History buff who lives in a 1930s-style home gives his property a festive makeover

A man obsessed with the 1930s has given his home a retro Christmas makeover after dusting off decades old decorations. 

Aaron Whiteside, 36, has decked out his modest three-bed semi with early mercury glass baubles, ceiling garlands and even Humpty Dumpyy concertina lanterns.

The enthusiast from Blackpool, Lancashire – who has painstakingly transformed his house into a pre-war era home – says the decorations are reflective of what was popular from 1930s, 40s and 50s. 

Aaron spent around £50 on the decorations but most were donated, including fold-out paper ceiling garlands previously belonging to a landlady at a pub.

The enthusiast has worked tirelessly to transform the house – installing German wallpaper which was buried in a time capsule in the 1930s and cost Aaron £100 a roll.

He sleeps in a vintage bed, has a GEC cooker, doesn’t own a television or fridge and still uses a laundry mangle.

Not content with just looking like it’s in the 1930s, the house also runs like a pre-war one would have, heated by four coal fires and without double glazing windows.

Aaron Whiteside, 36, has transformed his house in Blackpool into a 1930’s pre-war era home

Aaron Whiteside, 36, has decked out his modest three-bed semi with early mercury glass baubles, ceiling garlands and even Humpty Dumpyy concertina lanterns

Aaron Whiteside, 36, has decked out his modest three-bed semi with early mercury glass baubles, ceiling garlands and even Humpty Dumpyy concertina lanterns

Paper decorations hang from the ceilings. The collection of bygone era decorations are kept in two boxes the rest of the year

Paper decorations hang from the ceilings. The collection of bygone era decorations are kept in two boxes the rest of the year

His yuletide trinkets – which include Chinese lantern bulbs, icicle bulbs and Father Christmas bulbs – are stored in two boxes that are kept in the loft until the season starts.

When it begins, he spends a whole week decorating the downstairs of his house from top to bottom.

He said: ‘I’ve just collected them through the years, several people have given me some decorations they didn’t want anymore.

‘The other lanterns in the backroom are really early ones, they have got Humpy Dumpy and the Cat And The Fiddle on.

‘As you can imagine, these were put up for Christmas in the pub, the guy who gave me them cannot remember a time when they were never up.

Decorations were bought or given to the history buff, Mr Whiteside, who lives in an already vintage home

Decorations were bought or given to the history buff, Mr Whiteside, who lives in an already vintage home

The tree in Aaron's home is decorated with baubles and lights which are not LED

The tree in Aaron’s home is decorated with baubles and lights which are not LED

The hand decorated festive collection has been gathered over many years by the history buff who still uses a clothes mangle 

The hand decorated festive collection has been gathered over many years by the history buff who still uses a clothes mangle 

A man obsessed with the 1930s has given his home a retro Christmas makeover from the bygone era but stays well clear of tinsel

A man obsessed with the 1930s has given his home a retro Christmas makeover from the bygone era but stays well clear of tinsel

‘I’ve got a Christmas tree and it has original baubles on it. I think they were called mercury glass baubles. The lights, because of safety, are a reproduction common light bulb but not LEDs.’

The rest of Aaron's home, as well as his car and dress sense, is borrowed from yesteryear 

The rest of Aaron’s home, as well as his car and dress sense, is borrowed from yesteryear 

Aaron said he thinks all the old decorations are much more effective than modern day baubles and trinkets.

Aaron said: ‘When you have the fire going all the different colours shoot on to the ceiling and it looks stunning. They are a lot more romantic I would say.

‘I’m definitely not a fan of tinsel.

‘The 1950s Chinese lanterns hang down from the picture rail. They were donated to me by a friend.

‘It takes me about half a day to fold them all back up again, but luckily they have got string in them which pulls them back together.

‘They all get packed up and go in the loft in cardboard boxes with bubble wrap until the next year.’

Aaron has dreamed of living in a bygone era home complete with authentic gadgets and furniture from the era ever since he was a five-year-old boy.

Christmas greetings cards have also been collected by Aaron who has painstakingly transformed his house into a pre-war era home

Christmas greetings cards have also been collected by Aaron who has painstakingly transformed his house into a pre-war era home

The lights, because of safety, are a reproduction common light bulb but not LEDs, Aaron said

The lights, because of safety, are a reproduction common light bulb but not LEDs, Aaron said

Tiny lights on which stories are told are hanging around the house, while lanterns hang from the ceiling

Tiny lights on which stories are told are hanging around the house, while lanterns hang from the ceiling

The young history buff does not have a television in his home he bought for £87,000

The young history buff does not have a television in his home he bought for £87,000

He is the proud owner of a modest three-bedroom semi – built in 1937 – looks like the rest of the suburban street from the outside but is a time capsule inside.

Everything inside is reminiscent of 1930s, including the rare wallpaper, coal fires and electric cooker which was one of the first of its kind.

Aaron recalls browsing junk shops aged five, picking up an old radiogram, hoover, mincers and gas lamps during trips with his grandmother’s sister.

He bought his current home for £87,000 in 2007 after it had stood empty for nearly a decade. 

Aaron, who has no children, loves 1930s vocalists including Judy Garland, Jessie Matthews and Billie Holiday and even watches silent films.

When at home, he wears vintage clothes, sports a slick back undercut hairstyle and bearded finish and eats a 1930s diet – including cooking foods in beef dripping.

Aaron’s labour of love has spilled out into different decades in certain aspects of his life.

He even drives a black Oxford Morris 1952.

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