The essential element that conjures up the shabby chic look is a timeless elegance where furniture does not have to match, just so long as all your pieces have an inviting, slightly worn look, and are closely related in colour or tone. True shabby chic in your kitchen should reflect the grace and beauty of a bygone era, when life was simpler and altogether more natural.

Shabby chic kitchen styles are characterised by a rural style comfort coupled with old world whimsy. The décor, which is normally based around white, off-white or very pale unobtrusive colours such as soft greens, pale blues, pale yellows or muted beiges, should look effortless and completely uncontrived.

Before setting about creating this well-loved style take a good look round your kitchen and consider the existing style in terms of wall colours, cabinets, appliances, work surfaces and even cookware. Also take note of the size and layout of the room to determine if there is enough floor space to accommodate additional pieces or the necessary wall space for additional cabinets or shelves. If not, begin thinking about how you could change the current look to achieve a more rustic feel. Newly painted walls and certain paint effects on furniture, along with the right accent pieces will help change the whole look your kitchen.

In the main most kitchen walls are best painted in plain or lightly toned white to maximise the amount of light, however for something a little more unusual you could also try painting your walls in a pattern of wide pastel and white stripes. If however you prefer wallpaper, to make your kitchen appear more homely, it is best to choose a muted floral pattern, especially roses or tiny bunches of daisies or forget-me-nots.

Do bear in mind though that endearing as old fashioned wallpaper can look it should not even be considered if your kitchen doesn’t have proper ventilation to stop it getting overly steamed-up when cooking; otherwise you will soon be re-papering!

Concrete, grotesquely tiled or tacky linoleum floors are a complete anathema to the shabby chic kitchen style so they will need to be replaced with something more in keeping with your new soft and natural look. This of course can be a major and expensive undertaking, so if you don’t want to completely replace your kitchen floor you can simply add lots kitchen mats or rugs in muted pink, blue, green, or floral designs; just be sure to choose colors that complement your walls and existing flooring.

Plain wooden floorboards can be given a new lease of life by being sanded and varnished to prevent splinters in bare feet! They can also be stained in a ‘natural’ wood colour but be careful that you don’t go too dark and make you kitchen feel grim and gloomy. Very pale wood may be stenciled in an interesting design before varnishing, but do ensure that the design ties in with your existing colour scheme. A clever floor design could be used to emphasise a special feature such as an old couch, a favourite rocking horse or a freestanding butcher’s block.

Kitchen furniture and cabinets can be decorated in a number of exciting paint finishes, which is then distressed in varying degrees depending on just how truly ‘shabby’ you want your kitchen to look. If you are not sure how to go about the distressing process simply dial up ‘How To Paint Shabby Chic Furniture’ on the internet and you will find plenty of information and even videos on Youtube.com that cover the subject in depth. 

To avoid an overly modern look you should always replace any current hardware on kitchen cabinets and door furniture with something more appropriate, such as glass or vintage ceramic knobs; which will indeed look so much more authentic. You can often find just what you need on Ebay or you could try scouting round some of the more reputable building reclamation yards. Sometimes it is worth buying old cabinets or doors just to lay claim to stunning or unique door and cupboard accessories.

If your current kitchen appliances don’t look remotely right in your new kitchen, you can have them repainted to match everything else, as fortunately companies do exist that will repaint appliances. Alternatively, if you want to replace the appliances altogether, there are also companies that sell retro style appliances.

Don’t forget to give your kitchen a light and airy window treatment. Curtains, rather than blinds, are an excellent way to emphasise the shabby chic look especially dainty floral prints, held in place with antique tie-backs. For a cleaner, unfussy look you could also use cotton nets slung over pine poles or even pure lace, draped across just half the window.

Be aware that one of the joys of shabby chic style is that it utilises less than perfect pieces, so do check out jumble sales, garage sales and even skips for discarded items. Someone else’s rubbish may just be the perfect display piece for your shabby chic kitchen. A tart-up with a pretty paint finish or some floral material can give new life to many a neglected treasure.

The right accessories will simply ‘make’ your shabby chic kitchen so these should be chosen and placed very carefully to give the right effect. This stage of achieving the shabby chic look is rather like planting a country garden, in as much as it should all look entirely natural and as if it has just happened by chance.

However as any skilled gardener will tell you it takes quite a bit of forethought and planning to create just the right uncontrived look. Exactly the same will apply to your kitchen but, being careful not to over-clutter working space or surfaces, you can easily develop the shabby chic feel simply by applying a little imagination, time and effort and the best of all it won’t cost you a fortune.

Some really great additions to your kitchen can include distressed corner shelves for old battered recipe books, Victorian chamber pots for plants, early spice racks, embroidered hand-towels and homespun linen on wrought iron hooks, well-worn oven gloves, 1950’s tin canister sets and cookie cutters, granny’s wash board, sepia framed photos, Imperial kitchen scales, a rose patterned china tea service, vintage wooden boxes and serving bowls, old baking trays, copper pans, fish kettles and of course lots and lots of fresh flowers.

