I’ve been talking on the blog a lot about our home’s new layout as we approach the remodel of the kitchen. I’ve brought it up because first I wanted your opinion, then because you gave great advice, and then because I needed your help deciding, and then I teased my favorite layout, then I elaborated, and now I’m here to fully explain the new layout - in video form!
Read MoreThe things on my mind this week including Sarah’s kitchen makeover, thoughts on consumption, the true crime show I’ve been watching, history of paint-by-numbers, an 1820s farmhouse, cleaning windows, me in illustration, tips for recycling, podcast about building material sustainability, a recipe for summer fruits, and a kitchen renovation I’m glued to.
Read MoreYou know I love cleaning, and there’s nothing like squeaky clean windows! Now that summer is truly upon us, I know there’s no more rain in the forecast for several months, so I feels good to shine those windows up.
Window cleaning can be a struggle, they can turn out super full of streaks, and the process can create a lot of wasteful paper towels. But, as someone that ditched single-use towels years ago, I’ve found a technique that uses no waste and is 100% streak free! I also use this technique on my mirror, too.
Read MoreThe things on my mind this week including a simple neutral nursery, why zero waste is more than a plastic bag, why now is the time to foster animals, life expectancy and food, how much our homes have warmed, insight into small-town financials, and my June playlist.
Read MoreI love looking at how people store things - especially in their kitchens. I like learning other people’s reasoning for things, I like snooping, and I always like to improve on my own spaces. So, I filmed one of my own kitchen! However, mine isn’t perfect. This whole kitchen was a stopgap solution until we could renovate the space (coming soon!) so there’s no fancy pull out drawers, no custom spice racks, no perfectly sized shelves, and certainly no perfect layout.
Read MoreThe things going on this week including my trip to Chicago, the blogger pals I got to see, my favorite jeans, plastic free July, getting started with sourdough, an antique bathroom makeover and a tiny house kitchen reveal.
Read MoreI’ve been sharing oodles of front yard and landscape posts (get ‘em all here) and the icing on the landscape cake is always lighting. I installed the lights only a couple of weeks ago and it’s amazing how much the space has transformed in the evenings. In typical fashion, I thought long and hard about lighting, so here’s the full scoop on making our front yard garden just as pretty at night as it is during the day.
Read MoreIt’s been three months since I’ve given you an update on my kitchen remodel, so here’s what’s been going on lately. I’ve got good news, disappointing news, and just plain ol’ updates.
Read MoreThe things on my mind this week including: my favorite city I’m visiting right now, adapted classic paintings, a book for vintage kitchen planning, a cottage makeover, steps to going zero waste, cheap old houses, my new slogan, an auction I recommend you support, the issue with buying eco-friendly replacements, a thanks for the coffee, and more.
Read MoreThe post so so SO many of you have been asking for! A full plant guide of the each of the flora in my front yard. The collection includes a mix of California natives, a few Australian natives that thrive in our similar climate, but all with an emphasis on low water that are beautiful and mostly evergreen.
Read MoreThe things on my mind this week including a house I have no words for, an epic snack table, my favorite TV show back for another season, the best intro to zero waste ever, priorities and perspective, how to wash produce without gimmicks, a beautiful kitchen reveal, buying bloggers coffee, a new house renovation to follow, a podcast on the future of our earth and bodies, and more!
Read MoreI’ve made it to the garden installation story, after many other posts all about prepping and planning - here we are! While I'm here to share the installation of the plantings and irrigation, this isn’t going to be a DIY tutorial post as much as a story of what happened and a bunch of photos of the process.
Read MoreMy 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.
Margot is getting an upgraded room to make space for baby sister in the nursery.
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.
Hammocks, cookbooks, gardening, sewing, and the other things I’ve been up to on my impromptu break, and more.
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.
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.
My baby is two! Time’s flying… we wish we could slow down these years… I can’t believe she’s two… and all those other cliché things to say. We celebrated her second trip around the sun in our backyard with a small gathering of friends.
Ashley’s restoring her historic home at a snail’s pace in California. She shares home improvement DIYs, tips for sustainable living, and renovation stories - all while aiming to add more color and present real, lived-in, family friendly spaces.
I'm Ashley, a deeply systematic homebody restoring my 1915 Craftsman bungalow in California, slowly and on purpose. I don't make a single decision without first opening 100 tabs. Renovation, DIY, color, and what it actually looks like to live in an old house with two young kids.
© 2026 The Gold Hive. All Rights Reserved.
This site contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Sponsored content and gifted products are disclosed as such. All opinions are my own.
All images are copyright The Gold Hive. Reproduction or use without credit is not permitted. · Photo Licensing Policy
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.