The renovation is taking shape! We have level floors (thanks to lots of nail pulling and geometry) and the beginnings of the oh-so-transformative drywall!! The kitchen is finally feeling like a safe space amidst the chaos of a renovation and a pandemic.
Read MoreColorizing antique photos, California’s firefighting crew and prison labor, six myths about old houses, a slow movie, the housewarming pineapple, wallpaper satisfaction, what to think about at your next meal, old home accounts to follow, gorgeous kitchen tile, the new cleaning tool I ordered, and what’s planned for The Gold Hive.
Read MoreWe recently added a big teak table to our backyard and it’s the perfect companion to our (soon-to-be) completed kitchen. The solid teak table arrived un-treated which was already gorgeous, but I wanted to give it even more oomph. I hunted high and low for an environmentally friendly oil that’s free of petrochemicals, and I found one!
Read MoreReal 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 HGTV has taught us that #demoday is the day to take a sledgehammer to the outdated cabinets and a reciprocating saw to an old banister.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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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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.