While attending a local flea market last summer, I came across an old mirror, framed in wood and sporting three layers of chipping and peeling paint. The mirror was cloudy and had lost a bit of its silvering, and the frame, although it looked bedraggled, was sturdy and sound. I happily paid my five dollars for the mirror, and as I went to walk away, the seller asked me, "What are you going to do with that junky old mirror?" I stopped and gave him a smile, as I answered, "Its not old junk, it's merely shabby chic."

Designer Rachel Ashwell coined the idea of shabby chic in the 1980s. It is basically a décor and lifestyle built around fabulous flea market finds, slipcovered furniture, and items with a wonderful timeworn character. Open any decorating magazine today, and you will find pages dedicated to the shabby chic way of living, photos of rooms filled with soft color, lush floral linens, and a mixture of new and antique. Shabby chic creates an inviting atmosphere, similar to the popular cottage way of decorating, and evokes a comfortable feeling of days gone by.

The best part of shabby chic is that it is relatively inexpensive. It is like antique shopping without the high price. Chips, scratches or dings are unimportant, as long as the piece has an underneath layer of quality. Pieces that are less than perfect are easy to find, and the price is usually quite good.

One of the staples of shabby chic is the color white, in shades from pristine bright white to warm cream. Take an old farm table, bench or chair, and either gently clean its original painted surface, making sure not to scrub off all its character. Or, if the surface is just too far gone, give it a couple of layers of linen white paint. Add squishy pillows sewn from vintage chenille bedspreads, a slipcover stitched from a barkcloth curtain panel, and hydrangeas piled into an old tin maple-sap bucket, and you are on the way to having a shabby chic living space. White is a color that mellows with age, and shabby chic enthusiasts eagerly search for items that have this characteristic.

It is relatively easy to find items that encompass the shabby chic ideal. Flea markets, estate sales, second-hand stores, your local Salvation Army or Goodwill are veritable treasure chests just waiting to be opened. Vintage linens, such as floral hankies, crocheted doilies and tablecloths, printed tablecloths, aprons, curtains and more can be found in good quantity. It doesn't matter if the linens are a bit yellowed, or perhaps have a stain or two. Shabby chic linens are used many different ways; they can be cut apart to make pillows, curtain valances, table runners and more. A vintage tablecloth printed with huge cabbage roses in desirable colors is still a hot seller, even if it does have a couple of stains or a tiny hole or two.

Keep an open mind, and eye, when searching for shabby chic pieces. Following a few simple rules can make the hunt easier and more interesting. For example, does the piece have a soft, comfortable character? Would it easily fit in with French Country, romantic, or cottage décor? Does it retain most of its original finish or paint, or can it easily be repainted? Could you vision the piece used in a 1940s seashore cottage or a 1950s lakeside cabin? Are the colors of the piece mellow, not harsh like the oranges and olive greens of the 1960s and 1970s? Is the piece worn-in, but not worn out?

If questions are still lingering about what constitutes shabby chic, take a look at the following Web sites.

TwoShabbyChicks.com http://www.twoshabbychicks.com/?ab is a Web site that features new shabby items for sale, and flea market finds. The project of the month page is always interesting, as it highlights a different shabby project that is do-it-yourself.

Sistershome.com http://www.sistershome.com/?ab is another Web site that offers great shabby chic items for sale, from home and garden décor, to handmade shabby vintage signs and shelves.

And, of course, visiting Rachel Ashwell's Web site http://www.shabbychic.com is a great place to familiarize yourself with what shabby chic is all about.

Shabby chic is a decorating style that seems to be gaining more popularity all the time. It can be addicting, and it makes flea marketing all the more fun. Remember, it may be considered "junk" to some, but shabby chic is here to stay.