London Retro Grit: Armchairs And Sofas With Proper Character

Forget catalogue gloss – London’s got grit. Sneak through Brixton Market and you’ll stumble on sofas with scars. The polish is long gone, but they talk back.

When my nan was about, you didn’t buy stuff to bin it after a year. You’d work overtime for a proper armchair, and it’d see you through kids and rows. That’s what old-school means in London.

I remember, retro style sofa bed not looking for nothing. I noticed a 1960s teak-leg accent chair. Some would laugh it off, but I sat in and felt straight — this chair had history.

Markets still hold treasure. Camden Market throw up armchairs with edge. You need patience to wait it out. I’ve dug through piles of rubbish, but the chair shows itself.

Each bit of London’s got its own flavour. Belgravia drips money, with wingback chairs. Brixton mixes it all, with funky armchairs. Hackney’s raw, and you’ll find wild fabrics that clash yet sing.

People make it what it is. Cockney dealers shouting prices. The mix makes the market. I’ve argued for hours over a price and funky chairs uk dragged sofas down streets. That’s London grit.

Let’s have it right, a scratch ain’t a problem. A sofa’s more than fabric. It holds arguments.

If you’re on the hunt, forget your catalogue orders. Take a vintage sofa, and watch it grow old with you.