One of my first purchases as I have frequented the English fleamarket world was this little box of horse shoes. And while life has thrown out the usual frustrations and hurdles, luck has graced my daily life.
Proof of luck being on my side is how I stumbled on this white "everything" flat. (Not such a common find in the grey wet world of London). My bedroom view looks out onto an English garden square surrounded by the backs of many houses.
I can't help but believe at night Peter pan and Wendy are flying past my window. My imagination is very alive.
Portobello antique market is literally on my doorstep. I am fed with inspiration everyday as soon as I open my door.
Still so very affordable I am able to pick up vintage pitchers and cups that I scatter through my temporary nest. Toothbrushes, flowers or gravy for Sunday dinner is well housed.
But I have also gone further afield from my doorstep.
My favourite so far is at a racetrack called kempton park. Funny because sometimes I forget where I am and realize I could just as easily be in Marburger, Texas or Brimfield, Mass.
Treasures and tales of discovery are the same the world over.
Even with the freezing cold rain and snow the "shows go on".
While I have continued to be quite busy getting the London Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture store running I have stolen a few weekends to go to my beloved English countryside.
Cotswolds.com
This beautiful town doesn't particularly embrace my "beauty of imperfection" value.
But its perfection is pretty close to perfect. Local honey coloured limestone is yummy. Gorgeous homes, landscapes, grazing animals make distinguishing a postcard and reality quite tricky. I connect better with wilder and more rugged surroundings, but somehow the Cotswolds is an exception. Worth going to if you ever pop to England.
Amongst all my travels and excitements of events, wherever I am, I have a little artists corner of a painting I love, and a space to create new...........for now this is occupied with a painting my friend Laurence gave me. (similar ones are available at my shops.)
70 comments:
oh my! your english life is really beautiful : )
and your hat was really cute!
i love your blog posts plz keep them coming!
Your flat is just dreamy. What a blessing to look out on such a garden every day.
: )
Julie M.
ps How do they keep the gravel looking so tidy? I have a drive and a lane and the weeds and grass just love to pop right up...
lovely, lovely! so glad you shared this bit of 'luck' in your life!
love the "peter pan" view, and you thinking of it that way. love your daughter's project using your mum's scraps.
wish i could visit and have tea in one of your sweet cups! or perhaps go "cup-hunting" with you! a girl can dream...
thanks for inspiring such dreams!!
Blissful post...thank you for sharing! Ever since I bought your first book I've always wanted a white couch...it's finally on order! Thanks for the inspiration!
That white sofa is dreamy...you have such a flair for choosing the bits and bobs...and the Cotswolds...bliss!
More pics and posts please!
I am so made up you are having a fab time in the UK. I love the antiques markets in London too, and Notting Hill is fab. Your flat is gorgeous, and your view lovely. A lovely post. Thank you.
Your flat in Notting Hill looks gorgeaous and Portobello Market right in fron of your nose - that's great!
I've been to the Cotswolds several times as well and am always impressed what a beautiful place it is!
Your new flat is so gorgeous! and that garden ... *sigh*
Lovely. *sighs*
Thank you for your lovely post! So pretty - and makes me homesick for England!
Love your flat!!
So nice...
:)
Marce
Beautiful images as usual. Your flat is FAB !
Sylvia
You are so the Queen of Making Do With What You Have!
Inspired as ever.
Thanks for sharing,
Sandy
Absolutely inspiring. I love your finds, and your flat is amazing.
Hi Rachel, I have to admit that when I went out of your London store I immédiately wanted to go back ! but the 7th of jun I go to your New York store ! Last summer I went with my family 2 weeks in the Cotswolds it's so beautiful, a real fairy tail landscape.I also saw the Marie Antoinette film and I understand now that it's for you very inspiring !Milena Canonero is a real artist !You made great finds, I love the armchairs !
