VINTAGE, DISTRESSED & “chippy”

SHABBY CHIC’S COZY APPEAL STILL TRENDING IN 2018

By Andrea Busche

In the not-so-distant past, saying someone’s home or clothing was “shabby” was a stage five insult.

Today, shabby chic is a wildly popular style of interior decorating, and the word shabby has taken on a new, complimentary meaning. Heck, the term is even in the dictionary!

According to Dictionary.com, shabby chic is defined as “Denoting or relating to furniture or soft furnishings that have a pleasingly old and slightly worn appearance.”

Some common items in the shabby family include: chippy, white painted chandeliers; distressed, pastel-colored armoires; and floral fabrics that give off a soft, feminine feel. Featuring flea market finds, along with plenty of new items that are purposely distressed to look vintage, shabby chic devotees are everywhere. Including the Twin Ports.

Shopping shabby in the Ports

We visited with two women who are intimately familiar with this trend. They’ve built their businesses to cater, in part, to shabby devotees. Gayle

Healy owns Serendipity in Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood. And, Heidi Weiberg owns LiliAna at 2214 Mountain Shadow Drive. Today, these two proprietresses share what’s currently trending in the world of shabby.

Serendipity tor, making them the ‘eye candy’ of the room.”

Located in a large twostory house at 4407 E.

Superior St. in the Lakeside business district, Serendipity is filled with oneof-a-kind treasures; some new, some vintage. The shop also includes an outdoor Garden Shed, which is open spring, summer, and fall. The shed is delightfully displayed with unusual garden décor, as well as both old and new furniture.

Ana, a charming boutique selling “vintage décor with a fresh twist.” Weiberg interestingly notes that the current lifestyle trend of Hygge (pronounced hueguh) has helped reinvigorate people’s interest in shabby furnishings. Hygge is a Danish word, which, according to hyggehouse.com, is used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cozy, charming or special.

Treasure Hunt

Owner Gayle Healy is — at the time of this writing — in France, hunting for amazing items, ideas and inspiration to bring home to her customers. Healy shares, “Florals in linens, wallpaper, (yes, wallpaper is coming back in a big way) furniture and fashion continue to grow. Natural wood furnishings are making a comeback and “chalk-painted” furniture is losing its popularity. Here in France, I’ve seen a lot of copper, brass and gold in furniture and accent pieces.”

LiliAna

Heidi Weiberg owns Lili-

And, soft, comfylooking furnishings, such as those in the shabby category, definitely fit the bill of cozy, charming and special. “Chippy white goodness on furniture and accessories, flowers, lighting and Hygge are all huge right now,” Weiberg shares. “Hygge can be used alongside the shabby chic décor: Quiet time with the people you love and care for in your space. Taking the time to turn down the lights, light your candles, make that favorite cup of tea, put on those warm fuzzy socks, or curl up under that wellloved throw. Beyond the furnishings, it’s all about creating the right atmosphere in your home.”

Lighting

Weiberg shares that well-chosen light fixtures are definitely trending right now. “My clients are looking for th at functional, yet stylish chandelier,” she says. “Metals mixed with prisms, or a metal and wood combination. Unique, one-of-a-kind table lamps have also been a huge hit. Stunning light fixtures help create a WOW fac-

One of the best parts of shopping shabby is that anyone can do it. Inspiration abounds on sites such as Pinterest and Instagram. And, no matter your shopping style, you can find something to suit your tastes. If you’re a treasure hunter, you can find unique items on the cheap at garage sales and flea markets. Or, if you’d prefer to buy new, a fresh (or intentionally chipped) coat of white paint, along with a little distressing, can make your item insta-shabby. And of course, shops like Serendipity and LiliAna provide one-stop shopping, since they have already done the work for us.

People Crave the

Comfy-Cozy

If there’s one thing we know, it’s this: the trend of shabby chic isn’t going away. If anything, it’s ramping up as people look to add coziness and warmth to their lives during these uncertain times.

“Shabby chic is all about the details,” Weiberg says. “A non-cluttered environment, featuring fresh white paint with a splash of color, wallpaper, mixed metals, candles, lighting and comfy throws. When shopping shabby, think out of the box with your items, be clever, and have fun!”  For more information, Serendipity can be reached at (218) 525-3455, and Heidi Weiberg, the owner of LiliAna, can be reached at (218) 780-6054. Both businesses are also on Facebook.