One of our stops while I was with Kate in CA, was the Petaluma Antiques Faire, an outdoor street fair going on that same weekend I was visiting. One of Kate’s favorite places to browse is Vintage Style, a retro and vintage home decor shop with lots of things that brought back memories for me. As a child of the 60’s and a teen of the 70’s, I remember all of these things that are now coming back into vogue. And that cracks me up, to see that what was old is new again.
What does that say about moi? I’m old and new again too. 🙂
If you are in the area, stop by Vintage Style and see for yourself.
How about this retro 60’s sofa. I so remember sofas like this, do you?
We got in a fun discussion with the shop owner about these 60’s style chairs. Kate thought they would be fun covered in white vinyl, but I couldn’t see past their ugly. I’m afraid I saw so much fake leather during the 60’s and 70’s that I never want to see it again. These orange lovelies wouldn’t make it home with me. Check out their ornate bases too.
What do you think? Are these worth reviving?? 🙂
He did have some lovely prints, like these bird pretties.
And these are new, made to look old, but I loved the vibe they have with burlap and botanicals.
Loved this lamp and the old window behind it.
Taking a break outside.
We then stopped in a neat old book store and checked out their old decorating books. We were about to bust a gut laughing over some of the books we found, with old design trends.
Let’s take a look and see what might come back around again!
Now, these ruffled and foofy valances are not that old of a trend. Remember in the 80’s and early 90’s how these were so popular? Stuffing them with tissue paper held them up perky and cute, balloon valances were the bomb. I remember loving them SO MUCH. Now, no way!
How about a matching suite of a floral bedspread, shams, throw pillows, swags and jabots and drapes on the windows and last but not least: don’t forget the matching floral border!! Back then, I thought this was a pretty snazzy look too. Thank goodness we have all come a long way baby!
This one was Kate’s fave. She was all over it! We laughed so hard we cried right there on the floor of the bookstore. How about some Haven classes featuring these beautiful decorating how-to’s?
What do you think, hit or bomb? 🙂
Another foofy and floral window treatment. I am so glad the trend has gotten so much more simple and casual. This was too much of a good thing.
The rosette! Oh, how I remember the rosettes from the 80’s. I know you remember how popular those were? Homemade rosettes pinned onto the drapes. We thought they were SO PURDY! Oh my, how funny they are now.
This was my personal fave, because it hasn’t been all that many years since my mother and I had the tank covers going on. I still had a lid cover just a few years ago and finally got rid of all the furry creatures on my commode. I have to laugh about it now. What in the world possessed us to do that? I think it is more prevalent in the South. Raise your hand if you still have a cover on your toilet lid or a sweater on the whole tank?
OK, girls: time to take them off, it’s a lot more sanitary that way. This lovely brown 70’s bathroom is a relic now, thank heavens!! Don’t miss the carpet on the floor too.
How about a matching bikini to go with your outdoor swing? Canopy, cushions and swimsuits should ALL match you know! We were all about color coordination back then.
So, I hope you enjoyed this stroll through bad decorating decades with Kate and I. We got such a good laugh over these books and I hope you did too.
What is your worst 70’s decorating nightmare? Can you relate to any of these pics too?? Do tell!
Wouldn’t it be interesting to make notes NOW about what we are all crazy about this year that will look SO DUMB a few years from now?
What do you think that will be? Let’s dish design fads!
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Hey Rhoda, funny post. Ya know? I’m not gonna diss too much on the decor of decades gone by. THAT was the style back then…we all loved it!! And you’re correct, today’s style is much more simple. And I’d be willing to bet, that 20-30 years from now, we will all look back at today and wonder “What were we thinking???”
But it is fun to look back and see how things have certainly changed.
Morning Rhoda,
Looks like you and Kate and such a wonderful and fun time. I can’t wait to meet both of you at Haven!!
I am right there with you on all the ‘vintage’ stuff….I have to laugh when I think of that term. Being the age I am (57) everything in my closet is most likely considered ‘vintage’ Ha! Guess that makes my man vintage also..he..he
I think when we look back 20-30 years from now we will be appalled and laugh about all the cardboard toilet paper roll creations (I still don’t get that trend) and all those sunburst mirrors made out of crazy components.
I enjoyed shopping with you ladies.
Janet xox
http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/
Some trends need to stay in the past Rhoda!!lol….My worst 70s nightmare was a green plaid sofa that I thought was just beautiful in 1977! It was our first major furniture purchase from Sears! Now I know not to follow trends and stick to things that last forever!
Hi Rhoda,
This post was hilarious! We must be about the same age. I remember a bentwood rocker that I purchased in the 70s, except it wasn’t made of wood. It was black with a shiny chrome bottom! It thought it was really high style, matching that black Naugahyde sofa that I had! What was I thinking?
so what happens to all this ‘styling’ stuff – fabric, pics, etc? (a lot of it is still in my mom’s house – LOL) Looking at those photos affirms my commitment to no window treatments (I have plantation shutters only). Just as soon as I hung curtains they would go “out”. Less dust catchers and saving my $$. 🙂
Oh! My only argument with my father-in-law so far was his want to put fuzzy toilet covers (pink!) on the utterly gorgeous new bathroom we’ve just created. Glass mosaic tiles, soaker tub…and pink, fuzzy, fake fur. cringe.
When my parents bought our house, they were thrilled to learn it had been featured in a magazine. I sure wish we had a copy, so I could show everyone the wild 1970’s style.
