I’ve been in the trade man and cocktail chair boy for decades. Around these West End streets, customers aren’t simply shopping for wood and fabric. I’ve seen families walk in, and they’re all searching for the same thing. A velvet seat with history, gives them that. A wingback ended up in a Belgravia study, and he told me years later it was still going strong. That’s what endures. They fall for fashion too quickly, but at the end they admit.

Fabric frays fast, whereas classic sofas grow finer. Every part of London tells a different story. Belgravia looks for tradition, with deep seats. Brixton is bold, with colourful sofas. That’s London. End of the day, accent chairs outlive their buyers. You don’t get that from a catalogue. I still check the stitching for strength, and the difference is clear. Retro has power. When a showroom tempts you, traditional armchairs take a breath.

Choose a funky accent bedroom chair vintage, and make it part of your Mayfair truth.