Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 6, June 2004

Copyright 2004 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

DECORATING DILEMMAS:

Tips on what to do with 'That '70s House'

By ROBIN DALY

Dear Robin,

Q: I just bought a house and it is soooo '70s. What can I do to update it? It's a typical split-level home that has not had a lot of work done to it. There is even a wet bar in the basement rec room!

Signed, Stayin' Alive in Seattle

A: First, understand that when it comes to a 1970s house, nothing is sacred. I give you permission to rip and tear out anything that does not really work. If it's a new house to you, then you probably have no emotional attachment to harvest gold shag carpet. So get ready to remove those design elements that have not aged well. That means you are free to remove any gold glass windows in the entry, foil wallpaper in the bath, "Mediterranean" (a.k.a., really ugly) cabinet doors in the kitchen and highly patterned accent tiles around the fireplace.

What you will be left with is the basic structure of the building. And this is a great place to start from. You are now free to add your own architectural details. Plus your basic '70s box is very adaptable to many different looks.

One detail of note: Please replace or at least paint out the small, dark brown mahogany trim that is probably running throughout the house. If you do this one little thing you will get an instant facelift! And don't forget the hollow-core doors. Just get rid of them as your budget allows. Have you ever tried to really slam a hollow door? It's completely unsatisfying. Instead, call The Door Store through Frank's Lumber and they will steer you in the right direction.

If you have more elbow grease then investment funds, then at least paint the doors to get rid of the dark brown stain. This one change will add more to your look than almost anything else you will do. OK, carpet is another biggie, but that dark brown wood trim has got to go!

Speaking of carpet, we often make the mistake of going too light. Try for a rich mid-tone color instead. This way you will hide all the muddy dirt plus all the lint that seems to be attracted to the lighter shades of carpet. When you use light beige carpet, any speck of dirt shows up instantly and if you keep house like me, that is not exactly a desirable look.

Besides, if you are trying to add character to your blank slate, why would you choose typical beige flooring?

Split-level homes lend themselves very nicely to a lot of the contemporary looks that are available. Here's a cool idea: Invest in a really cool pendant light made from blown Italian glass for your entry. No more fake brass chandelier for you! This new light fixture might set the tone for the whole house.

Many of the details, like facets and light fixtures can really add a lot of style to your home.

In keeping with a contemporary lighting theme, why not add a decorative curved track with halogen lights to the hall between the bedrooms and bath? My friends at Harold's Lighting in Wallingford said this is a great way to create a gallery space where you can hang family photos or nice art. It is surface mounted and you can control the direction of the individual lights, giving you much more illumination than the standard issue light fixture from the past.

Dark hallways are always problematic, so turn it into something that you will enjoy. The halogen lights add sparkle and the photos add personality. Now your hall had been transformed from a space that had been ignored into one that has meaning. See how pleasingly your '70s home can be changed?

Let's focus on the rec room. Why not make it into the best darn Lava Lounge in town? You already have a head start with the bar A few lava lamps, some retro furniture and a turntable are all you need to get the disco parties started. Don't forget the mirrored ball.

Embrace the '70s-ness of it all. There are a lot of fun themes you might use in the rec room Las Vegas Elvis, Disco Nights or Tiki-Hut Lounge. You can see where I'm headed here. The only thing holding you back is your good taste, so put that aside and have some fun un-decorating the basement!

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Robin Daly is a third generation co-owner of Daly's Paint and Decorating in Fremont. You can reach her at 633-4200 or news@theseattlesun.com. She LOVES to hear from you and answer your decorating dilemmas.

Send questions or comments to: news@theseattlesun.com