HOLD the paint brushes - your old 1970s wallpaper or 1950s bathroom may well be a selling point when it comes to putting your house on the market.
Do a search under ''retro'' in realestate.com.au and you will find dozens of agents highlighting original features from the 1950s, 60s and 70s in their marketing.
Adelaide interior design duo Cain Rumbelow and Markus Hamence say they get plenty of requests for makeovers with a retro influence.
''Retro style has a lot of colour and a pop, mod feel to it - it's especially popular with young people and it's never really gone out of fashion,'' Mr. Hamence says.
''We're actually doing up a pool room in retro style for a client at the moment. We're having lots of fun creating furniture from recycled tin drums for it.'' Mr. Rumbelow advises anyone interested in buying and ''doing up'' a traditional 1950s to 70s home in retro style to start by having a good look at the furnishings already in place.
''Start by studying the paint colours, wallpaper and curtains. Curtains will probably be old and moth eaten so you'll want to replace them. But make a note of the textures and colours that have been used and try to replicate that.'' He says light fittings, in particular, are something many renovators are too quick to replace.
''A lot of those 1960s and 70s brass light fittings actually come up really well with a good polish and can add real character to your home. So don't be in a hurry to throw them out.''
Mr. Hammence says the one thing you definitely can get rid of is retro carpet.
''Old carpet's just hideous and you can't really recreate the colours and textures of yesteryear so you're better off just cutting your losses there,'' he says.
''I'd tend to go for polished floorboards if you can, perhaps with some bright rugs thrown in. The duo recommends getting creative with recycled furniture and artworks when it comes to furnishing your retro home. ''Things like old 1950s Coca Cola signs can look great,'' Mr. Hamence says.
Most of all they say take your time on your upgrade, studying coffee table books and spending time looking for furniture and furnishings in boutiques and op shops.
Do a search under ''retro'' in realestate.com.au and you will find dozens of agents highlighting original features from the 1950s, 60s and 70s in their marketing.
Adelaide interior design duo Cain Rumbelow and Markus Hamence say they get plenty of requests for makeovers with a retro influence.
''Retro style has a lot of colour and a pop, mod feel to it - it's especially popular with young people and it's never really gone out of fashion,'' Mr. Hamence says.
''We're actually doing up a pool room in retro style for a client at the moment. We're having lots of fun creating furniture from recycled tin drums for it.''
Mr. Rumbelow advises anyone interested in buying and ''doing up'' a traditional 1950s to 70s home in retro style to start by having a good look at the furnishings already in place.
''Start by studying the paint colours, wallpaper and curtains. Curtains will probably be old and moth eaten so you'll want to replace them. But make a note of the textures and colours that have been used and try to replicate that.''
He says light fittings, in particular, are something many renovators are too quick to replace.
''A lot of those 1960s and 70s brass light fittings actually come up really well with a good polish and can add real character to your home. So don't be in a hurry to throw them out.''
Mr. Hammence says the one thing you definitely can get rid of is retro carpet.
''Old carpet's just hideous and you can't really recreate the colours and textures of yesteryear so you're better off just cutting your losses there,'' he says.
''I'd tend to go for polished floorboards if you can, perhaps with some bright rugs thrown in. The duo recommends getting creative with recycled furniture and artworks when it comes to furnishing your retro home.
''Things like old 1950s Coca Cola signs can look great,'' Mr. Hamence says.
Most of all they say take your time on your upgrade, studying coffee table books and spending time looking for furniture and furnishings in boutiques and op shops.
Source:
http://www.perthnow.com.au/realestate/news/expert-tips-on-retro-home-makeovers/story-fnhlgrd1-1226763164281