December 03, 2019

My Tree Mural is Now Available as an Art Print (and as Wallpaper, Cards, and More!)

December 03, 2019/ Ashley

Big news!! You can now have my office tree mural for yourself! The design is now available as an art print, a poster, a pillow, a clock and even as your own wall mural!

I've received many kind requests for my hand-painted mural to be made available for all to enjoy in their homes, so now you can enjoy the design without the 100+ painstaking hours I spent painting it.

Even better news, the entire shop is 25% off through midnight on Saturday, 12/7! Now is a perfect time to buy it for yourself or as a gift for a loved one.

December 02, 2019

Giving Tuesday: Organizations to Support This Season

December 02, 2019/ Ashley

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday! It’s a great day to donate to your favorite organizations to help them fund their programs into the new year. Maybe consider donating the savings you got on all those Black Friday deals?

I’ve rounded up a list of over 30 non-profits doing great work in a variety of sectors. I hope this inspires and motivates.

November 26, 2019

How To Remove Rust From Cast Iron Pans - Naturally and With Only Two Items

November 26, 2019/ Ashley

Cast iron has become my favorite cooking material and now I’m on the hunt for it whenever I pass a garage sale or antique shop. It’s nonstick, it isn’t going to poison me (cough Teflon), it’s easy to clean, and it lasts forever. When it rusts, it comes clean with two simple kitchen staples that you probably have at home already. Let’s get into it!

November 22, 2019

Weekly Roundup

November 22, 2019/ Ashley

The things on my mind this week including my antiquing in Los Angeles, a nearly-original kitchen, thoughts on home sizes, a cranberry kitchen, artist videos, lead in our drinking water, Thanksgiving prep, library audiobooks, gift guides, the movie I adored this week, and more!

November 20, 2019

Our 1,400 Square Foot Home - How We Live & What We Store

November 20, 2019/ Ashley

My friend Cathy of The Grit and Polish has been opening up the discussion of home sizes and what square footage means to different families. She was talking about it on her blog the other day, and I feel like I have more to share about our home, how we use it, what we wish we had, and how we think it will change in the future. So here it goes!

November 19, 2019

A Handy List and Map of Antique Shops, Thrift Stores, and Markets in Los Angeles

November 19, 2019/ Ashley

I went to Los Angeles and, of course, went antiquing! Here’s a handy map and a list of all of the recommended places to go thrift shopping, antique hunting, and weekend marketing while in LA.

November 15, 2019

Weekly Roundup

November 15, 2019/ Ashley

A log home refresh, a $6 old house part, America Recycles Day has some issues, life on Instagram, your chance to be on This Old House, my wildly-requested lip balm and linen top, on being alone, a homestead I want to buy, two movies I’m dying to see, and more!

November 12, 2019

A Comprehensive Guide to All of My Gift Guides

November 12, 2019/ Ashley

It’s the season of gifting! I’m brainstorming some new gift guides for 2019, but before I share new gift ideas, I want to remind you of my gift guides from yesteryear. I mean, why re-invent the wheel?? I’ve got gift ideas for old house lovers, entertainers, bookworms, gardeners, techies, homebodies, makers, organizers, zero-wasters and more! The items are all still relevant today and can hopefully inspire what to get and give - or even what to put on your own holiday wish list!

November 08, 2019

Weekly Roundup

November 08, 2019/ Ashley

This week’s Weekly Roundup covers my two favorite ORC makeovers, hugelkultur, chore coats, a personality quiz, the tool everyone with an old house needs, a manual espresso maker, talking to kids about race, bust old house accounts, and a staircase restoration.

November 05, 2019

What To Do With Pumpkins After Using Them As Seasonal Decor

November 05, 2019/ Ashley

Pumpkins and gourds are classic decor during the fall season, but please don’t put them in the trash when you’re done admiring them! When put in the trash and sent off to the landfill, pumpkins (and all other food materials) they create nasty greenhouses gasses. Instead of letting them become a negative, turn them into a positive with a few ideas I’ve outlined below.

October 30, 2019

Why You Should Pretend To Be A Home Blogger

October 30, 2019/ Ashley

The title is weird, I know. But hear me out. I have a strange philosophy for making decisions about my home: pretend you're sharing your reasoning with thousands of people. Not in fear of their judgment, but to solidify your own intentions.

October 25, 2019

Weekly Roundup

October 25, 2019/ Ashley

The things on my mind this week including historic kitchen photographs, coming-of-age movies, debating sponsorships, why old places matter, This Old House has a podcast, smart renovating budgeting, thoughts on coffee, and my October playlist.

Backyard Renovation Report Card: Four Years of Tree Growth (Wins) and Decomposed Granite (Losers)

Welcome to a new series: Report Card. I'm going through (nearly) everything in a space and telling you how it's actually held up. The backyard's first up, and spoiler, I did not ace this one.

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.