The unOfficial Guide to Rachel Ashwell

Anyone who knows anything about home design should be somewhat familiar with the shabby chic, which was created in the latter part of the 1980s. Rachel Ashwell was 16 years old when she decided that her life needed some kind of change. She dropped out of high school and became a set designer and also a wardrobe specialist. That was until the time she turned 27 years old and created the shabby chic interior design company.

People may consider the story of Rachel Ashwell to be a rags to riches type of story. She was born to a father who was an unusual used book dealer. Her mother would restore antique dolls. As you can see, has spent much of her life in secondhand stores as well as flea markets. She learned at a very young age how to take something that someone else had no use for and make it into something fabulous.

Rachel Ashwell had only been living in the United States for four years when she created the shabby chic company. At first, she made her the designs for her own personal use. This was only until she guests in her home who quickly noticed these beautiful items that she had handmade. It was at this point she began to sell her items to others. It did not take very long for her product line to take off. Two years later she opened her very first store called the shabby chic in Santa Monica. Two years after this, she opened three more stores. One in San Francisco, the next in New York City and the third in Chicago.

Rachel Ashwell and the shabby chic look is perhaps most famous for distressed furniture. She was the first to purposely make her furniture look old and worn out. At shabby chic stores, you will be able to purchase everything from a lampshade to a child’s backpack, and also bedding.

The sensation has really taken over the nation. People love this wonderful lady. They loved her enough to give her own television show on the E! Network. Everywhere you go, there is a good chance that you will see something that Rachel Ashwell has had a hand in.