Local Life - Wigan - July 2019

30
Seventies Chic
Get your groove on – it’s back to the
Seventies! But this time around orange
pine and avocado bathrooms are banned,
in favour of good-looking furnishings,
bold patterns and cool accessories.
Seventies style is all about attitude.
Bright and bold, it’s easy to introduce,
often quite affordable and, because the
furnishings are so striking, less is definitely
more – a handful of well-chosen pieces
can be carefully integrated into a modern
scheme, adding an on-trend edge without
becoming overpowering.
Start with the distinctive Seventies colour
palette – in general colours were quite
earthy and muddy, from mustard and ochre to
camel, olive and chocolate. Like the patterns of the
time – geometrics such as circles within squares,
paisleys and simple florals – these strong shades are
best employed in small doses, mitigated by pale or
neutral backgrounds. Think small touches such as a
cushion or two, a drum lampshade, some glassware
and ceramics and a framed poster on your wall, for
example.
Typical of this decade is an element of comforting
homespun, home-made style, hence the prevalence
of handicrafts such as patchwork, weaving and
macramé. Why not take a course, or teach yourself
from books or online videos, and make your own,
personalised pieces? Failing that, Etsy, Folksy and
other online marketplaces have beautiful (and
affordable) craft pieces.
Include some wooden and, especially, rattan
furnishings in the form of blocky furniture made
of pine or covered in velvet or corduroy, and cane
elements such as headboards, mirror frames and
baskets. Try car boot sales, auctions or charity shops,
though choose better quality items to create the
right impression. A cream-coloured shagpile rug is
another option and can be subtly updated with a
Berber-style criss-cross pattern.
Houseplants are important, and the bigger the
better – no Seventies home was complete without a
Swiss cheese plant and a spider plant in a handmade
hanger. Complete the mix with some rustic
kitchenware, a touch of vintage Laura Ashley, and
perhaps even a beanbag or Moroccan pouffe.
Lava lamps
Edward Craven-Walker (1918-2000) was a great
British inventor, entrepreneur and eccentric. The
story goes that he was in a pub one
night when he noticed a peculiar egg
timer, made from a cocktail shaker, old
tins and wax, and filled with liquid.
Fascinated, he bought the contraption
and decided to try to improve on its
design. It took 15 years, but in 1963
the Astro Lamp was launched and
became an instant hit, appearing in TV
programmes including The Prisoner,
Doctor Who and The Avengers. Lava
lamps came in a range of designs,
and were ubiquitous until the late Seventies and
Eighties; they were revived in the Nineties and have
since become popular again – a retro classic that’s
perfectly suited to a 21st century lifestyle.