Furniture has been my bread and butter since the fifties. Amongst the squares and crescents, a sofa is never just a sofa. Old families from Belgravia and Kensington, and they all want a piece that speaks. A funky accent chair and sofa chair, gives them that. One battered club chair was claimed for a Notting Hill film set, and the scars became part of the charm. This is why old beats new. They flick through glossy catalogues, but eventually they realise. Modern things break, whereas classic sofas grow finer.

Furniture mirrors the postcode. Hampstead seeks calm, with deep seats. Hackney raw, with upcycled seats. That’s London. I’ve learnt over years, modern leather armchairs accent chairs outlive their buyers. Flat-pack won’t do that. I still walk my warehouse floors, and the right piece never lies. Retro has power. Next time you flick through a catalogue, step back. Find yourself a vintage sofa, and make it part of your Mayfair truth.