The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
RETRO SPECIAL
A touch of the past in your interior design can bring something special, as Felicity Donohoe shows with her pick of retro-inspired accessories
Traditional household goods made modern can add either cheeky charm or bring touches of timeless elegance to your home. Retro furnishings and accessories are firmly in fashion again, with vintage style elements in the home remaining a firm favourite with each generation, appealing to owners of both modern and classic homes.
Broadly speaking, retro furnishing or decor ranges from 20 to 100+ years old, encompassing everything from 19th Century to the design phenomena of glitzy modern pop culture.
With so many eras of design to look back on, a room can be transformed by everything from the clean, austere lines of Art Deco to the novelty charm of a 1980s neon wall light, romantic motifs to the more ostentatious patterns of the 1960s.
There are no rules when it comes to choosing your retro touchpoints but most incorporate textiles such as velvets, silks and brocades, and include glass and materials such as brass, silver and aluminium, often seen in retro American 50s diner style with the addition of Formica surfaces.
Vintage can become contemporary in the right hands, with accents creating a range of aesthetic elements that provide a unique focal point in an otherwise low-key space – and anything goes. Rather than theme a room, mixing styles will provide a whole playground of creativity and colours to work with.
Using furniture or room accessories, combine key pieces from different design eras to instantly freshen and modernise a space. Whether you’re a fan of the futuristic Jetsons or a Rennie Mackintosh collector, run wild with retro and let your room reflect your creativity.