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.
Read MoreThe thrill of renovating outdoor spaces is they always get better with age. We overhauled our backyard last year and the plant growth during this last trip around the sun is wild! Get ready for lots o’ photos.
Read MoreWe overhauled our backyard it’s my new favorite “room” at our house. Here’s what it cost to completely transform the space.
Read MoreIt’s been a year since we renovated our backyard and it exceeds my expectations for what was possible in the space. I’m overdue for a walkthrough of the process from beginning to end, but here I am!
Read MoreSweet pea sweetness, a movie to mark your calendar for, colorful table linens, remodel regrets, uncommon kitchens, jumbo ric rac, barefoot shoes, a great sourdough recipe, miracle gel, nostalgic photos, and chromophobia.
Read MoreWe really like the range we selected during our kitchen remodel, but despite my over-thinking and intense research for a range, I have a regret.
Read MoreLots of gardening thoughts this week including a composting hack, a yard remodel regret, a crop harvest plan, and other things like lead safety, Alison’s kitchen makeover, a new book from everyone’s favorite old home account, supporting family visitation, the new item I hung to attract creatures, an assignment for high schoolers that I want to try, a TP recommendation, fix-it clinics, and more!
Read MoreOur century-old house has been in need of a fresh paint job and the task of dealing with the layers of lead-based paint was admittedly intimidating. There are a few key steps to keep lead out of our waterways, soil, air, and homes when working outside. I’m here to share exactly what to do (and not do!) when prepping a house for a quality paint job while taking the greatest cautions with lead.
Read MoreThe things on my mind this week including a hosue painting update, a few newborn essentials we’re still using to this day, a sobering quilt, conversation cards, the most useful old house housewarming gift, how to help the birds, a step back in time, a 2024 gift to myself, the most lovely nursery, a new weird allergy, a favorite TV show is back, the next book on my list, empty homes for $25k, and a new kind of playlist.
Read MoreA faux finish I approve of, helping injured wildlife, pants for spring, a gardening request, an apartment tour, sharing is caring, SPF powder, a living playhouse update, upgrading a tool, and the podcast I’m loving.
Read MoreDanish baby sleeping, the next big project, a tip for movie viewing, a home style quiz, funny podcasts, a flower-filled home, a witch house, community care, a holiday to celebrate, how to help the planet, the thing I can’t stop buying, San Diego housing, a reminder for makeovers, the best couch, I’m now an athlete, and my monthly playlist.
Read MoreIt’s good to be home, a tender photo series, colorful towels, a house of stripes, loud quitting, a beautifully wintery word, an inset door upcycling DIY, experimenting in the backyard, a kitchen trend I can get behind, 1990s home inspo, the tool that changed our evenings, more café curtains?, a new season of an old show, and my monthly playlist.
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