieces. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning.
Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but I knew straight away it had something. That chair still sits in my flat. Each district carries its own vibe. Kensington loves velvet, with velvet armchairs. Shoreditch stays messy, with industrial armchairs. Every corner tells a different story. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Vintage finds last decades. They remind us life isn’t flawless. At the end of the day, an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss.
An armchair should hug you back. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, wander a street full of second-hand shops. Save a battered seat, and see how it shapes your nights.