Rachel Ashwell’s “shabby chic” style of home decorating boomed in the nineties (earning fans like Jennifer Aniston, Oprah, Marcia Cross, Britney Spears and countless others), and now — 20 years later — it continues to provide people with a limited budget the special ability to achieve a brand of prettiness that’s accepted by all classes.

Some people tend to think that to achieve this style, you should only really work with shabby items. However, Rachel herself said that one of the key principles of the style she developed is blending old with the new. That’s why there’s no need to just limit your shopping to flea markets and yard sales to style your home the shabby chic way — especially since high quality, built-to-last, elegant furniture can actually be purchased at more affordable prices.

If you wish to freshen the shabby chic style of your kitchen, here are some tips on incorporating modern or new kitchen furniture designs and making them work beautifully with the shabby pieces you already have.

1. Experiment with patterns and textures. For example, you can achieve a rustic look for a completely new wood table by placing a threadbare table runner on it. Even if the table has a very modern appearance, it will look “owned for a long time but maintained exceptionally well” easily by using old table runners and mantels.
2. Highlight the contrast of materials. Say, you have completely new, literally flawless seats; pair them up with a distressed kitchen/dining table. The pairing will create a different kind of vintage appearance.
3. Don’t be too matchy-matchy with décor. For example, your vintage china collection; avoid displaying the complete set in your new kitchen cabinet or pristine white open shelving; mix the china designs and let the brand new and flawless storage and display unit serve as a lovely backdrop.
4. To really bring out the beauty of new kitchen furniture designs, keep your vintage lighting fixtures (particularly those with glass and crystal elements) clean to create sparkle and gleam for everything.

The general idea to go with when it comes to shabby chic is to blend, but keep everything completely balanced. Also, don’t be afraid to make mistakes; oftentimes, the loveliest designs are created from these so-called trials and experiments.

If you’re working with new kitchen furniture designs, it’s hard to go wrongwith working them into any style. And in going for the shabby chic style, their perfect appearance can spawn inspiration for a variety of ways to show off the vintage charm of the old pieces you have.

Rachel Ashwell’s “shabby chic” style of home decorating boomed in the nineties (earning fans like Jennifer Aniston, Oprah, Marcia Cross, Britney Spears and countless others), and now — 20 years later — it continues to provide people with a limited budget the special ability to achieve a brand of prettiness that’s accepted by all classes.

Some people tend to think that to achieve this style, you should only really work with shabby items. However, Rachel herself said that one of the key principles of the style she developed is blending old with the new. That’s why there’s no need to just limit your shopping to flea markets and yard sales to style your home the shabby chic way — especially since high quality, built-to-last, elegant furniture can actually be purchased at more affordable prices.

If you wish to freshen the shabby chic style of your kitchen, here are some tips on incorporating modern or new kitchen furniture designs and making them work beautifully with the shabby pieces you already have.

1. Experiment with patterns and textures. For example, you can achieve a rustic look for a completely new wood table by placing a threadbare table runner on it. Even if the table has a very modern appearance, it will look “owned for a long time but maintained exceptionally well” easily by using old table runners and mantels.
2. Highlight the contrast of materials. Say, you have completely new, literally flawless seats; pair them up with a distressed kitchen/dining table. The pairing will create a different kind of vintage appearance.
3. Don’t be too matchy-matchy with décor. For example, your vintage china collection; avoid displaying the complete set in your new kitchen cabinet or pristine white open shelving; mix the china designs and let the brand new and flawless storage and display unit serve as a lovely backdrop.
4. To really bring out the beauty of new kitchen furniture designs, keep your vintage lighting fixtures (particularly those with glass and crystal elements) clean to create sparkle and gleam for everything.

The general idea to go with when it comes to shabby chic is to blend, but keep everything completely balanced. Also, don’t be afraid to make mistakes; oftentimes, the loveliest designs are created from these so-called trials and experiments.

If you’re working with new kitchen furniture designs, it’s hard to go wrongwith working them into any style. And in going for the shabby chic style, their perfect appearance can spawn inspiration for a variety of ways to show off the vintage charm of the old pieces you have.