Take A Stroll In Spitalfields And You’ll See Sofas With Decades Of Life. They’re Marked And Scarred But That’s The Charm

Retro Sofas and Funky Chairs – A Real London Story Vintage sofas just feel more real than anything new. We had an old floral sofa that was patched and sagging. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it told a story. Back in the sixties, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. You’d hand retro sofas down sofas from parents to kids. You can feel it when you sit down. I rescued a battered contemporary leather armchair from outside a shop in Peckham.

The fabric was stained and faded, but the weight told me it was the real deal. It’s become part of my story. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Chelsea leans plush, with plush seating. Hackney keeps it raw, with funky retro chairs. London wouldn’t be London without the variety. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Armchairs with scars get better with years. They’re not perfect, but neither are we.

If you ask me straight, a battered sofa tells more truth than any showroom. A chair should hold your nights. Before you grab a soulless bargain, wander a street full of second-hand shops. Save a battered seat, and let it grow with you.