Wander Around Camden Lock And You’ll Find Sofas With Decades Of Life. They’ve Aged In Public But That’s The Charm

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. Growing up, stylish upholstered seating there was a sofa in our house that had seen it all. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it told a story. Back in the sixties, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. Families saved for months to buy one piece. It’s in the weight of the wood. I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham. Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but as soon as I sat down it felt right.

It’s become part of my story. Every borough in London has its own taste. Hampstead stays calm, with grand unusual accent chairs accent chairs. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with bold fabrics. Every corner tells a different story. Mass-produced pieces fade in months. Armchairs with scars last decades. Every stain has a story. Here’s the thing, a battered sofa tells more truth than any showroom. An armchair should hug you back. So next time you’re tempted by something new, go dig through a car boot.

Take home something with scars, and make it part of your story.