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A 70s house reno that’s still very much 70s!

By Jen Bishop • 5 Comments

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Not everyone who buys an older home wants to modernise it. In fact, some people, like interior designer Tania Bell, have every intention of keeping their Melbourne home’s retro vibe while replacing the ageing and impractical parts in a very sympathetic way.

A new kitchen that absolutely suits its 70s house home

It has taken almost a decade for Tania and builder husband Andrew to finish their reno, so they certainly spent enough time living in it as it was, to know what they really wanted from the end result!

“When we were searching for our first home together 10 years ago, we wanted somewhere that hadn’t had too many dodgy renos done to it that we had to undo! We wanted something that we only really had to superficially renovate; something that had good bones and didn’t need an extension,” Tania said.

A big block, a big garage and a spare room for her home office were also top of the wishlist. “As soon as we walked in the front door at the open for inspection, we both looked at each other and knew this was our house!” Its flat roof, Besser block walls and exposed beams made it a bit quirky and probably put a lot of people off. “I think most people thought, ‘no, too hard and too expensive  to work on’. Fortunately, we both had a similar vision for the place and Andrew being a builder doesn’t scoff at hard work, so we went about renovating.”

The couple have done a lot of the work themselves and with the help of industry friends. And they definitely suffered from doing their clients’ homes first, ahead of theirs. “I quite often tell my clients to live in their home and experience it before they make any changes, but I fear I may have followed my advice to the nth degree!” Being exposed to so many products and so much inspiration through her design work, meant Tania also changed her mind. A lot! “In the end I just had to make a decision and get on with it!”

The couple clearly love the 1970s style and Tania says it can actually fit in with a contemporary scheme very easily. “The bright, acid-like and clashing colours attract me to the era, as well as the textures and patterns in the soft furnishings. I also think that the dark timber and moody brick features in my home add some character to the space. The overall feel of the 70s is warmth and comfort, which makes a house more homely and cocooning.”

While she initially loved the original dark terracotta floor tiles, after a few years, she was sick of them showing every bit of dirt, and discovered were also cold and noisy. They were replaced with solid, rustic blackbutt timber. “It has made such a difference to the home and really lightens up the space and is warmer underfoot too.”

The kitchen however, was hated from the outset! “It was a daggy old 70s kitchen that the builder built himself out of plywood and didn’t have a kicker, so I would always bang my feet on the bottom of the cupboards. When we finally demolished the old kitchen over 18 months ago, that was a day for celebration!”

She was always keen to keep the brick feature wall along the fireplace, which provides much warmth and texture and sets the tone for the overall colour scheme. “I chose the colour for the timber beams from the bricks as well as the wall paint. We also continued that timber beam colour (Dulux Bronze Fig) outside to the new render cladding.

They’ve taken a lot of the cues from the existing original features of the home in order to keep its original feel. “Instead of going with a standard white kitchen, we used a rustic timber laminate benchtop and graphite coloured joinery with a vibrant orange handmade Portugese tile on the splashback.” They continued the orange tile into the bathroom, teamed up with charcoal tiles on the wall and floor.

Tania thinks the 70s look has come back into favour and she’s certainly not its only devotee. “I believe that the push back to warmer and more earthy tones in interiors, especially with paint colours, timber furniture and textiles, is why we are seeing it being reinvented for a contemporary setting. I also I think that a lot of the homes in our suburbs that are being renovated and not knocked down were built in the 1970s, so people are wanting to embrace a bit of the nostalgia of a time gone by.”

For more on Tania’s business, Green Room Interiors

Another 70s house reno that didn’t keep its retro feel

Images: Kate Hansen Photography

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April 27, 2020

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When her styling business took a hit, @vaultinteri When her styling business took a hit, @vaultinteriors decided to reduce her outgoings by moving to a tiny house. And we're not sure we've ever seen a more stylish one!

Although the move to a container home was motivated by financial pressures, Justine Wilson is loving her new simpler way of life.

Read her refreshingly honest, positive interview on the blog now, via link in bio.

It'll make you want to downsize too!

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Appliance colour trends: They've certainly change Appliance colour trends:

They've certainly changed over the years. Remember when ALL fridges were white?! I remember the original BROWN wall oven in our 60s kitchen here pre-reno! I think the dishwasher was brown and beige (and it tripped the electrics every time we used it!) 😜

What do you think of this new dark stainless steel option (pictured) from Westinghouse as seen in @dnaofdesign_'s latest reno? Yay or nay? 

What colour do you like your appliances?

See the rest of this home and kitchen and laundry design tips from the ex Blockheads on the blog now via link in bio.

#kitchenappliances #walloven #wallovens #combioven #combioven #microwaves #builtinappliances #builtinoven #builtinovens #homeappliance #westinghouse #kitchentrends #ovens #laundryappliances #darkstainlesssteel #stainlesssteelappliances
SALE ALERT! Listen up Sydneysiders, one of my fav SALE ALERT!

Listen up Sydneysiders, one of my favourite home stores @shack.furniture.homewares are having their annual warehouse sale this week, from Thursday until Saturday.

