It’s done! I worked with friends to help them revamp their tired and cramped kitchen with the help of a fresh layout, smart cabinetry, and modern finishes. I can’t wait for you to see these before and afters!
Read MoreThere’s always that one thing that transforms a kitchen - tearing down a wall, adding a skylight, incorporating an island - but in this kitchen, it’s cabinets. The power of new cabinetry in a fresh layout is a game changer for a kitchen with limited space!
Read MoreA tourist in my own city, a design show I’m pumped for, a creative flooring makeover, a modest kitchen reno, a trash PSA, invisible domestic work and what to do about it, fire safety, who’s land you’re on, a sale on my favorite garments, inclusive holiday books for kids, keeping myself accountable, examples of white privilege, where I get Margot’s clothes, renovating for yourself instead of future buyers, community planning, and more!
Read MoreMy friends’ kitchen is narrow, dark, cramped, lacking storage, and has underutilized space. So, I’m working with them to transform it! Their existing space is a typical small kitchen and I’m proud to show off how we’re improving the space without dramatic structural changes.
Read MoreVertical stripes and florals - perfect for a fun, colorful, playful home.
Read MoreGifts perfect for little ones - all hand-selected by my toddler! These items will provide lasting fun, encourage creative play, and are fun for parents and caregivers, too!
Read MoreBathroom wallpaper is here and other things on my mind this week including the vintage toothbrush holder I got, the parenting book I’m reading, the legacy of one home, a new way of looking at abortion, a standup comedy special and a TV show I recommend, the tiny item I wish I had when I carried a purse, Indigenous architecture, San Diego seeds, a retractable garden hose, a reminder to check my Instagram, the recipe to save our backyard, a Halloween sneak preview, Heardle, and my monthly playlist.
Read MoreThe new clothes I’m living in, plus fall outfits, modern and classic cafe curtains, a gift for someone that moved, an incredible house tour, two kitchen reveals and a mudroom sneak preview, tipping points, a wallpaper duo, a pink ceiling, a TV series we loved, a love letter and a critique to Goodnight Moon, upgraded bubbles, shower rings, dealing with ants, and more!
Read MoreMy baby girl turned one year old this summer!! We celebrated her with a simple outdoor bash with a few friends and family. We had colorful decor, a custom felt crown, a pile of berries, and the sweetest one-year-old!
Read MoreA new favorite movie, a new favorite home, the best stain remover, a formula for making a room, a perfect DIY, the baby item you can use as an adult, greying gracefully, and a rug dupe.
Read MoreThe things on my mind this week including a 1910 home full of wallpaper, my backyard reveal, design that’s taking away heritage, what photos are doing to our memory, un-designing a home to sell it, toddler pool floats, historical clothing, a simple $14 change, old house sounds, the design show we need in the world, a friendly reminder, and more.
Read MoreOur backyard is complete!! Before, it was lackluster, unusable, and dangerous. Now, it’s full of fruit trees, veggie beds, flowers, and spaces for play, dining, and lounging. It’s perfect!
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.