Shabby Chic Design Elements
Run with the gold peephole frame idea - The famous empty gold frame that adorned the peephole on Monica’s front door can easily be re-created with a can of gold paint and a flea market find. However, empty gold frames can add a touch of shabby chic glamour anywhere in your home. In this bathroom, multiple empty frames are grouped together to create a gallery effect. * Copper frames with decorative elements hanging or tacked to the wall inside *
Pick a pastel tone Pale blue Tolix chairs look rustic and romantic in this shabby chic dining area. The bare brick walls, concrete flooring and woven rug bring rich texture to the scheme and prevent the pastel coloured chairs looking too feminine. The fact that they are vintage pieces, too, complete with bumps and bashes, helps to keep the look strong, not sickly. * AMOUR *
Stick with items that fall in the same color family, such as a grid of framed iris prints and a pile of wisteria-patterned throw pillows. Or choose just one standout floral element and allow it to dominate: an overscale fabric, a vibrant wallpaper, a chic flowered rug. Subtle sweetness: Instead of smothering your space with fussy floral prints, set it abloom with a simple vase or pitcher of real blossoms.
What better way to reflect the bright and airy shabby chic dining room than with a lovely shabby chic full-length mirror? That frame shape and the color are T.D.F.
Incorporate shabby chic accents - If you’re not completely ready to commit to purple walls and turquoise kitchen cabinets, you can still pay subtle homage to Monica’s style by incorporating small vintage pieces throughout your home. * Mannequin as necklace holder *
* 'Chandelier' * Chair with overstuffed cusion *
* Lightbulbs * Paint lightbulbs with glass paint * Copper or some kind of Stained Glass Look
* Common colored vases of different shapes and sizes * Start with clear glass and paint
* Flower garland and stenciled birds above windows * Scrapbook birds
This is another version of lush and layered. The architecture of this room is nothing special, but the decorator has created a one-of-a-kind, high-drama look by picking a style (English countryside–meets–Shabby Chic) and going for it in a big way. Tip: Art and mirrors hung floor to ceiling make the walls seem taller. * Mirror arrangement and common frame color in coppers * Wire baskets on top of the Armoire spray painted in copper with burlap, gingham, homespun, vintage textile liners * Garden urn with glass tabletop * Potato Sack Pillows
Create vignettes - Incorporate pretty vignettes within your shabby chic interior. Here a ladder is repurposed to become a side table displaying flowers, a little bird and a vintage teacup. Adorable!
This is what most people think of when they hear milk glass: shabby chic. Well, you can see why it works if you are going for that look. The creamy pink lamp has a breezy quality perfect for the distressed furniture and ruffled bed.
* Similar flower wreaths adorning various decorative items through the house to pull pieces together * Cabinet on the back wall *
Chandelier + iron bed + white quilt. A classic wrought iron bed frame looks softer with a coat of creamy paint. Layer the bed with antique white quilts and floral print pillows, and illuminate the space with a grand chandelier. * Chandelier and bedding * Cover the ceiling vent in the bedroom and hang a short chandelier *
White floors + aqua walls + aqua chandelier. Want more color in your life? Emphasize uplifting aqua walls — either painted or, for more texture, papered — by pairing them with high-gloss white floors. In this hall the aqua is picked up in the aqua blue of a petite chandelier, a cluster of candlesticks on the floor and ombré curtains. * Cluster of painted candlesticks *
Barn light + rustic bench + vintage linens. Barn lights are not just for outdoors — hanging one pendant-style over the dining table is simple and fuss free. A farm table and a rustic bench are equally hardworking here, while the faded floral prints of vintage linens add a feminine touch. * Change the hanging light in the kitchen to one similar to this *
* Vintage tray decorated with earthy collections *
* Make 'WitchWay' Labels for bathroom and kitchen containers *
* Vintage chandelier - spray paint copper* *Kitchen *
* Wall to wall, Ceiling to Floor curtains for the Living Room *
Use a chair rail to showcase a collection *Add a chair rail* Have a chair rail in the dining room or bath? Use it to display a collection of small shells, stones, sea glass or bits of driftwood. The key to making this look like a collection rather than clutter is to be really strict about what you include — don’t use a jumble of different items, and stick with one type or color.
