If you caught Mirror80’s recent 1980s design trend feature, you know I’m now the proud owner of the September 1986 issue of Metropolitan Home, which I ordered from Etsy shop The Archaic Ad Collection. And speaking of ads, I just had to share this 1986 Sharp ad (from Metropolitan Home) for obvious reasons. If you’re old enough to have lived through the ’80s the first time around, maybe you had one of the QT-50 Stereo Radio Cassette Players above. Mine was lavender. The very first song I recorded from the radio with the help of this device was “Escapade” by Janet Jackson. But enough about me. Let’s take a look at the rest of the ad…
A Pretty in Pink Party
Ready for a party? If you follow Mirror80’s Retro Foodie series, you know that the intersection of entertaining and ’80s style is a true passion of mine. Things are going to get a bit girly today, but you should also know by now that pink floral style isn’t the norm here on Mirror80. Which means I must have a pretty good reason for this post…and that reason is the 1986 film Pretty in Pink!
Still Life Style: Color Blocking
In today’s edition of Still Life Style, we take a look at what’s going on behind the action. More often than not, still life backgrounds seem to involve some sort of color blocking, like the image above from Wessel Baarda. We’ve definitely seen a lot of this diagonal/geo color blocking in home decor and DIY projects as well. If you’re interested in how to celebrate color blocking in the realm of interior design, check out this recent post I wrote for Decoist. For this post, however, we’re keeping our feet firmly planted in still life territory. Let’s take a look at some vibrant photographs, shall we?…
Pretty in Pink Party Favors with ’80s Deco Flair
This weekend is my Pretty in Pink party photo shoot. Yes, I’m re-imagining the look and feel of the film through a festive tablescape filled with appetizers and drinks. It’s funny because I’m not really a person who surrounds myself with the color pink, but there’s something about the style of this 1986 film that’s feminine and romantic, but also ’80s Deco-meets-punk-meets-Midcentury, with Asian flair. I love a design challenge!
’70s/’80s Interior Design: Kids’ Rooms
Today we shine the design spotlight on children’s bedrooms of the ’70s and ’80s. If you were a kid during this time and your room didn’t look like one of these, don’t fret. Interestingly enough, my childhood bedroom DID involve bright colors, until I was old enough to “redo” it in the ’80s country style, complete with pink walls and a floral comforter. Maybe I should have taken my cue from one of today’s featured spaces! Read on as we explore top trends in retro kids’ rooms…
Mirror80 April Favorites
April was a great month at Mirror80, and I loved that there was a balance between authentic ’80s design and modern style with a retro twist. If you’re new to Mirror80, I’ll start by saying welcome! At the beginning of each new month, I publish a post that reflects on the month gone by.
Dead Malls, Childhood Memories and ’80s Style
My childhood mall, which was once the indoor retail hot spot of Austin, has slowly joined the land of the dead malls over the last decade. This week it closed its doors for good, and it will be converted to a branch of Austin Community College. Highland Mall was built in 1971, and it was Austin’s first indoor mall.
1980s Interior Design Trend: Borders
Today’s post is dedicated to the painted border. Yes, I’m talking about borders, which have been in “outdated” territory for years, thanks to a variety of country-themed designs involving ducks and floral motifs. But I’m here to say that the border is back! Especially since interior styling photos from the 1980s reveal that there WAS such a thing as a tasteful modern border, especially when paint was used to create a simple, striking design…
A Few Colorful Design Projects…
Happy Monday, Everyone! Just wanted to share a few projects I’ve been working on lately. As you can see from the photo above, today’s post is all about color…with a dash of tropical style. I’ve been spending a LOT of time outdoors working on DIY projects these past few weeks. There’s nothing like spring to inspire creativity! Read on for some snapshots of fun ways to infuse your home with colorful design this season…
Retro-Modern Roundup: New Memphis Arrivals
Happy Friday! What are your plans for the weekend? I’m working on a new DIY project, trying to reorganize the home office and doings LOTS of yardwork. There will definitely be time for happy hour on the patio! But first things first. Today I’m launching a new series: Retro-Modern Roundup. A couple times a month, I’ll be sharing the latest in new design developments that reference the past. Today it’s all about texture and the New Memphis movement, also known as Modern Memphis. If you like what you see above, read on for details and links…
