1970s Lounge Bar Reno – Retro Holiday Home – Hunter Valley NSW

My very handy husband and I are renovating and decorating a Retro Holiday Home in the Hunter Valley NSW with the intention of having it ready for holiday letting later this year.

Thank you to all or lovely guests at The Groovy Grape over the last year.

The Groovy Grape has been sold to a lovely family who are going to live in it. We are currently selling off some of the furniture that the new owners don’t need. To see the items for sale go to For Sale Gallery

Step back to 1976.

This Retro Holiday Home is going to exude all things Vintage, from 1956 to 1976. Think

• Mid-Century Modern … think Madmen
• Psychedelic Sixties … think Get Smart, I Dream of Jeannie
• Groovy Seventies … think The Partridge Family, That Seventies Show

The house was built in 1981 but has some great 1970s and mid-century details, like raked ceilings with beams, skylights, an arched doorway and slate floor in the entry.

It is a large house with 5 bedrooms and 3 living areas so this is a significant project.

1970s Lounge Bar Reno

So here are the before and after pictures of the Lounge Bar area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This space was originally a veranda, and although the it was well built, it was pretty basic in terms of style, so we had a lot of planning and a lot of changes to make:

• We banished the fluorescent bar lighting and installed a new MCM styled 5 light pendant.
• We halved the size of the skylight and gave the ceiling a fresh white coat of paint.
• The very deep teal green wall paint added character and gave the bar a cosier feel for the evenings.
• We hung timber verticals on the end window to eliminate the view of the neighbouring house and add some warm wood vibes.
• The white translucent curtains make the end of the room cosy without blocking the light (are are a MCM essential).
• We had a tiny bar sink plumbed in, installed a spotlight over the bar sink, and added 2 double power points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The authentic period items in the Music Lounge include:

• The green geometric fabric panels are an unused length from the 1960s and set the main colour for this room as green.
• The 2 brown leather chairs against the end wall are 1976 Tessa T8 designed by Fred Lowen and I refurbished these myself.
• The turned timber standard lamp and orange shade are vintage 1970s.
• The cream and brown table lamp is vintage 1970s.
• The 4 side tables in timber veneer with cigar legs are vintage with minimal restoration.
• The timber laminate cupboard under the window is a 1972 HMV Statesman Stereo Turntable with lift-up lid.
• The vinyl harlequin poof (for your feet) is vintage 1970s.
• The orange chequered wool blanket is also vintage.
• The vintage white translucent curtains that make the end of the room cosy without blocking the light (an MCM essential in the 1950s).

The period appropriate items in the Lounge area include:

• A 2-tier corner table that we made from salvaged vintage legs and recycled shelving.
• 2 black leather lounge chairs that reminded me of some Danish ones I had seen because of the arms and the feet.
• A green shag rug because shag is a 60s/70s essential.

The authentic period items in The Bar include:

• The solid pine 1976 modular wall unit was reconfigured to accommodate a sink and a fridge. We added some vintage mirror tiles behind the benchtops, and a couple of timber panels to hide the plumbing.
• The teak veneer bar unit was acquired locally and is from the 1970s. It was in fabulous condition until we broke the glass in transit.
• The 3 bar stools are vintage Macrob in teak and vinyl and I restored these myself.

Almost all the ornaments, drinkware and coasters in the bar are vintage, including:

• The pair of brass storks made by Leonard Silver Mfg. Co in the 1960s (on the bar).
• The 1950s Ranleigh Australia polished stainless steel drinks tray (on the bar).
• A selection of Crown Corning Australia ‘Oslo’ stemware designed by Denise Larcombe in 1975.
• Stainless Steel ‘Burgundy’ wine goblets and tray designed by Australian Silversmith Stuart Devlin in the 1960s for Wiltshire Australia.
• A selection of American Libbey glassware, frosted with gold leaves from the 1960s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All other items look the part and were sourced from eBay, Facebook Marketplace or my ‘backroom’.

For links to all posts on this reno go to Retro Holiday Home Renovation.

For things to do in the Hunter go to https://www.winecountry.com.au/ or  https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/hunter/hunter-valley/cessnock