An interior designer who feels like she was born in the wrong decade spent £6,000 transforming her home into a Seventies paradise.
Mother-of-two Lizzie Mullaney, 33, is obsessed with fashion from the decade and has a wardrobe packed with flared trousers, psychedelic prints and plenty of clashing colours.
She wanted her home in Stratford, east London, to reflect her day-to-day style so set about giving it a retro makeover over lockdown.
Queen of retro: Mother-of-two Lizzie Mullaney, 33, is obsessed with fashion from the decade and has a wardrobe packed with flared trousers, psychedelic prints and plenty of clashing colours. Pictured right, with daughter Dita, four
Seventies dream: Lizzie has transformed her living room into a Seventies haven, complete with shag rugs and rattan shades
Living room before: The property was far more modern and understated before Lizzie started her £6,000 makeover
Print perfection: Lizzie poses in a bedroom decorated in bold wallpaper, curtains and a clashing bedspread
Bright and beautiful! The kitchen is an original 1970s set from the Mediterranean, boasting vibrant floral cabinets
That’s groovy, Mum! Lizzie with husband Leon, 42, and children Dita, four, and Jarvis, 12, who also dress up with her
Lizzie’s house now boasts floor to ceiling prints, a 70s tan couch and a vintage Mediterranean kitchen.
Focusing on bright colours and bold shapes, Lizzie incorporated oranges, pinks and greens with retro floral patterns and little art deco prints into her home renovation.
Lizzie shares her passion for Seventies fashion with her husband Leon, 47, CEO of fire protections solution company Fire Integrity, with whom she shares daughter Dita, four, and stepson Jarvis, 12.
‘I’m very inspired by old films such as Blow-Up, and those based in the 60s/70s era such as Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Valley of the Dolls and Boogie Nights,’ Lizzie, of London design company Behiece said.
‘I wanted to recreate that vibe within my home to kind of match how I dress every day. I found that during the lockdown, decorating was a great way to stay positive, it started with one room and just progressed from there.’
Attention to detail: Every wall, sofa and floor of the house is decorated in eye-catching colours and clashing prints
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Standing out from the crowd: Lizzie dresses to match four-year-old daughter Dita (left). Right, enjoying a coffee in the kitchen
Strike a pose: Lizzie shows off some of her ’70s fashion in her living room, which is decorated in shades of brown and green
Thrifty Lizzie, who documents her style choices on Instagram, explains she seeks out vintage furniture from charity shops and upcycles pieces to create the look she wants.
‘I really tried to stick to a budget, so a lot of furniture and accessories are from charity shops and I also upcycled a lot of furniture and even reupholstered this old chair I had,’ she said.
‘I aimed to spend less than £300 a month and I’ve tried to decorate the house with little bits that I love. I also inherited lots of homeware from my late grandma, which really fits with the look I was aiming for.
‘I wanted to create a bit of escapism, and I haven’t left a wall untouched.’
The love of the Seventies started with her fashion and Lizzie enjoys combing charity shops to find her next buy.
Little treasures: The kitchen is decorated with ornate lamps, while decorative plates hang from the bright orange wall
More IS more! One wall of the kitchen-dining room is decorated in a gallery wall full of prints, photos and vintage posters
Flower power! Lizzie poses in her kitchen in a brown mini skirt and knitted waistcoat, worn over a long-sleeved floral top
Family time: Lizzie with husband Leon, right, stepson Jarvis and four-year-old daughter Dita, who is sometimes dressed to match
‘I’ve been shopping vintage for the past fifteen years, and because I’m a bargain queen, I love to raid the £5 or fewer rails,’ she said.
‘Because I’ve been wearing 70s styles clothes for so long, I really couldn’t put a figure to how much my wardrobe is worth, but I love to buy second hand and independent.
‘I love flared pants and polo necks, and I always make sure I’ve got my big pair of oversized glasses. I try my best to avoid fast fashion, and wearing vintage clothes is the most sustainable and ethical way to be.
‘If something doesn’t fit me properly anymore, or if I like the pattern but not the item itself, I like to upcycle it to make something new. Or if it’s just a pair of trousers that are too long, it’s very easy to patch them up to the right size.’
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Bargain hunting: Lizzie said she loves nothing more than finding a piece from the Seventies in a charity shop
Back in time: The living room comes complete with a leather sofa, patterned carpet and printed mint green wallpaper
Lizzie even gets her children and husband involved in the fun, from decorating the house to twinning in 70s fashion.
She said: ‘Dita loves matching with me, and when we’re out and about together people will come over to say how cute she looks.
‘I occasionally make my own outfits, and one time I made a matching set for myself and Dita, and a t-shirt for Jarvis so he could get involved.
‘I love to knit as well, and Jarvis helped me make quite a few scarves for friends and family last Christmas. I just love that I get to be myself, and that my family love to join in, and that we are all being sustainable.’
