Garden Chic
Shabby Chic Style – What it is and How to Get It
Shabby Chic style is now one of the hottest decorating trends and with good reason. It is versatile, easy and inexpensive. Shabby Chic – the rich, inviting, practical, time-worn style created by one of America’s top designers, Rachel Ashwell, is a style of living that reflects the grace and simplicity of another time. It is a study in contrast between fresh and traditional, casual and elegant, plain and patterned, simple and ornate, rumpled and tidy. It is often referred to as secondhand stylishness and as such looks like it is here to stay!
Popularized in Britain after the Second World War, the shabby chic look – otherwise known as the ‘country house look’ has become one of the most important decorating themes of the late twentieth century. Money was tight so people were thrifty with their soft furnishings and accessories and sofas became worn, curtains became tatty and paintwork became scratched. During this period people furnished their homes with inherited pieces and many items were handmade as money was scarce. Furniture was often recycled, passed on the relatives or friends or sold at flea markets. The shabby chic charm in these items lies in their past and their history. Scratches, marks and peeling paint are ok – in fact they are encouraged.
The words shabby and chic were combined together in the 1980′s by designer Rachel Ashwell . The term was coined in the 1980′s by The world of Interiors magazine and has since been used as the name of a successful U.S. company founded by Rachel Ashwell. She has turned the phrase Shabby Chic into her trademark and now runs a successful business empire marketing shabby chic design.
Most shabby chic décor is based on a white or beige theme. Soft colours such as pastel pinks, pale blues, muted greens and washed out grey and neutral tones add an accent of colour. Another great feature of shabby chic is the well-loved look. That old side table that has seen better days is perfect for shabby chic. Give it a coat of white paint and put a vase of flowers on the top. Better still use your grandmother’s old well loved teapot. It is little details like this that make shabby chic work so well.
Shabby Chic reflects the practical and ecology-minded views of the 21st century. By finding new uses for “old” items, we keep from adding to the mountains of items sent to the landfill each year. What’s more, no tree has to be sacrificed for a found, Shabby Chic furniture treasure.
So if you love mismatched tea cups, soft floral fabrics, painted furniture and lots of white or cream accessories then this could be the look for you. It is the look that evokes cricket on the village green, strawberries and cream for tea, chickens in the garden and cakes baking in the range oven. There could be no more perfect image of an idyllic lifestyle than shabby chic.
We have a lovely range of shabby chic accessories to bring that vintage style to your home. We hope that as you browse through our ever increasing range of accessories you will find the perfect item to add that finishing touch to your Shabby Chic decor.
About the Author
Tracey has been designing and producing soft furnishings and shabby chic style accessories for more than 20 years and is now making the items she uses for her clients available more widely through her website
http://wwww.rusticangels.co.uk
Deux Shabby Chic March “Garden Gala” Kit
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Winsome Wood End Table/Night Stand with Drawer and Shelf, Black $30.94 Dimension: 18″W 18″D 22″H Finish: Black Material: Beech Wood Black Finish Night Stand / End Table with Drawer. Elegantly simple, this night stand has room for all the necessary nigh time accessories. Its curved, smooth design blends well with any style of bedroom decor. Assembly Required. … |
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Winsome Wood Windsor Chair, Set of 2 Classic Windsor Chair with comfortable large backrest and seat area constructed of solid Beachwood. Sold in Set of 2. Fully Assembled. Natural & White… |
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Poo-Pourri Preventive Bathroom Odor Spray, 2 oz … |
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Frequent Flyer: Barcelona $18.27 The greatest dance music producers are influenced by the rhythms of many cultures. Frequent Flyer focuses on those locales around the world that have had a profound influence on dance music. Frequent Flyer: Barcelona is the latest CD in the series and the second of four new “Destinations.” For this edition, we touch down in the capital of Catalonia, the heart and soul of Spain’s cultural renai… |
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British Light Music Classics 4 $21.98 … |
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GARDEN … |
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Soji LED Solar Lanterns $39.00 Constructed of durable fade and weather resistant nylon, these 10″ round solar lanterns accordion open, glow in a jiff without the hassle of electrical chords or wires. Place Soji lanterns in direct sunlight during the day and enjoy a beautiful ambient glow by night! Equipped with two high powered LED lights, solar panel, AAA rechargeable battery and stainless steel hardware. Please note: This it… |
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Tropical Fruit Solar String Lights $34.00 Every evening is instantly festive with this 10 piece Soji string light set! Watch as these lights turn themselves on when darkness falls, for an inspiring glow night after night. Just place the solar collector in direct sunlight and let Soji solar string lights do all the work! This set includes: 10 string lights, 10 White LED lights, solar collector, positionable planting stake, light sensor. Av… |
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White Solar String Lights $34.50 Every evening is instantly festive with this 10 piece Soji string light set! Watch as these lights turn themselves on when darkness falls, for an inspiring glow night after night. Just place the solar collector in direct sunlight and let Soji solar string lights do all the work! This set includes: 10 string lights, 10 White LED lights, solar collector, positionable planting stake, light sensor. Av… |
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Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic: Flowers, Petals & Gardens $8.84 … |
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Chic $20.19 Chic |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Bouquet Lavender $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features rose bouquets in soft colors of lavender and green on a white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Vine Blue $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features a small rose vine in shades of blue and green on a white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Vine Lavender $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features a small rose vine in shades of lavender. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Vine Pink $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features a small rose vine in shades of pink and green on a white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Stems Lavender $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features tossed rose stems in colors of lavender and green on a lavender background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Vine Grey $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features a small rose vine in grey on a white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Stems Pink $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features tossed rose stems in pink, rose and green on a pink background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Rose Garden Bouquet Blue $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features tossed rose and other florals in blue,lavender and green on a white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Stems Blue $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features tossed rose stems in colors of blue, green and slate on a light blue background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Damask Tonal Lavender $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features a floral damask in shades of lavender. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Damask Blue/White $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features a floral damask in blue and white. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Damask Tonal Pink $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features a floral damask in shades of pink. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Garden Monogram Wedding Invitations $2.15 Wedding invitations with a vintage feel. A garden-esque monogram is entirely cute and chic. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Sprigs White/Tan $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features tan rose sprigs on a white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Damask Grey/White $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features a floral damask in white on a grey background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Damask Tonal Mauve $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features a floral damask in shades of mauve pink. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Large Rose Blossom White/Green $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features large roses in muted green on a soft white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Large Rose Blossom White/Blue $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features large roses in muted blue on a soft white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Petite Fleur Blue $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features small roses in blue and green on a soft white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Large Rose Blossom White/Lavender $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features large roses in muted lavender on a soft white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Petite Fleur Lavender $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features small roses in lavender and green on a soft white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Petite Fleur Pink $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features small roses in pink and rose on a soft white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Shabby Chic Treasures Garden Rose Large Rose Blossom White/Pink $8.98 Designed by Shabby Chic (Rachel Ashwell), this cotton print features large roses in muted pink on a soft white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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