9 Retro Gems We’re Still Swooning Over From 2025
Interiors
Cité armchair designed by Jean Prouvé. Sofa by Monde. Bolide Chair by Tom Dixon. Artwork by Julian Hocking. ‘Julian is a dear old friend, and the piece really anchors the space. It’s bold and simple and, quite frankly, doing a lot of heavy lifting,’ says Sunni. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
Blanket by PAM x Rough Rice. Sofa by Monde. Clay sculpture of Sunni giving birth by Amy Leeworthy. Outdoor table bought on Facebook Marketplace. Outdoor chairs found in hard rubbish. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
‘The ceramic tiles are original Daniel Robertson tiles made by brickmakers who, in the mid 60s to 70s, began experimenting with heavily glazed finishes that were unlike anything else available in Australia at the time,’ says Sunni. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
‘We often spill outside for an alfresco dinner under greenery, grilling on the hibachi with friends as the light fades. It’s when the house feels most alive,’ says Sunni. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
An Artist’s 1970s House Turned Poetic Family Home
After living in an Alistair Knox house, Tender Spaces founder Sunni Hart, and Hope St Radio founder Peter Baxter, went in search of an equally soulful home, to suit their creative family.
They found one in Balwyn North with equally impressive credentials, having been designed in the 1970s by architect Alan Hough, with significant input from the original artist-owner Bruno Leti.
The home is beautiful, but never at the expense of comfort or ease, with plenty of space for music, mess, conversation, and quiet.
Verner Panton rocking chair and Pierre Jeanneret Easy chair, both from Composition. Woodfired ceramic vessel from Studio Gardner. Photo – Dave Wheeler. Styling – Joseph Gardener.
Tannin Cork Floor Tile by The Flooring Company. Navona Travertine by CDK on benchtop and splashback. Blackened stainless steel joinery. Formation Stick Pendant by B-TD. Comodín Wall Lamp by Santa & Cole. Vico Magistretti counter stools and sandstone vessel by Sophie Vaidie, both from Studio Gardner. Photo – Dave Wheeler. Styling – Joseph Gardener.
Comodín Wall Lamp by Santa & Cole. Satin Nickel Button Knobs by Noble Elements. Vico Magistretti counter stools; sandstone vessel by Sophie Vaidie; solid oak stool by Guillerme et Chambron, all from Studio Gardner. Sculpture by Scott McNeill. Tannin Cork Floor Tile by The Flooring Company. Photo – Dave Wheeler. Styling – Joseph Gardener.
The sliding glass doors open to a brick-paved terrace. Photo – Dave Wheeler. Styling – Joseph Gardener.
A Sleek + Sympathetic Update For A Soulful 1970s Home
This house in Sydney’s North Shore was designed by Peter Hall in 1974 — the very same architect who ended up overseeing the tumultuous design of the iconic Sydney Opera House.
With a goal of preserving the home’s mid-century essence, the owners worked with interior designer Phoebe Nicol to sympathetically refresh the soulful abode for the new custodians.
Newport Residence by Five Foot One Design reimagines a 1960s home for modern living. Photo – Jacqui Turk. Styling – Kerrie-Ann Jones.
The original pink bathtub was retained as a striking focal point. Vase by Emily Belle Ellis Studio. Photo – Jacqui Turk. Styling – Kerrie-Ann Jones.
Vase by Fdo Studio. Photo – Jacqui Turk. Styling – Kerrie-Ann Jones.
The sunny living room at the front of the house. Photo – Jacqui Turk. Styling – Kerrie-Ann Jones.
A Show-Stopping 1960s Sydney Home Restoration
The owners of this 1960s weatherboard home in Sydney’s north always intended to honour its original spirit.
After all, the Newport home had beautiful mid-century elements — it just needed some key functional shifts to improve the everyday living experience.
Five Foot One Design’s renovations have interpreted 1960s features in a contemporary manner, introducing intricate mosaic tiled surfaces, blackwood joinery, yellow accents, and shiplap timber panelling across a reconfigured floor plan.
The results are truly remarkable!
The renovated patio. Walls in TopCer Tessellated tiles in turquoise and green from De Fazio. Paving in Castlemaine stone from Yarrabee Stone, laid by Hone Landscapes. Parisi Table and Chee chairs by Tom Fereday for SP01 Design. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The Murphy Study. Bespoke cherrywood desk by Richard Wharldall. Art: Studley Park 01 by Rachel Hurst. ‘This is a hybrid art-architecture painting of the living room,’ she explains. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The house has a U-shaped design with the patio sitting in the middle separating the bedroom wing from the kitchen and living. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The couple’s light-filled living room looks out onto the patio and balcony. Photo – Eve Wilson.
A Sensitive Renovation Of A Modernist Home, With A Few Twists!
Rachel Hurst and Richard Wharldall’s Kew home wasn’t necessarily lacking in layout, space or style. Still, the couple saw an opportunity to amp up the ‘modernist cred’ with geometry, colour, pattern and texture.
