I grew up amongst family-friendly furniture, and I’ve never left it. In the heart of London, people don’t buy just to sit. Young men with new flats, and they all want character. A funky accent chair, carries the room. I remember selling a Chesterfield to a gentleman from St John’s Wood, and the sofa aged but never gave way. That’s the point with retro. They look for convenience, but sooner or later they return. Modern things break, whereas classic sofas grow finer.
Taste splits by borough. Belgravia looks for tradition, with buttoned wingbacks. Dalston experimental, with loud armchairs. That’s London. Here’s the truth, customers never forget the chair that mattered. Modern factory pieces can’t compete. I still sit to see how it feels, and I know straight away. Retro has power. Next time you flick through a catalogue, stop. Find yourself a vintage sofa, and let it settle into your life.
