I am honored to be a spot on the Rachel Ashwell’s Couture Prairie book tour! Like many of you I have been a fan of Ms. Ashwell for ages and I am also a native Texan so I have been excited about her new home in Texas and now this book. To see one of my favorite stylemakers embrace and be inspired by my home state is so special. So without further delay let me tell you about this BEAUTIFUL book and share some of my favorite images from the preview!
Rachel Ashwell Couture Prairie takes her signature pastels, ruffles and whimsical prettiness right to the heart of Texas. This is a journey in pictures and words, following Rachel through the fields of a little town called Round Top, home to one of the largest, most eclectic and vibrant antiques and flea markets in the world, and then back to Rachel’s newly acquired bed-and-breakfast in Texas. Rachel’s inspired finds, her creative imagination, eye for detail and her commitment to beauty, comfort andfunction have finally come together in one location: The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell. This book takes Rachel in a new direction, bringing her eye for cherished patinas and pastel prettiness into the endless landscapes and diverse architectural styles of Texas. In the book you see how her style adapts to corrugated metal sheeting and weathered timbers and how it brings new life to old structures.
I love seeing her signature pinks and blues and floral against the old tin in this photo below.
Chapter by chapter, the book leads you through Rachel’s little houses on the prairie, from the Ranger’s Lounge where hearty breakfasts are served, to the Pearl Barn, scene of wedding parties and celebrations, stopping off at the guest accommodations: Blue Bonnet Barn, Cornflower Cottage, Meadow Manor, Faith Cottage and Liliput Lodge.
I had the opportunity to ask Rachel some questions about her new home in Texas and she talked about how the palette and landcape inspire her work. “The wide open spaces and the southern hospitality, the country music which to me is poetry and a place where my uniform of jeans and cowboy boots “belong” she said. Indeed the community around Round Top has welcomed and enjoyed Rachel’s move to her prairie home. Rachel said she relates to the rural Texas architecture more than any other:
“The big rambling barns, with cracks that allow for shafts of cross light and small little cottages with screened in porches are my favorite ever. The palette of Texas inspires me. Searching for treasures that often started life in wonderful old farms that have been weathered in the sun creates a patina and palette like nowhere else. Flakey white, pink and the perfect robin egg blue.”
The book was just released this month and you can find copies online and in stores!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ENTER A GIVEAWAY FOR A SIGNED COPY OF THE BOOK PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST. TELL ME HOW RACHEL ASHWELL HAS INSPIRED YOU OVER THE YEAR OR WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HER STYLE OR PRODUCTS. I WILL RANDOMLY CHOOSE A WINNER FROM THE COMMENTS ON FRIDAY!
Best of luck with the book Ms. Ashwell and may God bless your time in Texas and all you do here! We are so glad you love our great state!
Couture Prairie by Rachel Ashwell is published by CICO Books and is available from www.rylandpeters.com
I would love to win a copy! Rachel has taught me a lot over the years, but namely that it’s ok to love white walls. And chandeliers. And girly things. Wait, that’s three things. 🙂
I can absolutely get lost in her designs!! I think the old, true patina instead of new and shiny is what always gets me…it’s not what you see everyday. Great giveaway!!
We’ve stayed at The Prairie and met Rachel! It is a wonderful and inspiring place. Can’t wait to see her new book!
Rachel is a classic and I love how she’s trending towards a more rustic feel. Her mantra is a good one ~ classic pieces with character.. worn, torn, and lots of natural patina. Wonderful giveaway! xxleslie
Rachel Ashwell’s style is both timeless and classic. I love how she mixes feminine pieces with rustic pieces. I love all her previous books and can’t wait to check out this one!!
I love that she has such a strong sense of her self…and she brings that to her designs. And in a house full of boys – I have to love the frilly, feminine side of it all!
nanetteromo@comcast.net
I love this book and her past books. I really would love to win a copy. My budget is extremely tight as of late so how fun if I won. lol! I have alot of her fabrics, bedding etc in my home. I am saving for some bedding for my granddaughter as we speak.. Thanks for the chance.
