Wander Around Camden Lock And You’ll See Vintage Wingbacks With Cracked Leather. They’re Rough Round The Edges But That’s What Gives Them Life

London’s Retro Revival: accent chairs antique Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it felt alive. In the days of smoky pubs and jazz clubs, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. Chairs lived longer than flats. It’s in the sag of the springs. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning.

The legs were wobbling, but I knew straight away it had something. It’s become part of my story. You can tell the area by the chairs. Kensington loves velvet, stylish upholstered seating with grand accent chairs. Hackney keeps it raw, retro sofas with upcycled seats. The contrast keeps it alive. Modern flat-pack doesn’t hold a candle. Retro pieces last decades. They carry scratches like tattoos. When it comes down to it, retro wins because it’s real.

A sofa should tell your story. Before you grab a soulless bargain, wander a street full of second-hand shops. Choose a funky accent chair, and let it grow with you.