Antiques have their own charm. History blows from them, they are mute witnesses of events that took place earlier. Very often it is ancient, memorable things that determine the direction of the interior and set the tone for it. And already the whole style of the room is built into one ensemble with your favorite things. Especially when it comes to the kitchen. A porcelain service or a carved wooden sideboard, inherited from my grandmother, will help to bring together, in one ensemble, the vintage style of shabby chic.
What is a shabby chic style kitchen?
The name comes from the English shabby, which means "shabby" in translation. The founder of the style is Rachel Ashwell, a designer. She came up with it in 1980 in England. And the name was given to him by the magazine “World of Interiors” all in the same 1980. It is also believed that it arose for a simple reason - frugal British like to buy things at flea markets and furnish their homes with them.
One of the features of the style is scuffing. As if things had already lived a long life before the real owners. Either these are really old things that have been restored, or these are new, but "aged" on purpose.
It can be in such a way as all kitchen furniture, or any separate detail (island, bar, buffet, dining table and chairs or something else).
If you go too far and age everything, you can get the effect of an old cluttered room, which can ruin the result of all the work. Therefore, the main rule is all in moderation. Let it be the main aged part (for example, a buffet), and the entire interior will be adjusted to fit it.
The color scheme is characteristic pastel shades. Pale pink, creamy, turquoise, pistachio - all colors as if with the addition of white paint. Pure colors, undiluted, are also acceptable.
A Shabby chic style kitchen is suitable for romantic, refined people who are nostalgic for the past and cherish their memories.
Distinctive features
A Shabby Chic kitchen is a storehouse of elements. This style is definitely not suitable for those who love minimalism. Ruffles, jars, shelves - here you can find everything. Even a piece of fallen stucco on the wall - and that is used in the design as an indicator of antiquity.
Characteristic are wooden shelves for dishes with hooks for cups and towels. Such shelves are installed above the working area, above the window or above the dining table - depending on the size of the room. Also, the design of the kitchen in the style of Shabby Chic provides for the extensive use of textiles: curtains, napkins, potholders, tablecloths. Chairs are most often covered with covers with bows behind the back or with ruffles. Mostly with a small floral pattern.
A popular trick is to use curtains under the sink instead of doors. At the same time, plumbing can be ultramodern, the sink is made of marble, and under it there are cute flower curtains. Ruffles, ruffles, ribbons - everything is welcome, and it’s even hard to imagine a Shebby-chic style kitchen without them.
Materials are used only natural - cotton, linen, velvet. When the whole meaning of the interior is tied to things with history, synthetics do not belong here. And of course there are a lot of flowers. Not only in ornaments, but also living in bouquets, dried or growing in pots. For them, elegant carved flower pots or openwork coasters are suitable.
Gender must also be appropriate and aged. Parquet, antique tiles or floorboards. You can throw a small carpet with a floral pattern under your feet for a harmonious look.
Lighting
Chandeliers in the style of shabby chic are chic and large. If it has been preserved since the days of Baroque or Rococo, then it is the place for it. Chandeliers with lamps in the form of candles are especially welcome. It must be supplemented with the appropriate vintage switch.
Neon lighting for furniture and the work area is not the place. Only spotlights with warm yellow light. Perhaps the use of sconces. You can even make the wiring open, as was done in the century before last, on special porcelain holders. Also, chandeliers in the style of Shabby Chic are characterized by stucco elements (flowers, ribbons) and forging.
Furniture
Filling modern kitchens is not inferior to a spaceship in its technological effectiveness. And so that all these benefits of civilization look harmonious, it is customary to hide them behind the kitchen facades. For a Shabby-chic style kitchen, this option will not work. Fortunately, many home appliance manufacturers now produce vintage-style ranges. These are gas stoves, and hoods, and refrigerators, and kettles.
Therefore, on the facades of the kitchen in the style of shabby chic lies one main task - to match the style. Of the required elements - these are antique pens and scuffs. Classical elements such as moldings, bas-reliefs, cornices, balusters are also preferred. On them, scuff marks look especially attractive.
The kitchen can only be with the bottom row of cabinets, without a top. Open shelves with plates and cups will perfectly replace the top. You can make the bottom row open, but in operation it will be inconvenient due to dust. If you like the style, but you don’t want to see the fray, then you can order for the kitchen Shabby-chic facades painted with matte paint in delicate colors characteristic of the style. It is white, creamy, pastel.
A free-standing chest of drawers or a cupboard is desirable. It can be used to store towels, necessary trifles, and upstairs put a bouquet of flowers and favorite photos.
Textile
So frillings, flowers, bows, beloved by many women - everything has the right to be here. Shades are gentle, since only natural materials are used. Hand embroidery is possible. Ruffles can decorate the curtain itself, as well as a kitchen towel, tablecloths or chair covers. You can add frills to the tack for curtains and napkins.
Shabby chic kitchen curtains are also preferred from natural materials. Execution in three types is possible: long to the floor, short (to the windowsill) or roller blinds.
Decor
To design a kitchen in the style of shabby chic, just furniture and textiles are not enough. Need details. Charming porcelain figurines, vases, frames for photographs. Photos themselves can be done in black and white or sepia antique. Various trifles and souvenirs brought from trips will also come in handy. For such a style, it is permissible to enumerate details, even a little clutter. This is a matter of taste.
Tableware
Utensils in the kitchen are her calling card. It can be either a family porcelain service or simple earthenware plates. Plain plates and cups will look good. Open shelves are suitable for their storage.
Volumetric jars with inscriptions are suitable for storing cereals and other bulk products. Such open shelves with cup hooks are very functional and convenient, there are no problems with drying dishes and they are always at hand.
Pros and cons of shabby chic in the kitchen
Of course, the main thing in the kitchen is convenience. For this, it is important to comply with the technological range (refrigerator - sink - stove) and the distance according to the norms. The distances calculated by designers allow you to perform actions in the kitchen as efficiently as possible. This is the height of the shelves, and the width of the aisles, the depth of the cabinets.
But if the style of the kitchen is chosen shabby chic, it adds its own features. Of the advantages, the following can be distinguished:
- the kitchen looks gentle and feminine, which pleases the eye and gives aesthetic pleasure;
- you can and should use antiques;
- a large scope of imagination for the decor;
- bright colors;
- timeless design.
But with all the obvious pluses, there are a number of minuses that you need to consider:
- overloaded with decorative elements;
- This style is suitable only for women;
- difficulty in selecting furniture;
- you need antique stylized appliances.
If you want such a style, but in everyday life it is inconvenient, you can use the techniques of shabby chic in the interior of the kitchen in a country house or in the country. Moreover, surrounded by nature, it will look even more natural.