Shabby Chic

Shabby Chic was born in 1989: not only a brand name but a decorating style founded by Rachel Ashwell

Comfort, cosiness and relaxation are the fundamentals of Shabby Chic, an unpretentious and exquisitely beautiful style. Above all, it is a functional way of living that we can re-create in our own homes on a low budget.

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Rachel Ashwell, a single mother of two, originally set out to open a small shop where she could sell ‘pretty things’. Her vision and her love of vintage style and second-hand finds struck a chord with customers, who have found her comfortable, relaxed approach to design both reassuring and achievable.

I have always felt at home with vintage fabrics and artefacts. They carry warmth and a sense of history, which is why this style has always appealed to me.

The Shabby Chic room is peaceful and calm, bright and warm, and flexible enough to be whatever you want to make it. A washed-out, faded look is the key, and every shade of white paint is used. White paint is inexpensive, guarantees a room filled with light and provides a pure, uncluttered backdrop against which old and new furniture blend easily.

The look is entirely practical and committed to no particular era, which means it works in any house.

Soft romantic fabrics and muted colours are designed to delight the eye and please the senses

Unlike decorative styles that work only in certain settings, Shabby Chic is versatile and boundary-free. It is about weeding out the unnecessary, trusting your instincts about what is comfortable and practical, noticing details, experimenting with complementary combinations of colour and fabric, and appreciating imperfection and age for their own particular beauty.

Because the style rewards flexible, creative thinking, you can take advantage of bargains wherever you find them. Just a few signature pieces will create a beautiful home that reflects your own taste and personality.

To get the most from second-hand treasures, be prepared to give them a new purpose, whether your taste is traditional, retro or modern. A simple coat of paint quickly revives a neglected find, and if you are handy with a sewing machine, vintage and remnant fabrics bought at sale prices make decorative cushions, seat covers and simple curtains.

A mismatched, eclectic collection can prove to be extremely endearing

Shabby Chic represents a renewed appreciation for what is useful, well loved and comfortable: for the things some might consider too tattered and worn to be of use or value.

At heart, Shabby Chic is simply a matter of low-cost solutions that make a house both easy to live in and beautiful.

Rachel’s philosophy is that nothing should be too precious. A child should feel free to put her feet on the sofa, and a guest his cup on the coffee table. Collecting important, rare and costly objects meant to be seen and not touched is not what Shabby Chic is about.

The style favours things that are inherited rather than shop-bought, and handmade rather than mass-produced. It also values the beauty of process and evolution.