To like vintage and shabby chic

[Summerbreezing]

I know it's not 'cool' anymore and everyone's so over it, but I still love my mis-matched crockery and jugs of flowers and colourful cushions and painted chest of drawers etc etc etc etc.

AIBU to think that Vintage rocks and to not want to re-do my house in chrome and blonde and cream and all that calm and neutral stuff that in no way reflects my chaotic state of mind?

I'd classify a new build as anything from the 1980's onwards. I do think however if shabby chic is your thing then go for it whether you live in a high rise flat or a Georgian rectory.

Neither, although I could fancy the Georgian rectory I think mine might be pre war (ww2) but not too sure about that.

My house is a home, its lived in, I buy furniture for its functionality and comfort. I dont give a flying fart whether its fashionable. Its clean and maintained and I feel at home here.
My mother on the other hand is constanly redecorating to keep up with whatever home decorating fashion is in at the moment and she is never happy with her house. I love my home, its my security blanket

You're definitely not in a new build then Deja. I love 1930's/1940's houses. Lovely and solid.

Retro is what I would call the 1950s look.

I love my home - its not cluttered but so many of the pieces that we have picked up or been given have a story behind these. The vintage/old look is perfect for us with living with kids, animals and a messy DH in a rural area.

This is ha (ex council) so more functional than anything but it does have a chimney breast in the living room which I love.

I really dislike most modern furniture. I love utility stuff, Ercol etc. Clean lines and muted colours.

I think of anything from the 1960s on as 'new build', because houses seemed to become a lot more functional and plain looking from that era. I have to keep reminding myself that a house built in the 1960s is actually half a century old so is actually quite retro at this stage.

I decorate in a cottage style/modern-ish Laura Ashley not to be confused with shabby chic

I will use pieces from that 'style' but...I prefer genuinely old bits.

I don't care how others decorate. Most of the ideas in magazines have been done thousands of times anyway.

It is interesting to read the owners opinions on how they have put together their homes, many genuinely think they have discovered a 'look'

I think the reason shabby chic appeals, is the budget factor and the calming colours. YANBU summer I'm sure your home looks lovely.

New build would be those soulless housing developments you get these days, ( think Milton Keynes ) - so anything from the 70's onwards really.
You just can't do shabby chic in a house built in the 80's - it doesn't work, ditto trying to be all Cath Kidston on the 8th floor of a council block.

I disagree shake I think you can do cath on the 8th floor of a 'council' block!

That would make it all the more individual!

I love shabby chic too. I think it started with recycling, and inheriting stuff. It doesn't have to be ultra-pretty, does it. But I like anything natural, not plastic or formica or melamine, so it works. I suppose a cross between the photos above.

'You just can't do shabby chic in a house built in the 80's - it doesn't work, ditto trying to be all Cath Kidston on the 8th floor of a council block.'

Well I think you can. What's the appropriate style for an 8th floor council block? If someone loves shabby chic they should just go for it, no matter what type of home they live in. No point waiting till you magically find yourself living in a Grade I listed home somewhere.

Besides, what is shabby chic anyway? It's a style that was invented in the 1980's, it's not exactly Baroque or Rococo.

I remember watching a documentary about a man who had decorated his three bed terraced house in full Louis XV style. Wow, it was so over the top and so not my thing at all but I really admired that he committed to it completely.

80s MFI chintz will be in again in a few years.

Hmm, I see what you mean Feminine, yes, it could work very well in an abstract kind of way.

I also disagree. As long as you don't over do it, an apartment can carry off a Cath Kidston look just as well as a house. To key to any of those looks, in my view, is to introduce touches of vintage or whatever, along with modern and practical stuff. Even an old country farmhouse would look very contrived if it was full of poppy splashed curtains and cushions, old dressers artistically crammed with pottery, flowery wellies in a rack at the door, etc etc.

its all about your own taste isn't it? Even vintage means different things to different people. I like mid-century décor, bold prints, wooden sideboards and bright colours.
If you like it - go for it.

Exactly shake I think we tire of 'cath' etc...as the look has become so predictable.

Doing out the 8th floor somewhere is keeping it real

Squoosh - see for me shabby chic represents the late 40's & early 50's - I have images of stylish post war women doing up their homes prettily on very little money, but really pulling it off.

I'm a bit of a tidiness obsessive (not that it ever happens at the minute with toddlers and babies!) but I love the nice "clean" looking rooms that look minimal and spacious.

Bit boring I suppose!

DH thinks if was up to me we'd just be sitting in an empty room with a chair and a vase

I think of shabby chic as old 40s and 50s rectorys, where the vicar's wife had no money but managed to make the rooms pleasant and homely with well polished floors, bright jugs of flowers, licks of paint on old dingy furniture, the odd chintzy chair and lots of books around.

But if you google it, it seems to be more a frilly, country cottage look which isn't my thing.

He-llo! Can't believe I have only just found this thread!

I have loved all things shabby/vintage since I was a poor student in the 80's. I just love the feeling of finding a piece of furniture that I love, which has its' history written all over it, and either using it as it is or painting/stripping it to my taste. I had a Keep Calm sign years ago!

I have loads of bits which I have Annie Sloaned. Have just done a wooden tea trolley in gorgeous red and teal and distressed it. Looks fabby.

I am not so keen on mid century style, Ercol etc. Much prefer full on shabby chic shit. I love collecting kitchenalia like old jugs and tins.

I am veering more to industrial style at the moment, have recently bought a battered unit at auction which is metal with a wooden top, to use as a breakfast bar. A neighbour in our street had two wooden stools in his garden, which I scrounged from him to use, they are lovely, all bleached and battered looking.

I bought a brilliant oval bevelled mirror on a chain for only £2 - nobody was buying it as the glass was all warped and marked. It is one of my favourite purchases ever -just bursting with character.

I have to stop now, or I would witter on all day on this subject. We are moving to a new house soon, and I spend just about every waking moment decorating it in my head!

Is DH right or would the vase be too much?

As long as it wasn't making a mess

I like the idea of borrowing bits from different styles to create your own look - I think that's what I do (although our house is under 20 years old so maybe I should get myself over to Next and know my place...)

We've got a fantastic 1950s cabinet in the kitchen which I've repainted (properly - not just slapping on a few coats of Annie Sloan and sanding it down) but also quite a bit of Ikea stuff (which I like both for the cheapness and the clean Scandi designs). Lots of bits handed down from friends and family plus a few things I've made. It doesn't look as perfect as I'd like but it does feel like 'us' and that's how a home should be.

Incidentally I used to work with Annie Sloan years ago, she's a really nice lady. Bet she's surprised and delighted at how popular her paints have become recently :).