Rachel Ashwell’s Painted Stories

Rachel Ashwell founded the iconic Shabby Chic brand in 1989. Rachel has a store in Los Angeles, and her Shabby Chic brand is well-known for its Couture bedding collection, soft furnishings, and machine washable slipcovered furniture. Her previous titles published by CICO include Rachel Ashwell: My Floral Affair, Rachel Ashwell: Shabby Chic Interiors, Rachel Ashwell Couture Prairie and Rachel Ashwell: Shabby Chic Inspirations. She currently lives between her home in the English countryside and California, USA.

This personal notebook reveals Rachel Ashwell's thoughts about everything she loves, and through her visual story telling she shares her poetic view of life. Painted Stories is a feast for the eyes, heart and soul, and a journey for your mind to wander through.

Divided into themed sections which focus on fabric, wallpapers, lighting, bed linens, curtains, slipcovers and upholstery, furniture, rugs, objet d'art and flowers, it is a truly inspirational sketchbook of ideas and is for anyone who has an appreciation for beauty. Interwoven with practical thoughts and tips are Rachel's thoughts about beauty and aesthetics, and poetry that illuminates her thoughts. Illustrated with watercolour illustrations from a variety of artists, including Ben Peck-Whiston, Rachel believes the ambiguity of artwork over photographs gives a more mindful and timeless approach. This allows the reader to more easily layer in their own thoughts and observations and hopefully be inspired too to tap into their own creativity by pulling together a notebook of their own favourite things which tell their own story.

Rachel Ashwell brings her decorating inspirations together in this enchanting and very personal notebook which is an insight into how she sees, feels, what inspires her and what she loves.