With earthy browns, deep oranges and organic shapes, the 70s are back for a nostalgia-tinged 2018. Lisa Eckl, editor of the SoLebIch online community for interior addicts, reports from Ambiente 2018 on the 70s-retro colours, patterns and materials reflected in the latest trends.
I was impressed by the designs I saw on stands at this year’s Ambiente in Frankfurt. Many producers’ new collections introduced me to a look I love: I never used to have time for the latest brown and rust trend colours, but now they’re at the top of my 2018 wish list. Time to give you a taste of my other highlights, too.
The trend in living accessories: ceramics and décor in browns and rusts
The 1970s were a time to experiment, and not just with lifestyles. Designers were living it large with interiors, too: opulent home interiors showed off contrasting patterned surfaces. Oranges, yellows and browns also played a big part. These colours were worked into stand-out materials such as velvet, brass and chrome. Many of these elements are now reappearing, reinterpreted in the latest collections.
All these new collections are centred on the colour brown, in all its nuanced variety. We saw brown Japanese tea services in sleek ceramic and various varieties of brown glass vase. A rust-coloured glass balloon on fine metal legs and chestnut-hued vases in a range of geometric shapes all point to brown as the colour of now. I saw glazes made to look natural, wild and spontaneous – like in original 1970s designs.
Perfectly contrasting materials: bold brass meets matt shades
Chrome and brass are fabulous 70s-retro materials. These cool metals have always contrasted beautifully with the warm colour palette. These days you might find side tables and newspaper racks with chrome or brass legs. The new collections I saw featured many brass accessories, as well as small items of furniture such as plant pots and shelves. This furniture is far from the standard clean, white lines we often see: It is colourful, playful rust-red or terracotta, served up fresh and essential for 2018 interiors.
Following on from the recent urban jungle trend, deep green is fading into obscurity, to be replaced by sage. This on-trend shade is adorning many walls. It’s delicate and unpretentious, making the perfect backdrop for bold 1970s colours. Sleek, straight-line sofas such as this model from Broste Copenhagen are the latest thing.
Even the tableware sparkles more than before. We’ve seen trays with gold edges from Au Maison; now water, wine and champagne glasses also sprinkle a hint of 1970s glamour onto the dining table.
Velvet – no longer underground!
The trend towards glamorous materials is still going strong in a more muted colour palette. I find it such a good fit for the 70s trend: rich materials like velvet, knitted throws and woven rugs suit this lively decade’s aesthetic perfectly. We found soft, velvety materials in sofa and cushion covers, but also on lampshades. It’s so cosy you might just want a quiet night in.
