Retro Interiors

November 4, 2008 | 1 Comment

Retro glassware & wallpaper

Retro glassware & wallpaper

The retro look is having another revival.  Cool brown and orange tones combined with sharp splashes of citrus colour.

The trend started its come back on the catwalk and, like so many other looks, has now filtered down into the interiors world.  I do like the look but in moderation.  I think the key is to add ‘touches’ and mix it cleverly with modern simple pieces for an ‘up to date’ take on Retro.

There are some good and some bad retro accessories to be found!  Retropolitan is good source of accessories.  An affordable company that has some very stylish and bespoke pieces.  It also has a good online shop so that you can have items delivered directly to your door.  The glassware in the above picture is all from Retropolitan.

Retro furniture

Retro furniture

If you are looking for a retro look in the kitchen then try Cola Red.com for some stylish 50’s American diner furniture.

 

Photograph: Lizzie Orme

With all this doom and gloom around due to the credit crunch, I thought I would post some bright colour schemes to brighten things up.  If you are bored of the neutral colours adorning the magazine pages then liven things up with hot South American tones .  The image above was inspired from a trip to Cuba.

Paint: To create the look use colours confidently with strong green,  bold blue and hot pink and team them with lighter colours such as soft lime and cool cream for furnishings and accessories.  There are several paint suppliers you can use to acheive the look: The  Serenity collection at Craig & Rose offers a good selection.  Dulux paints have a Rich collection that offers vibrant colours perfect for this scheme.  Their selection of ‘blue’ paints are especially stunning.

 

The Brief

We are two female colleagues starting a new business in Wedding Photography. For about 4 years, the space has been used as an office for a photographer’s agent and a photographer. The room has always been (invisibly) split down the middle to accommodate the two businesses. At present there is no order to the room and boxes are on the floor everywhere.

The new business will be the two of us working together on the wedding business but also running our own businesses at the same time. We therefore need to look like we are working together but also have the space to run our separate affairs. Basically, we don’t want to be on top of eachother, if you know what I mean!

We want to be able to bring clients to the office to show them our work and our products. We were hoping we may be able to fit in a small sofa and a coffee table. The storage therefore needs to be tidy and attractive. We would really like to have shelves that also hold lovely books, and other products that ’say’ we are in the creative industry, as well as the obvious photography.

We also want the room to be ’softened’. The white walls are very corporate and bare, so maybe we can have a colour on one wall. The lighting is terrible - strip lights in up-lighting constructions! See the pic showing the side walls. There is a great window down one side of the room that is a wonderful feature, I think. The carpets are standard tile mats, dark blue in colour - these can’t be moved but rugs could be an option.

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  • First choose the wall colour. Opt for a pale blue or green. Farrow & Ball and Dulux have some great colours
  • Create some affordable and bespoke artwork for the wall. The pictures below were very easy to make. Buy three small canvases, rip out some vintage style images from magazines (fashion pages always look good). Lay them on top of the canvas and paint with PVA glue as this will act as a clear sealant. When the glue is dry, hang the pictures in a row of three vertically or horizontally
  • Invest in a fabric dressmakers dummy. These look fantastic in the bedroom and if you can afford it, the older the better. Not only do they add a vintage touch to the room but they can be used to hang a favourite dress or all of your necklaces
  • Buy some old fabric rose lights (anything other than fabric can look tacky). Hang them over a bedstead, round a wardrobe or over a window

Vintage bedroom

Photographer: Lizzie Orme

 

Moroccan tea glasses make great toothbrush holders and will brighten up a plain white sink.  If you have a small side table in the bathroom then cover it with a striking runner.  Keep a note book in the bathroom as not only will it add a splash of colour but also come in handy when you remember all the things that you need to do whilst relaxing in the bath!

 

Transform a tired looking room with some funky wallpaper. Wallpaper is an in-expensive way to add a bit of style and colour to a pale room.

Start by choosing a wallpaper that compliments the tones of the existing accessories.; I would suggest taking a sample home to see if it works within the room. Wallpaper the chimney breast, a whole wall or simply wallpaper one strip as shown in this picture.

Wallapers Direct stocks a lot of wallpaper suppliers such as Graham & Brown, Wilman, Sanderson, Cole & Son, Villa Nova, Harlequin, Linda Barker, Morris & Co, Julien McDonald, Monsoon, Crown, Brian Yates.

Photographer: Lizzie Orme

 

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Pippa Jameson Interiors at Blogged
 
I have been an interior stylist for the last 10 years working an all areas including TV, advertising, books and film. I am keen to share my knowledge along with handy hints and tips so that everyone can create beautiful interiors
 
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