Mother transforms home into tribute to the 1970s for just £1.5K

Advertisement

A mother-of-one has revealed how she has transformed her home into a tribute to the 1970s by ditching modern items and embracing vintage pieces.

Estelle Bilson, 43, from Stretford, Greater Manchester, had long been obsessed with all things vintage when she moved into the a new three bedroom semi-detached home in 2015.

The mother-of-one, who lives with her partner Stephen De Sarasola, 41, and their four-year-old son, decided to renovate the property in a time-warp for the 1970s.

Since then, Estelle, who describes herself as a 'retro interior maven', has given her home an unrecognisable transformation for just £1,500 by buying pre-loved, second hand items.

Estelle Bilson, 43, from Greater Manchester, has transformed her three bedroom semi-detached home into a 1970s timewarp tribute with funky wallpaper and furry throws

The mother-of-one renovated her home with hues of orange and green, scouring the internet, charity shops and auction sites to find vintage furniture

Estelle's obsession with the decade began when she was just a teenager, and she has since invested in a host of furniture and plush pieces from the period

Estelle, who lives in her retro home with her partner Stephen De Sarasola, 41, and their four-year-old son, described her home as 'exciting, diverse and colourful'

Speaking to The Sun, she revealed: 'It's more exciting, diverse and colourful - not to mention sustainable, value for money and better built than most things you can buy in the shops today.'

The mother-of-one said she began collecting items when she was just a teenager before her obsession grew.

And while at university she picked up various second-hand items when people in her neighbourhood cleared out their old furniture.

She confessed she loves 'anything old' but called the 70s 'so evocative', adding: ''I absolutely love kitsch. I'm a bit like a kitsch magpie; anything really random, gold, shiny, multi coloured and the weirder the better. That's why I've got the tiger and Flamingo sculptures.'

When the family bought the semi-detached home three years ago, Estelle began her transformation by painting the walls with bright pops of colour (left, the kitchen, and right, the lounge)

Meanwhile the mother-of-one has drawn a following of over 31,000 fans on Instagram as she shares snaps of her glamorous and lavish home

After purchasing her new home in 2015, she decided she wanted to add some more detail to the walls, and said the house transformation went from there.

The mother-of-one began by painting her home with hues of orange and greens, matching the house with her clothing tastes and drawing inspiration from 70s brand Biba.

Since then, she has only bought a few modern items and, instead, has focused on tracking down second-hand goodies from the internet and second hand stores.

She said she rarely buys anything new because she knows she can save money by 'buying pre-loved.'

The mother-of-one said she has purchased a few modern items for her timewarp home, including a hoover and a mattress, but focuses on finding 'pre-loved' items

The mother-of-one insisted that 'second hand doesn't mean second rate' but admitted she drew the line at a second hand mattress because 'nothing should get in the way of a good nights sleep.

Estelle revealed she sometimes has 'something very specific in mind' while other times she 'stumbles upon things' like her dining room table and her bed.

And since beginning her home transformation five years ago, Estelle has gained a huge social media following, attracting 31,000 Instagram followers on her @70shousemanchester account.

While her home is a tribute to the decade, Estelle said she does not live like it is 1974 and instead just 'appreciates the styling' (pictured, her glitter ball bathroom)

The mother-of-one often delights her fans by sharing snaps online of her plush furnishings and glitter ball inspired bathroom.

Yet she said the thing people compliment her on the most is her rugs because they 'are so of a time.'

Yet she insisted that she doesn't live like it is 1974 but just 'appreciates the styling', adding: 'Some have compared it to a shrine or a museum - it's neither. It's simply our home which we chose to furnish with things that make us happy.'