Lose Yourself In Deptford Market And You’ll See Funky Accent Chairs In Bold Fabrics. They’re Marked And Scarred But That’s What Gives Them Life
Retro Sofas and Funky Chairs – A Real London Story I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. It sagged in the middle and vintage accent chair smelled faintly of tea, but it felt alive. When the East End was full of voices, modern living room furniture meant something. Chairs lived longer than flats. That history clings to vintage pieces. I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham.
The fabric was stained and faded, but I knew straight away it had something. Friends always fight to sit in it. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Kensington loves velvet, with buttoned wingbacks. Hackney keeps it raw, with upcycled seats. The contrast keeps it alive. Mass-produced pieces fade in months. Vintage finds become part of your life. They carry scratches like tattoos. Here’s the thing, retro wins because it’s real.
A chair should hold your nights. So next time you’re tempted by something new, step into a dusty warehouse. Save a battered seat, and let it grow with you.