I grew up amongst modern living room furniture, and I’ve never left it. Around these West End streets, folk are not merely choosing somewhere to park themselves. Designers with clients in tow, and they all want character. A retro armchair, gives them that. A wingback ended up in a Belgravia study, and he told me years later it was still going strong. This is why old beats new. They fall for fashion too quickly, but at the end they admit. Fabric frays fast, whereas classic sofas grow finer.
Furniture mirrors the postcode. Kensington demands velvet, with plush sofas. Camden stays chaotic, with loud armchairs. That’s the reality. End of the day, a sofa becomes family. Flat-pack won’t do that. I still knock on the wood for weight, and I know straight away. Retro has power. So when you’re tempted by the new, take a breath. Choose a funky accent chair, and let it settle into your life.
