Blog - at home with Ashley

Pink Chair Love

Hi Friends! Happy Tuesday! I have the color pink on my brain. It has slowly crept into my house and I love how soft it looks when done correctly. Pink/blush is definitely a trending color so I am trying to use it sparingly and in accents through my house. Last week I toured the Parade of Homes in Salt Lake and without fail, there was a pink adult space in each home. I loved it!

parade of homes

This room had blush accents in the bedding and accessories. It really popped against the white walls and it was stunning!

In this house, there was a pink bedroom and bathroom with the perfect pink walls. I loved the slipper chairs too!

As I’m planning my living room makeover, I can’t help but dream of having a pink chair in my living room. I think it’ll be the perfect fun pop of personality and color. I’ve been doing a ton of hunting for the perfect chair and wanted to share my favorites in case anyone else is also looking: [Read more…]

Living Room Refresh- Abstract Art

Last night I threw a summer soiree for my friends and guys, it was a blast. I am dying to see the pictures and share them with you! I went all out and had fresh florals, a cake, real place settings, catering- so check back next week for those pictures! Honestly, the best part was spending a summer night with my besties!

A few days ago I dreamed aloud and let you know what changes I am planning for in my living room. As a refresh, we are changing out the layout to accommodate a new tv, getting a new sofa and chair and art. Here’s the mood board of the grand plan:

Well, the new art arrived sooner than I thought it would so it went up! Right when you get to the top of my stairs, I have my favorite area for photos- I have a pink bench and DIY botanical art:

before

[Read more…]

Living Room Refresh

Now that the dining room is all wrapped up (and we LOVE it! The reveal is here) it’s time for a new room to focus on. I have three choices- the bathroom, but I’m saving that for October for the next One Room Challenge. Or I have the laundry closet or the living room. We just got a new TV so we totally switched up the layout of the living room. So I guess that means it is next!

living room refresh

The new TV is the Frame from Samsung. This TV is amazing! It is super compact and you can hang it to look like art on your wall! It has a genius cord solution- pretty much it comes with a box for cords and then one cord goes down from the TV. To be so obsessed with a TV is not my style, but our old TV was 10 years old so it was huge and black and a total eyesore! [Read more…]

Why I Quit my Job

baby don

Don was born in February of 2015 and I immediately fell in love. I knew my whole life that I wanted to be a mom and it just felt right having this gorgeous baby in our lives. Being on maternity leave was hard at first as I was used to going to work everyday. But I adjusted and by the time I had to go back I was heartbroken to leave my newborn.

Don on the day I went back to work. Sob!

He was either watched by his dad or his grandma, but still, it was hard- he needed me! So I started brainstorming ways I could work from home and be with my child- something that felt like the best of both worlds. I came up with the idea of a blog and had a whole pitch for my husband. He said it sounded like a nice hobby and so I immediately launched it.

the start of at home with ashley

And little by little it grew and grew. I would wake up early and write for the blog, I’d work on it during nap time, and at night, and in any little moment I could. I continued to work 4 days a week at my 9-5 job. Certain aspects of my day job had gotten tricky and I couldn’t wait to leave! I was motivated beyond belief.

and then I quit

Finally, a few weeks ago, my husband and I decided that it was time, I could quit. Here’s the thing- I want to live a life I design! Right now, for me, that means being home with my child and writing this blog. This post is dedicated to all of the moms out there that have to work away from their kids even though it kills them. I just want to give you hope that there are choices! If I can do it, anyone can. I truly believe it.

Quitting my job was sad and scary. But it also felt freeing and right. As I walked to my car after leaving my work for the last time, I found a penny on the ground and it felt like the best omen. I am ready for the upcoming adventures in my life! I have some really fun things planned for the blog and I can’t wait to continue this journey with you!

If anyone is interested in quitting their job, I wanted to share some of my favorite resources. The truth is that if someone wants to change their life, they have to be inspired. I love these YouTube videos- Do What you Can’t and Make it Count. I listened to this album on repeat. This book was life changing as was the money version.

So what does this mean for you? What I’m hoping for is more content! More projects, more pink, more of what you and I both love. Thank you for your support- it means the world to me!

on the day I quit my job

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Cleaning Challenge

Here’s the thing, I don’t like cleaning my house. I like de-cluttering it and decorating it, but cleaning is for the birds. The issue is that when my house is messy that it drives me crazy. So either my husband and I need to clean it or I need to pay someone to do it. #dreamscenerio #oneday

the best cleaning advice I’ve ever received

About a month ago I confessed to my loathing of cleaning on Instagram and one person (Linda) replied “You dread it because you wait too long. Give yourself 15 minutes a day and stay focused. You will be surprised by how much you get done.” Well, if that isn’t the best cleaning advice I’ve ever received, I don’t know what is! [Read more…]

Dining Room Reveal

Today I have a fun blog post for you- it’s the day we have all been waiting for! Dining room reveal day! Let’s back up to a before photo:

BEFORE

This is from when I started my blog 2 years ago:

Here’s what it looked like about a month ago:

As a recap, I’ve shared the mood board, wallpaper installation, reupholstering the chairs and the new art and rug.

