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50 Design Pics From The ’70s And ’80s That Show How Different Those Eras Were
Interview
Wood paneling on the walls, a record player resting on the sideboard, crocheted cushions on the floral couch and a shag rug for the cat to cozy up on on the linoleum floor. Do you feel like you've been transported to the groovy days of the 1970s?
If you’re looking for a blast from the past today, pandas, we’ve got some beautiful and nostalgic photos down below from the 70s Design and 80s Design subreddits. From furniture that might remind you of your grandparents’ home to advertisements for kitchen carpets, enjoy scrolling through these designs that were all the rage. And be sure to upvote the photos that make you want to embrace some of that retro style today!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Rip Architect Helmut Jahn Who Was Killed In A Bike Accident This Week. Here’s His Spectacular ‘80s United Terminal At Chicago’s O’hare Airport (1988)
Marie Clear 1 year ago
And the background music is a soothing version of Rhapsody in Blue that is synchronized with the color changes. I live in Chicago and it's the one highlight of flying out of Terminal 1 (United's terminal).
David 1 year ago
I've never been there but I can picture a couple of bored people saying, "Let's drop some acid and go walk around the airport."
LB 1 year ago
It’s inside security, so not possible to access without a boarding pass, unfortunately. But it is very beautiful, especially if you are going through at a slow time and can enjoy walking along the moving walkway and watching the lights and colors without loads of people around. Used to work at O’Hare and walking through this corridor was my favorite part of the day. For anyone flying through O’Hare and trying to find it, it’s in Terminal 1 between Concourse B and Concourse C.
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RELATED:
#2
By Demand, My Retro Pizza Hut!
Gossameringue 1 year ago
Can you just see, hear, and feel those pebble ice cubes in those red, knobby glasses?
Mistiekim 1 year ago
This reminds me of the reading program they had. If you read so many books you earned a personal pan pizza. I read a lot as a child…..
Sans Serif 1 year ago
It was called Pizza Hut BOOK IT! and my kids got a lot of pizzas with it...
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jon gilbertson 1 year ago
The Pizza Hut I worked at did a full remodel and gave me a full booth with table. After a wee touch up, it sat on my 3 season porch for years. Only thing missing was a Pac-Man machine.
Zlata Wallace 1 year ago
My first job in the US. Still remember every single detail, it was exactly like this
PurpleKU77 1 year ago
I grew up across College Hill park from where the original Pizza Hut was located.
#3
Sunroom, 1989
Full of Giggles 1 year ago
The reason I fell in love with my house when we were viewing it. The other was the sunken living room.
Fluffy mommy panda 1 year ago
I love sunrooms something I have in common with cats like to feel the warmth of the sun
David 1 year ago
I don't consider this just 70s. I have a friend with a house that has one of these and it is rather awesome. It's Washington so often it is a rain room but it's still cool to be in there and watch the rain.
Awesome At Being Autistic 1 year ago
Just add a salad bar and you'll feel like you're at Sizzler.
Ourania Walker 1 year ago
If I lived where it rained often, I'd want a "sun room" so I can sit on a nice cushy sofa wrapped in a soft blanket and I'd read as the rain falls on the glass above me ...
Whether you were alive during the 70s and 80s or not, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re familiar with the decades’ signature styles. Warm patterns full of yellows, oranges, reds and browns, as well as florals and bold wallpapers were trademarks of the 1970s. Meanwhile, the 1980s preferred pastels, Memphis Design, glass blocks and chubby furniture.
And while most of us choose not to decorate our homes exactly like our parents or grandparents did 40-50 years ago, plenty of us want to make sure that the style of those generations doesn’t completely die out either. The 70s Design and 80s Design subreddits are dedicated to preserving the art and overall vibes of those time periods. They share gorgeous photos of these old school designs and allow members to reminisce on those days that are long behind us now.
#4
Grace Jones Photographed By Jean-Paul Goude For The Cover Of Her "Nightclubbing" Album - 1981
#5
70’s Living Room
#6
Peak Mall Culture
David 1 year ago
I kind of miss those dandelion fountains in a mall where I lived when we were in California. As a little boy I thought those were so cool.
Julie S 1 year ago
Yeah nearly all shopping malls had water features when did they die out?
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Ambry Petersen 1 year ago
I miss the fountains. There was nothing so soothing after shopping as to sit near one in the food court and have some lunch.
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
Rain fountain at our local shopping mall. Sadly, the mall is no more - replaced with a Walmart. 😞 Brookdale-...0e2214.jpg 
Blyss Blyssylb 1 year ago
I miss these. They're so pretty. There was this kind of calming serenity while sitting on a bench in the middle of the mall
John Haley 1 year ago
I remember back in the early 80's when our local shopping centre had water features like these and it was awesome. I don't know why they got rid of them. I just remember that they just kinda disappeared over night. It made the palce seem a lot more upmarket. Now where there was a nice indoor pond with fish and water walls, there is a pathetic little starbucks and a couple of mobile phone case stands. I miss the old days......get off my lawn!
