I’ve been in the trade man and boy for decades. Amongst the squares and crescents, customers aren’t simply shopping for wood and unusual sofas fabric. Couples step through the door, high-end living room sets and they’re looking for furniture that will outlast them. A retro armchair, tells the truth. I remember selling a Chesterfield to a gentleman from St John’s Wood, and he told me years later it was still going strong. That’s what endures. They waste time with flat-pack, but at the end they admit.
Fabric frays fast, whereas vintage lasts. Taste splits by borough. Hampstead seeks calm, with buttoned wingbacks. Shoreditch is playful, with colourful sofas. That’s London. I’ve learnt over years, accent chairs outlive their buyers. Mass production never delivers it. I still check the stitching for strength, sofas and armchairs uk and the difference is clear. Old furniture lives. If you’re thinking quick buy, step back. Take on a classic wingback, and allow it to tell your story.