A clever renovation by Kennedy Nolan strengthens the mid-century charm established by its original architect, Charles Victor Dumbrell, in 1959, whilst adding a few delightful surprises.
Fireplace by Oblica. Sofa from 20th Century Scandinavia. USM cabinet from Anibou. IXIA vase by Hattie Molloy. Lamp by Misseu. Rainer Daumiller dining table and chairs from CCSS. Smooth Shelf by Nicole Lawrence. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
Sofa from 20th Century Scandinavia. Wooden chair from Facebook Marketplace. Fearon Chub table from Curated Spaces. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
Regular house guest Oscar (the neighbour’s cat) sits on the Rainer Daumiller dining table from CCSS. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
The cottage was built around 2001 by mudbrick designer and builder Michael R Young. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
A Cinematographer’s Storybook Cottage In Eltham
For much of the year, award-winning cinematographer Edward Goldner travels for work, bringing stories to life on the screen.
But, he wouldn’t have it any other way, as it makes his time back at his two-bedroom storybook Eltham cottage all the more special.
The renovated townhouse is located within the revered 1970s Wybalena Grove developement. Photo – Lean Timms.
Tallow wood timber flooring emits a warm glow throughout. Photo – Lean Timms.
The nostalgic exterior of the townhouse. Photo – Lean Timms.
How A Design Enthusiast ‘Manifested’ Her Dream 1970s Canberra Townhouse
The owner of this Canberra townhouse used to go trail running past the Wybalena Grove development and tell her friends she would live there one day.
Sure enough, about 20 years later, Rachael Coghlan moved into one of the nostalgic 1970s homes designed by prominent architect Michael Dysart.
The modernist townhouse has recently had a retro revival with a renovation by Sonder Architects, who restored its original features and added new colours inspired by Rachael joyful art collection.
Gardens lead up to the front door. Photo – Marnie Hawson. Styling – Belle Bright Project.
The dining nook is close enough to the kitchen to ensure drinks can easily be passed around to guests. Photo – Marnie Hawson. Styling – Belle Bright Project.
Half Hurdle High chair in Blaze Blue by Dowel Jones. Pendants by Muuto. Photo – Marnie Hawson. Styling – Belle Bright Project.
The original brickwork and timber beams were retained. Butterfly chair by Big Chair Living. Photo – Marnie Hawson. Styling – Belle Bright Project.
How Pops Of Colour Revived This Melbourne Mid-Century Gem
This late mid-century home in Frankston, in Melbourne’s South East has just been through a playful transformation.
Drawing Room Architecture reimagined the house’s dated 1980s extension with contrasting pops of cobalt blue and burnt orange to enhance its modernist roots, while also carving out newfound spaces for reading, relaxing, or entertaining with a cocktail in hand.
The sunken lounge nods to the townhouse’s modernist era. Artwork by Rebecca Hastings.
The goal was to make the space seem private with many adjoining residents, while still feeling a part of the townhouse community.
A Restored Mid-Century Townhouse With Lush Views At Every Turn
This Graeme Gunn-designed home is an enduring example of the mid-century modern housing that’s so prevalent throughout Melbourne’s suburbs.
Originally built by Merchant Builders in 1967 as part of a townhouse development in Malvern, this textural townhouse was more recently masterfully restored by architects Pleysier Perkins and Eckersley Garden Architecture.
Together, the two have celebrated the home’s architectural legacy and revived its enchanting garden outlooks, without losing any of its original charm.
Custom sofa and timber cabinet made by the original owner in the 1970s. Bookshelf by Early Settler. Lamp stand by Kmart with thrifted pleated lampshade. Circular rug by IKEA. Photo – Eve Wilson.
Wavy lamp purchased form Facebook Marketplace. Thrifted Théophile Steinlen poster, matchstick boxes, and 1980s Pictionary. Side table found in hard rubbish and upcycled. Custom dining booth and chairs built by the original owner. Photo – Eve Wilson.
Custom dining booth and chairs made by the original owner. Yellow lamp purchased from Facebook Marketplace. Corner lamp base by IKEA with thrifted lampshade. All cutlery and dishes thrifted from various op-shops. Framed vintage travel print. Thrifted maple syrup jar. Photo – Eve Wilson.
‘The two small paintings were gifted to me by my close friend Dan,’ says Sarah. ‘They were both painted by a man in Mexico on separate occasions who does the mini paintings very quickly on the side of the road.’ Photo – Eve Wilson.
This Oakleigh Apartment Is A Time Portal To The 1970s
This Oakleigh apartment was built in the 1970s, complete with handmade custom furniture and even a sauna.
50 years later, the property looks almost exactly the same — and that’s exactly how photographer Sarah Ruhullah likes it.
Sarah has leaned into the home’s immaculately preserved retro design with secondhand finds, creating her own ‘very protected, soundproof, time capsule fortress!’