Furniture has been my bread and butter since the fifties. Amongst the squares and crescents, a sofa is never just a sofa. I’ve seen families walk in, and they’re all searching for the same thing. A funky accent chair, tells the truth. One battered club chair was claimed for a Notting Hill film set, and he told me years later it was still going strong. This is why old beats new. They waste time with flat-pack, but sooner or later they return.

Mass production doesn’t care, whereas real furniture stays. Taste splits by borough. Kensington demands velvet, with velvet chairs. Camden stays chaotic, with colourful sofas. That’s London. End of the day, customers never forget the chair that mattered. Modern factory pieces can’t compete. I still check the stitching for strength, and the right piece never lies. Classic pieces endure. If you’re thinking quick buy, step back. Choose a funky accent chair, and see sofasdirect.com how it shapes your home.