Episode 7 | Shabby Chic with Rachel Ashwell

On this episode, Jeanne is excited to talk to the creator of the iconic Shabby Chic brand, Rachel Ashwell.

1:30     “I was born out of a flea market family…my mother would repair and sell antique dolls.I learned her unique eye of wanting to restore these funny little creatures with real authenticity.” 

3:38    “I don’t want to have a home where nobody can touch anything, but I still want it to be beautiful."

6:07     “I feel like I was a vessel, that this just came through me…as I grew up I just observed, and this kind of went into my wiring.”

7:03     “There was never a question in my mind of “oh no’s”, it was always “Why not?”

9:30    “I didn’t really know where I wanted to be a story teller.My story telling actually ended up being in my Shabby Chic world…there’s always a story behind it.”

11:11   “I do better when I have seasons.  I feel that the seasons give me rhythm, it gives me the permission to go out and be exuberant, but it also gives me permission to go inward…”

15:30   “Faded glamour is a word that I use often to describe the vibe of the things that I buy [in England]…time-worn elegance is another…”

19:36  “Where I’m satisfied, where I feel my world reflects my authenticity…I’m such a deep philosophical person, that whatever those things are, if they go through my funnel of beauty-comfort-function, then it works.”

20:52   “Whatever that thing is, as little as a little ring dish with beautiful roses on it, or as big as a sofa, or a rug, or a chandelier, as long as it feels like it has soul…”

22:47   “There’s that bit in the middle, where I think I got too weighed down by the business of business.  And I think that’s something that any entrepreneur and creative person has to be very wary of.”

23:16  “It really is a lifestyle of how you set up your life so that creativity has a place all the time.”

24:17   “As a designer, at least in me, what works is when it just feels authentic, it just flows, and that’s about having the right people around you.”

27:26   “I needed to feel that I had an anchor, and anchor of pilgrimage of Shabby Chic so no matter what the outcome of this kind of wobbly business time was, that there was this anchor of where Shabby Chic was solid, so I bought a Bed and Breakfast.”

29:29  “When I realized that the business side of it was overtaking the soulful joy of it, that’s when it became not something that satisfied me quite as much…”

31:51   “My benchmark with everything…is if there’s more, considerably more enjoyment than stress, and if there is, then its worth holding onto this and seeing how it can be nurtured.

30 years ago Rachel Ashwell had a very simple mission; to inspire, guide and educate households across the world to live beautifully and comfortably without care. To invest in practical solutions rather than meaningless décor and to surround oneself with treasures that bring joy and breathe life into a home. These have become the hallmarks of Rachel’s “Shabby Chic” philosophy; a way of living that has inspired households across the world.

Today we move onto the next chapter of our story. Inspired by our past and elevated to meet the needs of our ever more discerning customer, we bring you “Rachel Ashwell.” A designer collection of furniture, bedding and bath essentials that are an evolution of Rachel’s timeless design philosophy. Incorporating luxurious textiles, exquisite details and uncompromising quality that stands the tests of daily life.

Currently Rachel Ashwell operates a retail location in Los Angeles as well as an online store, shabbychic.com. Both offering high quality furniture, bedding, décor and hand-picked flea market finds. Her “Simply Shabby Chic” collection is celebrating its 12th year at Target. With several new branded partnerships coming soon.

In addition to her businesses, Rachel Ashwell has published 10 books, most recently in 2018 with Cico Books called “My Floral Affair.”

You can find more of Rachel's storytelling at Shabby Chic.

Also new clothing is available at https://www.shabbychic.com/ and https://www.dillards.com/search-term/shabby+chic?orderBy=6

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