Why go for the new brand when you can capture the old?
Mother-of-three Corbyn Hanson Wittig, 51, is a prime example of why often the old is better than the new – in her glorious ’70s home.
Corbyn purchased his four-bedroom detached home in Chicago, Illinois, in 2020 and immediately set to work transforming it into a vintage haven.
Now it’s like stepping straight into the ’70s – and mom has managed to complete her makeover on a budget by continuing to buy secondhand.
In fact, she says that each vintage item costs less than $25.
Corbyn, who lives with her children and husband Ian Wittig, 30, said: ‘We moved into a new house last year and were inspired by abandoned furniture.
‘It seemed like the right time to find alternatives to buying new due to climate change, so we turned to second hand first.
‘There’s hardly anything here that’s newer than 1980 or more expensive than $25 – you can usually find something better at a thrift store for less money.
‘If you’re paying the same, or less, why would you go buy a crate from Target when you can get the same or cheaper secondhand? “
Corbyn, mother of Rainer, 22, Zeke, 15, and Molly, 14, drew inspiration from the age-old decor left in the home by previous owners.
Instead of erasing the past and making things new, this family chose to stick with the theme on the left.
Corbyn himself was a ’70s kid, so was thrilled to be back with that vibe. She scoured thrift stores to create a full ‘time capsule’ look, with almost every piece being made before 1980.
The end result of Corbyn’s hard work is quite spectacular – and a very welcome change from the usual interiors of new gadgets we see on Instagram.
“I wanted to create contrast with the white and gray houses,” she said. ‘It’s everywhere and it’s a boring road to take!
‘I think the ’70s florals and bright colors are what we’re missing now – it’s more stylish, it’s more nostalgic and it keeps things out of landfills.’
And while not everyone wants to embrace all-round floral power, Corbyn encourages us all to give used furniture a chance.
Oh, and don’t be afraid of colors.
She said: ‘I love the power of flowers and bright colors – in the 1970s everything had that style and we weren’t.
‘I think a lot of people are missing that maximalism.
‘You can find a lot of things in thrift stores instead of paying Amazon to buy.
‘You don’t have to update something when you can switch to its classic style – it’s restoration, not renovation.
‘Don’t get rid of your wood paneling or pink bathroom, when you can use them as part of your design.
‘Not only is it cheaper, but if we switch to second-hand first, we can keep more from the landfill.’
Have you finished your amazing home transformation yet? Or do you live somewhere out of the ordinary and love to show it off?
If you want to share your story, email us on MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/15/mum-transforms-new-home-into-70s-inspired-haven-using-budget-second-hand-items-15776060/ Mom turns her new home into a '70s inspired shelter - using cheap second hand items
