Learn Rachel Ashwell’s 3 Signature Shabby Chic Looks

Rachel Ashwell Couture Prairie: And Flea Market Treasures by Rachel Ashwell (Sep 25, 2013)

Rachel Ashwell Couture Prairie takes her signature pastels, ruffles and whimsical prettiness right to the heart of cowboy country. This is a journey in pictures and words, following Rachel through the fields of a little town called Round Top, home to one of the largest, most eclectic and vibrant antiques and flea markets in the world, and then back to Rachel’s newly acquired bed-and-breakfast in Texas.

Shabby Chic Interiors: My Rooms, Treasures, and Trinkets by Rachel Ashwell (Aug 1, 2012)

My Rooms, Treasures and Trinkets, an eclectic book of quirky inspiration, falls into chapters according to location, and begins with Rachel’s breathtaking Los Angeles residence. Next, we wander into a photographer’s minimalist mountain-top home in the Hollywood hills before heading to the coast and a beautiful Malibu beach cottage. A truly bohemian hideout in southern California is next on the journey, followed by a peek at celebrity homes, including the house that once belonged to Marilyn Monroe.
What Is Shabby Chic? Shabby chic is a term to describe a style of decorating bathed in whites, vintage furniture, distressed antiques with a feminine edge.

White interiors can have so many different faces. Some can present a modern look with stark clean whites, such as those found in Italy. The Scandinavians have their own white interiors with a flavor of the Nordic history. I propose “Shabby chic” is a style that mixes both American and British history together for a look that unpolished, natural and all together country at it’s core.

This look pulls together the elements of the countryside such as victorian roses, delicate china, raw fabrics, dried flowers, ruffled duvet covers, and bleached slipcovers. Farm life never looked so beautiful and engaging! The term was coined by The World of Interiors magazine in the 1980s and became extremely popular in the US in the ’90s. Shabby chic caught on in the UK, and then came to America.

Colors Found in the 1940’s and 50’s

Vintage Wallpaper Floral Shabby Chic Union Made U.W.P.Co. NA $30 EBAY

Rachel Ashwell is the fore-runner of this design trend that started in the 80’s, and remains to be quite popular today. From 1999 to 2003, Rachel hosted a TV show, titled “Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic,” on E! and the Style Network, and since has millions of people follow her on her journey flea market shopping explained in her books and her blog.

A Couple Key Elements Found In Rachel’s Shabby Look

1. Get The Color Right- Rachel’s color schemes always seem to include tones of colors famously seen in America around the 1940’s. Pull up paint color charts from the 40’s and 50’s and you will see much of her inspiration falls into these color hues. Consider a combination of creams and whites; and light pinks, sea-foam greens and blues.

2. Select Something Really Old, and showcase it. In her photographs, she often features a piece of furniture, or a decor element with an extra rubbish quality. Rusted out items are used as decor, and materials which are frayed and bleached out are used for linens and curtains. Visit flea markets and garage sales to find those one of a kind items, or heavily distress your furniture yourself to achieve that rustic quality.

3. Include Florals- Dry out your summer garden flowers and pile them into an over-sized bushel basket. These wooden baskets are great as they can be painted a color that fits the overall scheme of your home. Dry flowers and frame them. Cover round hat boxes with vintage floral wallpaper found on etsy or ebay. Think about collecting vintage Italian metal tole floral chandeliers.

Rachel Ashwell’s Swedish Gustavian Furniture Line- The Swedish Furniture

Connect With Rachel Online

The Official Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture Site

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture OFFICIAL Blog & News

Rachel Ashwell | Facebook

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture Velvet Bed cover Teal

California Paints Mid Century Modern Colors

Melissa Levinson Antiques. Italian Painted Armchairs –www.onekingslane.com

Rachel Ashwell- Shopping Distressed Furniture

Pair of French painted armchairs newly upholstered in burlap with loose cushions, Louis XV style painted sofa that has been newly upholstered with loose cushion and self welt cording. Melissa Levinson Antiques

Carved celedon painted French chaise with loose down cushion. Newly upholstered in burlap textile. Double self welt cording.

Set of (8) French carved blue & antique white painted chairs, (2) Armchairs, (6) sidechairs. Newly upholstered in burlap upholstery with self welt detail -Melissa Levinson Antiques

Rachel Ashwell Interview – hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com

Rachel Ashwell Lonny Magazine

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture – Lavender Pie Safe

Visit rachelashwellshabbychiccouture.com

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture – Florentine Nesting Side Tables

Visit rachelashwellshabbychiccouture.com

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture Feather Light Chandelier

Visit rachelashwellshabbychiccouture.com

Vintage Pink Armoire from Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture

Shabby Chic Style Visit getcottage.blogspot.com

Couture Prairie by Rachel Ashwell

Shabby Crates by Rachel Ashwell – Visit cotedetexas.blogspot.com

Shabby Chic Inspiration- Visit countrystylechic.blogspot.com

Pair of Louis XVI style armchairs in a soft painted grey coloration. Upolstered in vintage printed grain sacks & cotton ticking. Loose foam seat cuhions –Melissa Levinson Antiques