Monday
Feb012010
Retro returns!
Mon, 1 Feb 2010
... yes that's Ali McGraw in her late 70s pad
The scanner is fixed and my stock of retro design books replenished. At long long last it is the return of the retrolicious, the retro revolting and the retro just might be redeemable. Make up your own mind as I present for your delight and mortification scans from The Apartment Book, by the editors of Apartment Life magazine, Meredith Corporation, 1980. Who would have thought? Build your own 3 mannequin arm table (I have the instructions if you need them), corrugated cardboard as a blind and a hammock that never looked less appealing! (If you are new to Desire to Inspire and have never immersed yourself in my retro obsession click here to see all my previous posts ... if your dare.)
Reader Comments (20)
Oh, I have that book too: what an inspiration it was way-back-when! Much of it seems appallingly dated now, but so many of the ideas still work wonderfully, with tweaking, and there's a gorgeous old white & blue kitchen that I've always coveted!
There is something dreadfully wrong about that second last image. Very funny travelling back in time.
Plants everywhere! And looking as shabbily real as any couple lounging in their perms. Lynn is right -- you can find bits and pieces of the present hyper-cool hiding in the that-was-hip? past. The saddle stools. Graphic art. Natural textures. The appreciation of other cultures!
There is absolutely no excuse for animal-shaped cookie cutters as deco, of course. Or blatant product placement!
Wonderful pictures !!!!
Super ideeas, some of them...
Thanks ladies. :)
If the shelving were a color other than yellow, I'd say the last photo looks thoroughly modern.
LOVE the red floor task lamp in the 4th one.
Amazing pictures! I could totally live in ALi McGrew's living room.
step away from the scanner, put the book down!! oh my eyes!
just kidding.
note to self, purchase hammock, jim croce mustache, large plant and let the good times roll.
great post.
Ah, the late 70s! My first apartment(s). I had it all, white furniture, matchstick blinds, tribal prints... hmm, I still have some of that. Anyway, the only thing I didn't rock back then was the Ali McGraw headwrap. Which doesn't mean I didn't try it. Thanks for the nostalgia.
I love looking at old pics...Inspiring
Hooray! Love these!
Oh, these are great!! Keep 'em coming!
These pictures make me think of Three's Company:)
Great post. I love these. Its funny how clothing designers draw from the past so easily but you rarely see inspiration in these kinds of images. That blue cloud room for instance. Aye eye aye! Its like late 70's blue eye shadow. Hilarious. :)
Ali McGraw looks fab and timeless! Love her outfit and her living room.
Next to last photo has me singing " Skyrockets in flight (dum dum) afternoon de-light".
Wow, amazing pictures! I totally want the arm table in the third picture.
I recognized these pictures right away- I was a faithful subscriber to Apartment Life mag for years. I had some good ideas and I hated to see it go (although even back then it tended to be a little corny).
i really missed these posts.
i love how all the kitchens look like they'd fit in an old Woody Allen movie.
Oh my gosh..... I remember that Apartment Life spread on Ali McGraw. I thought she had the most incredible apartment and stuff. She collected all of the things I loved. Would be so curious to see her home now and how her collections have changed, or stayed the same.
Eileen @ livingtastefully.com
TROPICAL HOUSE PLANTS! They're the key to the period 1970-1979. They have almost entirely disappeared from decor photos now, which is probably why we can identify an interiors shot from the 70s in about a millisecond! I almost want to photoshop out the plants to prove my point. Oh, and framed posters. That's another one. But you know that little apartment kitchen is kind of cute. I love these retro posts - more please.