Shabby Chic

Download or read book Shabby Chic written by Rachel Ashwell and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2012-02-21 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Valuable flea market finds... A peeling, antioue vanity in muted sea green... An elegant, cracked chandelier... An enormous, slipcovered sofa with deep, cushions... Comfort, the beauty of imperfections, the allure of time-worn objects, and the appeal of simple practical living: these are the cornerstones of what has come to be known as the Shabby Chic style. Like the cozy familiarity of a well-worn pair of faded jeans, the dilapidated elegance of an Italian viIla, or the worn grandeur of faded velvets and mismatched floral china handed down from your grandmother's attic, the Shabby Chic style is a revived appreciation for what is used, well-loved, and worn. It is a respect for natural evolution and a regard for what is easy and sensible. The hundreds of lavish photographs in this book invite you inside the unique world of Shabby Chic. Rachel Ashwell, founder of theShabby Chic home decor stores, for the first time provides her invaluable and much-sought-after advice on how to re-create Shabby Chic style in your own home. With engaging text and easy-to- follow instructions, Rachel details the Shabby Chic basics in a way that will put even the most apprehensive or novice decorators at ease. From flowers to fabrics to lighting, Rachel illuminates all of the elements essential to this unpretentious yet truly exquisite style. A behind-the-scenes look at a flea market lets readers in on Rachel's personal secrets of how to cull hidden treasures from flea market trash--an old trunk, its paint peeling around the edges, can be given new life as a coffee table, while a chipped white iron salvage piece becomes the perfect frame for a vintage mirror. This book tells you not only how to restore these pieces but how to find the perfect place for them in your home. Gorgeous color photographs and accompanying text reveal how this relaxed look works with a variety of different styles, from Victorian to Mediterranean to contemporary.

Download or read book Rachel Ashwell The World of Shabby Chic written by Rachel Ashwell and published by Rizzoli Publications. This book was released on 2015-04-14 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the heart of Shabby Chic is Rachel Ashwell's unique take on characterful, time-worn, faded elegance underpinned with total comfort and a strong practical streak. In this inspiring book, published to mark twenty-five years of bringing her special brand of beauty, comfort and function to the global marketplace, Rachel shares with us the story of her life journey, the origins of her creativity, the ups and downs of running a business and a glorious abundance of fabulous Shabby Chic looks that range from the glamorously traditional to the pared-down and modern. The essence of Shabby Chic is a timeless, romantic and charming interior filled with beautifully worn and well-loved objects, a consistent palette of pales and pastels with captivating surprises, flowers in abundance and the promise of enveloping comfort. Celebrating the now-iconic Shabby Chicaesthetic, where beautiful objects, consigned to the flea market, are loved to live again, this book takes us to the heart of the enduring appeal of Ashwell's creations. Going beyond home decoration, Shabby Chic has become a lifestyle and worldwide design movement. With more than 250 photographs, The World of Shabby Chic is a lavish, thorough and comprehensive volume arranged in three sections. "The Story of Shabby Chic" relates Rachel¹s journey from a bohemian London childhood via pioneering the washable slipcover to running a global business. "The Heart of Shabby Chic" explores her design values from furniture, fabrics and flowers to palette and patina. "The Looks of Shabby Chic" features a fabulous variety of interiors demonstrating the diversity and evolving visual vocabulary of the well-loved phenomenon that is Shabby Chic.

Download or read book Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Interiors written by Rachel Ashwell and published by CICO Books. This book was released on 2024-04-09 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rachel Ashwell is the creator of Shabby Chic: a peaceful yet practical way of living that embraces a respect for the things we hold dear and puts them at the heart of our homes. Romantic florals against pure white linen, ruffled muslin skirting a bed base and brushing bleached floorboards, the deep comfort of a nest of fluffy towels: this is Rachel Ashwell’s signature style. Shabby Chic Interiors, an eclectic book of quirky inspiration, is divided into chapters according to location, beginning with Rachel’s Los Angeles home. We then wander into a photographer’s minimalist mountain-top residence in the Hollywood Hills before heading to the coast to visit a Malibu beach cottage. A bohemian hideout in southern California is next on our journey, followed by a peek at fashion designer Betsey Johnson's one-time New York apartment and a house that once belonged to Marilyn Monroe. With rooms combining flea-market finds and objects of pure functionality—an elegant French mirror reflecting a vintage oil painting, a bejewelled metal candle holder beside a cluster of Willow pattern china, and a single velvet cushion lounging under the twinkle of a crystal chandelier —this book celebrates all that is wonderfully Shabby Chic.

