Throwback Thursday: My Childhood Living Room

In honour of Throwback Thursdays (aka #tbt), I thought I would share a photo from one of my childhood homes, circa the ’80s. For those who don’t know what #tbt is, it’s a social media thing. People post old photos from the past, and usually it’s to laugh at themselves. Similarly, I laughed at this photo when I came across it.

My childhood home’s living room, circa 1985.

I find this entire room very humorous. Likely because I find myself designing in this similar aesthetic now. The old adage, what was old is new again. A saying I have heard all my life, but now, living through 3.3 decades, I am starting to see trends resurface. Let’s talk about this…

The Sectional: Sectionals have been back in a major way for many years now. They are family friendly and extremely cozy. The one my parents chose above is a bit bolder than what we would likely commit to today, as we are more safe with pattern and like to keep it neutral. I love that Mom opted for this crazy pattern and chaise lounge end.

A version of today’s sectional via Brentwood Classics.

The Wainscoting: Traditionally speaking, this is real wainscoting in the photo. It is wood, applied to the interior wall, versus what we are seeing today, known as paneling. Paneling is wood treatments or trims adhered to the drywall and then painted or stained, depending on the look one is trying to achieve. Nevertheless, this is extremely popular in today’s design. One catch, it seems that white is the way to go, colourwise,versus a dark wood colour.

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The Built Ins: This is a trend that hasn’t lost it’s steam, and I don’t think it ever will. With open bookshelves on the top, and storage below, it’s a organizer’s dream to be able to have “a place for everything, and everything has it’s place”. The same rings true for the colour choice, as above. We are seeing more lightly lacquered built ins versus wood.

KMSalter Design uses built ins in this family home.
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The Accessories: Can we please touch on the hanging plants, the cafe curtain drapery and the animal skin rug by the fireplace in the ’80s living room? I think that the curtains and animal skin rug have had their time and place, and haven’t ever really left the design world, but the hanging plants? Now that is something that gets me. I feel like Jonathon Adler helped push this one back into mainstream with his love of Macrame but regardless of who made this cool again, it’s back. Here is a link from Urban Outfitters to get your very own hanging planter pot if you wish. Or better yet, maybe my mom still has some kicking around…

Urban Outfitters Hanging Pots

@kmsalterdesign