So, you’ve styled yourself from the band of your ten gallon hat to the refitted soles of your 1960s cowboy boots. But what good is all that if your surroundings are completely out of whack with your carefully curated aesthetic? I mean, it’s all well and good if anachronism is your game. Some people get a thrill out of jarring juxtaposition, and more power to them. Me, though? I’m a fan of consistency, and I believe that the dedicated vintage dresser advances to the next level by bringing his living space into line with his wardrobe.
Interior decor is just the tip of the iceberg. You can have all the lava lamps and rocket lamps and mushroom lamps can fit to your available power sockets, and more hand-woven Andean throw rugs than you can shake a shag-pile toilet cosy at, but none of it means anything if there’s no consistency. That applies not only between decor items, which should ideally be from the same period, but also between them and the underlying structure of the room. Heck, if I had my way, the house itself would fall into step with the look, but that’s not always possible.
Anyway, this is where you should start looking at kitchen renovation ideas. Melbourne houses – like, old ones – sometimes come with their original kitchens, and that’s something you could look into if you’re prepared to tolerate weirdly proportioned bench spaces, inefficient storage and appliance situations that leave a lot to be desired. The alternative, of course, is to give your kitchen a makeover that reflects the best of your favourite period’s aesthetics without sacrificing convenience and usability.
At the end of the day, the key is not a religious obsession with authentically recreating the past. In my view, it’s to zone in on whatever it is you love about it, and bring that out via your interior reboot. It could be a colour combo, a material, a shape or simply an atmosphere that resonates with you, and that’s somehow lacking in contemporary design. Take that factor, and give it a new lease on life.