Download or read book The Shabby Chic Home written by Rachel Ashwell and published by Harper Design. This book was released on 2012-06-26 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Wonderful wide–plank floors, paned sash windows, an old brick fireplace, the charm of living with a home's small imperfections and making them a virtue. These are just some examples of what makes up a Shabby Chic home. When she first saw what would be her future home, Rachel Ashwell, founder of the Shabby Chic line, was put off by its dark, witchy exterior, gloomy interior, and overgrown garden. But for weeks afterward, she couldn't get the house out of her mind. She went back, took a closer look, and started to see the charm that lay hidden beneath the surface. Excited by the challenge, she bought the house and went to work on it. Inspired by the original design of the 1920s house, Rachel was able to transform it into her bright, cozy dream home, one that had the hallmarks of a Shabby Chic home: a practical amount of space, a relaxed atmosphere, and a comfortable beauty. Through simple instructions and detailed before–and–after photographs, Rachel reveals her decorating and entertaining secrets. Even the most apprehensive novices will learn how to incorporate Shabby Chic style into their everyday life and home. Using her home as an example, Rachel shows you how to assess what needs to be replaced (in her home it was the dark tile in the pool and the bathroom doorknobs), make small structural changes (she exchanged a glass window for a glass door), and keep costs down while adding personal Shabby Chic touches. The gray marble countertop in the guest bathroom and the somewhat noisy glass–front refrigerator were fixtures she would have never chosen, but she left them alone and was pleasantly surprised by the character they added. In her previous books, Rachel showed you how to recognize beauty in overlooked places. Now, in The Shabby Chic Home, she teaches you how to find it in the nooks and crannies of your own home and then apply it to everyday life. She reveals how work, love, a lot of white paint, and Shabby Chic details can turn any new house into a comfortable, functional, beautifully designed home.

Download or read book Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting and Decorating Guide written by Rachel Ashwell and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 1998-06-23 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Describes what to look for at flea markets and garage sales, offers advice for cleaning and repairing purchases, and presents decorating ideas.

Download or read book Rachel Ashwell's Painted Stories written by Rachel Ashwell and published by CICO Books. This book was released on 2021-03-09 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rachel Ashwell brings her decorating inspirations together in this enchanting and very personal notebook which is an insight into how she sees, feels, what inspires her and what she loves. Divided into themed sections which focus on fabric, wallpapers, lighting, bed linens, curtains, slipcovers and upholstery, furniture, rugs, objet d’art, and flowers, Shabby Chic Painted Stories is a truly inspirational sketchbook of ideas and is a must for anyone who has an appreciation for beauty. Interwoven with practical thoughts and tips are Rachel’s thoughts about beauty and aesthetics, and poetry that illuminates her thoughts. Illustrated with watercolor illustrations from a variety of artists, including Ben Peck-Whiston, Rachel believes the ambiguity of artwork over photographs gives a more mindful and timeless approach. This allows the reader to more easily layer in their own thoughts and observations and hopefully be inspired to tap into their creativity by pulling together a notebook of their own favorite things which tell their story.

Download or read book Shabby Chic: Sumptuous Settings and Other Lovely Things written by Rachel Ashwell and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2015-01-27 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Creating beautiful, sumptuous settings for any occasion! Top designer Rachel Ashwell, founder of the Shabby Chic line, is known for her trademark style of transforming drab interiors into warm, inviting spaces. Simply by incorporating a few design elements and a splash of color, Rachel is able to make any environment, whether it's a home or a special event, beautiful and fun. In Shabby Chic: Sumptuous Settings and Other Lovely Things, Rachel proves that her style isn't simply about creating an attractive home but also about creating joyful and pleasant settings for those we love. In this beautiful volume, Rachel applies her distinct eye for style to six very different locations and celebrations, and offers helpful tips on how to host whimsical and unforgettable events. Whether it is casual or formal, big or small, this beautiful book proves that entertaining need not be expensive. From flea markets to local antiques malls, Rachel reveals that the trick to making any event or space something elegant—without breaking the bank—is simply a matter of inspiration, imagination, and the discovery of a fabulous buy. Inside, you'll find practical ideas for any occasion, baby showers to weddings, birthday parties to bar mitzvahs. When it comes to setting a scene, Rachel is an expert and with her easy how-to advice, you can be too. Rachel Ashwell is the creator of the Shabby Chic style. In 1989, she founded the Shabby Chic home furnishing stores and then later, the Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture stores. She is the author of Shabby Chic, Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting and Decorating Guide, The Shabby Chic Home, and Shabby Chic: The Gift of Giving.