Dov Morgenstern 1 year ago
I actually really miss plants everywhere! Now it's just so stark and dead
To learn more about the 70s Design subreddit and why it’s important to keep these photos from the past alive, we reached out to the page. New moderator u/David-Ox was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and shared that he’s only recently taken the reins of the community, to prevent it from being closed.
But despite not being in charge of it for long, David says he appreciates how large the subreddit is. Since its creation in 2015, r/70sdesign has amassed nearly 26k members. “In general we can learn so much from history,” he noted. “And 70s design is no exception. Not to look at things too literally, but a good example is the earthy color tones that were used in the time. Nowadays, we see so much less of that.”
#7
Conversation Pit ❤︎
hollowgoat 1 year ago
Conversation pits are so cool. They fell from grace because they are so much more work to build, and people fell into them and injured themselves. A lot.
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Will Cable 1 year ago
Anyone else thinking about spiders on the floor while your sat on the sofa/couch then them running on to where you are sitting
#8
An Appealing Bathroom
Bubs (he/they) 1 year ago
This looks so beautiful, I can see myself staying in the tub for far too long bc of how relaxing it is!!
Dov Morgenstern 1 year ago
With a little updating, this could actually be really modern and cool
Blyss Blyssylb 1 year ago
Except they forgot to carpet that step. In the 1970's, that whole step (top & fascia) would've been shag carpeted as well.
#9
“Merry Mushroom” Kitchen Accessories (Sold By Sears In The 70s)
Brandi Delph 1 year ago
The canister set started my mom's "mushroom theme" decor. The kitchen and dining room had mushroom this and that until her death in 1998. She would have loved modern "cottage core"
David also shared that, despite being too young to have lived through the 1970s, he misses the “natural look and feel of stuff” from that time period. “I can see its beauty,” he told Bored Panda. “Not just in the items we used everyday but also the people. The look of regular people was more diverse, and they weren't afraid to wear whatever they wanted. I hear that a lot from people who lived through it. Of course, you had fashion, but still people wore what they wanted, and repairing or modifying clothing pieces was not as rare as it is today.”
#10
Pioneer Pl-1200a
Heffalump 1 year ago
Oh god, why is that turntable not properly centered on the cabinet top? My whole day is ruined, just ruined.
Gossameringue 1 year ago
The 1200a was the top of the line for Pioneer in the early 70's. Those Diatone DS-600z speakers were also quite good. A sweet setup!
Mimi M 1 year ago
For those who were wondering, the album is Gimme Back My Bullets by Lynrd Skynrd.
David 1 year ago
I owned this. Or extremely similar. I can't recall the exact model number but it looked like this one. You could adjust the speed and those 'dashes' on the side would appear to be standing still when you had it synced in to the proper speed you wanted. (strobe light type effect). I was a bit sad to part with it but records are so bulky I moved on.
Ralph Watkins 1 year ago
I went retro, ditching my digital sound system to 1970s style. The old analog systems had a much deeper & richer sound to them.
#11
My Grandparent's Untouched Bathroom Circa 1974
David 1 year ago
I believe this exists but so many of these pictures are NOT typical of what I saw living through the 70s. Not our house, not the house of any of my friends.
Mary Lou 1 year ago (edited)
My parents build our house in the 70s and yes we got the colorful bathrooms with carpets and much that would fit in here (we were not particularly rich). The main point you miss here: most people living through the 70s (and weren't rich enough to constantly redecorated their house) did not live in houses build and decorated in the 70s.
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Alex Boyd 1 year ago
I like the floor and I kinda like the walls, too. It's a *bit* much, but fun. I'm thinking maybe an accent wall with that design, and white for the rest, would look more contemporary.
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Andy Frobig 1 year ago
I've been watching too many cop shows and now I wonder if they picked red to hide blood splatter
David 1 year ago
Haha. There is a chair in one of the other pictures that made me think that. Kind of white(cream?) background but the pattern was a very busy darker red.
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#12
‘70s Living Room Perfection
Tabitha 1 year ago
I’m sitting on one right now. The chaise part is great for laying down to watch TV.
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Jay Scales 1 year ago
Not this big in the UK - you'd only get 3 sections of couch in :D
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“The 70s are known for its hippie culture, and it shows in so many things in their day to day lives,” David continued. “The acceptance of everything and everyone. I hear stories about how people would do more for each other just to be good, not because they had to.”
#13
Underground Residence Of French Architect Étienne Fromanger, Designed In 1972
Jessica Bertram 1 year ago
Tatooine WAS the 60s...planted firmly in the brain of a man who came of age in the 60s, then made a movie in the 70s.
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I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 1 year ago (edited)
Don't ask me why but when quickly reading I read it as "underground RESISTANCE" lol. Very modern indeed for the 1940s!!! 🤦♀️😅😅😅
Wingsofwrath 1 year ago
It's actually called "La Renardière", or "The Fox's Den" and it's located in Jouars-Pontchartrain in the Yvelines department, close to Versailles.
Wingsofwrath 1 year ago (edited)
Oh no, that isn't wallpaper, it's carpet. It was the 70's after all...
