If you live in Markhouse Estate, Walthamstow, you probably know how quickly sofas, armchairs, dining chairs, and footstools can pick up everyday life: tea splashes, biscuit crumbs, pet hair, winter damp, and the odd mystery mark that appears out of nowhere.

Period homes in Walthamstow Village have a charm you can feel the moment you walk in: creaking floorboards, original features, a bit of draught around the skirting, and rugs that often carry more history than the room itself.