Real and painted bathrooms, stone fruit salad, all clothing is handmade, the implicit association test, seeking old house accounts, revealed tile, heat in redlined neighborhoods, typography and accessibility, and more.
Read MoreIn a COVID-19 world, our homes are carrying the load of so many of our needs: living, working, childcare, exercise, entertainment, hobbies, haircuts, and more. As we continue to live more of our lives at home, the design of our spaces has to shift to accommodate these new activities while still balancing what “home” means to each of us. I’ve been brainstorming many of the ways the design can change, and I’m curious if you agree or have other ideas, too!
Read MoreWhen we think of renovations and demolition, we often imagine a dumpster full of materials and debris from a gutted room. HGTV has taught us that #demoday is the day to take a sledgehammer to the outdated cabinets and a reciprocating saw to an old banister. But it doesn’t have to be like that! We can restore, renovate, and even demolish rooms without sending every little thing to the landfill.
Read MoreEvocative photos, apron styles, the new movie I’m excited to see, a big cabin transformation, ballot tracking, a podcast on schools and race, measuring wealth through time, environmental books, falling fruit, and more!
Read MoreI’ve always loved “day in the life” style posts from my favorite bloggers, but I never shared one myself. Partly because I wondered if it was at all interesting to anyone, partly because my days vary so much, and partly because I’m kinda ashamed to admit how many hours I spend scrolling on my phone.
Read MoreThe things on my mind including deja vu tiles, deep organizing, a reclaimed flooring saga, divesting from banks, the new garden gadget to save me tons of time, a podcast about greed and real estate, what I’m going in November, reader’s favorite blog post, and my monthly playlist!
Read MoreI came across a charming book written in 1914 all about how to plan an efficient kitchen. How perfect of a fit for me is that?!? Efficient! Kitchen! 1914! The book has certainly inspired my renovation and I’ve incorporated some of the tips and tricks into my current design. From organizing to lighting, and cooking to materials, it’s got guidelines on all of it. Admittedly, some of the lessons are comical and antiquated, but that’s the fun of it! Beyond kitchen designing, though, this book aims to make our homes thoughtful spaces that are free of waste, that value women’s time, and are utilitarian spaces rather than storage units. It’s pretty forward-thinking for a 100-year-old book!
Read MoreThe things on my mind this week including mirrors, the study of trees, a docuseries to binge, blood donation, billionaires existence, catching up on my renovation, the recipe I never knew about but want to try, the garment that I haven’t previously owned until now, and more.
Read MoreI’m one of those people that gets devoured by mosquitos. My mom always told me that it’s because I’m “so sweet” which is cute and nice, but jeez do I hate those pesky creatures. Last year, we had issues with excessive mosquitos so I called in support from the county’s vector control program. I learned a few things straight from an expert, then I’ve applied them for the past year. Now, I’m here to report to you the key takeaways.
Read MoreThe house I want to buy, native lands, the dress I’m sewing, more dresses I’m eyeing, thinking about money, ordering more wine, my favorite smoothie, what I’m eyeing on eBay, COVID-19 risk assessment, and needing your feedback.
Read MoreWhether renovating rooms or just planning a new furniture layout, I’ve been using this free app for years. It’s so simple to use - and there’s no need to understand CAD or Photoshop! Truly anyone can do it if you have some patience to figure out the quirks. In addition to designing a new layout, the renderings are so pretty and helpful for visualizing your new space!
Read MoreAn 18th-century home restoration, new swimsuits, end-of-life planning, my birthday, new cleaning tools, adopting a swing state, a kitchen makeover with clues to my kitchen, how not to go zero waste, a mask with my mural, and my monthly playlist.
Read MoreWhat 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.
What I’m binge watching, the things I ordered for summertime fun, an incredible legacy, ranking films, a dozen things to say to your kids daily, design decisions, sibling bonds, and more.
I have such love for my historic house, but I’ve shamefully been neglecting the exterior paint. The tired finish was peeling and the faded colors did no justice to the architectural beauty of my 1915 craftsman bungalow. It was time for a change - a transformation that would honor the home's history while infusing it with fresh energy.
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 type-A homebody fixing up my historic home at a snail’s pace in California. I share home improvement DIYs, tips for sustainable living, and renovation stories - all while aiming to add more color and present real, lived-in spaces.
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Margot is getting an upgraded room to make space for baby sister in the nursery.
With an additional family member, we want to shuffle the rooms of our 3-bedroom house around. The one off the living room was being used as my home office, so now it’s time to convert it into an actual bedroom. The initial thought was to give this room to baby sister and keep Margot in her room. But we ultimately decided to put the baby in the room designed to be a nursery, then convert the home office into a space designed for a bigger kid. Plus, the office has more windows, and is right off the living room (Margot’s playroom) so it’s better suited for all the daytime play, whereas the single-window nursery is cozier for lots of daytime naps.