Living that origins bathroom.

Thanks Irene. I was thinking white throughout as well, but keep the kitchen its light blue to match the walls and blend well with the laminated bench tops.

White is more suited to the 70.s when clear bright orange, yellows and greens where used to add colour, 50 and 60’s softer colours.
I live in a 50s house. I have fair Bianca half on windows and ceiling and a crewel work 1/2on walls, but could tone that down to Q/4 . Important to keep ceiling lighter than walls.

I agree with white too Philip, I don't want to live back in the 50's or 60's, this will really update the interior while keeping all the amazing features that the house has. Lucky you

Maybe try the white that is in the kitchen Lino as you base colour in house, there are so many whites these days

I have the best collection (possibly in Australia) of original paint sample cards from various decades. When I work with a client who wants to use the original colours with the house I match the sample card to the period of the house and use the colours on the old paint cards as a starting point. I then use a digital colour analyser to match the old paint colours that have been selected with the closest three contemporary available colours from the Dulux range of 4800 colours, then organise A4 sized samples from Dulux.

In my experience this is the only way to get the colours looking right, as colour photographs (from any decade) are never super accurate with paint colours.

Feel free to contact me if you want to be a bit scientific in your approach to getting it right,

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls

and Dr Retro Virtual Visits

Dr retro, am I correct in using the term softer colours for the 50’s

Kate, while some softer colours were used most were very vibrant compared with today's boring pallete of variations of grey.

Dr Retro

Hi again Kate, Thanks.

The 'white' in the kitchen tiles is actually a cream colour. Photos don't always reveal the true colour. But I like your idea. I think I'll keep the same colours in the kitchen as they work well; they just need a refresh.

I do love white, and I'm still inclined to go with white in the other rooms, with perhaps a cool or warm undertone on the walls and a lighter white for ceilings. On the elements at home site, http://elementsathome.com.au/2013/02/12/how-to-choose-your-white-paint/site it talks about and shows the difference between cool whites (slight blue/grey undertone) and warm whites (red, yellow undertones). I think I'm leaning towards cool whites as the lounge, dining and bedrooms have good size windows so a fair amount of natural light. I have a lot of bright art and pottery on display in all rooms so I think this would add colour in the rooms against the whiteness. Thoughts?

Thanks as. Dr Retro. Sounds like you have an amazing collection. Yes we r very boring. House I grew up in we all painted our rooms their own colour, my bedroom I’d painted a very pale pink with green trim. The boy who moved into it when we sold hard a hard time convincing his parents it was pink and eventually turned it white with black trim:)