I’m not sure if it’s cause or effect, but having this blog seems to mean I get asked advice a lot: restaurants, London goings-on, homewares and so on. Just this week I’ve been working back in Airside and was faced with a barrage of questions about where my living room chairs came from. So I thought a nice semi-regular blog feature would be to pull together some of my real-life FAQs into mini-resources on some of the things my nerdy hive-mind has gathered intel on over the years. Mostly so I can send people to these posts rather than send the same link lists round over and over!

Up first, since the chairs are on people’s minds, a guide to where to buy tasty vintage furniture with a mid-century flavour in London and beyond. I intend to update this post as I find new places, and if you have any other suggestions I’d love to hear them.

Chase & Sorensen

These Hackney-based fellas take regular trips to Scandinavia to hunt for stock and their taste is impeccable. They sourced my chairs for me as well the little side table in my living room. You can view their stock and order online, and they also have a little showroom on Dalston Lane.

Yesterday Furniture

Gabrielle sells affordable pieces from east London (and can arrange delivery nationally). Alongside cheaper veneered Danish desks and sideboards, there’s also plenty of Fifties formica dining tables and cute kitchenalia.

Winter’s Moon

Alongside some well-priced vintage pieces, Winter’s Moon also sells upcycled and handmade items like retro fabric lampshapdes and these gorgeous reupholstered chairs.

Speedie’s

A little shabby-looking shop down the ‘wrong’ end of East London’s Redchurch Street hides Speedie’s, with its great fast-changing stock of 60s retro furniture, textiles, lighting and other bits and bobs. We picked up an old wooden record cabinet for under £100 which became our TV table. Check current stock on the blog.

Bring it on home

A cheerful range of goodies including G-Plan, kitsch lighting and some repro industrial chairs.

Homespun Vintage Design

Homespun take a focus on exceptional British craftsmanship from lesser-known names, and their carefully curated range is a joy to browse. An especially nice range of chairs and storage solutions, and the miscellany section is fun to browse to brush up on your mid-century knowledge.

Kicsi Haz

This cute site has the curious speciality of Eastern European seating, freshly reupholstered in contemporary fabrics. I’d love one of their stylish club chairs to sit in a corner of my house.

The Modern Warehouse

If you’re a label fiend, this vintage-luxe shop stocks loads of original pieces from names like Wegner, Jacobsen and Eames, but be prepared to pay dearly for them. One for when I’m rich with a Modernist mansion to fill…

More links: markets, shows and events

• Newington Green-based The Peanut Vendor stocks curios, furniture and decor items.
• Funky-junky.co.uk – mid-century, retro and Vitra stockists
• Among my Souvenirs – online shop of affordable vintage accessories and furniture
• Alfie’s indoor antiques market in Marlebone has loads of mid-century dealers, along with plenty more independent shops to explore in the surrounding streets.
• The Sunday Upmarket and Backyard Market at Brick Lane often have some furniture sellers
• The Vintage Furniture Flea is always worth visiting when it rolls into town (it travels nationally as well)
• The Mid-Century Modern show is fun to browse for inspiration and to pick up smaller items.
• Mid-century magazine showcases great design as well as advising on sourcing
• Vintage Seekers is a cool online magazine as well as stocking some high-end design pieces

Again, I’d love to hear your suggestions for more shops in the comments, and if you have a particular subject you’d like to see a future guide about, let me know.

You might also like…

Design-y stocking fillers

Urban Outfitters Home

Midcentury style at Fashion For Home

Present & Correct