Finally do remember that the true shabby chic look is only achieved by being understated, so you don’t need to have every single item in your kitchen distressed, miss-matched or floral. Sometimes less is definitely more and it is also vital that your own personality comes into play to make your dream kitchen particularly special and unique to you.

When thinking about buying kitchen chairs and tables for your perfectly decorated kitchen, you might want to make sure to look for items that augment the design style. This home decor looks best with a more formal seating arrangement – perhaps beautiful cherry wood furniture or maybe even nicely painted pieces. Think about using formal style items to work right with your kitchen .

Making use of area rugs will help to complete your English country kitchen. While choosing flooring for your interior design, be certain you consider something that matches the design in addition to the colors in the room. Look at deploying formal style area rugs in creams and beiges that enhance the other colors in the decorating scheme.

No design would look it’s best without great decorative accessories, so take a look at adding some pottery and dish towels which reflect the English countryside. Use items that reflect a regal and elegant design such as ironstone china bowls and large pitchers as well as vintage dish towels. Utilizing accessories you find at antique shops and yard sales will put your own charming touch on the decorating style.

Lights can be pricey, then again if you do your shopping at thrift stores and sales, you will be able to end up with appealing lighting fixtures to complete your kitchen. To match this style of décor, you’ll need your lighting fixtures to be formal but elegant. Don’t forget that you need good task lighting in addition to overhead lighting and ambient lighting.

Installing the perfect form of window treatments ought to totally make your kitchen stand out. Use curtains or sheers with a fabric valance. Fabrics that look great with this style include toiles, large floral prints, stripes and plaids.

Remodeling your kitchen in English country decorating doesn’t need to be expensive if you use your creativity. Try shopping at yard sales, flea markets and even second hand stores where you can save loads of dough and achieve an individualized style for your kitchen.

Black and white bath accessories are an example of those that bring the greatest change to a bathroom. A study in just black and white, from floor to ceiling, is one way of using these two colors. Or try a study in black and white bath accessories with one other color as a backdrop.

Black and white bath accessories with red walls can produce a very dramatic look, no matter how large or small your bath is. Choose a warm red wall paper for a cozy, comforting look. Or use a deep, warm red paint on your walls. Then accent the red with black and white bath accessories.

Asian red is a good choice with black and white bath accessories. Picture a Chinese restaurant with imperial red walls and carpeting, pristine white tablecloths, and black lacquer furniture. You can use your black and white bath accessories to achieve the same look in your bath. Paint the walls with imperial red and use a similar or darker red on the floor, either in tiles or carpeting. Black toilet seat, tub, and vanity will look solid. Add white towels and smaller accessories. A shower curtain of white with palm or bamboo trees in black silhouette could add pattern without color. A black fern leaf design is also an option.

The Asian theme could be carried further with Croscill’s black and white bath accessories. Each has a black calligraphy letter on white, with words such as peace, prosperity, harmony, and happiness.

Black and White Bath Accessories to Use

Before you begin accessorizing your bath, you may want to find pictures of baths done in black and white. Look for photos in bathroom design galleries online. Visit your local home supply store to see samples of what can be done. Take time to think through your whole project, and decide which bath accessories you will want in black, which in white.

Black and white bath accessories will lend themselves to a sleek, modern look or a quaint, colonial look. Which do you want?

Do you have black and white ceramic tile in the older 4×4″ size? Do you have white wainscoting on the bottom portion of the walls? You may want to accessorize with colonial, antique items.

Do you have large, marble tiles on the floor and up the wall? Are cabinets set into the wall for a sleek look? You may want to accessorize with modern, contemporary items.

The following are a few suggestions to help you get started.

1. Vanity: Many call the vanity the focal point of the bathroom. Yours could be a sleek, modern black vanity, with a black or white vessel sink on top. Or you might go the other direction, using an antique white pedestal sink.

2. Shower and window curtains: White curtains with a black design are dramatic and add character to a bathroom. Black silhouettes of tree, leaf, or flower design are good, as are geometric black designs. Choose a design for your black and white bath accessories that carries your contemporary, antique, or other style.

3. Bath mats and rugs: Break up the color of your floor with black bath mats and rugs. Remember, when doing so, that some toiletries, such as toothpaste, may contain chlorine. A drop on a black may bleach.

4. Towels: Fluffy white towels are nice with a black or white monogram at one end. You might also combine black towels and white towels, so that each towel rack will carry the black and white theme.

5. Containers and Dispensers: Black and white bath accessories should include smaller items, too, such as wastebaskets, lotion dispensers, soap dish, toothbrush holder, and tissue box cover. You may want them in black only, white only, or a combination of the two.

Helpful Tip

Planning is essential if you want your black and white bath accessories to look good. Find a design that has everything you will need. If you choose contemporary, sleek black wire wastebasket and towel holders, you will not want to use white antique “china” containers and dispensers on your vanity.

Disclaimer: The author does not work for any company that sells bath accessories. Nor will she receive any commission if the reader purchases as a result of her mention of a retailer who sells bath accessories.

