What is Shabby Chic Art and Decor

since so many misinterpret this specific style of decor or art work, I decided to visit Wiki and get some explanation out there in the Online land. One can describe it as whimsy, all pastel colors, made to look worn and old, Roses, roses, roses, chandeliers, white, natural, ivory colors…..

Shabby chic items are often heavily painted through the years, with many layers showing through obviously time-worn areas. The style is imitated in faux painting using glaze or by painting then rubbing and sanding away the top coat to show the wood or base coats, known as “distressing” the finish of the furniture. Furniture pieces that are not genuine antiques are usually selected for their resemblance to older furniture styles, and may be reproduction furniture with a distressed finish. Elaborate furniture appliques depicting flower swags and garlands, cherubs, and other motifs may be added.

Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens, with linen being particularly popular, inspired by old French linens. Pure whites, as well as ecru and worn or bleached out pastel colors. i.e. pink, mint green, light blue, peach, rose colored, are favorites.  Fabric is often stained with tea to give it the look of old fabric. Bleached and faded are terms often applied to the style.  Vintage floral patterns with pastel colors, cotton ticking patterns, or linen in light earth tones, are all typical of shabby chic style.

Antique pieces such as pie safes and jelly cupboards are popular in shabby chic décor.   Besides white, the shabby chic style also includes soft  neutral colors such as sky blue, rose pink and beige tones. Hints from French-style interior design often show in shabby chic homes such as Rococo-style lighting fixtures, (Chandeliers, Crystal embellished) and  furniture or wall paneling.

The shabby chic aesthetic also expands to the garden, with the same design principles of using timeworn garden furniture and feminine accessories.

Rose gardens are popular with the shabby chic style of decor. Other popular decor items are pillows made of vintage bark cloth fabric, vintage linens, chenille bedspreads, vintage chandeliers, and anything with roses, roses, roses in the design.  It is a soft, relaxed, feminine, romantic style of decorating that looks comfortable and inviting.

Variants of shabby chic style include:

Cottage chic
Beach cottage chic
French country

The style started in Great Britain and evokes the type of decoration found in large country houses where there are worn and faded old chintz sofas  and curtains, old paintwork and unassuming ‘good’ taste. The end result of shabby chic is to achieve an elegant overall effect, as opposed to the  sentimentally cute Pop-Victorian. Recycling old furniture and fabrics is an important aspect of the look and was especially popular with modern Bohemians and artisans that made up a sidelined counter-culture movement during the 1980’s when expensive quality decor became very  fashionable with the upper middle classes. The original shabby chic interiors were usually considered in themselves works of art.

The early forms of shabby chic were rather grand but the style has evolved taking inspiration from many forms of  decoration. These range from  18th century Swedish painted decoration, the French Chateau as well as the American Shakers where simplicity and plainness was essential.

The Origin of term:

The term was coined by The World of Interiors magazine in the 1980’s and became extremely popular in the US in the ’90’s with a certain eclectic surge of decorating styles with paints and effects, notably in metropolitan cultural centers on the
West Coast of America, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, with heavy influences from Mediterranean cultures such as French Provence and Tuscany. And then spread like a wild fire all over the states.

While Rachel Ashwell claimed the term at one point or other, the origin of that term, or style of décor and art is much older as one can see.

I love this type of art and décor, as one can plainly see in my art work in my shop, mosaic furniture and other shabby, cottage, chic décor.

Enjoy when you see it, it is comfy, non seasonal and yes, rather feminine. A guy would have to be very gracious to either like it or put up with it. (smile)

Tags: art, decor, fabric, french country, glasses, Handmade, handmadeartists, history, MyEuropeanTouch, pillow, Pink, shabby chic, teapot, thank you notes, White

Posted in Creative Breakroom, Discover Handmade, Featured Vendor, Handmade, Handmade Holiday, Handmade Mode, Promote Handmade