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Casey Payne 1 year ago
I recognize that boob chair in the middle picture. I was seriously considering buying one for my apartment recently, but all of the sellers set off alarm bells and I eventually went with a modular couch. I still want that chair, but I don't have the space for it and everybody is still sketchy.
#14
I Don’t Think I’ve Ever Seen So Much ‘70s In One Picture Before—
Michael P (Perthaussieguy) 1 year ago
I had some similar. Great for winters in England to keep your feet off the slush !!
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Burnt Cheese 1 year ago
We had those when I was growing up. Finally threw them out when my mom passed away in 2020.
Load More Replies... Vermonta 1 year ago
shag carpet. Now imagine dropping 37 hits of blotter acid in it. Side note, lsd was legal until 1971
Sans Serif 1 year ago
"blotter acid" haven't heard that term in decades...
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UpQuarkDownQuark (he/him) 1 year ago
Had carpet just like that in La Puente, California in 1979. It was too large for the room, so there was a hump that you could move around.
#15
70s Time Capsule House (Ramona California)
Sans Serif 1 year ago
I love green as well but, 'lime green' not so much...
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Matt Blakeley 1 year ago
As terrible as it looks in this pic, I bet it's ten times as bad in person. And so, so musty.
Blyss Blyssylb 1 year ago
Ah yes, the very upper middle class in Beverly Hills type neighborhoods looked and felt Spacious because they were. Most common homes were Not as spacious
We were also curious about how much David embraces 70s style in the way he dresses and decorates his home. “I am a big fan of mid century modern furniture, this is of course more 50-60s, but early 70s design is still very good,” he shared. “I am, however, a bigger fan of the clothes of the 70s. The feel of the outfits really resonates with me.”
#16
Artwork By Frank Frazetta, 1979
Norm Gilmore 1 year ago
There's a blast from the past. Frank Frazetta posters were all the rage. Also Chris Foss' space scenes featured in the books on my shelves!!
Blyss Blyssylb 1 year ago
I love 1970s and 1980s Fantasy Art...Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, etc...
#17
This Mcdonalds Hasn't Been Renovated Since The 80's/90's
Nothing to see here 1 year ago
Judging by the chains around the booths, I'm assuming its not a functioning store.
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Toothless Feline 1 year ago
With those colors, I’m guessing ’90s. Teal and pink was a very ‘90s color combination.
Regina Haft 1 year ago
Those floors were always slippery ! Especially back in the food prep area.
Raymond Smith 1 year ago
I believe it. Where do they find those fluorescent lights? Didn’t they stop making those like 10 years ago?
Ralph Reinhold 1 year ago
I have several LED lights that look exactly like that. .
Load More Replies... #18
Classic Casio In The 80's
Tabitha 1 year ago
These damn things would last FOREVER. I have one I bought in 1979 that is still running.
Somebodys grandmother 1 year ago
I lost mine! 😒. They were really good...
Load More Replies... Zaphod 1 year ago (edited)
My middle school banned the Casio calculator watches. (And Rubik's cubes and Walkmans)
Nothing to see here 1 year ago
Sadly I'm wearing a very similar Casio right now. They are hard to destroy.
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Sven Horlemann 1 year ago
They were the sh*t! As important to have as smartphones are today, I guess.
Andy Frobig 1 year ago
I don't think they make them in white anymore but I'm sure you can get almost exactly this watch in any Walmart. I can't read them without glasses anymore though
Gwynne Greene 1 year ago
My partner has the black F91 waterproof series right now lol 😂 10 pounds from a charity shop!
Ralph Watkins 1 year ago
My show-off cousin bought one of the first LED watches in the early 70s. I think he paid $400 for it. It lasted him less than 24 hours. He brought it home, showed it off, & then went to wash his hands with the watch on. He killed the watch.
“It’s hard or expensive to find good [70s clothing] pieces these days, but sometimes I see people wear original stuff and I just feel happy,” David continued. “It's hard to describe the feel and look and the feeling I get when seeing them. But I think it's a combination between earthy tones and natural colors. I think we are meant to look at those types of colors more than the standard black and white stuff we have nowadays.”
#19
Harvest Gold Kitchen Heaven, 1970s
Zaphod 1 year ago
We still had our 1969 Avocado colored stove and oven in our house when we sold it in 2019.
Jenny Louise Johansson 1 year ago
I think I lived there. Except the kitchen table was forest green
Upstaged75 1 year ago (edited)
Same. I think our table was plastic though. ;)
Load More Replies... David 1 year ago
Harvest Gold and Avocado Green. There was SOOO much of that in the 70s. The cloth and display plates above the stove is just dumb. Gonna be a magnet for dust and oily film and be near impossible to clean.
jjdubs W 1 year ago
Don't forget the burnt orange to complement the green and yellow :D
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WFH Forever 1 year ago
Harvest Gold, Avocado Green, Burnt Orange etc. the colors of my childhood
#20
Shaggin' Wagon, Luv Machine, Brown... Whatever The Name, Custom Vans From This Era Are So Striking!
