How Meeting Rachel Ashwell Inspired My Guest Room Refresh

Sometimes inspiration follows you home.

When I traveled to Round Top, Texas, this fall, I had one primary goal: meeting Rachel Ashwell. Her books, television appearances, and decorating philosophy have influenced my style for years, so the opportunity to attend her event and see her designs in person made the trip an easy decision.

What I didn’t expect was to come home ready to refresh nearly every room in the house.

As I wandered through beautifully layered displays filled with soft florals, vintage textures, and collected treasures, I found myself looking at my own home with fresh eyes. While I have plans for our primary bedroom, office, pink bathroom, and even holiday decorating inspired by the new Simply Shabby Chic collection at Target, the guest room quickly moved to the top of the list.

This refresh is still very much a work in progress, but I was so excited about the first changes that I couldn’t wait to share them.

Meeting Rachel

For years, I have admired Rachel’s ability to create rooms that feel collected rather than decorated. Her spaces combine beauty and comfort in a way that feels welcoming, personal, and attainable.

Meeting her in person reminded me that beautiful homes aren’t built overnight. They evolve over time through meaningful pieces and thoughtful layers.

The Inspiration

This display immediately caught my eye. The faded florals, layered bedding, soft colors, and collected-over-time feeling embodied everything I love about the Shabby Chic aesthetic.

While my guest room won’t be an exact replica, this display certainly helped shape my vision.

Before the Refresh

One thing I wasn’t planning to replace was the blue quilt that had been on the bed for a few years. As it turned out, that quilt would become an important part of the refresh.

Inspiration Arrives Home

A few days after returning home, the first packages arrived.

Mowgli immediately assumed his role as chief quality-control inspector. Judging by his expression, he seemed unconvinced by my earlier promise that I wasn’t planning to bring much home from Round Top.

Starting with the Bedding

Whenever I refresh a room, I often begin with textiles. Bedding has the power to completely change the feeling of a space without replacing furniture or making major changes.

The soft blue floral duvet cover immediately reminded me of the bedding displays I had admired throughout the Rachel Ashwell event.

One of the best parts of this update was finding a new purpose for something I already owned. Instead of purchasing a separate duvet insert, I simply used the blue quilt that had previously been on the bed. The quilt now provides the loft and comfort inside the duvet cover, allowing me to work with what I already had while creating a fresh new look.

Layering New Inspiration with Family History

One of the decorating lessons I’ve learned from Rachel Ashwell is that the most memorable rooms tell a story.

The crocheted piece at the foot of the bed isn’t a throw blanket at all. It’s a tablecloth handmade by my aunt years ago.

Rather than keeping it tucked away in storage, I enjoy using it as a decorative layer. Not only does it add texture, but it also brings family history and memories into the room.

To me, those are the details that make a house feel like home.

Guest Room Refresh: Phase One

Although this room is far from finished, the bedding has already transformed the overall feeling of the space.

Future updates may include:

• Vintage artwork
• Additional layered textiles
• Brocante Cottage-inspired accessories
• Seasonal touches
• A few treasures collected during future adventures

I’ve learned that the rooms I love most are never completed in a weekend. They evolve over time.

Looking Ahead

One of the greatest things I brought home from Round Top wasn’t something that arrived in a box or was packed in my suitcase.

It was inspiration.

Meeting Rachel Ashwell reminded me that beautiful homes are created one layer at a time, often by using what you already have and thoughtfully adding pieces that bring meaning and joy.

In this guest room, that means a well-loved blue quilt tucked inside a floral duvet cover, a crocheted tablecloth lovingly made by my aunt, and inspiration gathered during a memorable trip to Round Top.

The longer I decorate, the more I realize that my favorite rooms aren’t built from the newest trends or the most expensive purchases. They are created from meaningful layers, treasured heirlooms, unexpected inspiration, and pieces that tell a story.

That’s what decorating means to me. A Life Styled with Heart.

This guest room refresh is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to share what comes next.

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