Popularized in Britain after the second war, the shabby chic look - otherwise known as the 'country house look' has become one of the most sought-after themes since being promoted by Rachel Ashwell of New York in the early nineties.
It's a study in contrasts between casual and elegant, fresh and traditional, simple and ornate, plain and patterned, rumpled and tidy. Scratches, marks and peeling paint are okay – in fact they are encouraged.
If you love to collect mismatched teacups, vintage lacy linens, soft floral fabrics, painted furniture, crystal chandeliers, and lots of white accessories, this may be the style for you. Like "comfort food" it seems to appeal to our "grandmother's house" sense of beauty and belonging.
Shabby Chic Tables
During the austere post-war years soft furnishings, accessories and sofas became worn, curtains became tatty and paintwork became scratched. People furnished their homes with inherited pieces and many items were handmade as money was scarce. Furniture was often recycled, passed on to relatives or friends or sold at flea markets. Thus the Shabby Chic look was created – a style that's easy to live with and remarkably versatile.
A Shabby Chic table, for instance, can be sited almost anywhere from the hall to the bedroom where they tend to be small and decorative, coming in various sizes and styles featuring carved wood as a focal point. They may be used as side tables, coffee tables, occasional tables, or hall tables.
Recycling old furniture is an important aspect of the Shabby Chic look and great fun can be had with tables in this respect but many people choose to go for a hand crafted version of the old designs.
Shabby Chic Sofa
Remember that when you are considering a Shabby Chic approach you should set out with a couple of attention-getting pieces of furniture. Again a table or a sofa is often the most appropriate starting point in this process..
Try to select items that will basically function as centerpieces for the room. For example, if you have an elegant, French-style coffee table you might then be looking at antiqued plain cotton drapes or mats of a similar fashion.
Popular decor items are pillows made of vintage barkcloth fabric, vintage linens, chenille bedspreads, vintage chandeliers, and anything with roses on it. It is a soft, relaxed feminine romantic way of decorating that looks comfortable and inviting, a theme also known as cottage style.
Keith Higginbottom - Keith Higginbottom is an award-winning journalist and publisher based in the UK. During a 30-year career spanning newspapers, consumer ...
