Take A Stroll In Spitalfields And You’ll Find Vintage Wingbacks With Cracked Leather. They’re Rough Round The Edges But That’s Their Story

Vintage Armchairs, Accent Chairs, and Sofas: Proper Character for Real Homes Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. The fabric was torn but held together, but it carried memories. During the heyday of Soho, chairs and sofa you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. Families saved for months to buy one piece. It’s in the sag of the springs. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning.

It weren’t pretty at first glance, but I knew straight away it had something. That chair still sits in my flat. Every borough in London has its own taste. Hampstead stays calm, with grand accent chairs. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with bold fabrics. The contrast keeps it alive. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. statement armchairs with scars get better with years. Every stain has a story. If you ask me straight, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack.

A chair should hold your nights. So next time you’re tempted by something new, take a look at what’s already lived. Take home something with scars, and let it grow with you.