Today we kick off “Lobby Chic” Week at Mirror80 with a tour of one of my favorite hotel lobbies of all-time: the luxurious lobby of The Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas. Built in 1986, The Renaissance was originally known as The Stouffer Hotel. As a kid, I saw this place as the epitome of luxury. It definitely shaped my interior design style. I would ride the glass elevator with my brother, and we would stop at various floors and walk laps around the open aisles while looking down at the plant-filled atrium. It doesn’t get any better than marble tile in peach and white…
More Fabulous ’80s-Style Finds for Spring
Hi Everyone! Before the week wraps up, I want to share a few more ’80s-style finds for spring. Ever since I heard about blogger Joy Cho’s new line for The Land of Nod, I’ve been looking forward to her sprinkle-motif decor hitting the shelves. FYI, The Land of Nod is the sister store of Crate & Barrel and CB2. It’s geared toward kids, but I don’t have children yet and I’m shopping there. ; – ) Check out the retro-style bedding and plush goodies above. It’s for kids of all ages, right?!
5 New Finds with Memphis-Milano Style
I love it when I come across new pieces that channel one of my favorite ’80s design movements of all time: Memphis-Milano! If you know where to look, you can find new items with Memphis style at all times these days–and you couldn’t always say that about 1980s motifs. It will be interesting to see if other ’80s movements receive the same respect. Watching the 1980s revival unfold in the realm of interior design sure is fascinating!
Mirror80 March Highlights
Happy Monday, Everyone! On this last day of March, we’re taking a look back at some of the past month’s top posts. We’ll call them our March faves. Did you miss anything? The last few weeks have been filled with plenty of ’80s design inspiration, a donut party, an interview that showcased one of our favorite record labels, and of course, plenty of fun at SXSW. Check out the links below for the full posts and lots more pics!
’80s-Style Acrylic Finds
Happy Friday, Everyone! You know when you find something cool online, and then you look a little closer and realize that you’ve stumbled upon a gold mine?! This is one such occasion, thanks to a website called Acrylic Home Design. I’ve made no secret of my love for all things acrylic, from dining sets to tables and desks. But when I came across the Acrylic Home Design site, it was crystal clear that the ’80s-style possibilities for this transparent material are absolutely mind blowing. And there are oodles of acrylic items big and small at our fingertips!
A Pastel Party–with Donuts!
For our spring Retro Foodie shoot, we present a Pastel Party featuring coffee, donuts, confetti, sprinkles and loads of geometry! While this ’80s-style party concept would be ideal for a weekend brunch, we enjoyed the goodies as an afternoon snack. Nothing like beating the mid-day slump with a little caffeine and sugar. Read on for all the sweet details…
The ’80s Connection: Alex Bouché
Today we shine the spotlight on Alex Bouché, CEO and Founder of DX Seven Collective, a vinyl-only record label that also offers merchandise and management services. We at Mirror80 have been wanting to write about New-Retro Wave for as long as we can remember, as many of our readers are fans of this ’80s-inspired music that often channels the synthesizer-driven soundtracks of our favorite decade. We couldn’t think of anyone better to elaborate on New-Retro Wave than Alex Bouché, a true pioneer of this genre who has cultivated one of the first labels in the New-Retro scene that emphasizes physical releases (rather than digital ones).
Retro Foodie: A Pastel Party Mood Board
Hi Everyone! It’s been a little while since our last Retro Foodie post. Yes, we’re planning the next installment of our ’80s-style culinary series, which is as much about creating amazing tablescapes as it is about the food. This month we present a pastel party! The photo shoot is this coming weekend, and we’ll be posting the pics next week. For now, we’d like to share our mood board, as well as the inspiration for the foodie fun. A Villeroy & Boch dishware pattern from the 1980s and an eye-catching recipe for ice cream squares started it all. Read on for more candy-colored details…
Spandau Ballet: Soul Boys of the Western World
Spandau Ballet’s pivotal gig filled with an audience of devoted Blitz Kids. The band members’ roots as working class youth in North London. Their residency in glamorous St. Tropez, where they sunbathed by day and played two sets each night. Their unforgettable trip to New York in 1981, after signing with Chrysalis and becoming legends in England. The band’s journey to The Bahamas in 1982, when they slowed down a bit and recorded their #1 hit, “True.” Then came the mainstream success…
The Beauty of an Abandoned Mall
For quite some time now, I’ve been completely obsessed with shopping malls built in the 1980s. Some are still going strong, like the mall a few miles from my home. I often walk around this two-story building, reveling in pockets of retro goodness, thanks to department stores that haven’t remodeled since the decade of decadence. Then there are the abandoned malls, like another one close to home that’s increasingly closed off, thanks to an upcoming project that will likely destroy any remaining traces of the ‘80s.
