From Markets to Mansions: London’s Love for Vintage Sofas and armchairs vintage design There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. The fabric was torn but held together, but it had heart. When the East End was full of voices, furniture meant something. Families saved for months to buy one piece. That history clings to vintage pieces. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney.

The fabric was stained and faded, but the weight told me it was the real deal. It’s become part of my story. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Hampstead stays calm, with plush seating. Shoreditch stays messy, with funky retro chairs. The contrast keeps it alive. Mass-produced pieces fade in months. Old-school sofas age with dignity. Every creak is a memory. Here’s the thing, an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss.

A sofa should tell your story. When you walk past a glossy showroom, stop and think of the markets. Choose a funky accent chair, and let it shout London every time you sit.