WHAT IS SHABBY CHIC?
Shabby Chic® is a look originally inspired by the great old country houses of Britain where time-worn furnishings and fabrics gave off an air of unassuming good taste and an easy, comfortable kind of elegance. It is now one of the most popular decorating trends of our time.
The look however had become popular, more or less by accident, in post-war Britain when ‘thrifty’ was a word high on everybody’s vocabulary list. Not only curtains but furniture too was recycled or bought second-hand from friends or flea markets and turned into something new or simply given a new use. This led to fabrics becoming more and more faded, furniture painted and then repainted would often peel or chip and thus a Shabby Chic® look was the end result.
And so, whilst people had, for a long time, been using recycled fabrics and furniture, filling their homes with old lace table cloths, floral fabrics and painted furniture, it wasn’t until the phrase ‘Shabby Chic’ was first used by 'The World of Interiors' magazine in the 1980’s that Shabby Chic® as a definate style was first recognized. But it was thanks to the well known designer Rachel Ashwell that Shabby Chic® became a household term when in 1989 she adopted the phrase Shabby Chic® to make it her own and founded her company - ‘Shabby Chic by Rachel Ashwell.
The Shabby Chic® style has evolved and developed and is now rather more deliberate than accidental and often new pieces of furniture are deliberately painted and distressed to give that age worn look. Fabrics are chosen for their muted colours often in floral, check or striped designs and are sometimes even stained with tea to give an aged effect and the whole look has become one of easy, comfortable, practical living.
Simple accessories just add to the look and together with scented candles, some hand-picked flowers from the garden, placed in a lovely old jug, or even a teapot, and set on a piece of aged, painted furniture, will give the home a look of being well loved, comfortable and welcoming.
HOW TO GET THE SHABBY CHIC LOOK
The essence of Shabby Chic® style is vintage and antique furniture, usually painted white, off-white or beige but with a distressed finish to give a well worn, aged look. Pastel colours are often used in the soft furnishings, favourites being the much loved duck egg blues and greens, soft pinks and greys. There are just a few simple rules to follow to make the look your own, but otherwise, a soft gentle approach without being too fussy but with much love and attention will help you achieve a look which oozes love, charm and simplicity.
• Use pieces of old furniture
Find pieces of furniture you love from flea markets, garage and boot sales or even the attic, whitewash or paint in pastel colours and then distress to give an old, worn look. Almost any piece of furniture will fit into a Shabby Chic® scheme once it has been given a distressed treatment – you really would be surprised how a coat of off-white paint can transform a boring wooden chair or table.
• Use old fabrics
Find fabrics from around the house or buy vintage-looking fabrics from second-hand shops. You can even buy pieces of new fabric which can then be aged with tea-staining but do be sure to test a piece of fabric first to ensure you achieve the desired effect. A crisp white fabric can easily be given a soft creamy aged look with this method
• Don’t be afraid to combine pattern and colour
A simple rule to successfully combining pattern, stripes and checks is to stick to one or two unified background colours, usually in a soft muted colour (soft whites, muted greys, pale pinks and faded greens and blues all have a place in a Shabby Chic® scheme). You can then add an accent colour which is carried throughout the whole scheme and is maybe based on a particular item of furniture or an old throw or cushion which you just can’t get rid of!
• Look at things in a new way – let your imagination run wild!
Not every chair has to be sat on – why not use a simple, sturdy chair as a bedside table or to display a favourite old hat hung on the back or just to drape a lovely old throw on. Simply paint the chair in a colour to blend with your scheme, place next to the bed or in a corner of your room and accessorise with a vase of flowers and an old book, or a lovely cushion made from recycled fabrics.
If you are on a decorating budget then Shabby Chic® is the look for you. Scour the boot sales and flea markets for interesting pieces of furniture and fabrics, paint them white or a soft pastel shade, make cushions, throws and slipcovers for your sofas and chairs – add a few simple accessories such as the items you will find on our website and there you have it – the perfect Shabby Chic® look and don’t forget – a few more scratches and chips will only add to the charm!