Walk through Portobello Market and you’ll see vintage wingbacks with cracked leather. They’ve got stains and creaks, but that’s the point
Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it carried memories. During the heyday of Soho, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. Families saved for months to buy one piece. It’s in the creak when you shift. I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham. The fabric was stained and faded, but the history spoke louder than the flaws.
It’s outlasted three flats and two relationships. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Belgravia keeps it polished, with grand accent chairs. Shoreditch stays messy, with upcycled seats. It’s the mix that makes it all work. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Armchairs with scars grow with you. They carry scratches like tattoos. Here’s the thing, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack. A sofa should tell your story.
Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, stop and think of the markets. Take comfortable home furniture something with scars, and watch it age alongside you.