Shabby Chic : Simple Living, the Comfort of Age and the Beauty of Imperfection

by Ashwell, Rachel

• ISBN13: 9780060982041
• ISBN10: 0060982047
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-08-31
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publications

Summary

Valuable flea market finds... A peeling, antique 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 cosy familiarity of a well-worn pair of faded jeans, the dilapidated elegance of an Italian villa, 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 the Shabby 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 colour photographs and accompanying text reveal how this relaxed look works with a variety of different styles, from Victorian to Mediterranean to contemporary.

Author Biography

Rachel Ashwell was born in England but has spent the past fifteen years in Malibu, California. A former movie set designer and stylist, Ashwell created the Shabby Chic style in 1989, when, as the mother of two small children, she needed a home style that was as practical as it was beautiful. She is founder of the Shabby Chic home furnishings stores and the designer of a line of products under the Shabby Chic label. This is her first book. Glynis Costin is a freelance writer specializing in decor, style, and celebrities. She is a former co-bureau chief for W magazine and Women's Wear Daily in Milan, Italy. She and her husband, photographer Art Streiber, live in Los Angeles, California. Art Streiber is a freelance photographer specializing in interiors, fashion, and portraits, whose work has appeared in numerous national and international magazines. He is a former co-bureau chief and staff photographer for W magazine.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. viii
Preface	p. ix
Introduction	p. 3
Diverse Styles	p. 9
Rooms	p. 43
Hidden Treasures and Inspirations	p. 77
Fabrics	p. 109
Seating	p. 133
Lights and Lighting	p. 151
Flowers	p. 171
Resource Guide	p. 197
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.