Have a nice week
Rachel,
Love your new flat ! Very jealous you get to be there part of the year! I'm dying to see the store in London!! That is all I hear about ..here in California! Your daughter is soo adorable in the garden picture. It sounds like she is taking after you "with the bits and bobs" project. See you soon.May your days be filled relaxation, love, and SOME FUN!!
Your # one fan in San Diego!
Susan D.
I love your new English life and flat. The Peter Pan and Wendy view is beautifully whimsical. And the Cotswolds is a place I hunger to return to. Can't wait to see where your new journey leads you. xx
Beautiful, thanks for sharing, what a beautiful garden and a gorgeous flat, and location! Lucky you xx
love the shutters on the windows.
Even though America is your home now, I can't help but say to you 'there's no place like home'. :O)
Sadie (from GB!)
I love your flat. How lucky to find it! Your things are always beautiful.
It's nice to see you so peaceful. And thank you for sharing the photos. I've never been to England before, would love to visit some day. Keep up with that "inner peace" of yours!!
Take care,Sue
What a lovely post! Brightened my day.
Another great post and what a gorgeous outlook from your white flat
Alison
I like it. I really love your blog.:-) Stina from Sweden
I am so thankful for you blog and the inspiration you impart. Bless you dear Rachel.
Rachel,
so love all you do, thanks for sharing a glimpse into your beautiful English world!
Paige xo
I just love visiting you, I love the the fact that I'm swept up and taken away with every post that you do. Thank you for taking me away and making me feel as if I'm there with you.
Hugs
Kirstie.
What a perfect flat. England has such a unique charm, it is hard to describe, but you have captured it very well in your photos.
Thanks for sharing these pics of your lovely bits and flat.
I'd love to wake up to this, every morning!
You are certainly an inspiration. I have loved chabby chic furniture for a long time, but now that I looked at your blog, I have so many ideas for my house! Thank you for your post, they are all lovely.
Elizabeth
Really gorgeous inspiration! Your flat is lovely. :)
Thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into your beautiful home.
Best wishes,
Bonnie
I have always been drawn to anything you do...and I stumbled onto this blog not knowing it was yours!! Can I subscribe? your photos are so inspiring! Kathi
i miss england. i was born and raised there. what beautiful pics
koooge.blogspot.com
Thank you for such an beautiful post. You inspire me to edit my surroundings more...to make room for life. I apprecaite how you are authentic with your nest.
Blessings from Michigan Rachel!
your flat is lovely but would we expect any else!!! Oh!! Notting Hill ...are you going to the London Vintage Wedding Fair on the 11 April??? Hope you are because my lovely Miss Magpie has a stand there...can't wait..xx
Simple but beautiful! Peter Pan "Rocks" loved the movie as a child as well as an adult.
Nice to share a lil glimpse into your busy world.Enjoy~Kim
Hi Rachel, I must tell you I am such a big FAN! My whole house is consignment, flea market, thrift store, antiques etc. and I LOVE it! I paint everything too! I have all your books and wanted to tell you how much I enjoy them and your products, the sheets! OH MY the sheets feel like velvet! Who knew! :) I hope you will bring your furniture back! Very high quality and I would like some! Thank you for the inspiration! Kat =^.^=
I'm enamored...I love all your photos and especially the one of Cotswold...so charming! You've shown some lovely tranferware pieces too! I'm following your gorgeous blog now...so glad I found you via another blog! Hope you visit me sometime too! Thank you for sharing your English Life!
This is beyond wonderful. I loove your flat and yes Peter and Wendy, i too could see them floating by. Mel xxx
Your white flat fits you perfectly! I'm so happy for you. Love the Peter Pan and Wendy view.
Is that your daughter in the Cotswolds garden? Whomever, she is a doll and adds to the photo.
