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A New Take on ’80s Interior Design

April 9, 2012 by Kate Leave a Comment

A teal update on 1980s design

Benjamin Moore paint meets a Minotti love seat

When I first launched Mirror80, I would tell people I was covering 1980s design, and there would inevitably be a joke about teal and mauve color schemes. Of course, that didn’t stop me from using both colors in my logo! But over time, these notorious shades are starting to lose their stigma. Especially teal. Today we show you how this color is making a powerful comeback. For real!

It makes sense that a hue of blue-green a few shades away from aqua would eventually reemerge. Why wouldn’t it? The key in making this color work is using its power for good. There’s nothing like a rich teal room with a crisp white border. Hues like peacock blue are back. What’s stopping teal? Nothing! Above we see an excerpt from a Benjamin Moore paint sample collection (via Materials-World.com). To the right of this color grid is the Andersen Lovechair from Minotti. Great form, and a fabulous color that reminds me of the top of a pool table. What’s not to love?!

Interior Design by Nina Campbell

Interior Design by Nina Campbell

The image above is from the website of interior designer Nina Campbell. In fact, this picture inspired today’s blog post. There is something exquisite about the way the room merges 1980s motifs in an undeniably contemporary way. First we have the teal color. Why it works: teal on teal design choices saturate the room with this blue-green shade, making a strong statement that is breathtaking. Teal walls, teal trim, plush teal love seat. Throw in a painting of lilies against a black background and the elegance is palpable.

Are you tempted by the teal love seat above? Below we take another look at the Andersen Lovechair from Minotti. Its shape is clean-lined and modern, so its color can’t help but look modern as well. This piece has the power to be the star of an otherwise neutral room:

Minotti Andersen Lovechair.png

The Andersen Lovechair by Minotti

Of course, we can’t end this post without noting the ’80s overtones in lily-themed artwork…

Lily artwork from the 1980s

Lily artwork from the 1980s

The picture to the left is from the 1980s–a Goodwill find previously featured in a Mirror80 post on iris and lily motifs. Why were these flowers such ’80s essentials? Perhaps it was their ability to add Asian flair to an ’80s Modern room, or their tendency to take on an ’80s Deco vibe when rendered with heavy outlines and bold curves.

The lily painting in the Nina Campbell room shown above may or may not be referencing the 1980s. But we love how it serves as an update of bold ’80s floral art like the piece you see to the left. The fact that Campbell was able to merge the artwork with an undeniably ’80s color in a way that seems cutting edge is a testament to her talent. And a sign that 1980s design might be making a comeback after all…

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Mirror80 is a blog that celebrates the intersection of modern design and retro style. I'm Kate, and I enjoy exploring the look and feel of the "recent retro", with a focus on the late '70s through the early '90s. Welcome to Mirror80. Read More…

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