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Wonderful for the Wear Vintage might be trendy, but it's old hat to authors and designers Rachel Ashwell and Brooke and Steve Giannetti  A threadbare chair and a floppy decorative cushion, left, are worn down and well-loved. Image courtesy CICO Books, 2011 It's no surprise to any observer of style that vintage is in. A return to well-worn, well-loved furnishings is evidenced by two new books, "Shabby Chic Inspirations and Beautiful Spaces" (CICO Books, 2011, $35) by Rachel Ashwell and "Patina Style" (Gibbs Smith, 2011, $35) by Brooke and Steve Giannetti. All three authors have found ways to bring their signature styles through different businesses and media, from bed linens to blogs. We caught up with these champions of the vintage aesthetic to learn what's so refreshing about aged décor. History Lesson Appreciating the history of objects comes natural to Ashwell, the face of the "shabby chic" movement that first became popular in the 90s. "My parents were in the flea market business, so they instilled in me an appreciation of collection and quality of details," she says. "They also taught me how to navigate through a flea market at a very young age." This passion for beautiful things led Ashwell to styling for photography shoots and commercials. "I learned the process of making beautiful moments in time and was able to then translate that to my stores," she says. Founder of the iconic brand Shabby Chic, Ashwell has hosted a television show, published a series of books and owns four Shabby Chic Couture stores and a bed-and-breakfast, called the Prairie by Rachel Ashwell. She has also lent her name to a line of bedding that is available at retail stores. For Brooke Giannetti, designing by instinct is her forte while her husband Steve Giannetti is a registered architect. Brooke runs the popular design blog "Velvet and Linen," and the duo owns a full-service architecture, interior and landscape design firm as well as a home furnishings store.  A chalky, pastel palette ties antiques and flea-market finds together with a bookshelf, far left. Image courtesy Steve Giannetti "We appreciate objects for the memories they hold as well as the purposes they serve in our lives," Steve Giannetti says. Why Vintage? Simply put, vintage refers to things made in the past. But just being old doesn't cut it, Ashwell says. "Whether it is the finish of wood or wearing of something - how it gets distressed over time or how linen becomes fluffy or how fabric becomes faded in the sun - the process of how things age over time is my true inspiration," she says. That's what drives everything that makes its way into her couture collection. "Everything that I create has heirloom qualities that enable you to pass on history through things, which is kind of an authentic green way to live, because you're recycling beautiful products from one generation to the next," Ashwell says. Lack of perfection is perfect for the Giannettis. "Vintage style allows us to live beautifully without making our family crazy by embracing the imperfections in our home," says Brooke Giannetti. "We tend to look for items with classical proportions and slim features that always mix well with each other and can move from room to room." Steve adds that simple shapes and natural materials keep a space from feeling overly decorated. Materials Matter When it comes to hard furnishings, Brooke Giannetti suggests sticking to natural materials, such as white oak and pine woods; brass, iron, zinc and bronze metals; and limestone and marble. "They age beautifully. Our interaction with these materials only softens them and makes them look better as they reflect the history of our family life," she says.  Shabby shack: Ashwell featured this remodeled hunter's cabin in her latest book. The tiny oasis was decorated top to bottom on a shoestring budget with vintage books, linens and a \$15 chandelier. Image courtesy CICO Books, 2011 For soft furnishings, Ashwell says velvets and linens are authentically vintage, but people should stay open to anything that catches their eye. "Don't shy away from fabrics that have holes in them, whether it's a rug that has a stain on it or a curtain that is faded from the sun," she says. "You can always dye fabric or add patches." Broken Beauty There's vintage, then there's just plain broken. But if a beautiful old object is not functioning as it used to, perhaps it can still serve a purpose. Brooke Giannetti says most of her favorite pieces aren't used for their intended purpose. "If I find a piece inspiring and it just needs a little repairing or I can find a unique use for a broken item, then I'll still buy it," she says. "We have a large clock face in our stairway that was once the town clock for the city of Nancy in France and it's made the perfect addition to our home." Ashwell agrees. When it comes to wood furnishings such as tables, chairs and cabinets, she says, think outside the box. For instance, if the legs of a table become rotten, Ashwell might take the top of the table off the legs and put it onto a different set of vintage legs or cut the legs down and create a coffee table. "I really look at the process of what can be saved in the same way I look at my friendships," she says. "Say a friendship no longer has all of its original elements, think about what's still of value and what can be saved and enjoy that piece of it. Don't discard things just because they've lost their original use." |
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