Wide-plank floors, paned sash windows, an old brick fireplace, the charm of living with a home's small imperfections and making them a virtue. These are just some examples of what makes up a Shabby Chic home.

When Rachel Ashwell, founder of the Shabby Chic line, first saw her future home, she was put off by its dark exterior and gloomy interior. But when she took a closer look, she saw the charm beneath its surface. Excited by the challenge, she went to work on it.

With love, work, and a lot of white paint, Rachel transformed the house into her dream home, one that had all the hallmarks of a Shabby Chic home: a practical amount of space, a relaxed atmosphere, and a comfortable beauty.

Now, in The Shabby Chic Home Reprint Edition, Rachel uses her home as an example to show you how to assess what needs to be replaced (in her case it was the tiles in the pool and the bathroom doorknobs), make small structural changes (she exchanged a glass window for a glass door), and keep costs down while adding personal Shabby Chic touches.

Using Rachel's detailed instructions, you'll learn how to find beauty in the nooks and crannies of your own house so that you, too, can have a comfortable, functional, and beautifully designed home.

Rachel Ashwell is the creator of the Shabby Chic style. In 1989, she founded the Shabby Chic home furnishing stores and then later, the Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture stores. She is the author of Shabby Chic, Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting and Decorating Guide, The Shabby Chic Home Reprint Edition, and Shabby Chic: The Gift of Giving.

Amy NeuNsinger is a photographer whose work has appeared in numerous magazines and advertising campaigns ranging from beauty to travel.