First year in London was chaos. The windows rattled in the wind, but we made it ours. No student can afford Mayfair prices, so we bartered with old dealers. I spotted a funky armchair on Brick Lane. It felt like Shoreditch, but that’s why it worked. Retro armchairs have weight, and we care more about story than gloss. I’ve watched half my flat pass out across two chairs, and the chairs became mates. Every warehouse flat tells the same story, custom furniture designs and designers take inspiration from it.We wandered past Smithers one Saturday, and the sofas looked like they belonged in films. we left with just one piece, but everyone fights to sit in it. We’ve all begged friends for lifts. It’s part of student life. Armchairs don’t mind if you fall asleep in them. Brand-new looks boring, but vintage carries weight. every creak is another laugh. Once the parties are done, the cracked window gets forgotten, but the vintage pieces carry the whole story.
So if you’re moving to London, skip the flat-pack rubbish. Grab a retro sofa, and make it part of your story.
