First year in London was chaos. The flat looked more squat than home, but we built it piece by piece. New furniture is soulless, so we searched markets. One mate found a sofa in Hackney. It looked like chaos, but that’s why it worked. Funky retro seating has character, and it doesn’t matter if it’s scratched. I’ve fallen asleep in a battered armchair with a book, and the furniture was part of the night. Shoreditch is perfect for this life, and dealers live for it. We found ourselves in Smithers showroom, and the sofas looked like they belonged in films.

we had to haggle, but everyone fights to sit in it. We’ve all begged friends for luxury chairs uk lifts. it’s how you build a home. Armchairs don’t mind if you fall asleep in them. Catalogue gloss falls apart fast, but real pieces stay alive. every wobble tells the truth. When you’re moving out, you don’t remember the kettle, but the armchair stays in your mind. Next time you walk past a market, leave the glossy showrooms behind. Grab a retro sofa, and let it shout Shoreditch every time you sit.