I have been such a huge fan of Rachel’s for so many years, I would LOVE to win this book! Thank goodness she created her line for Target a few years ago, it let people with champagne taste and a beer budget get her look!
I love her feminine style and how naturally she mixes in old treasures.
Rachel’s style is timeless, beautiful, welcoming, comfortable-everything that is important to me in decorating.
Rachel Ashwell taught me to see the beauty in worn, well loved things. Her style is comforting not contrived. As a Texas girl now living in Nebraska, I would dearly love to have this lovely book.
What’s not to love about her style?! Mixing feminine and rustic attributes = gorgeous and inspiring!! Would love to win this book, thanks for the chance!
I became a fan of Rachel’s style after watching her TV show. She is a good source for ideas of how to mix old and new, and makes me take a second look at stuff others might throw away.
Anytime I’m in London or NYC, I have to stop in for inspiration. Haven’t made it to Prarie yet but hopefully someday! Her stores are so inspiration to the creative soul!
I have loved her design from afar for a long time. Her style inTexas is becoming more realistic to me. Love the mix of metal with with ruffles. Her blue tones in Texas are more liveable for me. Love that!!!
I have admired Rachel’s style since I first saw her first book….it’s sitting on my coffee table now! I just had diner with some girlfriends, one who just moved to Fredericksburg, Texas and we were just trying to figure out how far it is to her place near Round top!!!!! I would love to go and would love a copy of her new book!
I honestly had never heard of her until I read your blog. Now I’m totally in awe of her style. I love the way she uses the old barns and tin as a back drop for the pastels and ruffles. It’s rustic country with a textile twist!! Love it! If I don’t win her book I’m definitely going to have to get a copy. Thanks for sharing her with the rest of us!
Okay I’m a dork. I though her name sounded familiar-she is the shabby chic! Didn’t recognize her in the barn photo. Oh my I lover her stuff!!! She has an amazing eye for design.
For a few years now (and ever more) I have loved white slipcovered couches and chairs. Its nice to know when your furniture needs a bath and I love that I can change the entire look of the room with say new pillows. Thank you Ms. Ashwell. Fingers crossed.
Have been one of Her biggest fans. Love everything about Her. Would so love to win the new book. I have all of them. Thanks, Stanna
Oh I NEED to win this book! I’ve always been inspired by her use of patterns and fabrics. I could layer them one on top of the other all day long if my Sweet Man didn’t keep me in check!
Well, I have loved her style from the early days of shabby chic, her collection for Target saved my life for the 12 months I spent in a truly dismal rental in 2005/2006, I rooted for her as her business went through restructuring in 2009 and was happy to see her land on her feet. But more than all that, as someone who loves Texas from afar I am so excited about this book. Looking forward to my next trip to Round Top!
All best,
Phyllis
I have always loved how soft and inviting her bedding looks! It looks like it would be perfect for a nap on a hot afternoon or cozy and warm on winter evenings!
I have always loved her style over the years but her new book looks delicious. Her shabby chic style is reflected in a lot of my painted furniture pieces.
Shut up!!!!!!!!!!! You are a rock star holly Mathis! I need, yes, need this book. Holy smokes. I can remember watching her show on tv years ago when she had one, trying to memorize every detail. I love the fact she’s throwing in a little rustic with her pastels and florals makes me have a serious girl crush on her!!!!! Xoxo
I absolutely love her casual, rustic style and would love to learn how to pull it all together. Would love to win her new book and visit her B&B!
Love, love her style of old and new, feminine and refined with a touch of patina! Have tried many times to stay at The Prairie, but it is always booked when it works for us. Maybe someday in the future. Thanks for letting us know about the new book. I would love to have it!
I think the thing that has inspired me most is her story of falling down and getting back up. Reading her blog and the heartache of closing some of her stores was so painful and honest. How she handled herself during the storm and weathered it out was inspiring to me. She is a brilliant woman with a keen business savvy who always leads with a creative heart. Such a role model to others! Cannot wait to read the new book!
