November 21, 2018

A Checklist for Making Green Home Improvements

November 21, 2018/ Ashley

I’m super passionate about sustainability, low-waste practices, and making positive environmental impacts. Home improvement can sometimes be super wasteful, but there’s also a lot that can be done to a home to make it efficient and low impact. We recently went on the San Diego Green Home Tour and it was inspiring to see so many green initiatives in practice in a variety of different homes. We saw ultra-modern new constructions as well as modest homes with a bunch of DIY projects.

November 16, 2018

Weekly Roundup

November 16, 2018/ Ashley

A post with a compilation of things from the internet including my blog award, how to help CA fire relief, charming paint colors, ORC reveals, turntables, recycling candy wrappers, online classes, our favorite shoe, and an invitation from an idol design blogger.

November 13, 2018

We Got a New Roof! A Comprehensive Guide to Everything You Want To Know About The Process

November 13, 2018/ Ashley

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that we had a thrilling week with the addition of a new roof and the removal of FIVE layers of roofing material. This project was a long time coming and has been the topic of many discussions in our household. So, I’m here to give you all the details from picking a color, finding a contractor, and the cost. Hold on to your seats - roofing is very exciting.

November 08, 2018

My Experience Fostering Kittens + Tips for Living With Cats

November 08, 2018/ Ashley

A couple of weeks ago, we took in a momma cat and her five kittens through a fostering program at The San Diego Humane Society. You may have seen all the adorable videos I posted to Instagram Stories? They’ve provided hours of entertainment, oodles of cuteness, and gave me lots of things to clean. I wanna tell you all about it, share some favorite feline products, and even encourage you to take some local critters into your home! ;)

October 30, 2018

How We Saved Two Thousand Dollars Without Waste While Preparing To Landscape

October 30, 2018/ Ashley

If you recall what our front yard looked like when we bought it, you know that the majority of my complaints were with all the excess stuff I didn't like in the yard. So, the first step to getting the yard of our dreams was getting rid of everything else. We were quoted over $2,000 to clear out the yard of plants and send them all to the landfill. Since neither of those things are cool in my book, I devised a plan. Here's how we saved thousands of dollars to prepare for a new landscape

October 23, 2018

Revisiting The Kitchen/Master/Bathroom Layout + Reader Contributions

October 23, 2018/ Ashley

Redesigning the kitchen layout has been a doozy! I first talked about it in this post seven months ago where I laid out our must-haves, some sketches, a video walk-through, and a few thoughts on the matter. I asked readers to share their designs and give me feedback, so that’s what I’m here to do today - after a brief half a year of noodling on the designs.

October 16, 2018

Super Subtle Halloween Decor with Items from Around the House

October 16, 2018/ Ashley

I don’t go big for many holidays, but I do like that Halloween is an excuse to gravitate towards dark hues and eerie decor. I don’t do inflatable skeletons, glittery pumpkins, cartoony ghoulish figurines, nor over-the-top gore scenes. I like a classic and simple halloween look that’s really just an extension of my every-day style. This year, I didn’t want to buy anything, so I made a few spooky scenes with 99% decor I already have and use on the daily, and 2% last year’s halloween decor.

October 05, 2018

Weekly Roundup

October 05, 2018/ Ashley

The things from around the web that I’ve been digging such as, my friend’s restaurant design, who I’m watching during this ORC, new non-skinny jeans I’m loving, a quote I hope I never forget, simple ways to transition to fall, a dreamy kitchen faucet, painting kitchen cabinets, and financial honesty.

October 01, 2018

Cutting the Cord (Literally) on the Landline Phone For Improved Curb Appeal

October 01, 2018/ Ashley

Over the years, our house gained a few additions in the technology department. It has always had electricity, but then it got a phone line, and then a cable line, then another phone line, then satellite, then another cable line to route to another room, and so on. By her 100th birthday, our house had wires, conduit, and cables on every side of her. Naturally, I wanted all of this visual clutter gone. Here’s what I did!

September 25, 2018

A Collection of 25 Vintage Portraits Under $100

September 25, 2018/ Ashley

So many people were interested in my newest old portrait paintings, so I collected a bunch of painterly vintage portraits under $100 for your shopping pleasure!

September 14, 2018

Weekly Roundup

September 14, 2018/ Ashley

Dreamy interior walls, un-mixed paint, wall murals, old house inspo, a drawing I identify with, DIY pants and non-DIY pants, a pretty way to memorialize vows, my vacuum is on sale, a new collage artist, and my feelings on art in the home.

September 02, 2018

Labor Day Sales 2018!

September 02, 2018/ Ashley

I've collected bunches of Labor Day sales and coupon codes so you don't have to! Enjoy this roundup of retailers that are basically giving things away.

How We Live Here Now, Vol. 2: The Backyard

The plants finally filled in, the veggie beds are in the wrong spot, and I've learned that the yard you design and the yard your kids actually use are two very different things.

How We Live Here Now - Volume 1: Introduction

Hi. It's been a while. I've missed this. I took a longer break than I planned. Life has gotten full. I've been developing film and knitting at soccer practice, attempting to garden with the girls and fussing around with furniture layouts. I’ve also been scheduling summer camps, refilling the watercolors multiple times a day, and trying to keep the toys tidied. Around the house, I’m adding color wherever it fits and making some changes to the overall function and feel.

How We Turned a Garage into a Living Room, Laundry Room, Office, and Storage Space

My friend Martha had a vision for this garage conversion: to turn her unfinished catch-all garage into a beautiful, hard-working space that could function as a living room, media room, playroom, laundry room, home office, and storage zone. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely convinced all of that could fit. But somehow(?!), it absolutely does and it turned out even better than I imagined.

What I’ve been up to - from gardening, to film photography, and the books and shows we’re enjoying. Plus a house tour that requires a closer look, grass seed to always have on hand, cedar shake excitement, historic window screens, and the privilege I’m reminded of daily.

Where I’ve been, shooting on film, my dream house, retro costume inspiration, energy rebates, a magic cake, textiles I don’t need but want, a lampshade DIY, my best defense against mosquitos, a new podcast, what’s killing home remodelers, best decision-making advice, overheard parenting, Little Women on acid home tour, best marble etch remover, and more.

Colorful Primary Bathroom Addition Reveal

If you like florals and color, this bathroom is for you. If you don’t, well, maybe scroll through and you’ll be converted? Or not? Either way, here’s the reveal of a bathroom addition that’s finally here - after a whole three years of construction.