Making the most of our 50s/60s/70s homes

[Lelivre]

Following on from the 1974 thread here
...

This is for those with mid-century homes, trying to modernise or update them in a way that is sympathetic to that period.

There are a few of us out there, no lurking now, please join in!

Hopefully we can share ideas, products, gumtree/eBay/Carboot finds and other sources of inspiration. Also I hope, receive feedback on our plans and build enthusiasm for 'features' that others zealously take out!

For starters I enjoyed this article here

If you will; introduce yourselves, your homes and where you are with things

That's because I lost about an hour of my life ogling that gorgeous flat!! And searching eBay for room dividers...

I love those tiles...

Great thread! I had no idea IKEA did wallpaper.

Love the teal tiles!

God knows how much these cost, but I need some of these awesome tiles in my house:

www.neishacrosland.com/tiles

Can I join in too? (LOVE LOVE LOVE the sliding doors). We are in a late sixties townhouse - quite a few original features such as parquet floors, original doors and windows (this makes the house a little colder as now double glazing but it looks cool). The original garage and downstairs utility have been converted into a kitchen, which looks more modern than retro so I'm looking for some suitably sixties patterned tiles for above the sink. Also, the space by the window where the old garage door was is perfect for a sixties style dining booth (can't upload the picture for some reason).

For the bathroom I'm thinking a sideboard converted into a sink cabinet like so www.transitoinicial.com/2012/07/amplitud-visual.html (though not as big as our bathroom is teeny) and some geometric tiles. I also like this wallpaper www.grahambrown.com/uk/product/50-592/carnival#a but am a bit scared by its boldness.

Devora, your colour scheme sounds great. We have a few original panels outside our house and are thinking of deep orange, olive green, grey and mustard. I also really really want house numbers like these uncrate.com/stuff/neutraface-house-numbers/

Dining booth

I like that wallpaper - the Hemingway collection is all lovely and mid century. I have some for our living room.

Sprucegoose loving the wallpaper and house numbers, I may pinch both ideas. Please post when you find that style house number.

Spruce, do you know where to get those neutraface house numbers in the UK? They'd be perfect for our house.

Can I join too?

We bought our 1974 box in 2002. After a very difficult search for the 'right' house, we settled on one with our non-ngegotiables - it had to be detached and had to be extendable.

Like Apatite's, there were very few original features (just the downstairs loo with the most amazing taps). The house was brimming with awful 1980s features. Every surface was artexed, there was a horrible brick feature fireplace with TV plinth, the patio door was virtually welded shut.

I has taken 13 years, but we've finally got rid of all the artex and have just about finished the extension we intended to do when we first moved in.

We've got to do the kitchen (knock through the small kitchen into he big dining room and have an open plan kitchen diner). I'm giving myself a year off though...

I need a dining booth. And the Hemingway wallpaper.

Have seen some house numbers on amazon that are very similar to neutral numbers www.amazon.co.uk/Hillman-843219-5-Inch-Floating-Brushed/dp/B00P2OYV0Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1424974145&sr=8-6&keywords=hillman+group+house+number+brushed+nickel, but they don't seem to have all the numbers available.

www.modernhousenumbers.com post to the UK but not sure how much it costs (their palm springs font looks just like neutra, and they do lots of different sizes. They also do letters.) This site (again in the US) does proper neutra numbers www.dwr.com/product/neutra-number-aluminum.do. They also deliver to the UK.

Neutra numbers, not neutral!

Can I link to this website? I think she's fab - but I have to admit I know her :) Her house is a typical 70's one and she's made it look so stylish and interesting.

Just found them on eBay - £35 a pair with free delivery!

Thanks spruce. Though I've now fallen in love with the doorbell, mail slot and door mat too!

Oh. Link would help I suppose

www.katelovejoy.com/portfolio/retro-facelift/21

Ooh, marking place and joining in! We have recently moved into a four bed detached house built in 1960. We're loving the 60s/70s vibe (swirly brown carpet! Blue bathroom suite!) but I'm hoping we can eventually adapt into a lovely mid-century modern look. I'll be back later for a read of all the posts and links!

And here's another good looking blog, fully committed to mid century modern living:

modernfindings.com

Thanks TeddyBee. Didn't think to check ebay, doh.

We recently bought a 1970s townhouse we're very fond of!
I've had vision of 70s inspired design for ages, unfortunately don't have the budget to put them into practice but still enjoying this thread. At the moment the house is sort of partially modernised neutral, which is easy to live with but maybe a few accents here and there would be nice.

That Ikea wallpaper seems to have gone! Is it really not coming back?

Haven't time to read this now, so marking my place for later!

Thanks OP, and previous OP - this is exactly the kind of thread I was thinking about starting. We've moved into a late 60s, early 70s house and I want to knock it down and start again preserve what's best about it while updating it. Can't wait to settle down and read the thread.

Loving this thread too. Mid-century property porn here.

Ah yes, Luna. I frequently peruse the modern house, planning what I'll buy when I make my millions

Yes, no more Brakig :( I wish I'd bought some of the furniture :(