Student living in East London is messy but fun. The windows rattled in the wind, but we gave it soul with furniture. IKEA lasts a term at best, so we bartered with old dealers. I spotted a funky armchair on Brick Lane. It looked like chaos, but that’s why it worked. Funky retro seating has character, and we don’t need polish, we need real. I’ve hosted ten people on one sagging retro sofa, and the furniture was part of the night. East London is built on mix and mess, and designers take inspiration from it.

My flatmate dragged me into Smithers, and the vintage armchairs carried scars I loved. we left with just one piece, but it’s become the throne of the house. We’ve all dragged furniture through rain. it’s what makes memories. Vintage pieces survive it. Mass production doesn’t care, but old sofas age into character. every wobble tells the truth. Looking back after twelve months, the cracked window gets forgotten, wiki.giroudmathias.ch but that funky accent chair is legend.

So if you’re moving to London, forget the catalogue shine. Make space for a classic seat, and see how it shapes your memories.