Retro revival Bring some of yesteryear’s looks into the now
EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN. HERE’S HOW TO BRING SOME OF YESTERYEAR’S BEST-LOVED LOOKS INTO THE NOW
ORANGE & BROWN
Turns out orange really is the new black, especially teamed up with brown. These days, the signature combination of the
’70s is both softer and subtler. “Being an earth-based colour, brown creates a level of security,” says colour expert Andrea Lucena-Orr of Dulux. “The addition of orange enhances the overall warmth.” Think rich shades of walnut and caramel in flooring, cabinetry and furniture, with pops of ginger and bronze picked up in accent pieces. Keen to get creative with your paintbrush? Andrea suggests Dulux Fresh Clay as an earthy, on-trend orange. >
“Pink can be classic, retro, luxe, Scandi and contemporary” – Matt Di Costa, Nood Co
PINK BATHROOMS
You’ve read the story before (probably in these very pages): a family buys a home ripe for renovation, moves in and rips out the ghastly salmon tiles. But the story may be changing. Like the poodle skirts and polka dots of the 1950s, pink bathrooms are in the middle of a style resurgence. “It’s a progression from the rose-gold and blush tones we’ve been seeing [in other rooms] for the last few years,” says interior designer and stylist Prue Tully. “People are becoming more confident using this polarising colour.” She suggests exploring the diversity of the hue with icy cottoncandy subway tiles on the walls and warm terracotta on the floor. For just a hint of pink, try Nood Co’s concrete basin in Blush, a beautiful marriage of masculine and feminine.
SUNKEN LIVING ROOMS
“People still desire open-plan living, but are looking to create intimacy and cosiness,” says Prue Tully. “A sunken living room is the perfect step – or should I say step-down! – in achieving this newly desired segregation.” These ‘conversation pits’ first began as the perfect spot for fondue parties during the ’60s and ’70s and, as they re-enter the design consciousness, they come with thoroughly modern perks: sinking the seating offers up a room with added height and light; a low-level lounge can be cleverly built around a garden or pool, beautifully cocooned by nature; plus, in these high-tech and hyper-connected times, the space encourages swapping smartphones in favour of face-to-face conversation – a movement that we’ll get behind.
TERRAZZO
During the 15th century, Venetian builders who couldn’t afford solid marble started mixing discarded chips with clay to form decorative, hardwearing surfaces for their homes. The speckled stone-composite had its heyday in the ’70s, and now, Melbourne firm Covet is at the forefront of a revival, introducing its unique large-format range (left). “After a period where minimalism was king, designers are turning to terrazzo to create eye-catching features,” says David Signorino of Signorino Tiles. Today’s terrazzo comes flecked with electric blues, tawny oranges and minty greens. Beyond its traditional use as flooring, this versatile material has been visually reimagined on wallpaper (visit Graham & Brown), furniture (try Modern Times) and accessories (see Zakkia). >
Pinterest recently noted that saves for ‘terrazzo’ had increased by 316 per cent
RETRO APPLIANCES
Cutting-edge cooking spaces are all well and good, but it seems that we’re craving a return to more simpler times – aesthetically speaking, at least. While Smeg and AGA have long been synonymous with vintage-style design, a host of other brands are fast following suit. Freestanding cookers wrapped in pastel enamel are a nostalgic throwback to the ’50s, while curvaceous toasters and sorbet-hued mixers prove too pretty to conceal behind closed cabinetry. “The vintage colours are a huge drawcard,” says Jim Kalotheos of Smeg Australia. “For those seeking a change from the monochrome kitchen, this look delivers.” Meanwhile, behind the old-world styling, future-facing technology makes kitchens less Mad Men and more modern luxe.
GREEN KITCHENS
This is not your granny’s avocado kitchen. After decades of serving up white-on-white cook spaces, the design world has mixed up a fresh palette. The colours du jour: dark and dreamy shades of emerald, pine and olive. “Green can easily read as a neutral while bringing a fresh dose of nature indoors,” says Caitlin Murray from Black Lacquer Design, who devised this high-glamour space. Green with envy? Get the look with glossy forest-hued cabinetry – for an affordable option try Kaboodle Kitchen’s ‘Vivid Basil’ – teamed up with shots of black and gold. Or, for a more restrained take, highlight the undertones in your stone tiles or splashback with a green-based neutral such as Dulux Ecru.
BOTANICAL WALLPAPER
No longer a mere memory from your garish ’80s bedroom, blossom-emblazoned wallpaper has been creeping back into vogue. And today we see the dainty repetitive florals of yesteryear make way for large-scale murals resplendent in bold peonies and lush, moody hues. “There are also fabulous floral papers in bright oranges, yellows, limes and teals, based on the psychedelic days of flower power,” says Wendy Culbertson of Wall Candy Wallpaper. Thankfully, the days of tired, peeling paper are gone – companies such as Pickawall now provide temporary, removable options that make floor-toceiling florals a chic proposition for any space.