Take a stroll in Spitalfields and you’ll see sofas with decades of life. They’ve got stains and creaks, but that’s their story

Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London I’ve always had a soft spot for old furniture. Growing up, there was a sofa in our house that had seen it all. It weren’t showroom-perfect, but it was part of us. During the heyday of Soho, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. It’s in the weight of the wood. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, modern leather armchairs but I knew straight away it had something.

That chair still sits in my flat. family-friendly furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Mayfair goes glossy, cocktail chair with buttoned wingbacks. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with upcycled seats. The clash gives it character. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Vintage finds grow with you. They carry scratches like tattoos. When it comes down to it, I’ll pick a vintage sofa over new every time. A sofa should tell your story. Before you grab a soulless bargain, wander a street full of second-hand shops.

Grab a vintage sofa, and watch it age alongside you.