Walk Through Portobello Market And You’ll Stumble On Vintage Wingbacks With Cracked Leather. They’ve Aged In Public But That’s The Charm

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, people kept things for decades. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. It’s in the creak when you shift. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. It weren’t pretty at first glance, but you can’t fake that kind of comfort.

Friends always fight to sit in it. You can tell the area by the chairs. Kensington loves velvet, with plush seating. Brixton thrives on colour, with mismatched sofas. The clash gives it character. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Vintage finds get better with years. Every creak is a memory. When it comes down to it, comfortable armchairs an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss. An armchair should hug you back. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, stop and think of the markets.

Grab a vintage sofa, and make it part of your story.