To finish up the project, I updated my chandelier. Honestly, it was actually a bittersweet change. About 8 years ago I was working as a wedding planner. One of my favorite brides of all time had a big wedding and gave me a generous tip for being a part of her big day. With that tip I bought myself a chandelier.

I loved that black chandelier for years. But my tastes shifted and changed with time (as most people’s do). Plus, with the kitchen update, it left the dining room looking a little dated and sad. So I sold it and found the perfect replacement from Overstock! The Armstrong Brass Chandelier:

When we got the package, my husband and I were so excited to install it! We made the super fun mistake of unboxing it in front of my son. Don is 2 and loves to throw everything in the garbage. I’m sure you can see where this is going, but Don moved some of the pieces and we searched for at least an hour to find them. We were shifting through the garbage, looking under the sofa- the whole nine yards. Finally, we found it shoved into one of the light sockets!

AFTER

We put the chandelier up and love it! I added fancy Edison bulbs and it was the perfect finishing touch!

It is a Sputnik style chandelier. These first originated in the 1960’s during the space age. They are most common in mid-century modern rooms, but I love the edge they give my classic dining room! (you can read more about them here)

I love how it looks from the different angles in the dining room!

The chandelier is one of the first things you see when you enter our condo and I love what a beautiful focal point it is!

I wanted to share with you a fun gif of the how the whole room came together:

And as a recap- a before and after image

We had a mini dinner party to celebrate that the room is FINISHED! Now I need a new space to redo- the living room still needs a few things and the laundry room is scary. I also need to do my bathroom, but I’m saving that for October. Let me know what you’d like to see next in the comments.

table runner and napkins from Minted

Small announcement- for the month of August I will be hosting a cleaning challenge! Check back on Monday for a free cleaning schedule printable and full details.

Chandelier provided c/o Overstock.com. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Dining Room Rug with eSaleRugs

Hey hey! Who’s ready for a dining room update?! As a recap, I’ve been working on my dining room week by week. So far I’ve shared the mood board, wallpaper installation, and reupholstering the chairs. I am super excited about this week’s update because…. Drum roll please! I have a new rug and art to share with you! Let’s talk about the rug-

rug

So I am a traditional rug lover. What makes a traditional rug? Think of a Persian rug- usually they contain a border, and have designs like florals, intricate patterns, and center medallions. It’s what I have all over my house and I love the pattern. I feel like it fits well with my style and can be blended with contemporary furniture too.

choose the colors

I fell in love with the Aria Rug from eSaleRugs. It has pink, lots of beige (hello, I have a two year old that will inevitably make stains- so I wanted something that will hide dirt). And the best part, it has gold that is so beautiful when it hits the sun! #love

[Read more…]

How to Secure Art

Last October I shared my stair gallery wall with you. Guys- I loved this gallery wall! The art was so pretty together and the stairs never looked better! Here’s a picture to refresh your memory:

the issue

But let me tell you, it wasn’t super practical. Here’s the issue- I have a two year old who is learning to climb the stairs and has to hold onto the wall. This means that sometimes he held onto the pictures and pulled them down as he climbed the stairs. I have lost probably 5-7 frames this way. No one was ever hurt and it never damaged the stairs, just the cheap Ikea frames. I tried to secure them with a command strip, but it wouldn’t hold. Finally, I was sick of my stairs looking like this: [Read more…]

How to Style a Ledge Gallery Wall

Hi Friends! This weekend I worked on my dining room- the new rug arrived and I am SO excited about it! I’ve been sharing sneak peeks on my Insta stories if you want to follow along! We are gearing up for a big holiday in Utah- Pioneer Day (our State’s founding day). My husband’s birthday is coming up too so it’s busy and exciting over here.

how to style videos

On Instagram, one of my favorite things I like to share are my Instagram styling videos. I show you how to go from a blank space to a styled, beautiful space. If I know how to do one thing, it’s how to style and I want to pass on everything I know about how to arrange things in a way that is pleasing to the eye! Last year, I first put up the ledges and here’s how it looked like then: [Read more…]

How to make a Wall Hanging from a Mop

Wall hangings

Today we are talking all about wall hangings! A few years ago I got my first woven wall hanging and I fell in love! They are super customizable because yarn can come in any color. They add a ton of texture and interest to a space. And they really break up the monotony of frames on the wall. So I’m a fan! [Read more…]