David 1 year ago
Yeah, this I do remember. Custom paint jobs, those 'moon' windows near the back, The front wheels look a lot like the Cragar mags I had on my Dodge Dart Sport. And there's a pretty good chance there is some shag carpet on the inside of that van.
Sephora Black 1 year ago
All I need is three friends, a dog and a paint job, and I can start solving crimes.
The Other Guest 1 year ago
I thought these were the bees knees when I was a kid, and vowed to get one when I was old enough to drive. My brother insisted they'd no longer be available then, and dagnabbit he was right.
MrsFettesVette 1 year ago
There is an excellent documentary on that van culture called "Vannin". My husband and I joke about buying and redoing one of these old vans to make it Legend of Zelda themed ..maybe one day.
Hiram's Friend 1 year ago
"If it be rockin', don't come knockin'", Not to mention "a$s gas or grass, nobody rides for free".
Rebelliousslug 1 year ago
These vans had lazy boy seats, front and back. So comfortable!! I’d for sure drive one now
Downunderdude 1 year ago
Ah, memories. In Australia, we had panel vans aka shaggin' wagons . With a bumper sticker 'If it's rockin', don't come knockin''. Not me of course.
#21
Found An ‘89 Honda Vtr250 On My Walk Today
laura lee 1 year ago
Everything from the late 80s early 90s was this color scheme, EVERYTHING
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Upstaged75 1 year ago
Looks like those disposable cups they served soda in at the roller rink!
Jackie Stubitsch 1 year ago
I owned this same bike back in the day! I even had the matching helmet
David also emphasized the importance of continuing to share photos from the past. "It's all about learning from history,” he noted. “And I feel like we were really close to harmony with clothes and colors back in that time. Some furniture is really over the top with details and that's not my thing, but I can at least learn from it or take certain elements. Because the 70s was the last decade of natural materials and colors.”
#22
Hotel Room Inside The Brickman Hotel Of The Catskills, South Fallsburg, New York, 1970′s
Gossameringue 1 year ago
Part of the Borscht Belt of resorts in upstate NY - most now abandoned and gone to ruin.
Andy Frobig 1 year ago
It was converted to an ashram in 1986, from what I read. Almost none of the old Catskill resorts are still in business
Load More Replies... #23
That’s A Lot Of 1970s In One Living Room
Tabitha 1 year ago
I always liked this style couch. I like the contrast piping, plus the shape is clean and the cushions look comfy.
Load More Replies... Andy Frobig 1 year ago
And cushions! An unprotected living room sofa (as opposed to den or family room) is pretty un-70s
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Joanne Earle 1 year ago
My cousins had huge mirrors on the walls in the livingroom and at least one other room. Supposed to make the room look bigger?
#24
Fotomat Drive-In In Los Angeles, Ca (1979)
Glenn Cuneo 1 year ago
This was one of these. Sat there empty for years. Just last year they made it thru a drive coffee place. Just north of Shelton WA on highway 101. 2024-01-28...13-png.jpg 
Sondra Lorino 1 year ago
I used to work in one of those, it was so claustrophobic. No bathroom, I'd have to lock up and run to the Acme across the parking lot. Also the placement of those things in the middle of the parking lot with cars coming at you from different directions was scary, especially at night. I quit after the one I worked at was robbed.
Are these photos taking you back to the home you grew up in or your grandparents’ home, pandas? We hope you're enjoying this virtual trip through a time capsule, and please remember to keep upvoting the pics you love the most. Let us know in the comments what your favorite elements of 70s and 80s designs are, and then if you're interested in checking out even more retro designs, look no further than right here!
#25
Aston Martin Lagonda Interior With It’s Digital Dashboard
Willem Oosterhof 1 year ago (edited)
Back in the day it was an electronic nightmare. Extremely expensive to keep on the road.
Pyla 1 year ago
It’s British, need we say more about the electrical system? I guess it doesn’t immolate like a Jag.
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David Brown 1 year ago
I know a guy that has one of these. He had it professionally rewired and completely restored a couple years ago. It's not exactly a pretty car but it's stunning to look at all the retro details impressive for the time electronics.
#26
A Glitter Gold Starburst Shoe Rack I Found In My Building’s Trash Room ✨
#27
70s-Fantastico Trailer House, Oklahoma 🆒
#28
The 70s
David 1 year ago
memory triggered. Except my Dodge Dart Sport 340 was cooler looking than this one. Blue with a black racing stripe and a hood scoop. Some days I miss that car. Surprising amount of power when you stomped on it. Could totally smoke an intersection. Old me says, "OMG tires are expensive!" but teenager me thought it was cool.
#29
Peak Taco Bell
sturmwesen 1 year ago
I have a picture of me with a bowlcut and wooden heartshaped earrings in this color scheme from my first day of school.... the horror
Phyzzi 1 year ago
Honestly it sounds adorable, but also kids can pull stuff off.
Load More Replies... SlothyK8 1 year ago
This was VERY late 80s and into the 90s. For me, it was prime Taco Bell days. Ah, memories.
