Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting and Decorating Guide

Rachel Ashwell takes us from an overload of Laura Ashley to a firm understanding of good stuff that doesn’t have to match, but it is so beautiful on its own. She teaches us what is good what is worth displaying and to leave the junk behind. Ashwell leaves us with that warm, cozy, but well to do spaces.

I love this book by Rachel Ashwell, as she has a way of inspiring one to be creative.

When I first heard of Rachel Ashwell, it was through VICTORIA magazine, when I read an article about this book. I fell in love with that "shabby chic" style and have been collecting ever since. What I love about this and her other books is that they are so beautiful, calm and serene. Rachel teaches us that old items, either in their found state or painted fresh white, are to be cherished as little pieces of history, and I can tell you that the old linens, silverware , china and furniture that I collect (and use!) are much better made than most of the new items available today. What I most love about her books is that she shows you how to create a calm and serene refuge at the end of each day. Buy this book, you won't regret spending the money. It's my very favorite book and I own a lot of them!!

I thouroughly enjoyed this book. I deal in thousands of books and this book is one of the few that is staying on my shelf as a reference. Rachel thouroughly captures the art of design, and sees beauty in the simple but unique items that we run across in our everyday lives. I feel she helps people to see that decorating can be fun, whether were rich or poor. It is not a book of rules but creativity! Thanks Rachel! Keep up the good work and I am looking forward to your future books!

While some of the people who have read this book dislike Rachel Ashwell's chatty tone, I find it personal and very informative. I think that she has exquisite taste and is a genius at vintage decorating. This book will help you to ferret out the quality finds at a flea market or antique mall and put them into use by providing tips on what to look for and how to restore them to charming beauty. There are sections on collections, decorations, and vintage clothing, among others, and the book finishes with a look at some finished homes done in impeccable Shabby Chic style. The pictures are beautiful, the text is as if a friend were talking to you, and the whole package is entertaining and inspirational.

I fell in love with "Shabby Chic" a couple of years ago when I visited her store in New York. While I found a lot of her things to be quite expensive, they did inspire me to be far more creative and open-minded. This book is a wonderful source of information from flea marketing to how to fix and clean your finds. Like Rachel, I grew up flea marketing with my parents, and now as an adult I am applying her philosophy to my marketing and decorating. I highly recommend this book, along with her others and if you are a real die hard, check out her show on the Style network. Thank you Rachel!

Who are those poor stuffy souls dissing our dear Rachel - I feel like we're on a first-name basis - and comparing her to, heaven forbid, Martha Stewart? But indeed, fans of the Queen of Coolness will want to steer far, far away from all things Ashwell. Only those with a penchant for gracious living, quiet style, and unfussed decorating will enjoy this and the other Shabby Chic books, which I turn to again and again, particularly before a trip to the local flea market.