10 Retro Ideas Reworked For Modern Exteriors
If you have a penchant for mid-century design, there are clever ways to carry that through to even the newest exterior
The exterior of your home should reflect the design sensibilities that dominate the interior. If you’ve embraced mid-century modernism, there are a number of ways to carry that through to the exterior. Shapes, materials, colours and textures can all be used to celebrate the design style you love.
2. Circle pattern
A front door isn’t just a door – it can also be a mid-century work of art. While these circles with frosted glass have the ring of originality, the metal circle around the doorknob adds a contemporary edge.
Statement front door paint-over
A front door isn’t just a door – it can also be a mid-century work of art. While these circles with frosted glass have the ring of originality, the metal circle around the doorknob adds a contemporary edge.
Statement front door paint-over
3. Stone wall
Mid-century architects couldn’t resist adding natural materials, such as stone and timber to suburban buildings. These features add colour and texture to the more minimalist structures. And whether a stone wall is built in 1966 or 2016, it adds elegance and timelessness to any property’s design.
Mid-century architects couldn’t resist adding natural materials, such as stone and timber to suburban buildings. These features add colour and texture to the more minimalist structures. And whether a stone wall is built in 1966 or 2016, it adds elegance and timelessness to any property’s design.
4. Orange strip
With a beach-house feel, this Perth dwelling takes modernism to a new level. The orange strip on the home’s facade adds decoration to the modular windows, but the garage door also catches the eye. It utilises stacked rectangles that embrace both mid-century style and Japanese sensibility.
With a beach-house feel, this Perth dwelling takes modernism to a new level. The orange strip on the home’s facade adds decoration to the modular windows, but the garage door also catches the eye. It utilises stacked rectangles that embrace both mid-century style and Japanese sensibility.
5. Angled roof
A modern colour palette has revitalised this 1970s riverfront home in Queensland. While the angled roof and modular glass windows draw inspiration from America’s Eichler project homes and Australia’s Pettit & Sevitt series in the ’60s and ’70s, the refurbishment adds a contemporary feel by introducing modern tones.
Types of sloping roofs
A modern colour palette has revitalised this 1970s riverfront home in Queensland. While the angled roof and modular glass windows draw inspiration from America’s Eichler project homes and Australia’s Pettit & Sevitt series in the ’60s and ’70s, the refurbishment adds a contemporary feel by introducing modern tones.
Types of sloping roofs
6. Screen wall blocks
It may remind you of your nan’s 1950s home, but dedicated modernists are happy to not only restore original concrete blocks but introduce brand new ranges to properties. They are perfect as a feature wall at the front of the house, or even as a fence border – as long your neighbours have a similar taste.
It may remind you of your nan’s 1950s home, but dedicated modernists are happy to not only restore original concrete blocks but introduce brand new ranges to properties. They are perfect as a feature wall at the front of the house, or even as a fence border – as long your neighbours have a similar taste.
7. Weatherboard cladding
Apart from its reasonable price, the best thing about weatherboard cladding is that there are no limits when it comes to choosing a colour palette. Here, the exterior’s sunny yellow hue adds a retro, beachy feel to an urban block.
Apart from its reasonable price, the best thing about weatherboard cladding is that there are no limits when it comes to choosing a colour palette. Here, the exterior’s sunny yellow hue adds a retro, beachy feel to an urban block.
8. Striking roofline
To add an edge to a mid-century home, the architect of this home added rows of slats to the building’s exterior. They not only follow the line of the skillion roof, but also provide extra shading and privacy for the upstairs bedrooms.
Homes with architectural sunscreen
To add an edge to a mid-century home, the architect of this home added rows of slats to the building’s exterior. They not only follow the line of the skillion roof, but also provide extra shading and privacy for the upstairs bedrooms.
Homes with architectural sunscreen
9. Black is back
While this home’s sloped roofline draws inspiration from mid-century influences, the panelled exterior itself has an up-to-the-minute look. While this property is in the US, a similar material is available in Australia: HardieFlex is a smooth, flat fibre cement sheet that’s painted on-site to create a flat panel look.
While this home’s sloped roofline draws inspiration from mid-century influences, the panelled exterior itself has an up-to-the-minute look. While this property is in the US, a similar material is available in Australia: HardieFlex is a smooth, flat fibre cement sheet that’s painted on-site to create a flat panel look.
10. Outdoor wallpaper
Only the most dedicated modernists would dare to introduce this device to their exteriors – a wallpaper that works outdoors. Design firms, such as Italy’s Wall & Decò, use innovative techniques to make the large-scale wallpaper weather- and sun-resistant.
TELL US
Does your exterior feature a retro design? Tell us about it or share a photo in the Comments section.
MORE
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Only the most dedicated modernists would dare to introduce this device to their exteriors – a wallpaper that works outdoors. Design firms, such as Italy’s Wall & Decò, use innovative techniques to make the large-scale wallpaper weather- and sun-resistant.
TELL US
Does your exterior feature a retro design? Tell us about it or share a photo in the Comments section.
MORE
Inspiring Mid-Century Australian Homes: 6 of the Best
Houzz Tour: A Stylish and Sustainable Family Home With a Retro Edge
10 Retro Ideas Reworked For Modern Living: The Bathroom
Apart from its simple lines, this architect-designed property on the Gold Coast includes a Corten steel screen for a real wow factor. Wrapping around the first-floor bedrooms, the screen gives a nod to mid-century patterns – and after dusk, it transforms into a glowing lantern.
Ways to work with Corten steel