We all have a soft spot for antiques and vintage decor, but while we were glad to see the back of some home trends (think popcorn ceilings and net curtains), we’d welcome others back with open arms. Over the decades, many of our favorite interior treasures have fallen into obscurity, but there are plenty of amazing bygone homewares that would be perfect for our 21st-century lifestyles! From modular sofas to clotheslines, we wish these 29 iconic interior accessories would find their way home. Click or scroll for more…
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Magazine racks
Chances are you’ll remember these from your grandparents’ house, positioned at the end of the couch and stuffed with that week’s TV Guide and local paper. While the move to online news and listings may have found these handy storage solutions falling out of fashion, we think it’s time for a comeback. Where else to keep those special print periodicals we love to get every month than in an on-trend rattan magazine rack?
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Chrome furnishings
Since the 1920s, chrome has been big news in interior design. Then, this silvery material became iconic in the 1950s, when chrome-legged tables with Formica tops filled every single house and diner in Europe and North America. Yet as other materials fell into fashion, chrome’s popularity faded. Perfect for creating a stylish finish in any home, we’d welcome the return of chrome fixtures and furnishings – the perfect alternative to over-done brass, copper and rose gold.
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Bed curtains and canopies
While the romance of a four poster bed has never really gone out of fashion, you’re more like to find a sheer swathing of voile curtains or even a macramé weaving suspended from its frame than a hefty drape. In an age where good quality sleep is scarce, we think it’s time to bring back a dark and cozy sleeping space that blocks out the modern world while you slumber.
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Mid-century stonework
We don’t know about you, but we love everything mid-century modern. Defined by exposed timber, expansive glass and unusual roof lines, this design movement was big between 1945 and the late 70s. Many of its key architects loved a bit of crazy paving-style stonework and we think this cool, textural feature could make a real impact in 21st-century interiors. The ultimate way to create a unique focal point and showcase the beauty of raw materials, mid-century stonework is begging to be reinvented.
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Teasmade
While some like their tea milky with two sugars, others like theirs black. No matter how you take yours, the Teasmade would not disappoint. Invented in 1891, this clever piece of technology rose to popularity during the 60s and 70s and made its way to America somewhat later. The gizmo was designed to sit on the bedside table and featured an alarm clock so that the perfect brew would be waiting, as soon as you woke up in the morning. When it comes to retro homeware, we really can’t understand why such a useful item fell into obscurity and could just imagine starting our Sundays with a freshly brewed British cuppa in bed.
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Sunken seating
Once, a dinner party would end with drinks in the conversation pit, also known as a sunken seating area! Made popular by mid-century architects, they adorned 60s and 70s homes, too, but soon fell out of favor over open-plan layouts and modern furnishings. Yet we believe there’s nothing quite so cool or stylish as a sunken living room and they would be perfect for contemporary homes – especially those adopting multi-level layouts.
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Dark wooden cladding
Ultra stylish, timber paneling could once be found in many a home, from the 40s right up until the 1970s, after it grew in popularity thanks to the mid-century modern movement. Yet as pastels, chintz and shabby chic styling became the in-thing in the 1980s, cladding all but vanished. Cool, stylish and the perfect way to create a feature in any space, dark wooden cladding would be a fantastic addition to any contemporary interior.
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Transom windows
A long time before sliding doors, bi-folds, and skylights, transom windows were the ultimate way to allow extra natural light to spill indoors. So named because they could be found in a horizontal strip above a window or door’s transom, these glazing elements were also often located above front doors and sometimes featured pretty stained glass detailing. As modern design saw transoms fall into obscurity, we’d like to see this classic window style find its way back into homes.
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Window seats
Since the 18th century, homeowners have been making the most of the space below their windows. Providing the perfect spot to curl up with a book, the window seat has transformed a lot since the Georgian era. Going from simple, backless metal chairs to wooden built-ins finished with beautiful upholstery, window seats are not only attractive, but perfect for providing hidden storage – and we’re on a mission to bring them back into favor!
