This Family of Three Shares a Vibrant, Retro-Style 400-Square-Foot Home

Adrienne Breaux
·4 min read
4
Matching decorative wallpaper and pillows in vintage inspired living room.
Mid century modern credenza in living room.
Vintage leaf print wallpaper.
Vintage inspired wallpaper in bedroom.
Vintage armchair on glass patio.
Floral art print mounted behind toilet in bathroom

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Apartment

LOCATION: Manchester, England

STYLE: Colorful, Maximalist, Mid-century Modern, Vintage

BEDROOMS: 1

SQUARE FEET: 400

Becky Morris and her fiancé own this 398-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment near Manchester City Centre, and, incredibly, share the small home with their 2-year-old daughter. “[I]t can be a struggle not having much space, but we take pride in making the space work for us by constantly coming up with clever storage solutions and ideas,” Morris writes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1xMGSYttg_/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

Morris is a hairdresser by day, and says working with colors “is something that I have done every day for the last 15 years, so I love to use the same passion and color knowledge on the interiors of my apartment.” She shares her love of color and of retro pattern on her popular Instagram account, @myretrodecor.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1_hSupNuc-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

Apartment Therapy Survey

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or fewer: Colorful, warm, maximalism, statement, retro.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwUdYeKt6jP/?

Tell us a little about your home: Pattern/color has always made me feel happy, so I surround myself with them at home, still making sure there is something that links them in each room. I like to use statement/iconic pieces of furniture to be the center pieces instead of too much clutter.

Mid century modern side table in living room.

What is your favorite room and why? The front room; when the sun rises it catches the orange and mustard colors of the room and the teak wood of the furniture, and creates a warm glow which makes the room look beautiful.

I’m also really pleased with the mix of vintage and modern furniture in here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbUUOBJqfbI/?

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? A vintage teakwood bookshelf at a secondhand shop — our books and glassware look great displayed in it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Ohowtt3RM/?

Have you DIYed or renovated anything in your home? Yes! We had a water leak into our property which was left unfixed by the management company for the best part of a year, the damage was so bad some of the ceilings and walls had to be taken down and we had a complete rip out. (See more on her Instagram highlights.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0BejhvNUws/?

What’s your best decorating, shopping, cleaning, or organizing advice? Space saving: Indoor retractable washing lines, collapsible baby items (e.g., bath/high chair), mount folding chairs on walls, hang all cleaning tools mops/brushes on ceiling hooks, under-bed storage, ceiling-hung curtains for room partitions.

Decorating: I’m a lover of wallpaper; it can change the feel of a room dramatically.

Shopping: Vintage markets and secondhand shops are my go-to for those mid-century good-quality pieces.

Resources

Vintage leaf print wallpaper.

HALLWAY

  • Wallpaper — B&Q

  • Mirror — Vintage

LIVING ROOM

  • Blue Axel Sofa — DFS

  • Checkerboard Rug — George Home Asda

  • Kids’ Yellow Play Table — Habitat Argos

  • Rainbow Wallpaper/Cushions — Lust Home

  • Green Dog — Magis

  • Black Chair — eBay

  • Lamp — Habitat

  • Nest of Teak Tables — Vintage

  • Sunburst Wall Clock — M&S Home

  • Round Teak Mirror — Vintage

  • Light Fitting — Wilkinsons

  • Wall Mirror — Vintage

  • Lamp Base — Vintage

  • Flower Lamp Shade — Nipper&Moo

  • Sideboard — Gplan

  • Sound System — Richer Sounds

Vintage inspired wallpaper in bedroom.

BEDROOM

  • Wallpaper “Over The Rainbow” — Lust Home

  • Curtains — Deconovo

  • Orange Light Fitting — Wilkinsons

  • Bedding — Habitat

  • Shelf — Handmade

  • Shelf Brackets — Etsy

  • Cushions — Handmade

Vintage armchair on glass patio.

BALCONY

  • Orange Tub Chair — IKEA

  • Green Dog — Maggis

  • Festoon Lights — Amazon

Floral art print mounted behind toilet in bathroom

BATHROOM

  • Black Circle Mirror — Dunelm

  • Wall Mounted Cupboard — IKEA

  • Artificial Plants — Primark Home

  • Concrete Effect Floor Tiles — B&Q

  • Artwork — Handmade

  • Black Fixtures & Fittings — Amazon

Thanks, Becky!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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