Dan's Papers - June 22, 2007 -

It's not often that a design or fashion trend is born out of practicality, yet that is exactly what inspired Rachel Ashwell, the designer credited with the creation of "Shabby Chic," to come up with her signature style. As Ashwell describes it, "I believe in cozy relaxed settings where kids are free to put their feet on the sofa and guests can place their cups on the coffee table without a care."

Looking for a home that could be at once beautiful and easily lived in, she turned to slipcovers as an answer. Easily removable and washable, slip-covered furniture is the practical answer to homes filled with children, pets and guests. Slipcovers turn a party mishap, such as a spilled glass of wine, into a carefree situation for both guest and host. Slip-covered furniture can be heartily lived on and still look pristine. From slip-covered furniture, the aesthetics of "Shabby Chic" style have expanded to the rest of the home, maintaining a beautiful yet functional design goal.

"Shabby Chic" centers on a delicate balance of opposites. The name itself would seemingly be an anomaly. "Shabby Chic" designs successfully mix comfortable living with crispness and formality. Formal Victorian furniture takes on a new life as an overstuffed easy chair. Dark wood and lush velvets are traded out for clean whites and delicate florals. The "Shabby Chic" aesthetic is part Architectural Digest and part flea market finds. The walls and color palette are often strikingly simple, while patterns and ornate chandeliers offer understated glamour. The overall effect is utterly chic.

"Shabby Chic" is the epitome of local Hamptons style. A "Shabby Chic" home can entertain the most formal dinner guests or a pack of sandy, bare-foot children. Although "Shabby Chic" looks luxurious and expensive, the look can actually be achieved for very little money. Sunday yard sales, a classic East End activity, become an opportunity to treasure hunt for vintage pieces. A little paint or a quick slipcover can update any antique find, while still maintaining the integrity of classic design. The result is modern yet refined. Mismatched chairs or furniture are just right for achieving the look, as long as you maintain a fresh, simple color palette. "Shabby Chic" allows you to work with, or rework what you already own for a completely new look. Cool, bright, local hydrangeas are the perfect accent, and are just simple enough to keep that feeling of informality and comfort that is so important.

What began for Rachel Ashwell as a few fabrics and furniture born out of her design ideals, expanded from her small store to a "Shabby Chic" brand, including a series of books, a line of home furniture and most recently, a television show on E! and Style Network. Although the design style has enjoyed enormous popularity, "Shabby Chic" has come to be much more than a trend, but an enduring, classic and practical way of living and decorating. It has struck a note with people looking for a way to combine comfortable living with crispness and formality, and it is a style open to all people, regardless of design budget. Recently, "Shabby Chic" has thrown open it's door to the mainstream with a "Simply Shabby Chic, By Rachel Ashwell" collection available at Target.

"Shabby Chic" is a perfect balance of opposites that will transform your home into a functional showplace of style. The concept behind "Shabby Chic" is one that perfectly suits life on the East End. Homes in this area must go from beach bungalow to party pad in the course of a day, and many suffer an identity crisis between the two. But "Shabby Chic" serves the unique lifestyle that we East Enders take so much pride in and does justice to the homes we wait all week to escape to.