70s house: “Decorating a home takes time” | Design Stories (2024)

Inspired by the architecture of the house, Elisabeth and Roar’s decor is a modern interpretation of the 1970sstyle. Located in Eidsvoll, Norway, the residence has been gradually transformed into a home where the past and the present blend together harmoniously.

Residents:

Elisabeth Ønseth, Roar Aarnes and their three cats. The house is located in Eidsvoll, 70 km north-east from Oslo, Norway, and has 384 square meters. The architect-designed house was built in 1969.

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WHEN ELISABETH ØNSETH and her partner Roar Aarnes moved into the detached house from 1969 in Eidsvoll, Norway, a few years ago, they had a clear starting point for their renovation: time.


“Over the years I have learned that it takes time to settle in a new home. With this house, we have been in no hurry with it. This way the home becomes a more well-rounded whole than if you buy everything new and right away,”Elisabeth says.

The couple shares the 384-square-meter home with their three cats - a bit of a challenge considering that the couple chose to install carpeting in the living room. Scratch marks and cat hairs are a daily nuisance, but Elisabeth does not mind.


“Over the years I have learned that it takes time to settle in a new home.”


“We have to vacuum often and may also need to replace the carpet in a few years. But, regardless, I think would like to have carpeting in the bedroom as well. I am not so fond of consistent flooring, I like textures and playfulness - using different materials to create separate areas in the home.”

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As the owner and founder of her interior styling company Studio Ønseth, Elisabeth works with interiors on a daily basis, and also in her own home, every detail seems planned. When the couple moved in, they took down several walls to get a more open floor plan. Two previously separate rooms were transformed into a big kitchen area and the wall between the dining room and the kitchen was knocked down.

In order to preserve some of the original soul of the house, some details, like the decorative teak wall and sliding doors, were preserved. Vintage ceramics on shelves and tables also act as connectors between the past and the present.

”I love vintage and flea market finds, things that give a home some character.”


“I love vintage and flea market finds, things that give a home some character. I am also concerned about sustainability and therefore we have, among other things, chosen a kitchen in bamboo.”

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Elisabeth is also fond of colors. ’70s-inspired rusty colors and muddy shades are among her favorites, colors that also fit the house's architecture. The idea is, at some point, to paint all white walls with another color.

A relaxing spa feeling has been created in the bathroom by using darker colors.


“I find darker colors calming,” says Elisabeth. This is also reflected in the house’s newly-built bathroom: with black walls and a sand-colored micro-cement floor and shower, the objective has been to induce a relaxing spa feeling in the bathroom.

Elisabeth is very pleased with the result. Now, the only thing left is the attic.


“We have a big attic that we want to renovate. Itwill be our next project. The plan is to build four bedrooms there.”

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Production: House of Pictures Text: Linn Carin Dirdal Photos: Filippa Tredal Translation: Emmi Ratilainen

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FAQs

What home decor style was the 70s? ›

"The '70s would not be complete without some shag carpet, brown or bulbous shaped pieces of furniture, sunken living rooms, macrame or artwork with rope or rope-like details, poppy colors, and wood walls," says Liu.

What is the design period of the 70s? ›

In this decade, typography was used to combined with photography to create attractive graphics. Everything was bold and bright. Elements such as 3D styles and large letterings were the standard. The postmodernist design also began to emerge in the 1970s.

How would you describe 70s design? ›

Funky and Groovy: A 70s Aesthetic. Picture this: bell bottoms, shag rugs, mustaches, and late-night disco. Graphic spirals and flowers, neatly stacked onto wallpaper in a smoky lounge. A whole new world of warm-hued, full-color photographs in magazines, swaying and sparkling to soulful tunes.

How might a set designer create a 1970s living room? ›

As well as conveying the setting, the set design should suggest the period. of the play. For example, a play set in a living room in the 1970s could feature yellow and browns within the patterned walls and floors and large retro furniture associated with the era.

What is 70's interior design? ›

70s colours such as mustard, burgundy, burnt orange, and even lime green were some of the ways that homeowners adorned these spaces. It was a casual space that brought in a sense of earthiness, with dark wood cabinetry dominating the scene, along with skylights, windows, and plants.

What did 1970s house look like? ›

Fantastic wallpapers, crazy colour combinations and textured carpets come to mind when thinking about 1970s homes. Most of these will have long been updated, but the typical features of the houses as such remain. Styles include 'colonial', 'ranch', 'Mediterranean' and 'contemporary'.

What influenced 70s interior design? ›

While this will vary across the world, the 70s decor and design that we're all familiar with were inspired by freedom, and homes were centred around open-plan living, natural materials, comfortable textures, and lively colours.

What is 70s style architecture called? ›

Examples of Late Modernism (including Glass Skin architecture), Brutalism, New Formalism, and Late Expressionism—in some cases, designed in the 1960s and not completed until the following decade—were built well into the 1970s.

What was the style in the 70s? ›

The 1970s began with a continuation of the hippie look from the 1960s, giving a distinct ethnic flavor. Popular early 1970s fashions for women included Tie dye shirts, Mexican 'peasant' blouses, folk-embroidered Hungarian blouses, ponchos, capes, and military surplus clothing.

How to make a 1970s house look good? ›

6 Ideas for Updating a 1970s House

Change your trim — Whether that means replacing it with something new or simply painting over it, choose a brighter stain or color for a modernizing effect. Replace your flooring — Replace any shag carpet or grungy laminate flooring with something fresh and clean, like hardwood.

What did 70s outfits look like? ›

Satin Slip Dresses

Popular disco clothing styles include shiny satin slips, spandex leotards and bodysuits, sequin dresses and jumpsuits, hot pants, and fur coats. Diana Ross' glamorous silk maxi dresses, lavish jewelry, and oversized fur coats were the epitome of 70s disco chic.

What influenced 70s style? ›

Few other decades have produced as many fashion trends as the 1970s. Not only was the hippie look popular at the time, but the emerging disco culture, women's movement, and various youth cultures also set the tone for the decade, as did synthetic materials, whose style elements can still be found in fashion today.

How to style a 70s room? ›

For an authentic color palette, combine both warm and cool shades. A typical 70s color scheme included orange, yellow, and teal. Always opt for warm woods like traditional oak. While brown was by far the most popular neutral back then, you can easily incorporate some modern greys.

How can I make my room look 70s? ›

Earthy Tones and Warm Hues

Earthy tones like avocado green, harvest gold, and warm browns were staples of 70s bedroom design. These colors created a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for relaxation and comfort. They also reflected the era's fascination with nature and the great outdoors.

How to create a vintage home decor? ›

Focus on One Space First

You don't need big pieces right off the bat. Just start small when decorating with antique and vintage items! Choose one room—or even one corner—and craft your design around that area. It could be as simple as starting with a decorative armchair and slowly adding pieces around it.

What is 70s style called? ›

Disco took over fashion for everyone in the mid-late '70s. Disco styles for women included jersey wrap dresses, tube tops, sequined shirts, spandex shorts, and high slit skirts with boots or chunky heels. John Travolta's character in Saturday Night Fever is a perfect example of Disco style for men.

What style was popular in the 70s? ›

The 1970s began with a continuation of the hippie look from the 1960s, giving a distinct ethnic flavor. Popular early 1970s fashions for women included Tie dye shirts, Mexican 'peasant' blouses, folk-embroidered Hungarian blouses, ponchos, capes, and military surplus clothing.

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