The Shabby Chic Home

I LOVE home decorating Books. In fact, I am addicted. I love cottage, shabby chic, country, and that particular style of decorating. This book claimed to be one of the better on shabby chic decor so I felt confident when ordering it. I don't love this author's style of decorating all that much and was shocked that she is the pioneer of shabby chic decor. This book is based on her personal house and she explains how she found it, bought it, decorated it, renovated it, etc. I found that to be boring as I really just like alot of photos and some nice ideas. Don't purchase this book if you are like me and prefer alot of photos. There are few and they are all placed with long explanations of her ideas, material swatches, hand written notes and idea boards, etc that she used when she renovated. I was bored to tears. The photos that are shown are bland and honestly kind of color deprived. Her style is not my style and it's not her fault, it's mine for not researching it better. I only write this review in case someone else is like me. I guess I may have mixed up shabby chic with cottage and her book is not like my other cottage books. I have nothing against the author, we all have different tastes and opinions, I just was disappointed that I did not put my money toward a book I could look at for the next 10 years. Believe it or not some of my books I can look at over and over and never get bored! If anyone has an idea of a great cottage style decor book let me know. I have had alot of misses lately.

I had read this book previously from our local library, and really enjoyed it and wanted to add it to my personal collection. It is an older book, and Rachel Ashwell's style has changed somewhat, but the overall theme is still something that I like to achieve in my own home so it is a nice addition to my collection. Beautiful items, gently used, casual with a touch of faded glamour. Her thought is not to be afraid of using your nice things, or shying away from something that has been loved and is no longer perfect. Imperfection can still be beautiful and useful. Nice thoughts to live by too. If you like shabby chic style you will probably still like this book even though it is older. Used pricing makes it even better. Her current books are pretty good too. Found those at really great prices here on Amazon, new.

This is my favorite of all the Shabby Chic books. There's just something about all the vintage linens, laces and antique china pieces in this book. (Let's face it, eating lunch on a beautiful antique china plate is so much more fun!) The photos are beautiful and just captured my spirit. I wanted my home to look the same way. I also love how we can see Rachel Ashwells home before, and then after she got her hands on it. The ideas and inspiration you receive from this book never ends. Each time I look at it, something else reaches out and grabs me as a great idea. There's just something about the Shabby Chic look, (like warmth, comfort, and inviting!) and if you're looking at the various Shabby Chic books and want beautiful ideas, then this is definitely the one you want.

This book is a keeper. I will treasure it because this lady has captured my dream home without ever knowing me. I could move into a house she decorated and never change one thing. If you like older homes and enjoy relaxed, light, airy, calming, clean, happy, unstuffy, uplifting ways to live in and update a vintage house you will like The Shabby Chic Home and the guidance and hints contained in it. I keep it handy so that I can thumb through it often. A beautiful book with great photos. An older book that will actually never grow old. I really like this book and highly recommend it. See you at the flea market!

This book isn't the Rachel Ashwell book that I thought it was: I had another book in mind when I purchased this one. However, I am reading it and it's not that bad. I like some of the things this book points out and I disagree with other things that it mentions. Overall, I would say that this book is alright.

I Have always loved this style and this is my favorite book of Rachel Ashwell's. It is one of the few books I've kept. I just wish I could REALLY live with all that white. Maybe one day I'll try. In the meantime, I'll read this book for inspiration.

My own solace, is that I purchased this book as used. I was truly hoping to gather ideas on how to take some of my found treasures and turn them into more useful and interesting pieces. But the Grimm truth is that this is just a fairy story about a shabby chic princess who can afford a home on the beach. My little Craftsmen bungalow is about a ½ mile from the river...does that count? I found no inspiration here but rather an excessive use of white paint on walls, ceilings, beams, etc. Does she own stock in Sherwin Williams? I did order a few of her other titles which are a bit more useful. Alas, I should have perused the shelves of the Carnegie and checked it out before spending my hard earned shekels.

I love this book! Bought a copy for myself and ordered a copy for a friend as a housewarming present. Great deal and in great shape! Very pleased all the way around. Thank you!

A really inspirational book. I'd had trouble until now in identifying my taste, but this is pretty much bang on. Full of delightful pictures and a surprising number of tips (paint the inside of frosted glass to get it the colour you want, use flowers in unexpected places, created recesses for things like toilet roll holders if your bathroom is small, use beautiful bedding so the bed still looks good if it's unmade, paint utilitarian items such as stepladders an attractive colour if they are out on view). Unfortunately, Ashwell herself comes across as quite unpleasant and arrogant (I mean, who on earth changes their bathmat twice a DAY?). There's a lot of "I did this and I did that" but unlike Jocasta Innes, who clearly gets her own hands dirty, most of Ashwell's work is obviously done by an army of cheap Mexican workers. Nevertheless, well worth it for the lovely pictures and inspirational interior.

A great read, not spectacular but read worthy. And enjoyable -with beautiful interior to look at , and place back on colder table when done with your drink!

Again lovely pictures and good if you want ideas on what could be achieved but personally I was looking for more "how to do's" which this book didn't do for me. Still worth buying for something to aspire to

Love the book does what it says on the tin. Lovely illustrations and lots of ideas. If you are not sure what shabby chic is you will be after reading the book.

Only just received the book but after a quick scan, looks like good reading