Tuesday, February 23, 2010

SLEEPING (the anchor of our days)

These past few months I have found myself in lovely comfy hotels and homes, and not so lovely and comfy.

My lessons over the years have served me well to create a world that incorporates all senses. Encourage drifting into a peaceful sleep, wherever I may be.

Sanctuary

I try to make the beginning and end of my day a secure anchor of what goes on in between. Satisfying the qualities of sight, touch, sense and sound helps create the perfect space to both drift away and return to life.

And creating a sense of peace and tranquility.


Tranquility

TOUCH.......
Thread count is of little interest to me. The hand of crisp, freshly laundered and crinkled sheets are my prerequisites for luxury and comfort. (I have many a time arrived at a less than lovely home or hotel with my private stash of bed linens.

Touch

headboard

SEE.......
While the saying goes "our eyes are the windows to our souls" I also do believe we feed our souls through our eyes and other senses. While design is subjective whatever causes the "ahhh" in us is what is beauty.

Ahhhh

Beauty for a guest bed never needs to be compromised.

sleepersofa

SENSES.......
Nothing compares the natural fragrances and freshness of the outside.
I am always making the inside, outside wherever possible.

chaises

The touch of the ocean breeze.
The seeing of the oceans foreverness.
The sound of the surf.
The sense of the ocean air and fresh everything.

insideoutside

SOUND.......
Peace is my life's biggest challenge. So much noise everywhere
And sleep and noise don't share space well.
The Pachabel suite SOFTLY played is my put to sleep music when the outside won't stay outside.

chair

Much of what is here is from my Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic world or Simply Shabby Chic at Target.

44 comments:

  1. Beautiful, peaceful, inspiring photos! Thank you!!

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  2. I always get so excited when I see that you have posted! Thank you....for the many years of your fresh and soothing ideas. I just finished your latest book and as usual...it didn't disappoint. As side note, I have had a feather bed for about 10 years...for a change, I took it off (for a couple of days) and found it difficult to sleep! LOL...I put it back on and poof! slept like a baby. Love the luxurious feel that it gives my bed...Tami

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  3. Oh I am sleepy now! Love it all!
    Hugs, Lisa

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  4. Wonderful post! I would love to jump into any of those beds! I wouldn't mind lounging by the beach either, since there is so much snow on the ground. Thanks for the beautiful pictures!

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  5. Wonderfully serene & as usual beautiful photos!
    love
    Alison
    x

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  6. Love all the pictures and can tell you which of your books most of them came from!:)Lovely!

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  7. Love love love this post- the pictures are FAB and the feeling they evoke, sensational

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  8. i was about to finish reading the post when... zzz zzz zzz zzz
    how romantic and tranquilizing the pictures were. perfect!

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  9. I love the beautiful white and the tufted headboard is my fav! Thank you so much for all your inspiration! Lulu

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  10. Simply beautiful. I think I need to surround myself in such beauty and then my winter blues will wash away. As a matter of fact I think I'll pick up a few items tomorrow.
    I have such an off the charts style but shabby chic is what continues to call me. ( although I'm not great at grouping things)I just need to give in to it, regardless of my minimialist tendencies!! LOL. Seriously I love EVERYTHING you create!

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  11. mmmmm...I long for the scent of the sea and a sunny place....we have had rain..rain...rain over here and that picture of the loungers on the shore is divine...today looks promising though....beautiful and calming post...xx

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  12. Hi Rachel!!
    I am a huge fan of your style. Since I first saw your books when I was a teenager and for the past 13 years I have loved everthing about shabby chic!! You have such a beautiful blog!!! I love your new book!!
    Rebecca

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  13. Your posts and your books always tell me the same thing. To look for the beauty in everyday life,to appreciate the chips and damage caused by the passing of time. I try very hard to do that. :o) I'll never be able to pass the photo in one of your books, of the dishwasher full of beautiful china without fearing for it's safety. ;o) Utterly gorgeous, but I swear my heart stops still every time I look at it!

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  14. relaxed loveliness - love your laid back, yet elegant approach - i need way more saturated colour around me, but re/your pilosophy - couldn't agree more!

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  15. Beautiful and cozy. I love the photos.

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  16. so great to hear from you Rachel, after a long time...

    As always, enjoy reading your blog.

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  17. Beautiful, as always. Just looking at these lovely photos fill me with peaceful tranquility. Shabby Chic decor is always so pretty and feminine - just my style. Thank you!

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  18. I woke up this morning at 6H30 because today IS THE DREAM DAY ! I went to gare du Nord (in Paris) I took the train to London and guess where I went ? to your new store, but when I finaly arrived it was closed on tueday ! so my dream is becoming true tomorrow !!! I'am so excited, can't wait anymore ...

