Hayden Naughton steps into the past at 70s House and chats to owner Estelle Bilson
70s House Manchester has amassed a huge following of 118k on its Instagram and you can see why. The first thing that strikes me is its unassuming exterior—it could easily be anyone's home. It’s a terraced house that, back in the day, used to be a corner shop. It has not been extended or altered; it’s a house that could sit at the end of Coronation Street. Inside, however, is a different world.
Estelle, the owner and visionary, sits me down in the living room immediately. I feel like a cat chasing a laser pointer, taking in details both big and small in this incredible room. Although this is her home, it doesn’t come across as an obsession. She isn’t against using items outside of the 70s decade of her brand; if it fits, brings joy, or saves something from going to landfill, it might have a place in this house. The kitchen alone was hours from being skipped and seeing it in its glory makes you realise what a crying shame that would have been.
I have to ask how it started, and Estelle explains that age-old story: “When you’re a student, you get your hands on whatever furniture you can.” Although it’s chic once again, everything heavily 70s-themed was seen as old-fashioned back then, with people throwing most things in a skip. Estelle’s father was an antiques dealer and cabinet maker, so typical weekends growing up involved car boot sales, vintage shops, and auctions.
This background, consciously or subconsciously, helped hone her skills. Consciously, she knew when something was a bargain, subconsciously she gained the knowledge of materials and where to find things. Estelle has been collecting for over 30 years, both interior items and clothing, but it’s only recently become ‘cool’ again, making the scene far more competitive. Even reissues of classics from the likes of Ikea and Habitat have made people want to hunt the originals.
Estelle is a fount of knowledge when it comes to finding furniture and accessories to fit her theme. She’s happy to provide tips on sourcing. Squound in Stockport, Emmaus (particularly the Bolton site), and The Vintage Home Show at Victoria Baths are good places to find things easily. The joy for her, however, comes from finding things “in the wild.” Facebook Marketplace has transformed into a bargain epicentre of people wanting to get rid of items, and not fully knowing their value. It’s not all people selling crushed velvet settees. Estelle says that searching the most basic term is a good way of finding stuff - '70s’ table' might help you find what you're looking for, but if you just put 'table' in and trawl the results that is how the gems are found.
Estelle's genuine interest shines through as she explains that her autism plays into her passion quite well. "It's like micro-dosing Wikipedia," she says. "I want to know the who, the why, and the when." This curiosity is evident when she talks about one of the centrepieces of the living room: the Keracolour TV, resembling a spaceman's helmet, she tells me how it’s technically a local product, made just an hour outside of Manchester (Northwich).
Each room in the house is curated and considered. The newest room is the kitchen, which Estelle had just 24 hours to save from a skip. After 10 years of looking for something in the right shape and style, a retro group on Facebook gave a tip-off about it being in Dovestones, but it was being replaced the day after someone new moved in. Estelle had to get a handy person who could dismantle a kitchen to a house for 8am before the builders came in to smash it out. Which you can imagine is a perfect cocktail of stress and elation.
Everything that fills this home comes with a story or personal victory. A proud car boot find came when she stumbled on a £4 Heron with a rosewood base. Due to her family's background in antiques she knew that Rosewood had been endangered since the 70s, but liked it for its look and feel. One night after scanning Instagram she spots the same statue and that leads her to find out not only its origin but also its price. We’re talking over £2,000, the stuff of Bargain Hunt dreams. Estelle has no plans to sell, her motive was love over profit.
I ask Estelle about the need to constantly switch things around in the online home influencer scene, and again she emphasizes sustainability and love for her collection. "Lots of influencers out there will redecorate every year, essentially to chase an algorithm," she says. "But what happens to all the [previous] stuff you filled your home with? Has it gone to landfill? There is lots of talk about fast fashion, but not fast interiors."
The charm of 70s’ House Manchester lies in its authenticity and dedication to a specific era without compromising on functionality. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a space that feels lived-in and loved. Estelle’s design background has an outlet in this home, it is hard not to feel that serotonin hit when you’re greeted by sunburst orange and playful patterns of yesteryear, from the living room to the kitchen.
The colour palette, the textures, and the selection of items all work together to create a cohesive and immersive space. Every piece has been chosen with care or just from the sheer thrill of discovery, not just for its timestamp but for the story it tells and the history it holds.
Estelle lives here with her child and husband but you can tell there are nods to their things, collections of records and toys. I think you can’t help but love the backdrop she’s created for their lives.
In the world of Instagrammable homes, where trends come and go with the seasons, 70s’ House Manchester stands out for its timeless appeal and genuine love for the era it represents. It will always be this style out of love rather than to chase a trend. It’s not just a feast for the eyes but a heartfelt homage to a time of bold design, forward-thinking, the space age, and the idea that hovercars are just a decade away. That positivity oozes from this property and you don’t have to be a dedicated follower of fashion to see that.
Follow Estelle and 70s House Manchester on Instagram
Estelle is also a published author and you can grab your copy of 70s House: A Bold Homage to the Most Daring Decade in design here.
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