Shabby chic seems to be a popular look to go for in the home, with it’s homely, ‘lived-in’ feel.  The neutral, light colours provide a great background for adding colourful accessories to.  It’s very English and very now and I’ve just found the perfect little company to help you to create the look!

6 pegs and shelf, from £59

Country Cream was started in 2003 by Karole Howard and truly is a family business; read the lovely story of how items are developed and made here. 

I love this look, it’s so pretty!

cream metal shelf, £23.50

tealight in bag, £9.99 each

mirror heart cupboard, £32

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These stunning images are of a house located within the tranquil settings of Barbados. Situated on top of a hill, the 3,500-square-foot multilevel home boasts magnificent views.  The house, which was built in 1975 by Ian Morrison, was inspired by Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

The roofing, beautiful smooth stone and tasteful minimal decor really compliments the natural surroundings.  This is emphasised by the fact there is such a thin line between what is considered outdoors and what is inside- notice how the creepers enter the home (below) from the outside world and the abundence of light entering each room.  The theme of nature is apparant throughout.  The idea seems to be to make the house a part of its surroundings rather than an addition. 

 I have never visited Barbados, however I am sure that, despite the normal gorgeous weather, storms are common. Which leads me to the question, what happens here when it rains??  Perhaps a downpour is directed away from the house via the oversized roofing, or there may be some kind of shutter such as the one seen below towards the rear of the room.

The colour pallet again reflects how the house wishes to become ‘at one’ with its surroundings.  The wooden flooring is beautiful and I especially love how the stonework becomes the base of the seating area.  Note the lack of moden technology… who needs a television anyway with views like this!  Even lighting is kept to a minimum.

I’m sensing that meal time is the most important event of the day, where family and friends come together and sit for hours chatting until night falls.

The rooms could have turned-out quite ‘cold’ due to the bareness and minimalism, however somehow this interior has a very homely feel to it.  I am sure the cool, thick walls are welcomed in the heat.

I must say I’m not keen on the netting… it looks like a giant spider’s web!!  Is this to protect you in the night from insect bites?  If so I think I could overcome my fear!

 Below is a cute little Gazebo, and yes, there is a bath in there. Fear not, though, as this isn’t the main bathroom, which is situated in the house!  This is rather a strange idea but perhaps I am just ignorant of the culture. Hot tub, yes, but bath tub?

 Are you thinking what I’m thinking?  I wish I was there now!  Sigh…

With thanks to DesignSigh for these beautiful images

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Creating the Au Naturel look can be quite tricky, as there is a danger of the final result being too minimalistic and rather plain.  No matter what the choice of decor, the final result should always exude a warm, homely feel.

The look could be described as ‘smart shabby chic’- mixing the old with the new but with a more sharp, sophisticated outcome.  And the fresh colour pallet is just perfect for the summer!

The flower display pictured above compliments the natural feel of the room… try getting away from the standard bright bouquet of flowers and opting for something more subtle such as pussy willow. Display in a plain glass vase… or even an empty jar?

Old perfume bottles (below) can make stunning ornaments- some of the older bottles were so intricately designed that it was worth buying the perfume just for the container alone!  Even old medicine bottles can look interesting.  I like the idea of filling jars with buttons- this reminds me of my grandma who had tins and tins full of the things and I used to spend hours rummaging through them as a child.  The old mirror compliments the period and suggests these items have a secret untold history….

This Copenhagen apartment, below, is the epitome of the Au Naturel look.  Notice the lack of modern items and minimal introduction of colour to the otherwise muted pallet.  The overall look is very clean and fresh yet with a strong  sense of history.  Every unique piece suggests it has a story to tell.

See Simply Natural for more inspiration…

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