Student living in East London is messy but fun. The flat looked more squat than home, but we gave it soul with furniture. No student can afford Mayfair prices, so we searched markets. We carried a wingback through Dalston. Nothing matched the walls, but that’s what made it home. Old accent chairs carry memory, and it doesn’t matter if it’s scratched. I’ve balanced takeaway boxes on a mismatched chair, and every time it felt right.

Retro furniture feels natural here, and Smithers down in Shoreditch knows it. One afternoon I stumbled into Smithers, and the sofas looked like they belonged in films. we left with just one piece, but it’s become the throne of the house. We’ve all dragged furniture through rain. it’s where life happens. Vintage pieces survive it. Catalogue gloss falls apart fast, but real pieces stay alive. every dent becomes part of the flat.

By the end of the year, the broken toaster doesn’t matter, but you remember the sofa store. So if you’re moving to London, forget the catalogue shine. Make space for a classic seat, and watch it age with you.