Furniture has been my bread and butter since the fifties. In the showrooms of Grosvenor, buying is about more than comfort. Designers with clients in tow, and they’re all searching for the same thing. A battered old wingback, never fails to speak up. One battered club chair was claimed for a Notting Hill film set, and the sofa aged but never gave way. That’s what vintage means. They waste time with flat-pack, but at the end they admit. Mass production doesn’t care, whereas retro lives on.

The capital’s rooms all look different. Kensington demands velvet, with plush sofas. Camden stays chaotic, with upcycled seats. That’s the reality. Here’s the truth, the right piece will define a home. Mass production never delivers it. I still walk my warehouse floors, living room chairs and sofas the real thing speaks. History sits with you. When a showroom tempts you, pause. Bring home something with story, retro sofagruppe and traditional armchair see how it shapes your home.