Shabby Chic - It's good to look distressed!

The management team at PapaTheo were discussing phrases which our clients use to describe our extensive range of hand carved furniture the other day. Somebody mentioned 'Shabby Chic' and it got us thinking as to exactly what Shabby Chic is and where did it come from?

If you 'Google' Shabby Chic you'll find over 2.5 million returns ranging from furniture suppliers like ourselves to clothing and even cars. How can you have a shabby chic car? Maybe it is a car made to look distressed in which case one of our trusty delivery vans can definitely be described as such!

Our furniture at Papatheo is all hand carved by our own carvers in Indonesia so this begs the question as to whether Shabby Chic is furniture that is old and used in a modern setting or is it modern furniture made to look old? Either way, we feel our range of products certainly looks suitably 'Shabby Chic' with styles replicating very closely the bygone era of classic French furniture with limed and natural finishes, as well as classic carvings, corners and engraving. You don't get that nowadays.

We'd love to hear your views on this...what do you think of when somebody says 'Shabby Chic'? Are we unintentionally setting a trend at PapaTheo HQ?