Limited edition prints from a favorite artist, what took my breath away, kitchen art, versatile and budget-friendly trellises, a unique method of protection, the movie I highly recommend, what I may (or may not) get for the garden, more wallpaper to love, a custom baby board book and other Mother’s Day suggestions, and my floor cleaning lineup.
Read MoreThe perfect piece of art didn’t exist, so I made it. Now the kitchen walls are adorned with a beautiful (yet odd) photo with a lil’ cameo by Margot!
Read MoreFlower photos and a flower PSA, a handmade colorful dress, where I’m getting a big print printed, a tiny change with big impact, moving beyond Carbon Tunnel Vision, Ross’ home policy, big changes to the blog, groceries to fight food waste, the hunt for the perfect dishtowel, rules for sharing content online, big renovation news, and more.
Read MoreMy 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 MoreWelcome 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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What I’m watching, knitting, and swinging in