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Writing desks
Dating back to the 18th century, writing desks and bureaus were once essential homeware items, but as slimline laptops and paper-free working became more popular, such furnishings were no longer necessary. But now, as journaling, adult coloring, and working from home are on the rise, a desk of one’s own seems utterly enticing. With plenty of working space and ample storage drawers, we know plenty of people that could benefit from one of these.
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Clothes drying racks
Drying racks, also known as overhead airers and Sheila Maids, were once an extremely useful item that could be found hanging from the ceiling of almost every home on the planet. Popular from the late 18th-century onward, these practical contraptions fell out of favor after the Second World War, when technological advancements saw a boom in the electric dryer. Yet as homeowners turn to eco-friendly alternatives, and are forced to buy much smaller homes, this simple yet useful device seems too good to ignore.
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Stable doors
Back in the day, traditional farmhouses and cottages often featured stable doors. Created in two parts, the top part of the door could be opened to allow fresh air and light to travel inside, while the lower part could be kept closed to keep children and pets secure inside. Stable doors were soon overlooked by composite and PVC creations, yet these stylish and fun doors remain as practical as ever and would allow for safety without compromising on air circulation or natural light.
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Hostess trolleys
Hostess trolleys were a must-have item for every household between the 1920s and 80s, since they provided the perfect way of delivering drinks, afternoon tea and finger food to visiting guests! Sadly, as modern interior tastes changed, such kitsch items all but disappeared from our properties. Yet, what could be better for a Gatsby-inspired cocktail soirée, party nibbles, or kids’ birthdays? For that reason, we’d love hostess trolleys to wheel their way back into 21st-century life.
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TV cabinets
Since the 1960s, almost every living room around the world has featured a television. Clunky and unsightly, many homeowners opted to hide their TV set away in a stylish wooden cabinet – complete with storage and doors. Yet as modern flat-screens and wall-mounted LCDs grew in popularity, many did away with such furnishings. We’re firm believers that TV cabinets would be a fantastic addition to contemporary homes – offering a place to store your television set without having to display it.
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Biscuit tins
The humble biscuit tin was once used to keep treats fresh – before preservatives and plastic packaging did the job for us. Yet as people wise up to the joys of home baking and avoid unnatural ingredients, it seems sensible for everyone to invest, once again, in one of these perfectly practical storage vessels. Plus, you’ll always know exactly where to look when you fancy a sugar fix! Sounds like a win-win to us…
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Radio alarm clocks
Long before Alexa and the iPhone, people had to make do with radio alarm clocks, which woke them up with the sound of their favorite radio station. As modern technology grew and changed, these useful items all but disappeared. Perfect for a modern-day digital detox in the bedroom, radio alarm clocks offer everything you could need to help you wake up on time – without having to always rely on your mobile phone.
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Lazy Susans
The Lazy Susan was once the height of kitchenware sophistication and came in a plethora of colors, shapes and styles. Whether for countertops, cupboards or the dining table, this handy vessel was perfect for serving up dishes and sauces. The gadget was invented by Thomas Jefferson back in the 18th century, after his daughter complained about always being served last. As tastes changed, the Lazy Susan became a mere piece of nostalgia, but we know how useful many modern families would find them, especially for Sunday lunch or summer barbeques!
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Laundry chutes
Inspired by industrial turn-of-the-century chutes, the humble laundry chute began cropping up in people’s homes in the 1930s, especially across North America. An indicator of family wealth, chutes were hidden inside wall cavities and connected the upper floor with the basement, where laundry facilities were usually kept. Allowing homeowners or maids to, quite literally, lighten their load and avoid carrying dirty clothes down numerous flights of stairs, there’s no obvious reason why every single home doesn’t have one of these extremely useful devices. This modern-day project was carried out by ISK Design Group, LLC.
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Clotheslines
Before the introduction of the electric dryer, many instead hung their laundry on clotheslines in their backyards. Yet such exterior lines soon became less popular, when the convenience of modern technology became too good to resist. However, as we all start to make decisions that are better for the environment, it seems wrong to ignore such simple household items that don’t cost the earth.