HUGE savings on furniture, homewares and decor with 30 to 80% off. Wowsers!

I'm a big fan of SHACK and can never leave one of their stores without a few styling goodies for my place! It's just too tempting!

While you're at the sale, mention Interiors Addict for an extra 10% off!

Unit 16a, 1801 Botany Rd, Banksmeadow NSW 2019

Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd June 2023, 9am to 4pm. Not online.

#sydneyshopping #sydneysale #sydneysales #sydneyfurniture #shackfurniture #shackfurniturehomewares #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #comeshoppingwithme
A door to door continuous curved stone ledge in th A door to door continuous curved stone ledge in this bathroom is one of the cleverest designs we've seen in a while!

This mega ledge, made of Corian, even incorporates a sink, seamlessly.

Combined with venetian plaster on the walls, it's no wonder this Illawarra bathroom by @birdblackdesign feels like a day spa!

Come check it out via link bio.

Lead designer Stuart Gibson says: "One smooth curve, right around the room, from either side of the door opening. As it moves around, it creates a ledge for the bath: for bath oils, lotions, a book and a champagne glass. The ledge continues around and becomes the vanity, widening out to create a custom seamless basin."

#bathroomhappiness #bathroomdetails #bathroomshelves #bathroomshelf #venetianplastering #coriandesign #coriansolidsurface #spalikebathroom #spabathroom #sustainablebathroom
Catch the season finale of @sellinghousesaus last Catch the season finale of @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the before and afters for you on the blog now, via link in bio (and swipe for a taster).

#sellinghouses #sellinghousesaustralia #foxtel #lifestylechannel #beforeandafterkitchen #beforeandafterlivingroom #beforeandafterrenovation #realitytv #housetours #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
😍 Not sure what's better: the custom mirror abo 😍 Not sure what's better: the custom mirror above the fireplace in this Art Deco one-bedder or the wallpaper in the kitchen (swipe)?!

It's been a while since we featured an apartment makeover on IA. Would you like to see more apartment interiors? Head to the blog now to see more of this one. Via link in bio.

#artdecoapartment #artdecointerior
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Low tox and planet friendly laundry liquid (and sh Low tox and planet friendly laundry liquid (and sheets and soap and powder!). We have a great roundup of the best options on the blog today. 

A whole host of brands are offering eco-friendly, low tox alternatives to the more chemical-laden ones. Not only that, they often smell amazing, look good on your shelf and come in recycled or recyclable (or even better, both) packaging. 

Good for your skin, your clothes and the planet: what’s not to like?

Do you use any of these?

COMPARE THEM ALL VIA LINK IN BIO NOW.

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Play room goals!👌🏻 This is just one room fr Play room goals!👌🏻

This is just one room from today's real house tour which I really love because in employing interior designer @issyandhcreative the owners weren't looking for a complete rip out and re-do but rather to work with what they had in their new suburban home (including a dated kitchen) and give it a largely cosmetic glow up with styling and new furniture (some of which was upcycled). 

The brief was to create a family friendly home. "They weren't looking for perfection but rather a warm and relaxing retreat for their busy young family." This playroom though? Pretty close to perfect! And the mum did the colour coded books herself. Love that😁

Head over to the blog now via link in bio to see the rest of this home.

#playroomideas #playroomgoals #playroomdecor #familyhomes #kidfriendlyhome #kidfriendlyinteriors #familyhomedecor #sustainabledecor #affordablerenovations #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #beanbagchair #beanbags #colourcodedbooks #colourcoded #toyroom #kidsroomdesign 

Pix by @tealily
All the heart eyes for this little setup 😍 Hea All the heart eyes for this little setup 😍

Head to the blog to shop this and two other gorgeous styled images from @greenhouseinteriors 

The stunning @mrsniceart artwork has already sold but the good news is, you can still get prints of it!

Styling by Aisha Chaudhry for Greenhouse Interiors, assisted by Nikki McGar, Kylie Harris, Rachael Blake and Max Green. Photography by Stephanie Rooney. 

#poolart #sideboardstyling #buffetstyling #consolestyling #vignettes #greenhouseinteriors #barcartstyling #shopthelook #bluehomedecor #poolumbrella #beachumbrella
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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Comments

  1. AvatarLexi says

    April 28, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    This is such a joy to look at. Those lobster orange tiles are a sight to behold. I love this home, and the departure from cookie cutter aesthetics to embrace a unique space that celebrates the best of 70s style interiors.

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      April 28, 2020 at 3:28 pm

      Isn’t it just? We’re glad you love it too!

      Reply
    • AvatarJoseph Hallock says

      April 11, 2022 at 11:07 pm

      I am a hardwood flooring contractor in North Carolina, USA. My client wants a floor like the one pictured in the kitchen here. Can you tell me what type of wood that is?

      Reply
  2. AvatarAlison says

    April 29, 2020 at 10:48 am

    LOVE this home! The flat roof rectangular houses of the 70s were so practical and just plain fabulous. I would happily own one of Pettit and Sevitt’s houses. This house reminds me of them.

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      April 29, 2020 at 10:54 am

      Glad you love it too, Alison!

      Reply

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