Meet the mom who has transformed her home into a 1970s time capsule for $5,000.
Alex Quandt, 34, told Newsweek she has always “felt connected” to the warm tones of the ’70s.
From rattan furniture to avocado green, this Cleveland home is a blast from the past. But it may not surprise many as more than 313 million people have searched the hashtag #70saesthetic on TikTok.
In autumn 2021, 750 interior designers took part in a 1stDibs survey. The online marketplace for luxury items indicated the 1970s trend remains strong, with 36 percent of respondents noting that the decade would be most likely to come back.
@honkytonkmom
Alex, a mom of one, said: ‘I have always felt connected to the 1970s use of warm tones and the fact that decor from that era didn’t take itself too seriously. It’s cozy and layered and feels lived in.”
Different shades of brown, orange, yellow, and green can mostly be seen in Alex’s home. Additionally, warm tones and bold floral prints can be seen throughout the three-bed colonial-style property.
The decade of the ’70s is described as “the era of ecology popularized colors found in nature,” according to a Vintage Unscripted blog post.
Previously, Alex, a personal stylist who uses the TikTok handle @honkytonkmom, recorded a tour of her home for the popular video platform. The clip was watched by 315,000 people and received almost 60,000 likes.
“My house feels incredibly safe and cozy. It’s important to me that my three-year-old son is able to be a kid here, so making sure that the decor is low-pressure and forgiving is a priority for me. I don’t want to live in a museum. I want him to be able to touch everything and for it to be okay if he spills or breaks something,” she said.
“I have been surprised by how many people love my house. I get a lot of folks who say it reminds them of their home growing up and they get to connect with that nostalgia and remember that childhood joy.”
While the feedback is mostly positive, Alex revealed her home has received some negative backlash from people who “weren’t fond” of the decade. And others have even claimed her home must “smell like cigarettes” because of the vintage items.
She said: “I moved into the house from a tiny apartment so I had to fill my house from scratch. The best way to do this was by shopping in thrift stores, antique malls, and eBay. I managed to buy everything in my home for $5,000.”
“As many items are secondhand, some people think they come with a smell.
“My friends will tell you that I am truly a neat freak and it smells like pecan pie in here, so comments about smells always make me laugh.”
@honkytonkmom
@honkytonkmom
@honkytonkmom
@honkytonkmom
Alex has spent the past two years transforming her home. During that time, just a “handful of people” made a negative comment. It’s no surprise as the stigma of buying used goods is in the past.
A recent report from OfferUp, an online resale marketplace, has revealed that 82 percent of 2,000 Americans buy and sell secondhand goods. The survey conducted in May 2022 also found that 76 percent of the items were not clothing but ranged from electronics, furniture, auto parts, and more.
Alex said: “My space-age green dining table set was a Facebook Marketplace find for under $100. It was not in great shape and the original upholstery had been painted over, so I painted it avocado green myself and reupholstered the seats with retro-inspired fabric from Spoonflower.”
“I got my vintage solid wood six-person dining table set for $40 on Facebook. I got my Lane-tiered end table for $10 on there as well. My cane detail headboard was $10 at a thrift store.”
“Generally, a smaller secondhand home accent or wall decor piece has to be under $5 for me to even consider it! The gallery walls in my home are filled with pieces that were $2-$5 from the thrift store, with the exception of a few modern pieces that I have purchased directly from artists, like my Stone Cold Steve Austin illustration by Cheatin Snakes and my Repo Man poster by Deadly Prey Gallery.”
