Shabby Reader

With spring around the corner somewhere in this world - oh, wait, somebody tells me actually here, on this side of the planet - a change in moods and colors is all I am longing for. Note: I don't even mention temperatures, this would be way too daring at this stage. Given the atmosphere outside my window at this very moment, I turn towards the inside and to the comfort of home decoration books that do bring me the shades and fabrics I long for at this time of the year.

What is called Shabby Chic does the trick.

A laid back, unpretentious and spontaneous looking way of decorating your little nest based on soft hues and contrasting fabrics all with a retro look, let's even call it vintage, although I believe the term has become stlightly overused at this stage and as such devoid of actual meaning... Throw in a bunch of wild flowers, nothing too sophisticated, and there you have what seems like an embracing mess, one I can live with. 

The fascinating point is, though, that like many other things in life, what seems to be a spontaneous assemblage is actually a carefully studied one where gilded frames stand right next to industrial and worn out pieces to compliment and offset one another. It seems casual, but it is not. Still, I can forgive the double game for a simple reason: unlike many über modern styles, this one makes me feel comfortable and makes the space feel warm and welcoming - no fear of staining the all-white couch while you jump on it!

The style is beautifully rendered by the Shabby Chic Interiors book by Rachel Ashwell - a classic, I would say. Each page is a delight for the eyes, full of ideas that can be easily adapted, interpreted and suited to your own living space. The author is obviously a real hunter for those pieces of furniture that nobody wants and throws away - and she knows how to give them a second life while taking into account their history, their many years of service, in an easy going way, the shabby way.

Credits: TheDaydreamer (pages from the book)