NDYP.net

Back to home

Michelle Farnsworth is the owner and designer of Farnsworth Décor & More, and resides in Bismarck with her husband, Richard. Michelle keeps busy with her two boys, Harry and Tommy. In her spare time, she loves to read, travel, garden and go
antiquing with friends.

Rediscover Shabby Chic

A decorating theme seems to be following me at every turn I make: Shabby Chic. You know the trend, spear-headed by Rachel Aswell; an easy-going, Malibu style that caught the U.S. style mavens by storm in the mid-90s.

I actually had the opportunity to visit one of her original showrooms, located in an old Chicago brownstone. It was very shabby, very chic and very expensive. Bolts of fabric that reminded me of my grandma’s old chenille bathrobe were in the $50/yard range. Junky old tables with the paint scraped off were priced at hundreds of dollars. I remember wanting to get back to Bismarck and raid my grandparent’s basement for all their treasures.

Eventually I did decorate a guest room with an old armoire that I found on eBay and other collectibles assembled to mimic the simple, light colors of the cool California style. But it can be a lot of hard work to make a room look lived in and comfortable. Now, stores like Target have actually come to the rescue with an entire Rachel Aswell Shabby Chic line of home décor. Instead of searching high and low for original fabric to make an antique, lived-in comforter or bed sheets, you can get an entire set for a very reasonable price.

But the most fun part of achieving this style is looking for the accessories. A few days ago, I saw a great old chest of drawers sitting behind a second-hand store. It really took me back to my days spent searching for salvage pieces. That ugly old dresser in the hands of a high-end designer would go from shabby to chic in one day’s work. A twenty dollar find could retail for hundreds of dollars in boutique shops.

Another easy find is picture frames. Disregard what’s inside. If the frame has that look, grab it, sand it, paint and then lightly distress. Collecting frames in different sizes and shapes, but painting them white or a very pale petal pink is a classic Shabby Chic technique.

Searching for that perfect old and crackled mirror might take some extra work. Mirrors that show the right amount of fading, cracks and discoloring around the edges are hot finds. Use in a collage of framed photos or alone to bring back those faded memories. And never pass up old tablecloths, placemats, napkins, doilies or bed linens. Faded and threadbare linens are the life-blood of a multi-million dollar industry. In this part of the country, we can still find these old treasures in most antique shops. Use them to cover an old tabletop or drape gently over the end of a bed; the possibilities are endless.

I recently saw a photo of a Shabby Chic-inspired room in a decorating magazine. Sitting on a ledge in a collection of different items was an insulator. Many years ago, electric lines were insulated with glass mushroom-looking things. My grandpa used to climb power lines and change them out. Growing up, I remember buckets of these blue, green, and clear glass “cups” sitting in the shed. I chuckle to myself that Pappa is in style after all these years. I can only imagine how much an eclectic boutique in Manhattan is charging for them now.

Just remember, Shabby Chic has always been about comfort, bringing old pieces of furniture into your life that have a history and will make new history with your family. Search your family’s own collectibles. You may be surprised what you can find to motivate yourself to try a new look in your home.

Read Michelle's previous columns here