The Shabby Chic Home

A really inspirational book. I'd had trouble until now in identifying my taste, but this is pretty much bang on. Full of delightful pictures and a surprising number of tips (paint the inside of frosted glass to get it the colour you want, use flowers in unexpected places, created recesses for things like toilet roll holders if your bathroom is small, use beautiful bedding so the bed still looks good if it's unmade, paint utilitarian items such as stepladders an attractive colour if they are out on view). Unfortunately, Ashwell herself comes across as quite unpleasant and arrogant (I mean, who on earth changes their bathmat twice a DAY?). There's a lot of "I did this and I did that" but unlike Jocasta Innes, who clearly gets her own hands dirty, most of Ashwell's work is obviously done by an army of cheap Mexican workers. Nevertheless, well worth it for the lovely pictures and inspirational interior.

Good book for ideas and information. A useful purchase.

Only just received the book but after a quick scan, looks like good reading

Love the book does what it says on the tin. Lovely illustrations and lots of ideas. If you are not sure what shabby chic is you will be after reading the book.

Again lovely pictures and good if you want ideas on what could be achieved but personally I was looking for more "how to do's" which this book didn't do for me. Still worth buying for something to aspire to