In 1973, we had white vinyl covered chairs with smoked plexiglass backs, around our pedestal breakfast nook table. My mom was so excited. I think she passed that set on to one of my friends during college, when she replaced it with cane and chrome. That was replaced with wood, which she has now. You’re bringing back memories, Rhoda.
Your post is too funny! I was just thinking about the candleholders that my church youth group made in the late 70s–using golden glass ASH-TRAYS!!! Very hip! We took four of them, turned them on their sides, and glued away… Now that was creative (haha!) : )
Remember the avocado green kitchens? They were a bit much for me. Some of the more stream lined 70’s decor like the lamps I like.
Oh my, the puffy floral valances! They were the height of style back in the day. I still like floral but in a vintage, understated way…. a lot less poof and no tissue paper involved. 🙂 I always look through those dated home decor books wondering what we’ll be saying about our current style in about 20 years. The science of trends and our perception of “pretty” is fascinating.
Our “starter home” had this long rectangular room attached to the kitchen for the “great room” effect. Brown was so popular in the late 70’s that I picked brown vinyl for the floor in that super large room. Having never owned a home before and buying a “spec” home led us to buy a house with the kitchen and great room facing west (in AZ). It was soooo hot! So we proceeded to put up plantation style shutters on the kitchen window – guess what color – super dark stained BROWN. At least it all matched our gold/brown/orange sofa. Gotta luv it!
Change…..a reality and fact of every decade. The fact is, there may be some readers who are doing the best they can with what they have and are limited in finances and time to make all the changes they dream of. To me, encouraging contentment is something our country needs a good dose of. Making changes where we can, rearranging things, simple changes which you do so well Rhoda, THAT is your strength…..I just prefer that spirit.
Hi, Toni, thanks for your comment. In no way, is this post meant as disrespectful to anyone. My own mother is so content with all her 70’s stuff & I admire that. She could care less about all the design trends. This post is fun, tongue in cheek, & a way to laugh at how we fall for trends every decade. I’m quite sure that all the shabby painted furniture that is so popular right now will be laughed at in a few years. That’s just the way it is in decorating fads. I hope that is how this post is taken, just for fun!
Thanks Rhoda for your reply. I knew that you were poking fun…..I think I was feeling for the young woman (not me,I’m not young :o) who might read the blog, and still have some of the same things in her home and might feel “less than”. That was my concern. I did chuckle at the “fuzzy toilet” seat covers…..I had them too for a long time. I dare say when future archaeologists excavate our civilization they will probably conclude we were dirt poor from all the chippy furniture! Just like my teenage son, who 15 years ago while touring the Palace of Versaille in Paris said in response to all the gilded gold everywhere, “these people had way too much time on their hands”.
Cute post and looks like you had fun reliving the ‘past’!! My worst design nightmare…SHAG CARPET IN GOLD, GREEN, ORANGE!! And I even had a “rake” to fluff!!!
Rhoda, I read your blog faithfully, but rarely comment. However, today’s post was such a blast that I had to comment. We must be about the same age. I was born in 1960. So, I was also a teenager in the 70s. I am also a daughter of the deep south and I so remember most of the above. The boxy sofa that was always uncomfortable…the orange vinyl-covered lovelies…the fuzzy toilet covers (thankfully, my mom didn’t do that…but my friends’ moms did) and the most fun example for me…the outdoor swing! I wish I”d thought to buy a matching bikini! And, of course, I well remember the excessive floral and fabric window treatments of the 80s . I didn’t do the rosettes or swags & jabots (which my Jackson, MS grandmother had beginning in the 1950s) but, I did love balloon shades. I had them in my daughters’ nurseries in the 80s. So funny! We may look back in 20 years and laugh at today’s styles, but I doubt it will be quite this funny because nothing now is that excessive. And, lastly, this teenager of the 70s needs to wear my glasses constantly….because when I first read Janet Metzger’s post I thought she said she can’t wait to meet you in HEAVEN. That was a bit of a shock! LOL. This one was pure fun. Thanks.
Oh my, I’m giggling again, all that matchy floral fouf!!! Yes, you’re right, thank goodness we’ve toned down our roman shades and made them a little less ‘stuffed’ !! Another great post that reminded me of our good times, and I stand by my “they’d look great in white leather” idea… just you wait, you’ll spy them someday soon redone in a shelter mag and people will say, aren’t those just like those 70s swivel chairs I saw on Southern Hospitality? Those antique brass bases are da bomb!
xo miss you tons
Kate
http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.255383769.jpg
We must never forget our grandmother’s unwillingness to have naked toilet paper in the 1960-1970’s. This link shows one picture… but OH how I wish it showed the one in my head that looks like a cross between Aunt Jemima and the lady with the fruit basket on her head. How lovely. Those and the macrame plant hangers kept our homes STYLISH.
Oh my gosh, those valances stuffed with tissue!!!!! It pains me to think of all the frou frou from days of yore! Gag. Thanks for the laugh!
I think I’m old and new again, too, Rhoda! LOVE that!
I enjoyed these pictures of decorating styles we have lived through. And yes, those tank and seat covers were a constant in my mother’s and her friends’ homes! I think we probably even had them when we first married.
I enjoyed this walk through my past, too. I think I could live with the poufs of my young adulthood, more than the gold shag carpeting of my youth. My parents actually allowed me to choose long PINK shag for my bedroom. I think all of the burlap that is popular now won’t last long. Painted furniture may last. I think gray will go out quickly, too. Fun post!
Here’s my take on it — we’re not vintage, we’re the living version of Mid-Century Modern!