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 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 MoreI teamed up with friends to help them put together a nursery for their first baby! And when I say, “teamed up” I mean that I weaseled my way into their project to help them bring their design together. I’ve never planned a nursery so I jumped at the chance to flex my creative muscles in not-so-familiar ways.
Read MoreLately, we’re spending more time outdoors and finding creative ways to get a change of scenery and safely see friends. One way we’re doing this is by maximizing backyard space to extend outdoor hang out time into the evenings, especially as the seasons shift and it gets dark earlier. How, you ask? Landscape lighting and outdoor seating! And I mean nice outdoor lighting that illuminates our outdoor meals, floods seating areas with light to see friends six feet apart, and casts light on surrounding greenery.
Read MoreHi. 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.
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.
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.
© 2026 The Gold Hive. All Rights Reserved.
This site contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Sponsored content and gifted products are disclosed as such. All opinions are my own.
All images are copyright The Gold Hive. Reproduction or use without credit is not permitted. · Photo Licensing Policy
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.