Lose Yourself In Deptford Market And You’ll Find Sofas With Decades Of Life. They’re Marked And Scarred But That’s The Charm

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and luxury sofas Still Rule I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it carried memories. Back in the sixties, people kept things for decades. Families saved for comfort accent chairs months to buy one piece. It’s in the sag of the springs. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but you can’t fake that kind of comfort.

It’s outlasted three flats and two relationships. Every borough in London has its own taste. Hampstead stays calm, with grand accent chairs. Hackney keeps it raw, with mismatched sofas. It’s the mix that makes it all work. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Old-school sofas age with dignity. Every stain has a story. When it comes down to it, I’ll pick a vintage sofa over new every time. A sofa should tell your story. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, step into a dusty warehouse.

Save a battered seat, and make it part of your story.