David Brown 1 year ago
Old fastfood joints were so much more fun to go to. Retro taco Bell and pizza hut being the best
catastrophegirl 1 year ago
i worked at a taco bell that looked like that. bonus: it's a medical mj dispensary now and i can think of no better legacy
#30
1970s Bathroom Decor From The Jc Penney Catalog
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
EWWW. Just the smell after a single month of a man after using that toilet.
Cheryl Schuenke 1 year ago
Carpet in the bathroom, not good when you have males in the house!!!
#31
Christian Dior Prêt À Porter 🚬🫦🍸 Magazine Jours De France, Octobre 1974
Michael P (Perthaussieguy) 1 year ago
Reminds me of in the '70s i had a jacket made for me by Burtons (a popular menswear retailer at the time) with leather elbow patches and shoulder patches. I thought it looked cool at the time. I also remember, many years later, after dating a girl (who later became my wife) she told me that if I was to take her out again, never to wear that jacket again.
David 1 year ago
As a 'survivor' I can tell you they were annoying and stupid. Every fashion generation tries to stand out / be different and ties are no exception so they get wider / narrower and popular colors/patterns change over time. My take on it is 50s/60s were still about conformity and being proper so lots of crew cut haircuts and narrow ties, conservative pants. 70s was trying to embrace more free spirited thinking - which of course means we had to be "different" so we got long hair styles, much too wide ties, flare bottom jeans, denim coats and so on. Then over time the public figured out some of that is not very practical. Wide ties are bulkier and a bit harder to tie / keep in place. Bell bottom jeans are a tripping hazard dry and their own level of hell if you walk through wet grass. Denim coats are a PITA to wash and get to dry right without the collar and pocket flaps curling up. I kind of like NOW for hair styles because people can wear what they want - long hair / crew cut / etc.
Load More Replies... Cathy 1 year ago
Wow that's a lot of animals who led a horrible life to end up as a coat for the rich ☹️🥺 Hope we're finally done with this stupid fashion fad.
Matt Blakeley 1 year ago
But those coats told you who had the money and who was worth robbing! Though I was 2 when this was published, so I did relatively little mugging.
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Super ‘70s Den
David 1 year ago
Much of the 70s was pretty cool but a lot of the color schemes were kind of cringe. Though many of the pictures that made it to this thread take it farther than what I typically saw in real life.
LuLuBelle 1 year ago
A lot of these are from interior design idea sources, so yeah, they're pretty over the top.
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Sunny Day 1 year ago
We had carpet that color. It wasn't shag, it was the low pile textured stuff. But it was tangerine colored. My mom picked it out "because it looked so nice with the aqua throw rugs" she had at the time.
Irish Lassie 1 year ago
Actually owned this exact couch but with a matching recliner/rocker…got them at a furniture store that had smoke damage for around $200. Hardly smelled at all (ok, maybe just a titch)! !
Javelina Poppers 1 year ago
And the shag carpet you needed a special rake for to keep it looking spiffy.
#33
House Built In 1989 And Never Renovated
Ambry Petersen 1 year ago
Kinda like the marble as a back splash. Not so crazy about it on the island and the floor though.
JM 1 year ago
I agree, now it’s awful but clearly the owners loved it so much they never saw a need to redo it as designs changed.
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Robert Larson, LPN, JD 1 year ago
Don't' touch it! This is perfect, just replace the appliances when needed!
#34
“Welcome To Sunny Monte Carlo” Chevrolet Ad, 1974. Check Out Those Swiveling Bucket Seats!
Javelina Poppers 1 year ago
I owned one and the doors weighed as much as modern cars and a hood so long you could bowl on it.
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Living Example 1 year ago
I had one of these. Great for drive-in movies. You could swivel the front seats, then sit in the back seat and use the fronts to support your legs with a cooler in between you in the back.
Irish Lassie 1 year ago
Probably my favorite car I ever owned (except my 1971 Buick Skylark in candy-apple red with a white landau roof). Alas, it didn’t have the swivel seats. Pretty sure mine had the bench seat.
Rebelliousslug 1 year ago
At least the doors only weighed approximately 120lb (54.43kg) and could snap a leg bone effortlessly
Joanne Earle 1 year ago
I had a 76 Monte. Bench seats though. V8. Sooo awesome. Fit me and up to 6 people no problem. My friends called it 'the aircraft carrier'.
️️Upvote faery️ 1 year ago
Oh! My friend had one of these! It had a lime green shag carpet interior, body was dark green, and we called it the booger car!! 🤣🤣
#35
A Rad Postmodern Courtroom On Miami Vice (1986)
Dov Morgenstern 1 year ago
They should start making courtrooms cool like this again! Instead of using thin layers of wood veneer for new courtrooms, just make them fun and funky!
#36
Interior Of The Barbican Foyer, 1981
JayWantsACat 1 year ago
This is amazing. Kind of reminds me of a library I used to go to as a kid.
#37
From 'The American Standard Design Book' (1976)
Pixie 1 year ago
Wow! There is a lot going on here! And what are those surfboard shaped things? Mirrors?!
David 1 year ago
Yes. If you look at the faucets on the sinks they are opposed. I think the idea is his/her sinks one on each side of the counter. I am assuming the mirrors can pivot and the one to the left side has just been turned a bit to face the camera so you are not looking at the back of it. The whole thing looks annoying to me. If you step back on one side you might fall into the sunken tub, on the other - trip on the bidet.