Start a curio cabinet Vintage drawers make excellent curio cabinets when mounted on the wall. Fill the sections with rocks, shells, abandoned nests and other things you find on your outdoor adventures.
Fill bottles and jars with your finds. A glass jar filled with sea glass (with or without water) looks lovely placed in a window to catch the light. Also, try placing small, smooth stones in a glass jar and nestling in a tea light for a nearly free candleholder with natural appeal.
Make your own driftwood planter. If you own a drill and can get your hands on a nice big piece of driftwood, you can make your own version of the gorgeous succulent planter shown here. Hang it on the wall, frame it in an old window or use it as a centerpiece on the table.
Collect feathers in a cup - Sometimes the simplest things can be quite beautiful. Collect feathers you find on walks in an earthenware mug and pop it on the shelf alongside your kitchenware to bring in a touch of the wild.
Make luxurious linen-backed pressed-flower portraits A morning’s walk along a local trail or in your own backyard can provide you with enough botanical specimens to create your own beautiful and one-of-a-kind art. First, you will need to press the flowers you’ve picked, so carefully close them in a heavy book or flower press, one per page, and leave them until fully dried (one to two weeks). When they’re ready to frame, trim a piece of linen to fit the back of your frame and attach it to the backing using a bit of spray adhesive (do this outdoors). You can either use a bit more spray adhesive to stick the dried flowers to the linen, or simply place the flowers on top and allow the glass to hold them in place.
Hang a cluster of mismatched vintage mirrors. Can’t find just the right mirror to fit your space? Try collecting a bunch of small rectangular vintage mirrors instead. Hung flush together, they’ll look like they were meant to be together, even if they all have different finishes.
Put an old door to work. On its own, a wooden door in a fun color works as unique wall art; add a row of hooks to the bottom to make it functional, too. You could even string a grid of ribbon between the openings where glass once was and use it as a message center.
Use a schoolroom map *or any decorative flat hanging* as flat-screen-TV cover. Looking for a creative way to disguise the big black box when you’re not watching TV? Try tracking down a vintage school map or chart (the kind that’s meant to be mounted to the ceiling) and hang it an inch or two in front of the TV. When you’re not watching, simply pull the cord for instant wall art.
Dip vintage bottles in white paint. So simple, but so pretty! Small glass bottles are plentiful in many vintage shops — clear or blue glass would work well for this project. Pour a small amount of white paint into each bottle (do this one at a time), and tilt and swirl until you achieve a look you like. Allow to dry completely before using. These are lovely as is, or fill them with cut or dried flowers — just don’t drink out of them.
Bring in plants. Bringing nature inside makes a space feel more open and brightens the mood. It works especially well in city apartments.
Include reflection. Sliding mirror doors and reflective paint help toss light around and make rooms feel more expansive.
Hang wooden crates for shelves.
Gather a few branches to hold kitchen tools. * Curtain Rods *
Saw off half a table to make a vanity … *Or a computer desk =)*
Cut a shipping pallet to create a hanging garden …
Got a bunch of old-time suitcases? Make “drawers” on open shelves.
Put legs on a suitcase for a coffee table
A grocer’s scale may not be the easiest item to come by, but it would certainly make an impact. Use it for fruit in the kitchen, towels in the bathroom or stationery in the office.
Create a serene lounging nook using stuff you already have. Don’t toss away that old twin bed. Place it lengthwise against a wall, cover it with fresh white linens and call it a daybed. Create symmetry with matching bookcases, lamps or tables flanking the daybed — shop your house to find stuff you can use. Then finish things off with a small stool borrowed from the garden and a colorful accent wall using leftover paint.
* Vintage bench - Place inside door on West Wall with a hole cut out for window and trimmed with a picture frame *
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