Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. Growing up, there was a sofa in our house that had seen it all. The arms were shiny from years of elbows, more on sofasdirect.com but it had heart. When the East End was full of voices, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. You’d hand down sofas from parents to kids. You can feel it when you sit down. I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham. The legs were wobbling, armchair retro but the history spoke louder than the flaws.
That chair still sits in my flat. You can tell the area by the chairs. Belgravia keeps it polished, living room chair sofa with deep sofas. Camden loves the clash, with bold fabrics. The contrast keeps it alive. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Vintage finds last decades. They’re not perfect, but neither are we. At the end of the day, I’ll pick a vintage sofa over new every time. A sofa should tell your story. If you’re scrolling catalogue sites, stop and think of the markets.
Choose a funky accent chair, and make it part of your story.
