When I moved to Shoreditch I had nothing but a mattress. The kitchen had a dodgy kettle, but we dragged in whatever we could find. Flat-pack breaks too quick, so we searched markets. I spotted a funky armchair on Brick Lane. It looked like chaos, but that’s why it worked. Retro armchairs have weight, and it fits our lifestyle. I’ve balanced takeaway boxes on a mismatched chair, and every time it felt right.

Markets spill chairs onto the streets, and students rely on it. We wandered past Smithers one Saturday, and the accent chairs were bold and http://ttps://www.sitiosperuanos.com/author/tristanclar// weird. money was tight, but everyone fights to sit in it. Every student flat tells the same story. it’s what makes memories. Vintage pieces survive it. Flat-pack won’t last a term, but vintage carries weight. every stain means another night. By the end of the year, the stress disappears, quirky chairs but the mismatched set still makes you laugh.

If you find yourself in a Shoreditch flat, leave the glossy showrooms behind. Take home something with scars, and let it shout Shoreditch every time you sit.