Living in France a couple of times, I am asked if shabby chic is still OK to use for interior design. The answer is – let’s drop the shabby and focus on the chic but it depends what your definition is of this trend. There seem to be a range of answers within this style and it continues to be updated. French greys, soft neutral pallets with linen as a feature and chalk-painted wooden furniture with a bit of a distressed look to add age and texture. Recycled furniture, preferably 40s or mid-century and painted in soft colours including 1940s greens, blues and lemon; Florals or polka dots are added and rose-patterned teacups are popular. Beach scrubbed wood with a dash of pale paint or wax with metal or stone bench tops and lots of old tinware; Brooklyn warehouse style with black iron and stripped brick using functional retro cupboards with metal studs.
Recycle, Reuse, Revive
If you have read my posts, you know I love finding furniture that can be stripped back or painted to reuse. Recently, we found a lovely original drinks cabinet and small coffee table in a French community store. We had just been looking at tables, dressers and cupboards in a various furniture stores which are basically mdf or chipboard and really expensive ranging from 400 t0 900 Euros and all looking flimsy. The drinks cabinet is made of good wood and has genuine brass edging. We thought the granite top had to be plastic or laminate but it is heavy and the real thing! The simple wooden table has turned out to be drop-side and solid wood. Best of all, the two together cost us 140 Euros plus 20 for delivery and the store made money for their commune. We are looking to strip the top of the table back and re-staining it a honey colour to match two Biedermeier chairs. The drinks cabinet will be chalk-painted in an ivory colour and the brass fittings will be re-polished.
- Once you have chosen your style, search for websites, stores and flea markets for decor;
- Look for a theme or colour scheme;
- Put legs on cupboards or boxes, take off legs and replace with modern ones;
- Paint or wallpaper inside shelves;
- Change a lampshade or add a stencil;
- Spray paint enamel
Happy renovating!
