Before...during...and after : A mid-century modern makeover with a 70s vibe

The lounge as found on arrival at the 70s-designed property built in the early 80s... complete with 80s chintzy curtains, many holes in the wall, scraggy carpet and dodgy old gas fireplace (behind which we were to find mould and carbon dioxide staining). The redeeming features: through the picture window is a magnificent coastal view to one side, and across green, partly wooded hills and estuary to the other.

Here is the almost completed room, made good and repainted: Portland Stone Deep (Little Green Company) was used for the walls and radiators, and white for the woodwork, ceiling and door frame. Note the original frosted glass door (it also has a matching side-panel) sharing additional light with the landing area. It remains now for the carpet and underlay to be removed and replaced for a fresh makeover and some mid-century modern styling. Out of shot to the right, the gas fire was removed, the mould cleaned away and resultant hole filled in. The work was of course completed by a suitably Gas-Safe registered tradesman. Since the room has two very large radiators and tends to be a warm room, being an upstairs lounge, we did not feel the need to replace the additional source of heating.

The mid-century modern lounge, completed, at Blackbirds. The warm browns and leather corner sofa add a distinctly 70s flavour, underlined by the quirky addition of an original rug from the era for a pop of jollity. The overall look remains sophisticated, however, which was my aim for this house - proving that 70s can be exactly that when it's done right! The tile-topped coffee table was a local secondhand bargain at £40, and the tweedy small cushions were made from left over pieces of upholstery material and bought in our local Red Cross shop for £1.50 each... allowing us to splash out a bit on the London Transport Museum cushions made from original moquette fabric. The carpet and underlay have been completely replaced, though ironically we chose a similar hue to the worse-for-wear carpet found at the property, (a soft underfoot but hardwearing 'Biscuit' fitted by local flooring experts, JKS Flooring) indicating that this colour truly suits the room! Besides these specific items, the room comprises a mix of old and new elements, some of a sentimental nature, and a lot of books, not immediately visible in this shot. In my forthcoming work, 'Mid-Century Modern on a Shoestring & The Memory of Walls', more photography can be found of the whole room and further details on how the look was achieved. Watch this space!

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