Rachel has just bought a home in LA for her parents to stay in whenever they visit from England. Simple renovations transform a 1940's home into the epitome of Shabby Chic...and she does it on a limited budget in only 5 weeks time.
Rachel and her partner Mark search a local antiques flea market for its treasures. She spots her signature colors (white, pink and green) and well-crafted furniture from days gone by. Rachel appreciates these depreciated pieces (a time worn cabinet from Iowa, a cupboard from the turn of the century, etc) for their history, whimsy, beauty and function. They take their finds back to the shop where Mark cleans them up with some quick & easy restoration work. The Shabby Chic principal is to accept imperfections rather than change them.
Rachel visits the home of her friend, Hollywood hairdresser Chantal Clautier. Chantal has created the ideal Shabby Chic retreat by using authentic antiques and flea market finds. You won't see this home in any of Rachel's books, you'll have to buy the DVD to see this gorgeous home!
Rachel shows a dance troop where to find quality vintage clothing and how to adapt them to today's styles. Working within her Shabby Chic palette of pastels and creams she transforms vintage clothing and accessories into costumes and everyday wear.
Rachel creates one-of-a-kind cards to express sentiment. She shares her family ritual of placing little notes and secret messages in her children's lunch bags. Rachel shops the flea market looking for forget-me-not cups and time-worn plaques with meaningful sayings to place around her home. And finally, she visits a public meditation garden, recommending it as a place to reflect and enjoy nature's beauty.
Rachel and Mark visit the Rose Bowl flea market searching for those romantic elements that make a room beautiful. She buys metal sap buckets and turns them into colorful vases for hydrangeas. In a craft segment Rachel demonstrates how to make a wreath out of vintage pastel Christmas ornaments and a styrofoam heart covered with pink carnations. She also explains how to dye vintage lace and bedding.
Rachel visits a rose farm, a flower market, and the floral department at her local supermarket...all inspirations for her fabrics, home furnishings and decorations. Rachel also shops a flea market and antique store looking for unique vessels to contain the flowers. After gathering an abundance of blooms in her kitchen, Rachel displays her vases of flowers throughout her home.
Rachel celebrates the rose for its beauty and fragrance, after all it is the quintessential element of Shabby Chic style. Artist Christie Rapasy demonstrates the process of creating a rose oil painting, using the soft color palette Rachel loves. Rachel then explains how she matches up the right frame to each painting. Vintage fabrics purchased from flea markets are inspiration for Rachel's own line of fabrics (with small alterations to the original color, scale, and pattern). A studio shows the process of creating a new print using the silk screen method.
Rachel and her landscape designer walk through Rachel's own backyard and pool area pointing out plants that best represent Rachel's garden style. At Peggy Perez's garden, Rachel demonstrates how to press flowers and then Peggy shows the many ways in which to use them. Rachel visits the Lake Shrine public meditation garden to admire it's beauty and tranquility. And finally, back home, Rachel talks about why she uses colorful terry cloth to cover the cushions and pillows on her outdoor patio furniture.
Rachel demonstrates how she makes Christmas cards out of old photographs, post cards, playing cards, paper napkins, ribbon, twigs, glitter and other common items. Personalizing a card makes it more meaningful. She shops the flea market throughout the year looking for vintage ornaments and wreaths to decorate her home and then she demonstates how to put together "stockings" out of unconventional items such as an old fishing basket and silk embroidered bag. Rachel sets a creative holiday table using an old drapery panel as the tablecloth and vintage clip-on earrings for napkin rings.
Rachel casts aside the traditional gift box by grouping themed items together in unusual packaging (collander, dish rack, etc). To motivate and inspire the recipient the gift should keep the person's taste and interests in mind (such as a partially finished embroidery for the sewer). She shops for presents in unexpected places such as antique malls and ethnic grocery stores.
Rachel creates a beautiful SC table for the Dining by Design charity event. At the flea market she finds a reproduction pink crystal chandelier, brooches (to be fashioned into napkin rings) and vintage fabrics. Next shes goes to an antique market for cutlery, stemware, china tea cups,and silver salt & pepper shakers. All these beautiful elements are then put together to make an exquisite shabby chic table.