Shaker Style bench – barn red

Shaker Style bench barn red, originally uploaded by Wood Shaper.

This cute little Shaker Style hand made bench is a lovely example of the simpler kind of Shabby Chic furniture. It doesn’t have to all be pink roses, lovely though they are. For many people this interpretation of the style is easier to live with. It’s simple, direct and fit for its purpose.

The Shaker approach to furniture and design is eternal in its appeal. I just love it. It makes me want a room where I can hang the chairs on pegs when they are not in use and a bedcover made from gloriously soft, used, pieced flannel. Ooops sorry drifted off in a minimalist fantasy…….

That the rouble with minimalism, I grew up with a minimalist architect Dad so I know what I’m talking about. Although it looks easy to do, it is in fact really hard to get right. A relaxed, stuffed room can cope with a little mess. A minimalist one looks untidy if you leave anything out of place. Rather than get too caught up in the Shaker thing perhaps its better, and easier for people with kids, to go for the more general American folk art look.