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Doorstep shoe scrapers
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, boot scrapers could be found on doorsteps across Europe and America. The cast iron contraption was invented at the same time as the footpath and allowed wealthy homeowners to clean their shoes in one go, before going indoors. It is thought that concerns over public safety led to their demise, but we can think of few items more useful than this. We imagine they’d be very well-received in modern households – especially those located in the countryside!
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Paper towel holders
Paper towel or kitchen roll holders once decorated kitchen walls and countertops across the planet. Yet as kitchens became more streamlined, many homeowners opted instead for minimalist accessories and clean countertops, thus paper towel holders faded into obscurity. Yet there’s still a need for such an item and we can definitely see their value in contemporary life, especially if you crave some kitchen nostalgia.
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Dish drying cabinets
Once found suspended in cupboards above the sink, dish drying cabinets allowed unsightly wet plates and pans to be hidden away while they air-dried. Yet when people began buying into dishwashers, which found their way into homes in the late 1920s when permanent plumbing was introduced, the need for such a device slowly decreased. In a bid to save energy, reduce bills and live more sustainably, we know there’s a place for dish drying cabinets in modern kitchens.
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Wicker shopping baskets
Before convenience shopping and local supermarkets caused us all to turn to grocery bags and grab-and-go, many homeowners had a wicker shopping basket in their home – there for when they needed to pop to the market. So, as we all begin to reduce, reuse and recycle more, aiming to have as little impact on the environment as possible, there’s never been a better time to embrace this once-loved household essential.
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Terrific teapots
Invented in China during the Yuan dynasty, there was a time when most homes had a teapot. Perfect for serving guests a fine cuppa, teapots enabled hosts to top up cups without having to leave the room – or reboil the kettle! Then, in the 1960s, tea bags came out and many no longer felt the need for a pot, but we think that many could benefit from one today, as they’re perfect for saving energy! They might seem old fashioned, but teapots still serve a very real purpose.
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Cast iron trivets
Before the invention of heat-resistant kitchen countertops, we had to use a cast iron trivet to protect tables and benches from damage. Perfect for placing a hot pot or pan on while serving up, these handy little kitchen gadgets are now no longer popular. Yet, their usefulness hasn’t changed. Imagine everything you could do with one of these in your kitchen – perfect for casserole dishes and pans, a cast iron trivet could well spare your elegant countertops from irreversible marks.
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TV tray tables
As more and more homeowners bought into television sets, families around the world began eating their meals in front of their favorite shows. An essential part of this evening ritual was the TV tray table, which made family dinners a much more straight forward affair! Popular until the 90s, this handy little household item would be fantastic for millennials – just think how much easier Netflix and chill would be, with a couch-side table to hand!
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Bathtub caddies
Everyone loves a soak in the bath. Back in the day, particularly during the 80s and 90s, many bathrooms boasted a caddy that straddled the top of the tub. The perfect spot for storing sponges, soaps and flannels, modern-day tastes saw such devices thrown out in favor of bathroom shelving units and free-standing bottles. But imagine the joys of having a caddy to hand – a place to rest your book, candle or iPad as you submerge yourself beneath the bubbles, like you’re at your very own home spa!
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Modular sofas
Another practical furnishing of yesteryear is the modular sofa. Also known as sectional sofas, these simple seats were created from a number of individual pieces, designed to be used in a variety of configurations to suit any living room layout. Popular in vintage living rooms throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s, it is said to have been invented by American designer Harvey Probber in 1944. Perfect for a broken-plan layout, the flexibility of the modular sofa seems too good to ignore.
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Serving hatches
Back in the day, many homes featured a small opening that connected the living room with the kitchen. Making dinnertime quick and straight forward, meals could be passed through the serving hatch and straight to the table. Popularized in the 1970s, the humble serving hatch remained in our homes until the 90s, when people started plastering over them to create a more streamlined interior aesthetic. Cute and fun, this practical design feature remains as useful today as it ever was.
