Shabby-Chic with Colour

Shabby-Chic with Colour



We often pass through the living room and so it is simply coloured; only black and grey. .



Firstly, it was the best answer in an old house, where we wanted to keep a historic look.

Secondly, we did not have the money to buy real antiques, and go for Vogue-style antique look, or even refurbish and modernize.

I like the look of shabby-chic.

But, it is a large house, with three floors with four rooms on each floor and cream on cream or cream on white would become boring if used through out so I added colour.



The ceiling in my new study

 




In my study an old carpet reflects the ceiling but with stronger colours

And these are the main rules I applied throughout this house.

1.
I kept the cream and white for the container – the walls and woodwork throughout (see previous blog). This gave some uniformity to a house where chairs, tables, beds etc all come in different styles and with different shapes and finishes.

2.

I put colour on the ceilings, as this is traditional in Greece, (see previous blog). Keeping the rooms on the bottom floor with low ceilings still white or cream, the rooms on the middle floor with usual height ceilings with more colour, and keeping the most colour for the top floor where the ceilings are very high.



A traditionally painted Greek ciling



Varying shades of mauve through to maroon on the bedroom ceiling

 



More colourful ceilings

3. I had a palette of colours that looked good together. This palette was based around the traditional maroon shutters and includes peach, green, and coffee and mauve. In each room I emphasized one of these colours, with often highlights of one of the other colours. Maroon being a main highlight throughout the house. 


The palette of colours



Rust, mauve and maroon. They are tied together with brown.



Painting in the bedroom, emphasise the rust, maroon colours




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

As an addition unifying aspect (for all these different styles shapes and finishes) I have tried where possible to emphasis a symmetrical arrangement, of furniture or ornaments.



The rust pattern on the plates I copied on the stove canopy.

5.

And, as is true of most houses but is more so true in a shabby-chic house, it is so important
not to let clutter spoil the effect. Some lived-in look is OK but too much at it quickly turns into a shabby-chic junk collection, rather than an arrangement that is valued and carefully placed.


Some messiness, but not too much or you loose the look

 

6.
I wanted the house to highlight our values as a place that is not ostentatious, for we have not spent a lot on decoration, doing most of it ourselves. And I wanted a decorating style that that respects the past and yet is a homely place for friends and family. If the responses of our 15 guests this year is anything to go by I think we have succeeded.

And the places I'm still working on......



The blue and white table cloth was not in the scheme but it was beautiful and went best with green in a vestibule



Almost too much pattern and colour here, but on the whole the light coloured wood pulls it together