Oh, those cheeky 1970s. Wrapping up wallpaper week here on the blog, a look at some of the 1970s illustrated novelty wallpapers from Hannah’s Treasures. Who knew there were so many line drawing wallpapers of folks malingering in the bathroom — with mermaids, even!
Above: The 70s saw a Victorian revival, complete with ferns of course! Note, I have several rolls of this wallpaper that I picked up on the cheap on ebay over the years. There’s gold ink in mine, too! Really quite stunning! Five double rolls currently available.
Above: This paper is fabulous, what with the wicker lounge, pergola thingie — and green colorway! Two double rolls in stock currently.
Above: This one has the mermaid (notice the wife in the mirror!), a scuba diver, a phone booth and toilet planter. Oh my! Four double rolls currently in stock.
Above: Same design, different colorway. Six double rolls available.
Above: And one more colorway. Six double rolls currently available.
Link love:
Dana says
We had naked lady wallpaper in our bathroom too It was decidedly NOT Victorian. These ladies looked more like “Eve.” They had long flowing hair and they were NOT hiding ANYTHING I learned how to draw a naked lady by looking at that wallpaper. I still remember; “S. S. W, dot dot. Y.
I would love to find that wallpaper…sigh.
Deb says
Thanks for the fun memories! My grandma always had wallpaper like this in her bathroom.
nancy loomis says
We still have the original wall paper that is similar to those shown in our tan/brown bathroom. Our house was built in the early 1960s. The wall paper shows various bathrooms “Father” (lots of guns on the wall) “Children’s”, “Ours” (husband shaving while the wife is stepping out of the shower). The most interesting one is “Guests”. It shows a man shaving, a woman in lingerie putting on make-up and the backside of a second woman toweling off in the shower.
Pam Kueber says
Oh my!
DJ says
These are absolutely fabulous! Maybe I’ll buy a roll and frame a section as a picture!
Joe says
Those papers would get me out of the bathroom quickly!
Pam Kueber says
Party pooper.
Becky says
OMG! STILL DREAMING of my grandparents’ “Naked Lady Toile” wallpaper they had in their hallway while I was growing up. They were all like… swimming and hiding behind trees and on swings.
BETSY says
We had this same wallpaper in two bathrooms in a house we bought in 1978, when I was 5. Black on white and brown on white. I can’t find an online image of it ANYWHERE. So bizarre.
Eleanor Radziewicz says
I’m trying to find images of that myself. We had the same wallpaper!
Pam Kueber says
Keep an eye out / contact the companies that find and sell vintage wallpaper, they may run across it >> https://retrorenovation.com/2011/03/01/7-places-to-buy-vintage-wallpaper-from-1-25-to-200-per-roll/
I’ll keep an eye out too. I love novelty wallpaper!
Elizabee says
The second one reminds me of the Clairol Herbal Essence ads from the ’70s!
Felicia Alexander says
These are delightful! I have vague memories of Gay ’90s/Victoriana-themed wallpaper in restaurant restrooms back then (Victorian ladies with powder puffs in front of mirrors and such), but nothing as whimsical and fun as these patterns.
Joe says
Not to mention the red, flocked paper in hotels and apartment buildings.
Robin, WA says
Loooove these. Some day when I’m brave enough to go all out 70s in a bathroom, I will totally use these.
Susie Q. says
Seeing these jogged my memory: when I was in first grade (in the early 70’s), I was friends with another little girl in my neighborhood. In her family’s house they had similar wallpaper in their bathroom. It was more glamorous, though–it was black and white and featured images of topless Victorian ladies lounging on sofas. At the time, I was amazed that anyone would have wallpaper with naked people on it!