Rating: 
Summary: Teasures Abound!
Review: In her second book Rachel takes us through the flea market. It is true to the form of her show and there are very many helpful hints inside! A must have for someone venturing out into the world of french country and flea market decorating!
Rating: 
Summary: Tips from a shabby chic friend
Review: It took me a long time to found out the name of Rachel Ashwell. The best part of it is that, when I met her, she already had 3 books published and I could buy them all almost at the same time. I'm very glad I found Rachel Ashwell books. I was introduced to her through the last book, Shabby Chic Home, (already reviewed and my favourite) and I've just finished with her first one, Shabby Chic, after reading the second one, The Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting & Decorating Guide. And I loved them all. What I love in The Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting & Decorating Guide is the same thing I loved in the other two: (and I aim to find in her books to come) her "personal" and simple way of writing and decorating. I have the feeling that she writes the same way she talks to her closest friends, telling us the secrets of her life and style. As in her other books, The Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting & Decorating Guide gives the reader the feeling of being her close friend. I didn't notice it, but I've always been a "shabby chic" myself and I have experienced stories very similar to Rachel's ones during her hunting for treasures on flea market trash. Although I'm giving up the flea market style (I got really tired of living among "lots" of old/used things and I am crazy for my new home with only a "few", but new, things) I still find Rachel's tips very useful. Because it doesn't matter your style, the size of your house or your budget. Elegance and simplicity you acquire by putting yourself on your projects. And that's what Rachel Ashwell books are all about: simplicity and elegance. She really inspires me. Go for it because she's really good!
Rating:
Summary: Lovely and so British-It shows both elegance and decay as
Review: only the English can in all it's glory. Ms. Ashwell teaches us how to look for the best wood, the best crystal, hidden beneath the flea market dust. Ms. Ashwell then teaches us how to refinish it and restores objects to a new beauty different
than their former state.You will never stroll through a flea market with out really looking again at possibilities in each
piece. I give this 4 stars,because there are people who can only have new in our disposable society.kathehemmer2
...
Rating: 
Summary: Not my thing
Review: Per the previous review, I love gracious living, quiet style, unfussy decorating, which is precisely why I am not a fan of fussy floral fabrics, nasty peeling paint, and tchatchakes everywhere. Give me something clean, uncluttered, simple, and chic, please. And take the rest to Goodwill.
Rating:
Summary: A visually exciting resource!
Review: Rachel Ashwell does an excellent job of communicating her aesthetic and discussing how to achieve it. She captures the excitment and challenge of transforming the less-than-lovely into the truly beautiful. Ms. Ashwell should be congratulated for her zeal of saving pieces of our past and making such a welcome home for them.
Rating:
Summary: Fab Fab Fab!!!!
Review: Rachel did a wonderful job with this book. It is right up my alley with intersresting ideas that add charm to everything. It is incredibly inspiring. It is beautiful and totally teaches you how to let your inner light shine thru in all that you do.
Rating:
Summary: Fab Fab Fab!!!!
Review: Rachel did a wonderful job with this book. It is right up my alley with intersresting ideas that add charm to everything. It is incredibly inspiring. It is beautiful and totally teaches you how to let your inner light shine thru in all that you do.
Rating:
Summary: Rachel Ashwells Treasure Hunting & Decorating Guide
Review: Really good and interesting. Rachel takes you step
by step in the renovation of her newly purchased home.
Great ideas and insights.
Rating:
Summary: You think the book is bad... you should see her stores!
Review: She's more full of herself than Martha Stewart! Most of this book is redundant and common sense. You should see her stores! These things she buys for $40 at flea markets, she sells for $700! With that profit margin, she doesn't need to waste her time pushing books.
Rating: 
Summary: It's an autobiography of Rachel.
Review: The book does have some nice pictures, but all in all, it's mainly about Rachel Ashwell's childhood stories and about the few things that she picked up from the flea markets. The things she wrote were repetitive and concentrated only on her narrow range of colors. The book doesn't inspire you for new ideas that you can create when you do go out on your own to flea markets, but only about the selected items that she bought from the markets. The book would probably be better if it's a all-picture book.
I don't know how she can live with only used clothes...I guess it's just not my kinda thing. I don't mind a few used items, but ALL? ick!
One thing, though, I really liked about the book is the "how-to" pages on how to clean various materials, and that comebined is about 4 pages of the entire book. I wish she didn't use the handwritings as some areas are hard to read.
I am glad that I got to read it as a library book; that I did not buy it.
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