Rachel Ashwell's Painted Stories


Book Description

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.




Shabby Chic


Book Description

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.




The Shabby Chic Home


Book Description

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.




Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Interiors


Book Description

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.




Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting and Decorating Guide


Book Description

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




Rachel Ashwell Couture Prairie


Book Description

Think Marie Antoinette in jeans and a cowboy hat—that is Rachel Ashwell's prairie style. 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 bed-and-breakfast in Texas. Here Rachel’s inspired finds, her creative imagination, eye for detail, and her commitment to beauty, comfort, and function have finally come together in one location: The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell—an irresistible destination. This book takes Rachel in a new direction, bringing her eye for cherished patinas and pastel prettiness into the endless landscapes and diverse architectural styles of Texas. Here you will see how her style adapts to corrugated metal sheeting and weathered timbers, and how it brings new life to elegant period mansions. Chapter by chapter, the book leads you through Rachel’s little houses on the prairie, from the Ranger’s Lounge where hearty breakfasts are served, to the Pearl Barn, scene of wedding parties and celebrations, stopping off at the evocatively named guest accommodation: Blue Bonnet Barn, Cornflower Cottage, Meadow Manor, Faith Cottage, and Liliput Lodge.




Rachel Ashwell The World of Shabby Chic


Book Description

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.




Rachel Ashwell: My Floral Affair


Book Description

Discover Rachel Ashwell’s floral inspirations and the unique touch she brings to interiors in her first book dedicated to flowers, a deeply-held passion come to life. Flowers and floral decoration are at the core of Rachel Ashwell’s world and her designs. From her showcase rose garden in California, she set out with photographer Amy Neunsinger to capture the full-blown romance of the quintessential English country house, the dramatic colorways of northern Europe, and the faded opulence of a Parisian apartment. This is the story of that magical journey, which takes us through a variety of beautiful spaces large and small, some ornate and others simple. Every aspect of floral accents is showcased, from wallpaper to fabrics, floors to ceilings, architectural details, lighting and, of course, flower arrangements, some breathtaking and some simple… but all beautiful in their own right.




At Home on the Water


Book Description

Coastal havens designed for laid-back living. The idea of a retreat—a place removed from one’s daily stressors, a secluded haven to be enjoyed by family--is more appealing than it has been in decades. But second homes are far from a novel concept. Families have built retreats since the late 1800s, when the well-to-do began to construct reprieves in coastal areas to escape the combustive atmosphere of city life. Homes on the water have been coveted and cherished for their particular restorative qualities. In an oceanside house, one can’t help but pause to contemplate the view. At Home on the Water offers a history of coastal living and features twelve homes on the water on both coasts and the gulf. This stunning title focuses on both the design of the homes and the way the homeowners live in them, embellished by interviews with homeowners, designers, and/or architects.




Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree (Aunt Dimity Mysteries, Book 16)


Book Description

Strange goings-on in a manor house require the services of Lori and her ghostly sidekick... Lori and Aunt Dimity investigate a case of false identity in Nancy Atherton's cosy mystery Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree. Perfect for fans of M. C. Beaton and Rebecca Tope. 'Cosy and charming as a cup of Earl Grey, Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree is a novel to be savored' - Bookpage.com In the quiet Cotswold village of Finch, Lori Shepherd is in for a surprise. Her wealthy American father-in-law, William Willis, Sr., has purchased a splendid ten-acre estate to renovate. William Sr. is expecting gentle, small-town existence, but with countless women vying for his attention, shifty servants, and the discovery of a mysterious painting, he soon realises life in Finch is anything but. When Lori and William become embroiled in a case of deception and false identity, things become even more complicated. It's nothing Lori can't handle - until moving furniture, strange sounds, and the theft of the painting prompt her to call on her Aunt Dimity's otherworldly help. Can she succeed in uncovering the estate's shadowy past? What readers are saying about Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree: 'Warm hearted, fun [and] quirky little mysteries' 'Fun, different... and very entertaining' 'Five stars'