Moving into a student flat ain’t glamorous. The windows rattled in the wind, but we built it piece by piece. Forget glossy showrooms, so we begged, borrowed and carried. Another dragged a chair from Camden. The colours clashed, but that’s what made it home. Old accent chairs carry memory, and it doesn’t matter if it’s scratched. I’ve watched half my flat pass out across two chairs, accent contemporary chairs and the furniture was part of the night. East London is built on mix and mess, and dealers live for it.

My flatmate dragged me into Smithers, and the accent chairs were bold and weird. We couldn’t afford much, but it’s become the throne of the house. We’ve all begged friends for lifts. it’s half the fun. custom furniture designs with scars feels built for students. Modern stuff? Forget it, but funky chairs grow with you. every stain means another night. Once the parties are done, the cracked window gets forgotten, but that funky accent chair is legend.

So if you’re moving to London, forget the catalogue shine. Pick up a vintage armchair, and let it shout Shoreditch every time you sit.