1960s house

[TeaChocKitKat]

I've just had an offer accepted on a 1960s house. I'd always wanted something older but it's in a lovely spot and has lots of potential.
I've actually already got some furniture that has a bit of a mid centuary vibe so I'm thinking of embracing the period in future decorating. It needs a lot of decorating as it's very tired in places.
Where can I look for 1950s/60s inspiration? Not sure where to start - excited though!!!

Slightly newer property but my DS has a 1970s house and has embraced that. They've done it slowly and just found pieces that fit

We did that - bought a 1960s house and embraced it subtly. We discovered a beautiful parquet floor under the hideous orange carpet in the hall - just needed a few blocks replacing then a sand and wax. Our hideous varnished open-tread staircase has been given a new lease of life thanks to paint-stripper, sanding and wax (and new uprights below the bannister). Those are the only 'original features' we have left, but a lot of our furniture is mid-century. Ladderax is a particular favourite! We bought a Gplan table on ebay, a sideboard and chairs from a second-hand place, and our lovely Ladderax unit from a local seller.

Check out Mustard Vintage for some great restored pieces.

There's so much to love about 1960s houses - nice square rooms, often pretty big windows, and good use of available space. We love ours. Our estate of 60s/70s houses now looks pretty good, with most people having brought them up to date slightly - new windows (mix of white and the (hated on here for no good reason) grey) - all the faux-mahogany has gone, some part rendering on some houses which breaks up the sea of brick, modern/composite front doors... you get the picture!

Enjoy the doing-up process.

Have a look on Instagram for mid century.

I love that style, our house was built in the late and am getting bits and bobs from charity shops.

There's a great Facebook group "Vintage, MCM Furniture and Curios UK".
I knew about Ercol furniture etc, but have had my eyes opened to chinaware, glass, clocks etc.

Also auction houses often have lots of retro furniture and items.

I'd love a Gplan sideboard! It's going to be a big mortgage so will need to look out for second hand bargains.

I'm not sure what to do with the existing fireplace. There's also a lot of wood paneling in the sitting room which makes it feel quite dark but it's duel aspect so could be a lovely bright room.

Look at Ercol. EBay usually has lots for sale. I’m sure you could find design books with the 60s style. Amazon is often worth a look.

A good place to look is also old Habitat designs and info about Terrance Conran. Plenty of design books about him. The Conran shop was a big influence. Some of their stock from the 60s are design classics. Habitat sometimes copied older styles but updated to keep prices lower.

Carl Hansen has the Danish iconic designs you will probably love, as designed by Hans Wegner. We had copies of his designs at home in the 60s. (In teak!) GPlan was popular as it lasted but Heals furniture and stock was far more fashionable. The 60s was known for bright geometric wallpaper and you could also look for Whirefriars glass, Denby and Poole Pottery. Have fun.

(Bibs went in for glamour and velvet but it didn’t translate to homes)

I envy you. Mix century is my favourite period and I was lucky enough to inherit my parents’ furniture that they bought in 1967. It’s Priory which is an Ercol dupe, it’s not very well known so you may find some bargains. I had my mum’s “ladies chair” reupholstered.

Fortunately some of the prints at the time are available for soft furnishings, like this Dunelm one. They do curtains and blinds In about three or four colours.

www.dunelm.com/product/elements-emmott-reversible-teal-duvet-cover-and-pillowcase-set-1000185395

I’ve also bought a lot of 6s/70s ornamental coloured glass pieces over the years which look lovely with mid century furniture.

I have a 70s chalet bungerlow. I love a mid century home.

We've gone very modern with our home and I think there is only the staircase left that's original.

My grandpa was an architect in the 50s -80s. He built his own home which was a gorgeous mid century master piece. I've always loved this style because of that house.

So glad you're embracing the mid century! We have just bought a mid century house that has been modernised (fair enough, due to an extension) but we are desperate to put all the character back in with some parquet flooring and we might even attempt to get the original brick back (RAF brick).

Themodernhouse is a national estate agents that sell loads of mid century homes, and wowhauser on instagram has loads of great inspiration.

If you’ve dark wood panelling have it sand or air blasted back to the original pale oak.

Pop round to my mum's house. Dad and she bought it off plan in 1966 and she still lives there. When I'm watching Call The Midwife the doctor's house reminds me of it. The large windows (which were single glazed when I was a child); open plan layout and open tread stairs with wooden slats for bannisters rather than spindles and a rail.
Chairs like this were popular. Also side tables with spindly metal legs.

I so envious! What a great project you have there.

My grandparents lived in Germany and Norway in the 1950s/60s. I remember from my childhood the gorgeous scandi textiles and china at christmas. They had some lovely furniture too - classic gplan etc.

When my Gpa died 15 years ago, no one wanted any of this. I have some glass and china, but I look back and just wish I had it all now...

My fil has a beautiful ercol dining set with six chairs. It's as good as new even though it's about 50 years plus. No modern furniture will last that long.

I have a 70s house.

I have lots of macrame plant hangers and vintage clocks/signs/weird shit.

Watch lots of 60s movies and make notes of what you like.

I love 1960-70s houses. Don’t get older houses! Look at houses on the Modern House website for inspiration

Lots of useful suggestions. I'm feeling really excited now!

My house is from 1971 and I love it. Lots of large rectangular rooms, lovely big windows for all my plants, lots of store cupboards. We have the original dark wooden banister on the staircase and a canopy over the back door, and that’s about it. Downstairs we have mustard yellow and blue colour schemes which are a nod to the ‘70s. Lots of mid century style plant stands, and rattan plant holders, some kitchenware from the ‘70s like tea and coffee caddies and a retro clock in the kitchen. Have a look on eBay for a few original pieces and use them as basis for a colour palette or a scheme.

And I think a huge cheese plant is a must OP

Ooh how exciting, I live in a late sixties architect designed house which is very quirky. Luckily and unluckily (depending on how you view it), it literally hadn’t been touched since the build.

One big tip is keep at least some of the panelling. I ummed and aahed about keeping it but so glad we did, if you check out Insta there are some seriously amazing 60’s houses and they have the bare brick/wood ceiling/wood panelling and had we got rid I’d have been so fed up.

There are a good few house projects on Insta featuring sixties houses, we all comment on eachothers with much envy. One I saw the other day had an original terrazzo floor and I could’ve cried with envy, we have concrete!

The only downsides are open plan living sometimes has downsides and the big windows whilst light aren’t great for insulation. Ours are single pane floor to ceiling original non standard sized crittal, loath to get rid but not great for cost of living crisis!

On the whole I love living in a 60s house, it enables much auction addiction and bright colours - artwork and colour will be really key, some go very minimal and pared down which looks great whilst the rest use tons of orange (that’s me).