From Markets to Mansions: London’s Love for cool armchairs Vintage Sofas and Armchairs I’ve always had a soft spot for old furniture. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it had heart. Back in the sixties, visit sofasdirect.com people kept things for decades. Families saved for months to buy one piece. You can feel it when you sit down. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney.

The legs were wobbling, but I knew straight away it had something. It’s become part of my story. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Kensington loves velvet, with deep sofas. Shoreditch stays messy, with funky retro chairs. The clash gives it character. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Accent chairs from another era last decades. They’re not perfect, but neither are we. Truth be told, a battered sofa tells more truth than any showroom.

Your seat should outlast the years. When you walk past a glossy showroom, stop and think of the markets. Grab a vintage sofa, and make it part of your story.