Hey, I'm Ashley. In early 2015, my husband and I bought our first home: a 1915 Craftsman bungalow in Southern California that needed attention in every direction. I’ve been restoring my 1915 Craftsman bungalow in San Diego for over a decade using original materials where possible, sustainable choices throughout, and aiming to add more color than most people would want. All with no interest in shortcuts.

But the house I'm most proud of isn't the restored one. It's this version: the one with small children in it, toys in the living room, and finger paint on the table. We've spent the last few years modifying the house for the family that now lives here, and somewhere in that process it became the backdrop to my daughters' childhoods. I want it to feel like the homes in their picture books: warm, colorful, a little whimsical, and completely alive.

I have a degree in studio art and spent over a decade in art museum education. I’m a chronic researcher who won't commit to a single decision without first reading everything, cross-referencing it, and sitting with it until it feels right. That applies to wallpaper, window restoration, non-toxic cleaning products, carbon sequestration, and everything in between.

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