Creating Modern Shabby Chic

[Julie-Ann]

I was thinking about different ways we can create a shabby, chic vintage feel to our homes. Just as I was going modern this romantic look seems to becoming more and more fashionable.
These are some of the things I like about this look:
Chandeliers - I love the sparkle of chandeliers:D.
Pastel colours
It seems to encourage you to put a bunch of flowers in every room.

What would you add to the list?

[Romantic French Cottage]

Oh Julie-Ann, this style is so soft and inviting. It's a style you can embrace and not feel restricted by. And what's more, it's all about comfort. I've known big hulking men who've surprised themselves by admiring this style of decor. My own DH loves it, & I'd challenge anyone to question his masculinity!;) I knew a girl whose marriage broke up, and her ex's parting remark was: "You never made this place pretty." So don't think that men don't appreciate beauty. I feel that the following things make this style very appealing:

*French furniture, with ornate carvings
*Soft watercolour prints in ornate frames
*White/light coloured furniture with ornate carvings & heaps of character
*Big soft sofas with white/off-white loose covers which can be machine washed
*Lots of mirrors with ornate frames
*Rachel Ashwell soft pastel floral fabrics
*Lots of soft cushions

http://Imageo59.jpg[IMG][IMG]http://Image038.jpghttp://Image057.jpghttp://Image023.jpg


Di

[Julie-Ann]

I thought of you and some of our other members when reading an old copy of Romantic Homes this morning.
You are slowly tempting me to keep more of my traditional look.
Have a look at this beautiful B&B (http://www.decoratingforum.com.au/showthread.php/your-favourite-holiday-235.html?t=235&highlight=holiday) we stayed at in Provence:D
Pity I lost my FB page, I had lots of photos of it on there. But I will post some more here if you are interested.

[Romantic French Cottage]

I tried to attach these pics to my previous post, but didn't quite manage, so here goes: these pics show my interpretation of Modern Chic (Not Shabby)


Di

[Julie-Ann]

So gorgeous :)
You will love my friend La Belle's house. It is just that style too.
She only comes on the forum on weekends. I'm sure she will find this topic though.

[Romantic French Cottage]

Oooh.. yes please!!!:D

[Romantic French Cottage]

That "yes please" was for photos of Provence. I've just bought a dvd series called A Year in Provence starring John Thaw (Inspector Morse) and am looking forward to watching it. Hope your friend La Belle posts some pics.

Di

[Julie-Ann]

I will ask her to get her DH to post them- she is still learning her way around this stuff.
But here are some of the B&B.
The movie your watching was made in the area we stayed in. This B&B was sold soon after we stayed to a rich Swiss man. He bought it with all the ornaments included.
I had been unwell for a few months and lost my decorating mojo before this trip. I found my mojo and more- I was in decorating heaven. You would love it:D

[Romantic French Cottage]

What charm & character those buildings have. Thanks for your post. I'm sure I would love France, French was my favourite subject at school, but I don't expect I'll ever visit there.

You see, I'm a homebody. I just love being at home & don't like to travel. Boring, huh? But I would miss my pets & my home too much. When I was younger I went on a couple of cruises, & like everybody else, I've made short trips, staying in motels etc, places that looked beautiful from the outside, but were a huge disappointment in reality. One had threadbare towels, another had ****roaches, (ha ha, computer thinks I said a rude word!) & I'll swear, bedbugs! And all those hundreds of people who've slept in those beds...

Anyway, I lay in bed one day thinking "What if you could make your own home like a resort, a place where you loved to be, where every day felt like you were on a holiday?" So, instead of spending money on holidays, I decided to put all my resources into my home. Now, I know this is not everybody's dream, & we all have different priorities in life, but we were able to build a much nicer home than we otherwise would have, & it's paid off, so we can't be kicked out, & interest rate rises don't bother us.

My home is my hobby.

Di

[Julie-Ann]

So many of us here get exactly what you mean.
We even started chatting about it one day here (http://www.decoratingforum.com.au/showthread.php/holiday-accommodation-177.html?t=177&highlight=holiday).
If you ever decide to go on a holiday I would highly recommend the forum
Tripadvisor. This forum is what got me addicted to forum's. LynneB from Sydney on there helped plan our whole trip. In all the years I have used it we have only had 1 disappointment. My DH gets a lot of frequent flyer points so we travel every year. But I am as fussy as.
And then I love coming home. I especially love that first moment I walk in to my house and see it as others see it. I do a review in that split second of any changes that may be necessary:)

[Romantic French Cottage]

Thanks Julie-Ann, I had a look at that thread you recommended. It's a relief to know I'm not as dull & boring as I thought. :D

Di

[Lorraine]

OMG This is GORGEOUS!!!!!

[daphadills]

Its an inviting style. Something like that would just look wrong in my house and area...and def dh would hate it LOL....but when we plan "dirty" weekends away:p i tend to look for places just like this...sigh....gorgeous :o:)