Load More Replies... S. E. in Indiana 1 year ago
What I find amusing is that there is a bidet in this bathroom, surprising for an American bathroom back then.
Vermonta 1 year ago
Only the wealthy had them. Now that you can install one on the existing toilet, many people have them
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Jay Scales 1 year ago
Laughed out loud as soon as I saw this - it would've been a dream bathroom back in the day!
Matt Blakeley 1 year ago
This is uglier than anything I ever actually saw in the '70s. I'm impressed. There is more wrong with this than I can put on words.
#38
1978 Pet Computer Brochure
Lily bloom 1 year ago
We had a Commodore 64. It was our family's first computer and was purchased with money my mom won at Jai Alai
Matt Blakeley 1 year ago
That's much more interesting than these computers were.
Load More Replies... Rodney McKay 1 year ago
In the 80s I worked in a science museum that had dozens of these, many of which died ignominious deaths at the hands of thousands of schoolchildren. In a misguided hope for eventual resurrection (but of course, they rapidly became obsolete), they were kept on a high shelf in the electronics shop. I dot-matrix-printed a huge banner that read "PET Sematary" to cover that sad, sad shelf.
D Wall 1 year ago
Back in the early days of computers in our school where I taught we had Commodore 64s and Vic 20s that all ran on cassette tapes. You had one cassette tape with a program that you had to load on each of the computers that were being used for class. It took quite a while to load them all and if one student touched their monitor (because they were all hooked up together) the static electricity would zap the program from all of the computers. That’s why I put in a request to our school board to get Apple 2+ computers. (back in 1983) They used 5 1/4”disks.
Stephanie A Mutti 1 year ago
They had to work to get the cutesy "PET",, personal eletronic,,, Hey Fellas,, we need a word that starts with T,,,
#39
My 1989 Buick Reatta Dashboard
#40
Life Is Unfair
David 1 year ago
You just made me mentally picture that - only what came to mind was a group of my friends my age. Funny and Scary would be appropriate adjectives but sexy doesn't enter into it.
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#41
1970s Bathroom
Tabitha 1 year ago
In the carpeting. In the bathroom. Does it smell musty in here to you too?
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robecca leyden 1 year ago
I don't understand why the 60s and 70s thought carpet in bathrooms was a good idea?
Matt Blakeley 1 year ago
Oh, it was. If you could smell this, the stink would knock you over.
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Ambry Petersen 1 year ago
My husband would love that bathroom. I'm not a fan of carpet in the bathroom.
JM 1 year ago (edited)
I can attest, having been a young American during these decades, that this stuff really did exist and there’s no need for AI to recreate it, although I’m sure it could. There were lots and lots of magazines filled with photos of aspirational decorating - much like Pinterest (and I imagine Instagram) are today.
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BlackCatWithWhiteSocks 1 year ago
OK....more green ., must be the decades favourite bathroom colour
Cathy 1 year ago
I knew a lot of people with green in their bathroom... 😝
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#42
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
Anna Meyers 1 year ago
I owned a house witha sink like that in the bathroom, but it was brown. The house was built in 1962.
Suck it Trebek 1 year ago
Hmmmmm.... I like the color combo of pink and rust. I think I know how my spare room is going to look now.
#43
“Colonial” Living Room Furniture From The Sears Catalog, 1975
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 1 year ago
And the fabric was so stiff and scratchy!
Load More Replies... MrsFettesVette 1 year ago
I can't stand colonial or early American furniture, I'd rather sit on the floor
k sand 1 year ago
Yes! Vintage or not, it holds no charm for me. It must have been the most common affordable go-to in the early 80s. And parts seemed to break easily.
Load More Replies... Jay Scales 1 year ago
There was a lot of brown furniture around. Some people's whole decor was brown.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
Brown, orange, and yellow were the official colors of the 70's. :)
Load More Replies... Jaughn Dough 1 year ago
Ours were not the exact same, but very similar. Right down to the gold shag carpet haha. Gotta love the 70s and 80s. We still have that furniture too. Dad bought it with green stamps.
Blyss Blyssylb 1 year ago
Sturdy AF furniture that still exists to this day! Where are "H" and "I"?
#44
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
Tabitha 1 year ago
If the frame is solid, you could always have it reupholstered.
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Stephanie A Mutti 1 year ago
The wall candle holder is pretty contemporary; I've seen similar things in Crate and Barrel and the like.
Oskar vanZandt 1 year ago
Agree with other pandas... The design would work for me if the sofa were a solid colour.
#45
Orthodontist's Office, Dallas, Texas, 1979
David 1 year ago
Everything is a relaxing red to help nervous patients feel at ease. But it's okay, he can't hear the patients screams because he is wearing headphones. I have been to a lot of dentists over the years. I've had some offer me headphones, never seen a dentist wearing them. Perhaps he is listening to instructional tapes.
