I’m a sucker for a good DIY and have always been a fan of craft projects that keep me busy, teach me something new, and give me something to enjoy or gift when I’m done. During the kitchen renovation and the pandemic, when things feel out of control and I crave the satisfaction of a job well done, so crafting is something I’m itching to do. Perhaps you are, too?
Read MoreElectrical went in last week! As did HVAC and venting! And we had our first inspection! While it was stressful for me to make decisions (that’s just not my strong suit in any application), the installation was free of drama like plumbing week! Let’s take a look at what happened, shall we?
Read MoreI’ve converted my tree mural into a paint-by-numbers coloring page, just for you! It’s totally free, of course. You can color it with markers, paint, colored pencils, or just a plain old pencil. You do you.
Every once in a while we crave a mind-numbing activity. And I’d vote that during a pandemic is one of those times. Some folks are sittin’ around looking for things to do and others are working five jobs instead of one. So, may I interest you in some brain-less coloring to take your mind off the stress for even a minute or two?
Read MoreI used to write these renovation updates in terms of weeks, but things are just so. slow. moving. So instead of a week 4 update, it’s just the 4th update in the series because it’s actually been 7 weeks of renovation. But, we’re making progress, and in this post, I’m here to chat all about plumbing! Spoiler: things started to suck this week.
Read MoreThe things on my mind this week including a DIY sink stand, comparative suffering, checking privilege, a philosophy for maintaining calm during the chaos, spring cleaning, blogger visits, a cool candlestick, recreating artwork at home, the end of an era, the teeny renovation decisions, y monthly playlist, and more.
Read MoreThere are a lot of times I’d recommend not renovating a kitchen and during coronavirus is one of those times. We’ll work it out, and we’re grateful we have the privilege we do right now, and this will all be over one day (hopefully). But It’s still less than ideal. Many of you kindly have reached out to ask how things are going, so I’m here to share with you what’s going on and how we’re moving forward with this project.
Read MoreIt’s springtime and that means clean time! As your resident clean freak, I’ve compiled a list of deep cleaning activities for you to tackle throughout the season. Some will take a few minutes, others will take an afternoon, and some are set-em-and-forget-em then wipe-em-clean a day later.
Read MoreThis week’s inspiration including a scullery DIY makeover, how to help during the coronavirus crisis, what I miss most not having a kitchen, what to do if you’re itching to do projects at home, a crafting kit I’m eyeing, where to get home improvement resources when stores are closed, 25% off cashmere sweaters, urban homesteading resources, Daniel’s entryway makeover, and more.
Read MoreThis kitchen renovation and bathroom addition are still cruising. Kinda slow, often uneventful, sometimes thrilling. This past week the guys have been wrapping up framing and that included cutting a hole into a perfectly good wall, removing a door, adding two doors, and adding two walls!
Read MoreWe’ve been without a kitchen for over a month during our renovation. The room is totally gutted so needless to say, we’re without a sink, cooktop, oven, organized pantry, and open counter space. And we’ll be without for many many more moons so we’ve set up a functioning temporary kitchen to prevent starvation.
Read MoreWe’re all facing challenges during this bizarre time. And I can’t stop thinking about the folks dealing with stresses far greater than the boredom of being stuck at home. I really feel for those without work and worrying about how to pay rent, the medical professionals working on the front lines, the most medically vulnerable, or the people that don’t have the luxury to work from home.
So, I’ve rounded up some ways we can help others during this time. Some of these involve cash donations and some are as simple as spending 5 minutes online. I’m sure you can find one thing to do in order to help someone else no matter your circumstance.
Read MoreA roundup of what’s been going on this week including the restoration material I just bought, a whole-house craftsman home renovation you must see, my decision fatigue, a house made entirely of local materials, my favorite shops for your shopping pleasure, how to research the life-cycle of your products, Cathy’s pantry, reframing our reaction to COVID-19, my tree mural print is on sale, how I get about my decorative bowls, and what I’m doing this weekend!
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.
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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.