So let’s talk bathrooms, let’s talk about the most personalized, luxurious, beautiful bathrooms possible. Even a basic bathroom reno, where you leave the existing footprint and floorplan, can benefit from the addition of custom quality items like vanities, faucets, lighting, and even Aquatic Whirlpools. Let’s start with the vanity. Forget those boxy, built in things that remind you of your first apartment. You’re a grown up now, shouldn’t your bathroom reflect it? Even tiny bathrooms and powder rooms have space for a cabinet style sink vanity, and if it’s your master bath that’s being transformed, you’ve probably got space for something more generous. From sleep and modern lacquer finishes to old world design, the only limit is your imagination and budget. Take plenty of measurements and then go shopping. If you haven’t looked at bathroom fixtures in a while, you’re going to be surprised. Want something that looks like a hand-carved antique? Not a problem. Modern sink vanities look like beautiful pieces of furniture, and that’s the way you should shop for your new vanity. Consider it furniture. Think about style, quality, finish, everything you would think of if you were buying a new dining room table.

Once you’ve selected your vanity cabinet, it’s on to the sink basin itself and the faucets and fixtures. It’s not just a question of drop in or under mount anymore. Now there are above counter options in china, glass and metal in just about every shape and color imaginable. All of which allows you to create exactly the look you want from sleek and modern to looking like an antique bowl perched upon a charmingly old cabinet – that it also has modern plumbing is the best part! Since we’re talking personalized and luxurious, this is the place to forget the bargain-basement big-box store sink and opt for a quality product like Porcher, Cantrio, Decolav, Le Bijou or one of the other quality manufacturers. Keep up the quality and opt for faucets that complements your new fabulous cabinet and basin. Faucets are available in any variety of finishes and styles to coordinate with your décor; they’re not just the old, functional but boring, chrome or brass of days past. Beautiful and stylish options from companies like Rohl, Cheviot, Whitehaus and Santec faucets are easy to come by and worth the splurge to make your bathroom the ultimate spa retreat.

But what’s a personal spa retreat without an Aquatic Whirlpool tub? Your spa bathroom should be as individual as you are, and what better way to relax and enjoy your new space than with a beautiful new tub. There are whirlpool and air tub systems that can even fit in the same footprint as a standard tub. So what’s the difference between a whirlpool tub and an air tub? The simplest explanation is: an air tub introduces gentle bubbles of air into the water and a whirlpool system creates forceful jets of water and air mixed together. Since an air tub does not require the same pump system as a whirlpool tub, they do take up less space. The only other major component in your luxury bath reno is the commode and, if you already have one or are adding one, a bidet. Add new floor tiles and paint, and you’ve got the basics of your fabulous personal spa retreat done.

Spend your time, and budget, on the big stuff, the vanity, sink basin, faucets and tub and flooring – those are the parts of your room that will be the same for years to come, and where splurging on quality will reap years of enjoyment in your purchase. After you’ve got the basics of the room built, it’s time to “dress” your spa retreat with all the little things; towel bars, shower curtain rods, linens, bath mats, candles, etc. Everything you need to make the room a relaxing, special, personal retreat fit for royalty. And why not? Your home is your castle, and you are the king or queen of your domain!

When plans for decorating your home interior are being made, top priority should be given to budget. It is very well to visualize the recreation of a perfect space in your home, but when you come down to earth, you may find it proving quite expensive and creating an obstacle in your intentions. But take heart; there is no need to get discouraged. There are so many different ideas to achieve what you have set out to do. The suggestions for home decorating garnered from magazines, television programs, books and websites of the internet can prove very helpful and you will find them in plenty. Using these resources, you can overcome any obstacles that you will face while decorating your home interior.

In case you have a love for color and authenticity in decorating home interior, several designs are at your disposal. Primitive interior decorating of home interests some people as it uses handmade old items. This way you can display your collections of handed down treasures to a great advantage. This style lays emphasis on furniture and accessories which look ancient, stained, worn or antique. Primitive interior decoration might suit you perfectly if you have a passion for antiques. This design stands out if painted with warm and dark shades. Red brick or deep grey would also go well in this style.

Whimsical decorating is yet another style which you may find worth exploring. Here you give a free reign to your wildest imagination. Use of any or all your favorite colors is permitted and you could decorate the space all over with various colors and patterns. The all-important aspect is the color. If your choice is vibrant bold colors, you must stay in the perimeter of that color hue. If you prefer to use pastel colors, then only pastel color shades should be used.

If you don’t feel comfortable moving from the ancient to the modern decorating of home interior, then the design most likely to suit you is the traditional design. This style of decorating home interior blends the modern look with the elegance of the ancient. Space is emphasized in the traditional design. With the use of neutral colors like mushroom or beige on the walls, a spacious atmosphere is created. Darker colors like mauve, burgundy, greens and blues add a punch of color in this design when used for the rugs, fabric, upholstery, etc. Accessories made of china and crystal goods compliment this traditional style. Artwork can also be added to the space. Wooden frames of paintings look great with this traditional style.

These are but three of the numerous designs for decorating your home interior. There is definitely one for just you. You can familiarize yourself with their characteristics of color, flooring, furnishings and accessories by browsing through sources of home interior decoration. Keeping your preferences and interests uppermost in your mind, you will surely be able to zero in on a style that would suit you perfectly. Decorating your home interior can transform your home into a heaven of pure joy.