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  19. AHH! I just about fell asleep looking at the plushiness of it all! I too can't stand all of the outside sounds, so we run a box fan whenever we sleep. I hide it during the day, because it's pretty ugly, but at night the mellow drone of the consistent hum of that fan has kept us sleeping soundly, undisturbed for almost 30 years. Of course, we've gone through several fans over the years and take one on vacation with us too! One time we forgot our fan and believe me, we couldn't sleep!
    Love you blog and books
    ANDREA

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  20. Those pillows are just beautiful!

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  21. Your comfy dreamy nests to sleep & relax are the best!!! I always come back to visit as you always give us a special vision of beauty to enjoy... Thank You Rachel Hope all is well. xo Laura ( Rosey Girl)

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  22. The pictures are fabulous. It is wonderful to sleep in a bed that say luxury. I just wanted to curl up on the beach chairs. Very nicely done.

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  23. I am so waiting for warmer, sunny days and warmer visits to the beach. You seem so much more at peace with yourself. That makes me very happy!
    Take care, Sue

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  24. it is divine to have a lovely bed and blissful to just be able to go to bed and sleep for enough hours to enjoy it's comfort!!!! one day.

    pardon me asking...but do you know of a local l.a. shop where i can buy cast iron urns??? like 2 ft tall, rustic or white. i live in pasadena and can't find any...

    what's a shabby girl to do...

    thanks so much,
    suzy tervet
    tervetfamily@sbcglobal.net

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  25. Dear Rachel:
    I do remember most of those "beds" from your series/books. So comfy-looking...they always make me want a nap, to float along in th eLand of No Cares for a few hours. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Valerie

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  26. Rachel,I made a post on my blog about you and your new store in London. Now that I'm at home far from London it seemed that it was a dream ! I really enjoy to meet you !

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  27. Great photos of such serene rooms
    Alison

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  28. Rachel, thanks for choosing to be strong and to keep walking forward. Your choices are a testiment of your faith.I wish you much peace and prosperity . Christie

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  29. Gorgeous beds, beautiful sentiments. I love your bedding, so lovely and comfy! LOVE the look of your new shops Rachel, I'm so happy to have you back!! Much love, Paige

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  30. hermoso me encanto todo lo que publicastes saludos con cariño ¡¡¡ROSALUNA¡¡¡

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  31. G'Day~Great post and advice.I hear you I like crisp clean feeling linens.My Grandmother use to iron her linens and I loved them.What a treat!

    I love the feel of your Target linens and they wash up very nicely over and over again.

    I would rather go shop in your California Shop than go to France my husband thinks I am crazy! I could buy a lot for that amount of $$$$$.Glad it all worked out for you.My best to you.~Kim

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  32. Dear Rachel, I had the pleasure of seeing you again, I haven't seen you since 1990. I have been a loyal customer since 1990. I have transformed my best friend's home also with your beautiful fabrics and things. My daughter has grown up between the Shabby Chic in Malibu and Santa Monica. We dearly remember Hailey and Kate. I have always hoarded things from your store, but never misused them. They make me too happy. My daughter Caitlin is now 18 but has the love for Shab. We had the pleasure of seeing you again at your book signing. We have moved on to Oregon after the passing of my mother, only because of the sea of Rovers that weren't paid for. We have made our lives simple, but our eyes are trained for the shabbiness. PLease consider what made Santa Monica, you, and your beautiful things. Go back to what we all loved so much. That's Shabby Chic! I have several vintage sheets, towels, bed spreads, etc. that you can do something with. i'm not interested in money, I just want to have Shabby around me again. My mom always told me don't start anything unless you can finish it. I believe your mother would have told you the same. If you remember I have Shabby on the license plate of my Escalade. Im old and wrinkled but I have shabbied up this farm.
    With warm regards,
    Jeanne

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  33. Hi Rachel

    Your photos, style, books, and store on Montana inspire me every single day.

    Thanks -
    Marsha

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  34. .. and by the way Rachel, I posted about you last week.. Picture of us up from your book signing! xx

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  35. Great post. LOVE the lounge chairs on the beach and the pink bedroom. Beautiful photos.
    Jennifer

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  36. I just wanted to say that i think your blog is sooo lovely . And these photos are so beautiful and peaceful.

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  37. Yes yes yes, your blog is just soooo wonderful and gives me a lot of energy!

    A footprint from Sweden by Agneta

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  38. Hang a huge picture of an awesome scenery in the bedroom - something you can gaze at and get lost in.

    It helps you relax by reminding you just how insignificant your daily cares are!

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  39. Dear Rachel, It´s a must for me to say thank you so much for this style. You are a very smart person. I always take a "Shabby Chic" time to watch your TV show. I´s very inspiring. All the best

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  40. I LOVE the pink room. Just beautiful.

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  41. wow so many lovely inspirations, thank you!

    ^_^

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