Rachel Ashwell created Shabby Chic: a peaceful, practical way of living that embraces a respect for the things in our lives we hold dear and keeps them at the heart of our homes. Romantic florals reclining against pure white linen, ruffles of muslin skirting a bed base against bleached floorboards, the deep comfort of a simple nest of fluffy towels… This is Rachel Ashwells signature style that for the past 20 years has been a major influence in our modern lives. Shabby Chic Interiors falls into chapters according to location, and begins with Rachels breathtaking Los Angeles residence. Next, we wander into a 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. With rooms combining flea-market finds and objects of pure functionality this book celebrates all that is wonderfully Shabby Chic.
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About the Author
Rachel Ashwell is a self-made businesswoman who founded the iconic brand known as Shabby Chic in 1989 when, as a single mother of two young children, she looked to open a small shop where she could sell pretty things without spending much time or distance away from her children. Rachel opened her first store on trendy Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, California and now has a brand that is known worldwide.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Peasant
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
I'm sure a lot of people will find this a "five star" book. Certainly the pictures are very seductive, if you like this ultra-feminine, boudoir atmosphere. But, apart from the fact that, after careful consideration, I didn't warm to Ashwell's style, I found that having everything photographed in such a contrived light, through what looked like a pink filter, meant that one is hard put to see what it would look like in real life. If you buy this book hoping to imitate Ashwell's style in your own house, you'd better buy some rose-tinted spectacles . . . oh, and be ready to do a lot of dusting! Many of the rooms featured would be completely impractical for anyone who didn't have the time, and the enthusiasm, to do a lot of housework. Neglect these lacy frills and intricate knick-knacks and the place will soon begin to look like Miss Haversham's. Quentin Crisp famously said "After four years the dust doesn't get any worse", but Rachel Ashwell's house could start to more shabby than chic after just four weeks.
The concept of "shabby chic" originated with Colefax and Fowler and the country house look; the aim was to make your nouveau-riche country pile look as if it had been lived in for generations. I thought this book would be like that. This is a much more self-conscious, "girlie" style and I note the author is based in Santa Monica, a long way from the shire counties or Yorkshire moors.
The author runs a design business, and at times this all reads a bit too much like an extended advert. I did get a bit fed up with the concentration on the author, which wasn't what I initially expected the book to be about. It was a bit like a magazine article between hard covers. I suppose the cover and list of contents make it very clear that this book is, to put it nicely, "quite autobiographical", and I should have known what to expect before I even opened it.
The concept of "shabby chic" originated with Colefax and Fowler and the country house look; the aim was to make your nouveau-riche country pile look as if it had been lived in for generations. I thought this book would be like that. This is a much more self-conscious, "girlie" style and I note the author is based in Santa Monica, a long way from the shire counties or Yorkshire moors.
The author runs a design business, and at times this all reads a bit too much like an extended advert. I did get a bit fed up with the concentration on the author, which wasn't what I initially expected the book to be about. It was a bit like a magazine article between hard covers. I suppose the cover and list of contents make it very clear that this book is, to put it nicely, "quite autobiographical", and I should have known what to expect before I even opened it.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Lamorizienne
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I purchased this book from Amazon last week. I am a decorative artist and I am always looking for new ideas and treatments for old and neglected items. The book is attractive to look at, but I felt that it lacked content, not enough photographs of items and some subjects were rather skimmed over and could have been developped.
If you want a real shabby chic effect, take a look at the books by Michèle Lalande, they are filled with ideas and treatments and at roughly the same price on Amazon are a better investment.
If you want a real shabby chic effect, take a look at the books by Michèle Lalande, they are filled with ideas and treatments and at roughly the same price on Amazon are a better investment.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Lizzie
Format:Hardcover
I really like Rachel Ashwells style and shabby chic in general but I have found her past books to be messy, too frilly, too much going on and badly laid out. This book, however, was a joy to read.
The pictures are gorgeous and her homes are so beautiful! Rachel Ashwell always states how homes should be uncluttered and filled with things we really love, in her previous books I have doubted this as her home looked full to the brim with ruffles, and frills and to my mind quite cluttered! In this book, however this belief really shines through as her house is full of beautiful things set against a backdrop of clean lines and lots of white, my sort of shabby chic! Her design philosophy of beauty, comfort and functionality is obvious in her homes also, you can really see and understand why she has chosen the pieces she has, she must spend a long time editing! Her main home is stunning and I like her slight change in direction towards darker woods and more ethnic influences mixed with her classic colour palette and flowers. The frills and ruffles have been toned down and she has an amazing collection of vintage homewares. I found the book to be very inspiring and I have made changes to my home since reading the book. I have actually read the book twice and the only criticism I have is that there could be more text (I read the whole book in one evening)and more explanation concerning the layout of rooms. For eye candy purposes however, and for being an inspirational book that Im sure I will keep re-reading, it delivers 100%!
The pictures are gorgeous and her homes are so beautiful! Rachel Ashwell always states how homes should be uncluttered and filled with things we really love, in her previous books I have doubted this as her home looked full to the brim with ruffles, and frills and to my mind quite cluttered! In this book, however this belief really shines through as her house is full of beautiful things set against a backdrop of clean lines and lots of white, my sort of shabby chic! Her design philosophy of beauty, comfort and functionality is obvious in her homes also, you can really see and understand why she has chosen the pieces she has, she must spend a long time editing! Her main home is stunning and I like her slight change in direction towards darker woods and more ethnic influences mixed with her classic colour palette and flowers. The frills and ruffles have been toned down and she has an amazing collection of vintage homewares. I found the book to be very inspiring and I have made changes to my home since reading the book. I have actually read the book twice and the only criticism I have is that there could be more text (I read the whole book in one evening)and more explanation concerning the layout of rooms. For eye candy purposes however, and for being an inspirational book that Im sure I will keep re-reading, it delivers 100%!
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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
not one of the best
I have several others of hers, but somehow this one seemed a bit boring, maybe she was desperate to get yet another printed. Read more
Published 7 days ago by calendula
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rachel Ashwell's books are sheer bliss
I have every book and I love them. Flicking through the pages brings them to life. Beautifully photographed and executed.
Published 29 days ago by SamR
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
This is a great book and full of gorgeous ideas for the Shabby Chic Home.
Be inspired by Rachel's lovely furnishings.
Be inspired by Rachel's lovely furnishings.
Published 1 month ago by Sheila Bance
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shabby Chic!
Can't tell you how wonderful this book is, photographs beautiful
and the text is touching, interesting and informative.
Would totally recommend buying it. Read more
and the text is touching, interesting and informative.
Would totally recommend buying it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by lin shaw
4.0 out of 5 stars
SHABBY CHIC INTERIORS
Although this book addressed the topics in a very clear manner i felt it tended to miss the budget aspect to the extent where the designer had not considered a tight students... Read more
Published 6 months ago by D. Ellis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Interiors
This is a beautiful book packed with stunning photographs, a must for any fan of shabby chic. My new favourite book now!
Published 14 months ago by Sharon
2.0 out of 5 stars
Shoddy Chic
This is just the same old, same old from RachelTrademark AshwellTrademark. Also seems to lack the spark of earlier books.
Avoid.
Avoid.
Published on 1 Feb 2011 by Pony Girl 2000
4.0 out of 5 stars
clever ideas
The book was full of clever, innovative ideas, also good on recycling tips. Liked it!
Published on 19 Oct 2009 by CM
5.0 out of 5 stars
shabby chic
Fabulous book. Well worth the several year wait! All my previous shabby chic books are more shabby than chic now due my constant porings over. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2009 by S. J. Wright
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