Blog - at home with Ashley

How to Build a Shelf Below Upper Cabinets

I’ve recently been working on a kitchen refresh (I just added some much needed color to my kitchen)! And have been asked about the decor shelf I have in my kitchen that I added with the sole purpose of having a place for more cute things in my life. If you’re wondering how to build a shelf below upper cabinets, I hope this walk-through inspires you to try it too.

Our 1905 kitchen came with taller ceilings-9 feet high- which are so beautiful! But they also posed a big question during our remodel: how should we install the upper cabinets? The old ones didn’t go to the ceiling, leaving nearly two feet of wasted space that just collected dust. I hated that! We have a small kitchen so I wanted cabinets that went to the ceiling for more storage.

After thinking on the issue for a while, I landed on a fun and functional solution. I decided to build a shelf below the upper cabinets for a display area. This idea was partly inspired by The Grit and Polish, who also added a shelf under their upper cabinets. I put my own spin on it, but their lovely kitchen really helped me when I was trying to figure out a lovely solution for displaying more items in a tight space.

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How to Organize Puzzles

I love putting together puzzles, but I find the boxes annoying to keep organized. The boxes are all different sizes. I used to keep them inside a closed cabinet, but then I challenged myself to make them pretty enough to put them out in the open! And guess what?! They turned out so cute! So I thought I’d show you how to organize puzzles.

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Sources for my House’s Paint

I have slowly been adding more color to my house. Which has been so fun! Recently, I’ve been asked for my paint colors. So I thought I’d put them in one place so that they’re easy to find. This blog post has sources for my house’s paint with pictures and links so it’s easy to find.

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Board Game Book My Darling Dollhouse

I decided that it’d be fun to make a custom board game. So I thought- what would I like to play? Then it came to me! A game where you decorate with dollhouse furniture. So I started collecting and made myself (and my family) such a fun game! I’ve had lots of requests for instructions to make it. Here’s my tutorial for a board game book My Darling Dollhouse.

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Board Game Books- Printed

I’ve been slowly turning my board games into books. Originally, I used my Cricut to cut vinyl that I’d iron onto a book box for the container. But I wanted to try printing the cover on a basic at home printer. After some trial and error I figured it out! And this might just be the easiest, most cost effective, and high-end looking result! Here’s my tutorial on board game books printed edition.

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DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath

The number one DIY I wanted to make this year is a DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath. They’re so festive, sparkly, and fun to create! Especially when you get to treasure-hunt for secondhand brooches and earrings. Maybe you’re even lucky enough to have inherited a box of costume jewelry that would be perfect for this project!

If you’ve always wanted to make your own DIY Vintage Jewelry Wreath, this step-by-step guide will walk you through collecting the pieces, assembling the wreath, and adding those finishing touches that make it shine.

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Thrift Store Crystal Christmas Tree

If you love upcycling, color, and vintage sparkle, you’re going to adore this thrift store crystal Christmas tree project. I’ve seen people stack thrifted crystal bowls into a tree shape, and I thought it was so cute, but I wanted to put my own colorful twist on it. So mine became a pastel rainbow!

I love that this project reuses dishes that aren’t quite as popular anymore in a fun, fresh way. Cut glass bowls and serveware are everywhere in thrift stores! This simple upcycle gives these beautiful but often-overlooked pieces a magical new life as a Christmas tree.

Perfect for holiday decor, this DIY Christmas craft is also great for a budget-friendly Thriftmas craft night or as a handmade gift for your friends and family.

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How to Repair Damaged Leather

I have been wanting to upgrade my coffee table for a long time. Then I found it—my unicorn find! A coffee table that looks like a stack of books. However, the leather was in terrible shape. So if you’re wondering how to repair damaged leather, here’s the process I used to bring my dream coffee table back to life.

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The table is made by Maitland-Smith and is really special—the “books” are covered in leather and the spines even open for storage. That’s the good news. The bad news? It had gouges, dents, scratches… honestly a little overwhelming. I think the last owner had pets who really beat the poor table up. I was able to repair it and I thought I’d share the process if you need to fix leather too!

If you’re looking for this table, try looking on Facebook Marketplace! Search “Maitland Smith Stacked Books Furniture.” There’s a few different styles of coffee tables and end tables. There’s even a rare desk! Here’s a bunch linked here. You can also look on eBay or Etsy, though I imagine shipping would be expensive.

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How to Paint Gingham Floors

If you’ve been embracing the Cottagecore trend like me, you’ll know gingham is one of the signature patterns- sweet, nostalgic, and full of charm. So today, I’m sharing how to paint gingham floors step by step so you can try this affordable upgrade in your own home.

I love my living room, but I’ve always despised the grey floors. When we bought our house seven years ago, the gray painted floors stayed “temporary” while we waited for the right time (and budget) to upgrade them.

But I finally got tired of waiting! Instead of spending a fortune, I decided to give them a new look with just paint.

I’m going for a gingham (or buffalo check) pattern, which feels so right for the space.

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DIY Oven Curtain

All I want is for my kitchen to feel cozy. I’ve been loving the cottagecore trend lately, and to really embrace it, that means layering in soft textures and sweet fabrics. So today, I’m making a DIY oven curtain! There’s absolutely no practical need for this project—but if your oven or dishwasher isn’t quite as cute as you’d like, this one’s for you.

For my version, I’m sewing a little skirt that ties onto the oven handle. It’s like a mini curtain for your appliance—simple, removable, and full of charm. You could also use a magnetic rod instead of ties if that’s easier for your setup. My stove isn’t magnetic, so this is the simplest option for me.

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