Welcome back to Room Reno #102 here at The Sims Resource! Today we’re helping a Sim who wants the perfect retro apartment with a funky twist. Let’s meet the Sim we’re helping!
Meet Alyssa!
Alyssa is a big fan of retro style who just moved to San Myshuno. She loves the bones of her new apartment, but she definitely wants to change things up from the current look in order to fit her aesthetic goals better. While she knows her tastes are pretty unique, she loves the funky retro look. This design style usually ties together classic vintage themes with neon colors or super kitschy details to create a look that feels like both the past and the present.
A great example of funky retro design would be the absolutely iconic Trixie Motel in Palm Springs – each room features a different funky retro design themed to different topics (my favorite is the Queen of Hearts room – that headboard is to die for!). The Trixie Motel is going to be a big influence on the look Alyssa wants for her apartment, with lots of bold colors and a 60’s or 70’s look in the furniture. Let’s see what we’re working with!
The Before
I agree with Alyssa – this place definitely has good bones, but the current styling is not it. My first issue is all of the mismatched wood tones – when it’s intentional, I like the look, but this is definitely not an intentionally planned look. My second issue is how dark it is! While the apartment has tons of beautiful windows, it still manages to be dark and gloomy even in the middle of the day – what gives?
There’s going to be some major lighting upgrades before the renovation even starts, and I think that will make a huge impact in the space (this is also a great, cheap DIY for real living spaces – buying new lightbulbs can make a room feel totally new again). The final issue is the layout, though with the way that the apartment is shaped I don’t know if it can be changed much – the kitchen will probably have to stay where it is. The living area can be reoriented fairly easily, so that will have to be where the change takes place. Let’s get planning!
The Planning
Planning for this apartment was pretty quick, all things considered. The kitchen stayed in the same spot (as mentioned above) because I didn’t want to block any of the beautiful windows with the necessary appliances. This apartment needs all the light it can get, y’all! With the kitchen staying in the same place, I decided to make some changes to the living area. I decided to rotate the couch to face the interior wall for a few reasons.
One – it means that the TV won’t be totally unusable if the sun happens to shine in. And also so that the space feels a bit more homey and cozy. While Alyssa doesn’t know many people in San Myshuno yet, she wants to make lots of friends and loves to entertain, so creating an inviting space is very important to her. In between the kitchen and living area, I want to add a nook for Alyssa’s record player and vinyl collection so she can play music while she cooks or while chilling on the couch. Let’s get building!
The After
I’m kind of in shock at how different this apartment looks from the before images. I almost wouldn’t know it was the same space! A fresh coat of paint on the walls helped to brighten things up of course, along with some powerful overhead lighting to help the room feel less like a dark cave and more like an actual living space.
The kitchen is completely pink – I based it off the kitchenette in the Flower Power suite at the Trixie Motel. In the living room, I went all in on the funky retro theme with some really fun seating options. My favorite is probably the green wicker loveseat, which is so beautiful – but the hanging chair is also super cool. The record nook is one of my favorite places in the room – the beautiful cabinet design and adorable bin of records (I love clutter) really make it feel personal and lived in.
Thanks for checking out Room Reno #102! If you liked this blog, check out Room Reno #101: Rustic Halloween Porch or our Barbie movie inspired lookbook. Looking for something else? Read about summer CC looks for the whole family or check out our Gilmore Girls inspired lookbook! Have a great day 😎
