Ah, this article is for us, the nostalgic ones… of everything that refers to that era… the legendary 70’s, ladies and gentlemen!

I recognise that for some, it may seem very outdated, but without wanting to influence you… guys, it was a legendary era with incredible innovations in architecture, bringing maximalism to design and creating an eclectic style.

Yes, it’s retro, but many designer pieces have withstood the test of time and continue to impress and lead the way in the most up-to-date magazines and stores, proving their timelessness.

All the decorating gurus are shouting out the return of the 70’s as a trend, and they must know what they re talking about. They attribute it to the fact that, after many years of minimalism between beige and grey, people are craving a bit of colour and extravagance in their lives. And I couldn’t disagree! Is this a sign of the times in the post-Covid era? We were locked indoors, and all this minimalism annoyed us, so now we’re looking for optimism in colour? Who knows, but one thing is sure… a little liveliness and shaking things up never harmed anyone.

So, let’s see what that era’s decoration included and what we could carry into today. Geometric patterns in fabrics, carpets, wallpapers, and details were evident everywhere. Fringes and velvet in furniture fabrics, and plenty of curves in furniture, with some of the most impressive pieces designed and still popular today, like Mario Bellini’s Camaleonda and the Togo sofa by Ligne Roset, which I mentioned in my contemporary design article. Entire wooden panels in dark tones and sunken living rooms on different level from the rest of the house, where you expect to see James Bond sipping his martini and smiling at you. Bold colours, mostly warm ones like orange, mustard, green, burgundy, but also neon or lime shades. And all of this sprinkled with disco glitter. In short, minimalism is thrown out the window.

So what of all this should we keep? If you ask me, first of all, not all of it together. It would be good to decide what we truly like from all this and limit ourselves to some of it so we don’t end up with a mishmash. After all, achieving an eclectic style that includes a lot of mix and match is the hardest achievement, even for professionals in the field. Add warm colours to your space with one or two pieces of furniture, or simply in accessories, to warm up a minimal environment, and dress them in velvet or leather. Bouclé fabrics, which have been a big trend in recent years, or velvet can be chosen in more neutral shades if you don’t want to overdo it. That said, I personally don’t find anything excessive about a velvet sofa in deep royal blue or earthy olive green colour. I’d be more cautious with bold patterns and geometric shapes, limiting them to details like decor and pillows, or in a central piece of art or even furniture that is so impressive, it seems like a piece of art itself, and I have a few in mind that I’ll present shortly.

Where could we find furniture of this style?

• Modernon, a retrosexual movement: 3 Agias Eirinis Street, Athens. With this store, I felt like I was stepping into a time capsule and landing in the 70’s. But I’m doing it an injustice by simply describing it this way, as from what I read after my visit, the person who created it has dedicated years to studying and collecting historical items from the 1920s to the 1990s. Pure magic in there and a very sweet staff to welcome you. The Post-modern table Marmelade with glass and a bold red-orange colour from €210 (without discount) and the Arch mirror – Green from €460 (without discount) are just some options in a space that’s constantly renewed with new pieces to uniquely decorate your space with exceptional vintage items.

Post modern table – Marmelade, Modernon, a retrosexual movement

• MOFU Vintage and Contemporary Design: 28 Sarri Street, Athens. Contemporary modern 70’s style with chairs, sofas, side tables, and lighting from another era, but still very stylish. From the Instagram account, as I haven’t had the chance to visit the store yet, I was thrilled by the vintage Sideboard No.142 buffet and the Orange chair by Hans Olsen. I also can’t express how much I love the Fringe pendant lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobson, a 50’s piece in a fantastic pink colour, and how it fits the “fringe trend” we mentioned earlier.

Fringe pendant lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobson, MOFU Vintage and Contemporary Design

• Edra: 106 Ermou Street, Athens. Contemporary, a little industrial, and a little 70’s style mixed in an impressive space where you’ll find furniture, paintings, and lighting in a similar style. Chairs like the Elli will bring the glamour of the 70’s into your home.

• Emmetron: 104 Ermou Street, Athens. The king of chairs in every style, but I’d mostly recommend it for those looking for something vintage. Among my favourite chairs are the Alor and Luffy, or the Melita bar stools with or without a back. For a little velvet in your life, I’d also choose the Oded bar stools.

• Habitat: 118A Kifisias Avenue & Miltiadou Iatridou, Athens. Quite close to Scandinavian style, but also for those who want to replicate the 70’s while giving it a more modern aesthetic. Prices are not so low, but they definitely don’t reach the luxury stores. In the store, you can find everything from sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, bookshelves, to plates, glasses, and modern kitchen accessories. I’m dying for the Herve armchair, which starts from €2,200 (without discount), which reminds me a bit of the Ginkgo chair by Porada (designed by Niccolo Devetag). Sorry for the potential blasphemy, but it resembles it a lot and is much more affordable.

Herve armchair, Habitat

• Vitra – El Greco Gallery: 212 Kifisias Avenue, Chalandri. The store with modern minimalist lines with references to 70’s design, but also Scandinavian style. Simple and understated, but with a splash of colour. From iconic chairs like Charles Eames with cherry wood and premium leather in four shades such as sand, caramel, chocolate, and black, starting at €6,000 on its own and around €8,500 with the matching ottoman. To an armchair – artwork like the Amoebe by Verner Panton, designed in 1970 in a striking red that draws attention, or La Chaise in white, starting at €9,000, which also resembles a sculpture with its soft curves.

Amoebe chair by Verner Panton, Vitra – El Greco Gallery

• Roche Bobois: 248 Kifisias Avenue, Chalandri. What can I say about this French furniture company, which remains timeless but has managed to always be relevant, bringing colour and modern lines, creating unique pieces that are hard to find elsewhere? The company continues to surprise us every year with new designs and colours in sofas, armchairs, dining tables, etc. Of course, the company is not defined solely by the 70’s but also by contemporary design. However, I chose to present it in this article because it has some pieces that remind me of the glamour of other eras, adapted with unique taste to today’s times. Here, I’ve singled out the Eden-rock table, which also has a matching bar, which is vintage and classy. But also the Pulp table in burgundy colour, which brings the 70’s vibe to our dining room. But really, I’m excited about the coffee tables: Bamboo mood in wonderful pastel colours, like mint and salmon, as well as the Cute cut in various sizes and with a unique splash of bold or pastel colours, such as fuchsia, red, or mint.

Cute cut XXM cocktail table, Roche Bobois

• B&B Italia Maxalto Deloudis: 358 Kifisias Avenue, Chalandri. I’ve mentioned this store before, and I think it will often come up in my articles and my dreams as well. This time, I’d like to mention the UP 50 armchair, a legendary piece designed in 1969 by Gaetano Pesce, with the ottoman-ball, which comes, among other things, in a dreamy striped beige and petrol fabric (it was released in this fabric in 2019 to celebrate the 50 years since its design). It’s one of those pieces that will draw attention, and in my opinion, could easily be the centrepiece of a space.

UP 50 armchair and ottoman, B&B Italia Maxalto Deloudis

We don’t need our space to feel like it’s been put into a time capsule. Even just adding a few carefully selected retro pieces to a contemporary environment will give it character and bring out the space with your personal touch. After all, as we’ve said before, our home should be lived in, and to live in it beautifully, we must have added in everything we love.

So… Groovy baby!!!

Until next time!!! 

Design geek in Athens

Note: Prices are indicative at the time of my visits and may change. Also, the brands mentioned are not exclusively available at one store, but you can find them at different shops as well.