MrsFettesVette 1 year ago
I worked in an office where the staff communicated to one another through walkies and earpieces. The doctor wore an earpiece that patients couldn't see so if you finished cleaning someone's teeth you could just speak into the handset: "so and so is ready for exam", and hed hear it. Maybe the headphones are some form of that?
Load More Replies... Dov Morgenstern 1 year ago
Why do I feel like he's going to drug the patient and do something horrible?
Anna Meyers 1 year ago
I want to publish A book titled "Mid Century Modern Dental Offices of Wisconsin." There are hundreds of them. It was a phenomenon.
#46
Entrance To J.c. Penney Store, Circa 1971 J.c. Penney Co. Photo, From Their Annual Report
Tabitha 1 year ago (edited)
Oh boy, do I remember those pantsuits (like the white one on the middle). They were 100% polyester, and every old lady had several, usually in very loud colors, that she broke out every time she left the house.
Connie Martin 1 year ago
Not old ladies. Every female person. The person in the photo you point out is hardly an old lady
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Irish Lassie 1 year ago
I think my Dad used to get his Sans-a-Belt polyester slacks at JCP. Now those pants were wicked cool…the pleats down the front NEVER went flat and if you ever needed to iron them, the smell was so horrid that you wore them even a little wrinkled.
Anthony Ross 1 year ago
That looks like the old Treasury storefront (So. Cal). It had a wavy roof also.
#47
👁️ Biba Cosmetics 🫦 1973
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago
We still do. We're just more subtle now 🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝
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Lupita Nyong'heaux 1 year ago
yes, some of us remember her, but this is not her, i dont think
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rmandevi831 1 year ago
I look in her face and can hear her say, "My boyfriend doesn't hit me. I walked into a tree."
Kaedyn Walsh 1 year ago
Ugh I love Theda Bara. She was SO stunning ❤️❤️❤️ my eyes are the same as hers so I'm positive I couldn't pull off the same eye makeup look like she had.
#48
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
Ambry Petersen 1 year ago
The chain curtain on the fire place. My Grandma had one of those. It was surprisingly fun to play with.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
This was the "fancy" room in my grandparents' house that us kids weren't allowed to go in to. :)
Ingrid Smith 1 year ago
my aunt's house looked exactly like this and she only died about 7 years ago
#49
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
Tabitha 1 year ago
I used to work at a real estate agency at the beach that handled summer vacation rentals, up to about 2009. I can’t tell you how many owners STILL had that exact dining table and chairs, in that exact shade of yellow in their condos, especially the older buildings. I suspect it was part of the original furnishings when the building went up.
Canandelabra 1 year ago
So you don't bump your knees when you lean over to do a line?
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#50
Columbus Occupational Health Center, Columbus, Indiana (Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer, 1977)
Leanne Hailes 1 year ago
I swear this article was called 70's. There was no 80's in title at all
doredde 1 year ago
80 Design Pics From The ’70s And ’80s That Show How Different Those Eras Were
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RUSSELL P. KRAMER 1 year ago
Yes, there was. "50 Design Pics From The ’70s And ’80s That Show How Different Those Eras Were"
Andy Frobig 1 year ago
I miss my green Triumph, but indoors, the only thing I want green is my Soylent
#51
The Video Store. Cincinnati, 1988
#52
Cover Of My Yearbook When I Was In Second Grade
Irish Lassie 1 year ago
Why would you get a yearbook in 2nd grade? Definitely for HS graduation, MAYBE 8th grade and/or college, but that’s MM MM MM MM MM MM MM MM Madness
#53
They Had The Best Style Back In The 80s ✨👽
Little Wonder 1 year ago
I should not have read this comment while sipping tea.
Load More Replies... David 1 year ago
80s color schemes were so ugly. I get it, you wanted to escape from the harvest gold and avocado green of the 70s, but pastel pink and blue was not the answer.
Phyzzi 1 year ago
To be fair, neither is textured off white and blue-grey.
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Last Day 2020
Firstname Lastname 1 year ago
Well, at least our foreheads didn't become as big as they predicted.
Lara Verne 1 year ago
Communicating over computers, eating pizza, all alone at home? Not too far from truth.
#55
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
Irish Lassie 1 year ago
Not so sure the couch is teeny tiny, but it absolutely looks smaller with those two hideous gigantic “art pieces” on the wall!
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1979 Surround Sound
David 1 year ago
We had a Quadraphonic sound system about 1971 or 72. At the time it seemed pretty cool
Rodney McKay 1 year ago
Quadraphonic was fake, with the left & right stereo channels mixed out of phase to give the impression of different sound from the rear speakers. But, at least it felt more immersive. Plus, there were twice as many amplifier channels to get blown up by shorted speaker wires, increasing the business for electronics repair guys like me—yes, back then people actually had their busted electronics repaired, a concept completely lost on more recent generations.
Load More Replies... #57
Masland Carpets Ad, 1971
Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago
Kitchen carpets have to be...just about THE MOST STUPID idea in the history of human habitation.
David 1 year ago
I NEVER ONCE saw a kitchen with wall to wall shag carpet. Not in the 70s, not ever.
