Rachel Ashwell is the creator of Shabby Chic: a peaceful yet practical way of living that embraces a respect for the things we hold dear and puts them at the heart of our homes. Romantic florals against pure white linen, ruffled muslin skirting a bed base and brushing bleached floorboards, the deep comfort of a nest of fluffy towels: this is Rachel Ashwell’s signature style. Shabby Chic Interiors, an eclectic book of quirky inspiration, is divided into chapters according to location, beginning with Rachel’s Los Angeles home. We then wander into a photographer’s minimalist mountain-top residence in the Hollywood Hills before heading to the coast to visit a Malibu beach cottage. A bohemian hideout in southern California is next on our journey, followed by a peek at fashion designer Betsey Johnson's one-time New York apartment and a house that once belonged to Marilyn Monroe. With rooms combining flea-market finds and objects of pure functionality—an elegant French mirror reflecting a vintage oil painting, a bejewelled metal candle holder beside a cluster of Willow pattern china, and a single velvet cushion lounging under the twinkle of a crystal chandelier —this book celebrates all that is wonderfully Shabby Chic.

Valuable flea market finds... A peeling, antioue vanity in muted sea green... An elegant, cracked chandelier... An enormous, slipcovered sofa with deep, cushions... Comfort, the beauty of imperfections, the allure of time-worn objects, and the appeal of simple practical living: these are the cornerstones of what has come to be known as the Shabby Chic style. Like the cozy familiarity of a well-worn pair of faded jeans, the dilapidated elegance of an Italian viIla, or the worn grandeur of faded velvets and mismatched floral china handed down from your grandmother's attic, the Shabby Chic style is a revived appreciation for what is used, well-loved, and worn. It is a respect for natural evolution and a regard for what is easy and sensible. The hundreds of lavish photographs in this book invite you inside the unique world of Shabby Chic. Rachel Ashwell, founder of theShabby Chic home decor stores, for the first time provides her invaluable and much-sought-after advice on how to re-create Shabby Chic style in your own home. With engaging text and easy-to- follow instructions, Rachel details the Shabby Chic basics in a way that will put even the most apprehensive or novice decorators at ease. From flowers to fabrics to lighting, Rachel illuminates all of the elements essential to this unpretentious yet truly exquisite style. A behind-the-scenes look at a flea market lets readers in on Rachel's personal secrets of how to cull hidden treasures from flea market trash--an old trunk, its paint peeling around the edges, can be given new life as a coffee table, while a chipped white iron salvage piece becomes the perfect frame for a vintage mirror. This book tells you not only how to restore these pieces but how to find the perfect place for them in your home. Gorgeous color photographs and accompanying text reveal how this relaxed look works with a variety of different styles, from Victorian to Mediterranean to contemporary.

At the heart of Shabby Chic is Rachel Ashwell's unique take on characterful, time-worn, faded elegance underpinned with total comfort and a strong practical streak. In this inspiring book, published to mark twenty-five years of bringing her special brand of beauty, comfort and function to the global marketplace, Rachel shares with us the story of her life journey, the origins of her creativity, the ups and downs of running a business and a glorious abundance of fabulous Shabby Chic looks that range from the glamorously traditional to the pared-down and modern. The essence of Shabby Chic is a timeless, romantic and charming interior filled with beautifully worn and well-loved objects, a consistent palette of pales and pastels with captivating surprises, flowers in abundance and the promise of enveloping comfort. Celebrating the now-iconic Shabby Chicaesthetic, where beautiful objects, consigned to the flea market, are loved to live again, this book takes us to the heart of the enduring appeal of Ashwell's creations. Going beyond home decoration, Shabby Chic has become a lifestyle and worldwide design movement. With more than 250 photographs, The World of Shabby Chic is a lavish, thorough and comprehensive volume arranged in three sections. "The Story of Shabby Chic" relates Rachel¹s journey from a bohemian London childhood via pioneering the washable slipcover to running a global business. "The Heart of Shabby Chic" explores her design values from furniture, fabrics and flowers to palette and patina. "The Looks of Shabby Chic" features a fabulous variety of interiors demonstrating the diversity and evolving visual vocabulary of the well-loved phenomenon that is Shabby Chic.

Shabby Chic designer Rachel Ashwell shows readers how to turn any house or apartment into a comfortable, functional, beautiful, and stylish home, in this bestselling guide to getting the most out of flea-market finds and vintage treasures.

Describes what to look for at flea markets and garage sales, offers advice for cleaning and repairing purchases, and presents decorating ideas.

Step inside Rachel Ashwell's beautiful world of shabby chic interiors and be guided through stunningly beautiful homes that are bursting with design ideas and sumptuous details. Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic Interiors showcases the many ways that shabby chic design can be applied with gorgeous results. See how Rachel has used grand items, such as crystal chandeliers and aged furnishings, to create a calming, romantic and imaginative retreat. Across numerous stunning locations you’ll explore color-schemes of off-whites and discover the power of detail with beautiful shells and flowers. You’ll even visit a gorgeous Spanish hacienda that was once lived in by Marilyn Monroe, and the stylish New York apartment that was lived in by fashion designer Betsey Johnson. In the sixth chapter, Rachel will take you Behind the Scenes where you will delve into her passion for fabric and vintage clothing before teaching you how to mix and match elements to create a perfectly imperfect shabby chic paradise.

Rachel Ashwell brings her decorating inspirations together in this enchanting and very personal notebook which is an insight into how she sees, feels, what inspires her and what she loves. Divided into themed sections which focus on fabric, wallpapers, lighting, bed linens, curtains, slipcovers and upholstery, furniture, rugs, objet d’art, and flowers, Shabby Chic Painted Stories is a truly inspirational sketchbook of ideas and is a must for anyone who has an appreciation for beauty. Interwoven with practical thoughts and tips are Rachel’s thoughts about beauty and aesthetics, and poetry that illuminates her thoughts. Illustrated with watercolor illustrations from a variety of artists, including Ben Peck-Whiston, Rachel believes the ambiguity of artwork over photographs gives a more mindful and timeless approach. This allows the reader to more easily layer in their own thoughts and observations and hopefully be inspired to tap into their creativity by pulling together a notebook of their own favorite things which tell their story.