In this inspiring and useful design bible of the ever-popular Shabby Chic style, creator Rachel Ashwell shares her twenty-five years of work, showing readers how to apply her look to their own homes.



In this inspiring and useful design bible of the ever-popular Shabby Chic style, creator Rachel Ashwell shares her twenty-five years of work, showing readers how to apply her look to their own homes. A large, comfortable slipcovered sofa. Painted antique furniture. A palette and patina of soft colours and faded antiques. The essence of Shabby Chic is a romantic and charming interior filled with well-worn and well-loved objects, a look that is about comfort yet always remains chic. Celebrating the now-iconic Shabby Chic aesthetic, this design bible includes all the best of the look-from furniture, linens, paint colours and wallpaper, to lighting, accessories, and table-tops. Organized thematically, this volume is full of inspiration for every room in the house, as well as the garden. Sections include: Foundations (assessing the space, determining colour palette, light); Furnishings and Fabrics (creation of mood boards, linens, mixing and matching patterns, furniture styles, and space planning); Accessories (lighting, mirrors, arrangements); Entertaining and Gardens (table-top, flowers, outdoor spaces); and Pulling It All Together (showing a range of favourite homes, illustrating modern shabby, romantic shabby, or cottage shabby). Appendixes include information on sourcing, how to identify hidden gems at flea markets, and how to clean and restore them. The most lavish, thorough, and comprehensive book on the Shabby Chic look, this beautiful volume celebrates the enduring timelessness of Ashwell's creations while providing practical instruction on how to decorate your home in the Shabby Chic style. Rachel Ashwell is the creator of the Shabby Chic brand and line of stores. She lives in a shabby chic cottage in Los Angeles.