With a natural love for vintage (historical) items and soft florals, it was a natural that I’d love her products and her work. Sounds like a fun book!
My mother and I use to watch her show on Saturday mornings when I was a little girl. I was raised to love shabby chic, LOL! The Prairie is a magical place and Round Top is so blessed to have her presence & style there 🙂
I love her style, it is so inspiring!
Rachel Ashwell’s new book looks divine! I love how she makes it all look so effortless. I guess what I have learned is that you can have a beautiful space that is both elegant and relaxed, making it the perfect combination for growing family.
My husband surprised me with a night at The Prairie last year, & it was amazing–both the spaces & the hospitality. I would love a copy of the book to remember our trip!
I have followed Rachel Ashwell from her very beginnings of Shabby Chic. I visited her store in LA when I lived there. We just relocated to Austin and I too love the beautiful landscape and especially the southern hospitality. I can’t wait to take a trip to Round Rock to visit The Prairie!
I LOVE Rachel’s effortless style and ease to decorating. It is fresh, easy, and not fussy. My three favorite styles in decorating.
Rachel Ashwell has achieved a beautiful blend of rustic elements and elegance. Love her style!! Her book would be an inspired gift that leads you through beautiful treasures and novel uses for them.
Would love to add this book to my collection or gift to my daughter. We got to meet Rachel last year at her store during Round Top week. It was such a great surprise when she walked through the door while we were shopping. We had my baby granddaughter with us and Rachel loved her red curly hair. She is lovely and warm in person!
Rachel started inspiring me with her TV show back in the 90’s? I was a teenager then and fell in love with her soft, comfy designs. And then to find her stuff at Target in the early 2000’s for my daughters, I was beyond ecstatic! Would love to spend a day browsing through this book!
I would love a chance for such special inspiration as I embark on my own renovations!
The timing of this is uncanny. I just purchased a new vintage camper and am been planning my decor. Rachel’s style is perfect, very sweet and somewhat tough (just like me!). I would so love to have this book for inspiration. Please do a few posts on this so if I don’t win I can still drool! Thanks Holly.
Hello!
Thank you so much for this opportunity! I have been a fan of Rachel’s for the longest time! She is really the one that started me into buying vintage items for my home and implementing them with the “girlie” touches! When all my friends homes were cookie cutter model homes …in reds, browns, yellows…I had the house with the Shabby Rachel style! It would be an honor to have an autographed copy! Thank you again Holly!
After moving to LA 2 months from having our first child and not knowing a soul, I took great comfort and interest in Rachel’s TV show. I always was drawn to flea markets and giving old objects life again. And her shop was not too far from where we lived. It was a joy just walking around the store. While money was tight, I did purchase her first book. Would love to have her latest!
I absolutely love the style of Rachel Ashwell. I’ve read all her books and have applied the notion of beauty and comfort first. I admire how you can accomplish the shabby chic look without needing a lot of money. Ugly sofa? Use a slipcover. So so furniture, paint it white. All while admiring the beauty and timelessness of chippy paint, lovely linens, and flowers. I admire Rachel Ashwell….she inspired me to see potential beauty in everything.
What a beautiful book. She is so incredibly talented. I would SO be living a shabby chic life if I didn’t live with three guys!
I love Rachel Ashwell and I think her design sense goes well in an entire home, but it also works well incorporated with other design styles to make a house feel more home-y! She has a great eye for color and detail. I would love to win her book! Thank you for featuring her, you have a wonderful and inspiring blog.
I love her style and how real it is. She reflects the simplicity and comfort I love. Visiting the prairie is on my bucket list!
Last fall when I was on my way out of Round Top after Antique Week, I made it a point to find The Prairie! Visited the shop & walked around all by myself, through that barn & under the arbors. It was bliss. Attended a workshop there after that. I have loved her palette for years & always loved the slipcovers. Now I have them, just wish I could afford to really shop her lines.
Can’t wait to see this book!
Love all her books
Love her look as usual.