I’ve been in the trade man and boy for decades. Here in Mayfair, people don’t buy just to sit. Couples step through the door, and they all ask for quality. A battered old wingback, gives them that. One battered club chair was claimed for a Notting Hill film set, and the scars became part of the charm. That’s the Mayfair way. They flick through glossy catalogues, but they always come back. Fabric frays fast, whereas old chairs carry life. The capital’s rooms all look different.

Hampstead seeks calm, with velvet chairs. Shoreditch is playful, with retro mismatches. That’s the mix. Here’s the truth, accent chairs outlive their buyers. Modern factory pieces can’t compete. I still sit to see how it feels, and I know straight away. Old furniture lives. Before you make a mistake, think again. Pick up a retro armchair, and sofasdirect.com make it part of your Mayfair truth.