A Retro Revival in Small-Space Interior Design
We’ve all seen it: how that gadget or fashion we once used as teens makes its way back into mainstream styles even though we were sure it would remain a relic of the past. That’s because design and aesthetics have a tendency to work in cycles. In the search for something new or different from what we’re seeing in abundance all around us, the colours, materials, and motifs from decades past start to look fresh, becoming ripe inspiration for a contemporary version. This manifests in almost all elements of interior design.
We see walls painted in ’70s colours – though typically as accents rather than the full monochrome look that was once in vogue. We see materials and treatments like wood panelling, terrazzo, rattan, square tiles, and more that nod earlier trends. And we see vintage lamps, decor, and furniture like the beloved Togo sofa popping up for their novel textures, hues, and shapes. It’s a retro revival. The following Never Too Small homes over their take on retro styles, crafting interiors that are as rife with nostalgia as they are modern innovation.
Panama Apartment, Paris, 47sqm/505sqft
“We were inspired by the client’s ’70s furniture”, architect Bertille Bordja, founder of Paris-based Ovo Studio, told us of her design for Panama Apartment. “We took into account their colours and material in order to create a cohesive space”. This is apparent as you tour the 47sqm/505sqft apartment nestled in an early 20th-century building: from the square orange tiles in the powder room inspired by the Artemide lamp to the more subtle nods to the ’70s aesthetics appearing in the curved oak kitchen cabinets, the apartment is defined by its old-meets-new retro flair. Watch Panama Apartment.
EG112 Simple Dwelling, Barcelona, 34sqm/366sqft
When redesigning his 34sqm/366sqft Barcelona apartment, architect Jacobo Valentí of Casavells Estudio has a secret weapon in his back pocket: a trove of mid-century furniture he had been collecting. The self-proclaimed mid-century design lover explained how the building itself was constructed in the 1960s and he wanted to emulate its original style by seeking out the same kind of materials that were available at that moment – to go with his mid-century furniture, of course. The home is filled with rich woods and ’60s colourways, most notably in the mustard yellow tiles lining his ensuite and shower by the terrace and the multi-hued mid-century cabinet designed by Charlotte Perriand installed above his kitchen sink. Watch EG112 Simple Dwelling.
Tiny Bellville, Paris, 32sqm/344sqft
Nestled in the dynamic Paris neighbourhood of Belleville, Adrien Dupuy’s 32sqm/344sqft Paris apartment is in a building originally constructed as a department store around the end of the nineteenth century before being refurbished into a residence in the late ’70s. The designer and founder of PLATO added unique character to his custom-built ply interior with retro accents such as California blinds for a “’70s motel vibe” or the refurbished coffee table topped with the same yellow glass as the shower screen – “so I can look tan all year round”, joked Dupuy. Watch Tiny Bellville.
Bayside, Sydney, 26sqm/280sqft
“The apartment had been untouched for the best part of 50 years”, architect Nicholas Gurney explained of Bayside, continuing, “it had very strong 1960s and early 1970s design cues. The clients really understood and knew what they wanted and importantly that was to maintain that ’60s–’70s sensibility”. And so Gurney went, honing a minimal retro aesthetic across the micro 26sqm/280sqft space. The updated materials heavily referenced the mid-century build, cork floors replaced carpet, brass was introduced throughout, curved edges abound throughout the kitchen, and even the brown tiles in the bathroom resemble the original tiles used. It can be looked at as a restorative approach to the renovation. It hadn’t been touched in 50 years, and this renovation has ensured comfortable occupation for at least another 50. Watch Bayside.
VM36, Paris, 53sqm/570sqft
Home to architect Jean-Malo Le Clerc of JMLC Studio and his partner Victor, this 53sqm/570sqft Paris apartment is a tribute to their favourite design era and offers the ideal stage to house the couple's treasured collection of furniture from their top designers. One of Le Clerc’s motives when undertaking a new project is to “always imagine what it used to be or what it could have been,” which he’s able to do with an incredible attention to detail: white glossy tiles in the living area selected for their similarity to those found in ’70s swimming pools; square, baby blue tiles and fluted glass in the bathroom; curved joinery; a vintage-style door handle; and a mustard yellow paint job can be counted as just some of the nods to the past. Still, the home feels incredibly modern and fresh – a testament to how retro need not feel stale. Watch VM36.
