Though Shabby Chic immediately took off in the Santa Monica area, it wasn’t until the late '90s that the brand entered a new echelon of fame: nabbing a feature on The Oprah Winfrey Show. It’s no wonder she soon developed a cult following that included the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Oprah Winfrey. She prefers things a little rumpled rather than prim they’re more inviting that way.Īs such, Rachel’s designs gave people the freedom to relax and enjoy their homes. “I’m not big on ironing in the world of Shabby Chic,” Rachel says. Everything’s just a little undone, designed so that you can feel at home with her pieces-encouraged to cozy up and stay a while. The brand has become known for certain hallmarks, all executed in a very specific way: worn white linens, perfectly imperfect ruffles, delicate floral prints. From a life-changing feature on The Oprah Winfrey Show to reclaiming her company after its recession-era bankruptcy, Rachel has weathered the highest highs and lowest lows-and she's quietly building a business that's designed to stand the test of time. Now, as the company turns 30 this year, Shabby Chic has taken on a life of its own. Rachel's dream of a quiet life was soon upended, replaced with a bigger dream: 'inspiring women to put together a home that feels like a really great nest for them.' She got to work, designing her own products and creating a brand that transcended slipcovers or a single storefront. 'Truthfully, within three weeks of opening the store, it was like, 'Whoa, this is-this is going to be quite different.' I had to work out how to handle that.' At the time, that high-low mix wasn't all that common-but it caught on like wildfire.

'I like that juxtaposition of having a humble home, maybe a little cottage, but giving it that twinkly kind of glamour,' Rachel explains, walking through her store. She highlighted a range of items early on, from “cheap and cheerful” table lamps to gleaming chandeliers. The designer had been working as a stylist for commercials, but she'd always been drawn to reimagining flea-market finds-her mom sold antique dolls and her dad dealt old books-so she applied that passion to her shop, Shabby Chic, selling vintage decor and slipcovered furniture. 'I just envisioned a small, quiet store,' Rachel says.

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