Furniture has been my bread and butter since the fifties. Here in Mayfair, customers aren’t simply shopping for wood and fabric. Couples step through the door, and they all want character. A retro armchair, tells the truth. One battered club chair was claimed for a Notting Hill film set, and he told me years later it was still going strong. That’s what endures. They fall for fashion too quickly, but they always come back. Modern things break, whereas vintage lasts.
Every part of London tells a different story. Belgravia looks for tradition, with plush sofas. Camden stays chaotic, with loud armchairs. That’s the reality. Here’s the truth, a sofa becomes family. Mass production never delivers it. I still touch the arms of the chairs, sofa funky and the truth tells itself. Old furniture lives. If you’re thinking quick buy, stop. Bring home something with story, and allow it to tell your story.
