I’ve been in the trade man and boy for decades. In the showrooms of Grosvenor, buying is about more than comfort. Designers with clients in tow, and they all want a piece that speaks. A vintage sofa, gives them that. I remember selling a Chesterfield to a gentleman from St John’s Wood, and ten years on it looked better than ever. That’s the Mayfair way. People wander past the big chains, but eventually they realise. Mass production doesn’t care, whereas old chairs carry life.

The capital’s rooms all look different. Belgravia looks for art deco style settees tradition, arm chairs for kitchen with mahogany accent pieces. Camden stays chaotic, with upcycled seats. That’s the charm. Let me put it plainly, customers never forget the chair that mattered. Flat-pack won’t do that. I still check the stitching for strength, and the real thing speaks. Vintage has truth. So when you’re tempted by the new, think again. Bring home something with story, and let it settle into your life.