1980s Interior Design Spotlight: Florida Real Estate

It’s the start of a new week, and I’m excited to share today’s image-packed post with you! First I’d like to begin by thanking ’80s interior design expert Skylar Strickland, who you will remember from a Mirror80 interview we published back in August of 2013. Skylar has recently launched a 1980s interior design Tumblr called 80s Heaven, which features a range of retro-fabulous images, including many real estate photos of ’80s-built houses. What sets this Tumblr apart? Skylar’s detailed notes for each image, which really help familiarize design enthusiasts with 1980s trends. Which brings us to today’s post…

When Skylar got in touch with me earlier this month and shared a wide array of real estate photos of Florida homes built in the 1980s, I knew I wanted to feature them in an extensive ’80s design post. What are some trends you’re likely to see in houses that were built in the ’80s and haven’t changed much since? Mirrors (especially mirrored walls in the bathroom), gold-toned accents, vertical blinds, metallic mini blinds, garden windows, wallpaper (much of it AMAZING) and plush carpeting, to name a few.

And when it comes to the Florida homes that are Skylar’s focus, expect a plethora of outdoor pools, many of which are surrounded by tropical plants and greenhouse-style windows. I could fill an additional post with outdoor images alone, and I just might! Moving back indoors, let’s check out more photos, grouped below by room category…

’80s Bathrooms

Skylar is quick to point out that bathrooms are the spaces least likely to be remodeled in these ’80s-built homes, so you often find them in their original state. With that said, it seems fitting to start today’s post by featuring powder rooms. What are some bathroom trends to keep an eye out for? Wallpaper, glass block, black tile, gold faucets and knobs, and the extensive use of mirrors are a few features that consistently show up in powder rooms from the 1980s. Here are a few of my favorite spaces:

1980s Living Rooms

When it comes to his detailed Tumblr notes, it’s clear that Skylar Strickland enjoys sharing his knowledge of ’80s design with other retro interior enthusiasts. He claims, “A lot of people just look at a photo and see that it’s ’80s,’ but they can’t articulate why; I think it would be useful for people interested in 80s architecture and decorating to know WHAT is so unique in these photos.”

He continues, “For example, the photo below highlights the following 80s features: high vaulted ceilings, an all-white (ceiling/walls/floor) minimalist color scheme that avoids “earth tones”, clerestory windows (big in south Florida in the 80s), vertical blinds, abstract postmodernist geometric art, diffuse custom soffit lighting, outdoor plants in indoor planters, an uncluttered minimalist amount of furniture and artwork, recessed can lighting, and strong angular geometric architecture (especially where the walls and ceilings meet).”

Here are a few more living room photos to admire:

’80s Kitchens and Dining Rooms

When homes are listed on sites such as Trulia, the quality of the photos can vary. When Skylar first told me about his passion for collecting images of ’80s-built homes from real estate listings, I wondered how many great pictures of 1980s-style interiors could possibly be out there. Surprisingly, there are a LOT. In fact, the images I’m sharing with you today are just the tip of the iceberg. Check out the kitchens and dining spaces below, which feature trends such as neutral tones (especially cream and beige), black appliances, modern wallpaper, and plants:

1980s Bedrooms

One benefit of regularly browsing real estate photos is the ability to see how quintessential ’80s trends are incorporated into real-life homes. When you look through enough of these images, you naturally begin to recognize trends from the Decade of Decadence, especially since you’re seeing these trends in action. I’ll end today’s post with a trio of ’80s bedrooms that will inspire sweet dreams. Especially when trends such as mirrored walls, designer window treatments, vertical blinds, plush carpeting and black lacquered furniture are involved.

A special thank-you to Skylar Strickland for making this post possible! If you’re interested in browsing even more ’80s-built homes, Skylar suggests starting with Trulia.com and searching cities in southeast Florida within one hour of Miami. Setting the filter for specific years is also helpful, and Skylar enjoys homes built between 1980-1984. Be sure to check out his retro-fabulous Tumblr 80s Heaven, which is packed with eye-catching spaces and detailed information that will familiarize you with key trends from the 1980s. Enjoy!