#59
German Designer Luigi Colani's Futuristic Workstation, From 1970 - 2 Pics
Irish Lassie 1 year ago
It didn’t even occur to me that it was a duck🐥🐥. Thanks for pointing it out because now I like it even more!
Load More Replies... #60
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
NannernomminNanaPanda 1 year ago
Lol! Don't hold back Cheryl! You'll get ulcers! :)
Load More Replies... #61
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
#62
Customers And Staff At The Kinderfoto Kiosk, As Well As Other Neighboring Businesses, At Topanga Plaza (Los Angeles, Ca) In July 1974
#63
Sansui Ss-1 Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones, One Of The First Made By Sansui (C. 1972)
#64
Alba Model 745 Radio With Interesting Crosshair Tuning Dial
#65
Copley Place, Boston Massachusetts, (1984)
#66
Amoco Station In Italy, Featuring Five Corner Pole Signs! (From The 1972 Standard Oil Company Indiana Annual Report.)
#67
Rayban (1971)
Rebelliousslug 1 year ago
Yes for all those days you threw on your bathing suits and popped open the umbrella in the living room
Upstaged75 1 year ago
"Bring the beach to your home" I didn't realize sunless tanner was around back then. Everyone I knew slathered themselves in baby oil and cooked themselves in the sun!
The Other Guest 1 year ago
"In a few hours get the most intense tan..." ::uses pale models and a slightly gold filter:: The Snoopy doll is a nice touch though.
#68
1980s La
Roger9er 1 year ago (edited)
There was a 80's tv show, 'Moonlighting ', with Bruce Willis and Cybill Sheperd, the intro looked just like this.
Load More Replies... #69
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
#70
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
Lyone Fein 1 year ago
Why do they keep posting all these awful pages from that one tasteless catalogue?
#71
“Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book” 1969
#72
"The Organic Gravy Train" (Oui, 1975)
Lyone Fein 1 year ago
This is the cover page of an article debunking health foods. Why is it on this design thread?
#73
70's Retro Painting - Paul Halmshaw
Zaphod 1 year ago
I had Slime. We would pretend that it was boogers. Also, it would pick up dirt and get even grosser.
Julie S 1 year ago (edited)
Omg Penelope Pitstop, Rhubarb and custard, Buzzy, Banana splits, fingerbob, Double Diamond, Mr men, Mr Ben, D**k dastardly and muttley, Green shield stamps, The Magic roundabout, pink Floyd, Faulty towers, The smash aliens, Hong Kong fooy. It's like my whole childhood in a picture.
#74
Betcha Bacon (1972-Circa 1976): Snack Crackers That Were Made To Look And Taste Like Little Strips Of Bacon, Along With Subtle Hints Of Cheddar Cheese And Buttermilk. Photo Courtesy Of Discontinued Foods On Twitter
All Things Vibes 1 year ago
In Colombia, they are called "Tozinetas Fred". Very common actually.
#76
1974 Cub Cadet. Riding Mowers Have Changed A Lot Since The 1970s
David 1 year ago
This looks so familiar. We had a lawn tractor in the early 70s that looked a LOT like this. Except I think it was Sears branded. But Sears farmed out most of their stuff so who knows - could have been made by Cub Cadet. Had a mower deck and had a rototiller you could attach on the back.
#77
The Astrologer (1976)
pep Ito 1 year ago
Presumably due to unlicensed use of music by The Moody Blues and other artists, the film has never been made available on home video and is only able to be viewed at theatrical screenings.
Load More Replies... Norm Gilmore 1 year ago
And very very bad apparently. Which makes me want to see it now!! For a time my friends and I used to do a bad movie Friday night where we took turns to pick the movie and yes, alcohol featured heavily🤣
#78
The Double Exposure Of Holly (1976)
#79
Bell Star II And Magnum II Helmets (1977)
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What do you think ?
The Other Guest 1 year ago
The decorating styles are a bit dubious at times, but man I miss the days when there was color in the world.
Sue From Michigan 1 year ago
I would take any of these home designs and colors over the bland and beige color schemes of today.
Lily bloom 1 year ago
I kinda want a post of each and every page of the better homes & gardens decorating book from 1969
Boopasnoot 1 year ago
The 70's had a simultaneously boring yet garish scheme, rivaled only by the 80's fetish with tacky wood paneling. The 90's wasn't much better.
Devin Schmitt 1 year ago
Shag carpet, wood panels on the wall, and the blue haze from cigarette smoke. That's what I remember from my childhood >
The Other Guest 1 year ago
The decorating styles are a bit dubious at times, but man I miss the days when there was color in the world.
Sue From Michigan 1 year ago
I would take any of these home designs and colors over the bland and beige color schemes of today.
Lily bloom 1 year ago
I kinda want a post of each and every page of the better homes & gardens decorating book from 1969
Boopasnoot 1 year ago
The 70's had a simultaneously boring yet garish scheme, rivaled only by the 80's fetish with tacky wood paneling. The 90's wasn't much better.
Devin Schmitt 1 year ago
Shag carpet, wood panels on the wall, and the blue haze from cigarette smoke. That's what I remember from my childhood >
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