Standing still in time, these time warp houses have been left unchanged for decades. From mid-century homes that look straight out of the '50s to immaculate condos from the groovy 1970s, the decor is as fresh and fabulous as the day the front door closed for the last time. Let's take a look through these incredible domestic time capsules...

This picture-perfect gothic pile could be straight out of a fairy tale. Carson Manor, built in 1885 by the nouveau riche lumber merchant William Carson, was designed to his exacting specifications and little has changed to this day...

Stepping inside, visitors are confronted with the jaw-dropping redwood staircase, sourced from the Carson lumberyard. Featuring exquisite carving, turning and illuminated by a six-panel stained glass window, no expense was spared on the construction of this house. It rivals the great chateaus of France in its finery!

The formal dining room was a very important room in the Victorian household and as such it has been fitted out with a hand-carved oak fireplace, a gilded ceiling and the original oak table. This room would have been used for hosting dinner parties and family meals, though larger social soirees would always be held in the ballroom. 

When this four-bed family home in Ramona, New Jersey hit the market in 2017, the real estate agent Lucas Wolf was overwhelmed with interest. According to Realtor.com, he described it as the “coolest house I’ve ever been inside” so it's no wonder that the perfectly preserved property drew multiple offers before selling very quickly for $461,400 (£353k).

Stepping through the front door into the green flocked hallway, it’s clear that this house hasn’t been decorated since the 1960s. This living room goes for a 'more is more' approach to combining textures and colours, with a white exposed brick wall, ornate gilded finish on the windows, mirror and furniture, and an abundant inner plant bed to add even more greenery to the scheme. 

The maximalism continues in this formal sitting room, with what might have been called an ‘oriental’ theme at the time. Check out the black lacquered furniture, orange satin-lined panels on the window and a reclining leopard statue – it’s totally wild!

Heading upstairs into one of four bright vintage bedrooms, and it's clear that primary colours inspired this brave decorator from the past. Crimson flocked wallpaper, a ruby red carpet and matching ottoman bench at the window have been ‘matched’ to a blousy floral fabric on the bedspread and curtains. Despite – or perhaps because of – the décor, the house was snapped up in no time.

Known as Stephen's Folly, this amazing home in Palm Springs was built in 1965 and eventually purchased by 'plumber to the stars', Jack Stephan, who spent a great deal of time and money refurbishing the interiors in 1971. 

A textbook example of 1970s style, the home has a sunken living room, curved wet bar and a screening theatre. With three bedrooms and five bathrooms, it also includes a butler's pantry and walk-in wardrobes. 

The only part of the house that takes a break from the gaudy red is the retro kitchen. Decorated with mustard yellow counters, an orange window blind and dark wood cabinets, it's also fitted with original appliances and a suspended ceiling.

The 5,300-square-foot cottage is full of furniture from the 1960s. The flecked carpet immediately draws the eye when you get inside, it seems the owner wasn't afraid of a pattern or two. The colourful kitchen has fun green units and matching chairs for the ultimate throwback. 

The wallpaper prints and garish purple bathroom suite are typical of the flamboyant designs of the 1960s and though new owners added the odd anachronistic touch, most of the effects are true to the time.

Fitted out with pastel pink decor, period touches and statement wallpaper, it's a perfect time capsule of the era. The kitchen also has fun features such as curved countertops, a retro phone and an arched doorway. 

The rooms are colour-themed, from deep purple to turquoise green, complete with what is now very desirable vintage furniture and home accessories.

The kitchen is decked out in the original brown and blue colourway, with a vintage cooker and even much of the original crockery still intact.

After the death of her husband in 1932, Florence Straw made very few changes to the house and kept his memory alive by keeping his belongings in their proper place. By the time it was left to the National Trust, the home had collected all sorts of items, from snuff boxes to an upright piano, making it a truly unique collection.

When the lady of the house also passed away in 1939, her sons took over possession of the house and kept everything much the same. Their tendency for thriftiness and frugal approach meant very little in the house was modernised, and its protected status means that their house will remain a snapshot of a family frozen in time.

The kitchen is an incredible homage to the era, with pink cabinets and original flooring, curtains and wallpaper. We hope it never changes!

This unusual house in the small town of Gladewater, Texas, was built in 1952 and hasn't changed much since. The L-shaped property is was put on the market for £121,000 ($160k) in 2019 after sitting untouched for 67 years. 

No detail was missing from the home, with Dentil crown mouldings and a Federal-style mantel in the living room. The heavy floral curtains complete with draped pelmets were also a huge trend at the time. 

The second living area is a darker space with mustard yellow curtains, brown sofa and dark wooden floors. The geometric and floral wallpaper brings a pop of colour along with maroon fixtures in the small bathroom. It's a huge contrast to the light spaces we love today!

This Illinois ranch was built in 1965 and doesn't seem to have changed much since then. With 6,550 square feet of space, it's a fine family home and so far it seems its occupants have honoured the house's mid-century origins.

Inside the house has been left untouched since the mid-60s and reminds us of what our grandparents' homes looked like. The living room, which has large windows along one wall, is decked out in pale pinks and dark wood with pelmet curtains and even a vintage TV. 

The kitchen leads through to the dining area, which has a four-seater dining set that's placed next to patio doors that lead outside. The '60s flooring follows through from the kitchen, a boon for any fans of vintage design.

The two-bedroom house also included a combined laundry bathroom space with a hot water copper (water heater) for filling the bath and an antique wooden dresser.

There are old sepia-style photographs still hanging around the house, and a single-wire bed frame still remains in the living room/dining area. It's a fascinating look back at how houses would have looked for an ordinary Australian family 100 years ago.

From the outside, this home looks like a recently built property built in a mid-century modern style. The growing appetite for retro design means many new-build houses reference these 1960s properties but here we have an example of the real thing.

Except for the kitchen, this three-bedroom home has remained untouched since it was built in the late 1960s. Subsequent owners left the original decoration in place to make sure the house kept its character.

Amazingly the rich colours haven't faded and are as striking now as they would have been when the property was decorated. Design trends popular in the late '60s appear throughout the décor such as the dark wooden finish, shag pile carpets and low textured ceilings. 

One unit in the Country Villas West condo complex, just outside San Diego, has caught everybody’s attention since hitting the market. Built in the early 1970s, this ordinary-looking exterior hides a retro design lover’s dream inside; an almost untouched home that has been barely inhabited for 30 years.

Put on the market for $375,000 (£287k), this 1,800-square foot home is so authentic that even the magazines on the coffee table are 30 years old. It’s also got bags of space spread over two floors, with a fantastically old-school spiral staircase – with every tread covered in the vibrant green shag pile carpet. 

The pristine interior was the work of an interior designer, hired by the condo complex developer in the ‘70s. Vivid lime green was chosen as the signature scheme for the house, with the citrus hue used on the floor, walls, fabrics and furnishings. Real estate agent Nancy Maranan describes the three-bed, three-bath condo as “a true time capsule”.

In the master bedroom, the bold use of colour continues but a busy floral pattern steps the whole look up a notch. There’s even a customised bedspread and curtains to match the signature wallpaper. We bet lots of vintage lovers out there would love to move straight in!

Loved this? You should see these retro living rooms from the past