I am so inspired by the oil painting of a tutu...I really need to pull out my paint brushes and get back to painting...my very first passion.
ox~ Fairmaiden of Sea Cottage
Rachel, how lovely for you to be "home" in such a sweet flat. I'm getting major English fever just reading your post. Would love to go to England again, it's quite unlike any other place, isn't it? xo Lidy
You have such a beautiful flat I'm so jealous!
nice pics.
http://www.commentbug.com
You have such a gift for creating home so simply and beautifully! You are a constant inspiration for us all! Thank you for sharing your beautiful life with us all!
Oh, Why can't we see countrysides like this in the USA? I am in love and obsessed with the English charm of the cottage homes!!!
Daisy~
Wow! That horseshoe is incredible!
Thanks for inspiring! xxo C
this was enchanting to peek in on! ;) Thanks for sharing, Rachel ;)I also love the pink stool next to the white couch and the large rose pitcher and the pink and blue chair underneath that! gorgeous! ;) thanks for the inspirations! have a lovely day! ~Jenn
So pretty! I love the flat ,all white ,that is so me!
What a wonderful life you lead! I have never been to the UK. I have to go. I am really crazy over period piece movies. I always fall in love with the English countryside when I watch the scenes.
~jamilyn
Stop, you're making me want to go home!! :-) Gorgeous isn't it? Your flat's lush too! Loving your blog.
Happy easter Rachel !have a great time with your family !
My Dear Rachel:
To you and yours, have a lovely Easter! We are having beautiful Easter weather for the first time in years!
It is no accident that you found your "nest"!
Your lovely capodimonte vase reminds me of mine..just a single rose, the vase says "1927 Italy" on the bottom. I must take a picture and post it...I often think of the person who made it, when my Dad was a year old, or less!
Thanks for sharing your lovely space...and pictures.
Valerie ; )
I have spent hours looking through your blog. Thank you for sharing a part of your life. It's been a hard few years for me, and at times I didn't feel like I had anything to look forward to. You have inspired me to look at the simplicities of life and find peace again. Sincerely and with much gratitude, Nancy
I like this
So Dreamy! and leaves me dreamin and inspired to follow mine. Now, if I can just borrow the lovely sofa for dream time! lol....
I love to read your posts, and so happy Couture is here and to know you are back, I was quite sad for a while, can't wait to see the LA store now!
Hi
Where do I find that beautiful bedframe in the picture? The white one with the scroll at the footboard.
Thanks
i never see such an excellent blog like this absolutely fabulous ... keep it up .
Term Papers
Love you beat the odds and made this all happen. I miss working for Shabby Chic...one of the most fun times I've ever had working.
Dear Rachel: A blog is not only a way to give information to your readers. It is also a way to receive information from them. I am suscribed to your blogsite and I receive new comments to my gmail mail when someone post one. I just read two comments of 2 women that regreat to support you in the past, when they purchased productos from your stores. Actually, they have some problemas with theirs products and credits, and they do not find the support from you or your new store in USA. I love you and your style very much, realy. I am a Shabby chic fan, and I don't like to know that there are persons mad with you. Try to help them, Rachel, they were loyad to you.
From a friend from Guatemala.
Rosa María
Hi Rachel!
I was at Vignettes in Ocean Beach,
San Diego this last weekend. I have been inspired by your decorating for years...my husband asked you if you would mind having a photo taken with me near the front of the shop. (I didn't know he was going to do that) Thank you for being such a kind hearted spirit. I was so excited! I have
shared my special photo with everyone. Thank you for all your inspiration.
Fondly,
Marcia Ren Kuehner
Riverside, California
Love your stuff!!! visit my site!!!!!
You can't beat the English countryside....can't wait to visit the new shop in London!
You can't beat the English countryside....can't wait to visit the new shop in London!
Closed my third store today - Two store fronts left for me - The storm cloud I've been trying to flee from has poured on me today - I will fight to my last breath to keep my two remaining stores -
If you ever wanted to open a Bed & Breakfast, I would happily run it for you in true Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic style...a girl can dream can't she?
Cindy
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