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Love it or loathe it, the 1970s had a style all of its own.
Think earthy colour palettes, bold florals, timber panelling and shaggy carpets, not to mention all the quirky bits and bobs that could be found around the home.
However, while many homes and people have left the decade far behind, Tatura’s Russell Smith has embraced it.
Purchasing his 1970s home a mere five years ago, Russell decided that rather than trying to renovate it, he’d run with it — and that’s exactly what he’s done.
Today, his property not only boasts a north-facing design and an array of natural light throughout on his long and narrow block, but is also somewhat of a ’70s museum.
He’s preserved its charm perfectly and, from the front door to the back, it’s like stepping back in time.
“When I first looked at it, I thought, ‘Oh man, all this timber panelling,’” Russell said with a smile.
“I knew I could rip it all out and spend an absolute fortune plastering it all, but the ceiling heights were low and certain other elements were going to be really challenging and expensive to change.
“I think when people lean into things like this, rather than trying to change them, you can actually get a better result.
“People that see it actually sort of love it. I think for some people it could be a bit too much because there’s a lot going on, but they’re either into it or they’re not.”
When Russell talks about the challenging aspects of the property that would be difficult to change, he was referring to the endless amount of built-in furnishings.
And he wasn’t fabricating those challenges.
Let’s just say, if you didn’t have much furniture, you wouldn’t need it.
The storage solutions are incredible, but yes, removing all of these built-in furnishings could really open up a whole new set of issues.
“Everything is built in and to match,” he said.
“The beauty is it makes it clean and uncluttered.
“My partner always jokes with me about my house being so neat. It’s handy having a lot of storage and places to hide things,” he added with a laugh.
Admitting his partner and he were very different when it came to their interior design styles, she is a minimalist, he somewhat of a collector, Russell said if they ever did move in together, there would be no way their styles could merge.
Although, he added with a smile, that maybe he was slowly rubbing off on her.
“She used to only have one lamp, now she might have six,” Russell joked.
“I love lamps and soft lighting.”
Russell also loves lots of quirky things, but in saying that, most of those quirky pieces are true reflections of the 1970s.
They are what help bring the era to life throughout the home, creating a space that feels like a step back in time, while still being very much Russell’s own.
From fluro-coloured Tupperware and an old computer to artworks, earthy brown and orange tones, vintage furniture, collector’s items and a large selection of plants, every corner reveals another piece of the past.
It truly feels like a wondrous space showcasing the years gone by, where memories, collections and character all come together.
Even the bathroom remains true to the era, continuing the home’s unmistakable retro charm.
“I think I counted once that there were more than 100 plants,” Russell said.
“Everything has just come together over the years, and I’ve been able to decorate it exactly how I’ve wanted to.
“This home is purely me.”
Rather than seeing the home’s original features as something to replace, Russell believes they are what make it special.
His advice to others looking at older properties is to consider what can be celebrated, rather than immediately changed.
“Think about the money that you’re going to spend and where you’re really going to get the bang for your buck that increases your living, your quality of life and enjoyment,” Russell said.
“You can spend $20,000 or $30,000 re-plastering, repainting and re-carpeting, but is that really different?
“Spend $10,000 on nice furniture, all the things that you want, and go on a couple of trips.”
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