My favorite before and after, an old house directory, vintage wall plates, what I can’t stop thinking about, painted trim, my air purifier is on sale, parenting podcast, new photos from a favorite photographer, a stunning kitchen, what I just discovered are cool, the show you have to watch, and what Ross keeps stealing.
Read MoreI debated over a hundred wallpaper pattern options for the kitchen. And I mean hundreds. I started with a giant stack, then narrowed it down to about 20 that sat on the walls for months.
Read MoreThe kitchen is wallpapered! I repeat, the kitchen has been wallpapered!
Read MoreWhat’s kept me occupied this week, a fruit tree resource, how to help Ukraine, the adjusted age of parenthood in a pandemic, the historic tile spacing method, an inspiring bathroom makeover, a breadmaker’s bread knife, a kitchen designed around an antique stove, the show Ross and I can’t get over, a super-wide doormat, how to restore old windows, and more.
Read MoreThe things on my mind this week including a surprise renovation project kicking off right now, the best price on pleated fabric shades, an insulation PSA, defining Bloomsbury style, the truth behind being an HGTV star, breastfeeding with low supply, a bathroom reno to look forward to, new leggings, Daniel’s new series, stain removal, and more!
Read MoreIf you’re like me, you have thousands of photos on your phone or computer. I had close to 50,000! For years, I’ve wanted to make printed annual photo albums, but it was too overwhelming to organize them, so I didn’t. Now, with Margot in our lives (and significantly increasing the quality of the subject matter), I’m determined to make her a baby book and print annual family photo books. I needed a way to narrow down the 4,000 photos I’ve taken in the last 6 months without me spending days of my life doing so. I’ve figured it out and I’m here to share.
Read MoreLife is completely different with Margot and our home has evolved, too. She’s nearly 7 months old so I’m sharing how our house has shifted during this phase of her life.
Read MoreHow we spend our days, the show I just binged, a declutter challenge, a great gift for the babies in your life, the most entertaining salad tutorial ever, a minimal modern home, a budget DIY backsplash, the sweater I wear all the time, clean energy in San Diego, what I finally bought, the switched out house numbers, and a kitchen update.
Read MoreBuilt-in cabinets and coordinating islands are lovely, but I wanted a standalone furniture piece in our new kitchen. So, I designed the layout to include a vintage wooden table instead of a peninsula of cabinetry. After lots of vintage hunting and some modifications, we have the perfect work surface, dining table, and all-around great addition to the kitchen.
Read MoreMargot is six months old! We celebrated her half birthday with half a cake (for mom and dad), and a new swing (for her). Two of her favorite things to do are sit independently and stare at foliage, so we combined them into a treat for us to all enjoy together. We hung a lil’ baby swing where a planter used to be and I must say that a chunky baby is way more fun to admire than a rusty hanging basket.
Read MoreA report on a year with marble counters in the kitchen (the full scoop on stains and etches!), a dreamy holiday mantel, leaning into curly locks, taking a firm stance, a room full of pink, what to do before leaving town, the shop that is now filling Margot’s closet, another block-print pillow, a half-bath transformation, parenthood feelings, a keepsake box, a confession, and the value of experts.
Read MoreNew holiday bulbs, the This Old Gingerbread Contest, upgraded camera gear, how Margot is eating, organizations to support, a nursery update, my gift guides, kitchen design regret, a desire for more/less baby info, safety lights, and wall inspiration.
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.