Daily Inspiration: Meet Sharin Louis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharin Louis.

Hi Sharin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From the first time seeing Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic line I knew in my heart that’s how I wanted to decorate my home. I feel a sort of peacefulness with that vintage style! A friend of mine took me to an Antique shabby chic furniture store in Phoenix that she thought I’d like. I walked in and felt like I was in Heaven, most of the antique furniture was painted white and so beautiful! As I walked around I thought to myself I could paint furniture like this!

I had retired from the Airlines while raising my 4 small children in 2005, I wanted to make some sort of income. I decided I would try my hand in painting furniture like what I saw in that store. I also loved the detail in the antique furnishings. I didn’t like the wood carvings that I saw they sold at the hardware stores. I needed to figure a way to make them, so I could apply them to the furniture I painted. After a year of research I had figured a way to make molds of designs and started to apply them on my painted furniture.
I currently sell my appliqués on Etsy and still apply my Appliqué’s and paint furniture to this day. Shabby Rose Decor has been my business name from the beginning in 2008, and I’m very proud of it!

Many years ago I had picked up an Antique Scotsman trailer, my first one and thought how cute would my Appliqués look in my trailer. I refurbished that old trailer to my shabby chic style, it even was featured in Romantic Homes Magazine and also on a Morning Local TV show. I was lucky enough to have it also in Gilbert Magazine. I was so proud of my accomplishments. Years later our little trailer wasn’t big enough to take our four kids camping in it, I decided it was time to sell and when the buyer came in from California I practically hyperventilated when she drove off with it. The next one I bought was a vintage Shasta SCS trailer, that one I redid Shabby Chic inside and out and added my appliqués inside. We took that one camping as well in California’s Oceanside park. After I sold that one I picked up a 1947 Vintage Maineline trailer in Silver CITY NM, took us 6 years redoing it and I decided that was the trailer I was going to keep. It was published in Vintage Caravan Magazine in 2023.
My love for antiques has been a passion of mine, looking for furniture pieces to make one of a kind is like treasure hunting. To this day I still sell my appliqués on Etsy and on marketplace.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Trying to figure out how to make the appliqués was a struggle but with my determination I was able to figure it out after over a year of hard work.
The drive that I had at that time overweighed the obstacles that came my way. I was very determined. I wanted to get a Patent for my appliqués but the examiner that I was assigned to through the patent office kept coming back with more and more challenges and financially, I could not afford the attorney fees anymore. Which was very hard. Because I felt I had a great idea and no one else was making them at that time. Now I look back and I wish I would had pursued it more

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I redo furniture pieces, also make Furniture Appliqués that can be applied to mostly anything which is what I’m known for. I am very strict on what pieces I pick up and paint. They are mostly antique pieces. Most of my pieces are shabby chic and cottage look.

What makes you happy?
Love Seeing the smiles on customers faces when they buy my one of a kind furniture!
Also receiving nice reviews on my Etsy my shabby Rose Decor site.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theshabbyrosedecor.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shabbyrosedecor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Restorationofourvintagemainlinetraveltrailer
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/shabbyrosedecor