Blog - at home with Ashley

Kitchen Reveal!

Hi Friends! I haven’t blogged for a week for one good reason- I’ve been working on my kitchen! Side note, if you ask my two year old son what he wants to do he says “work on the kitchen”- it’s pretty adorable (and only a tiny bit sad). Evidently, we have been tiling, and grouting, and caulking and painting non stop!!! And I’ve missed you guys! Today I get to (finally) share all of the details!

before

Let’s start with a before (this is what it looked like 1.5 years ago):

after

I have been dreaming about updating this kitchen ever since we bought it 9 years ago. And this year (thanks to the One Room Challenge) we finally went for it! After 6 weeks of replacing pretty much everything, here’s our after:

hardware / faucet / soap / candle / brass vase (no longer available) / window shade / brass sconce / sink / cake stand (no longer available) / pineapple cutting board / white & gold dishes / abstract art / The Year of Cozy / Eat Beautiful / bike / shelves (no longer available) / tile (no longer available) / quartz (no longer available) / cabinets [Read more…]

5 Ways you can be the Best Gift Giver

Confession time- with my crazy life right now, I have become a lazy gifter. Which is sad because I love receiving good gifts! I’m the girl 5 minutes before I have to leave the house pulling an old gift card out of my wallet and putting it in a card I happen to have in my closet. So I’ve become the worst (well, I guess that no gift would be worst, but you know). This year I decided to take the time and actually give good gifts. I’ve included some ideas for you and some prompts so you can figure out what your family and friends will love and be the best gift giver ever!

What makes a good gift?

Here are the characteristics of what I consider a good gift:

an item that the person really wants but they won’t splurge for.

My little sister is the best at this- she knows my favorite scent (which is expensive) and gave me the matching candle and hand cream. I would never buy this for myself, but I adore it! She’s given me Chanel lipstick, lunch at a fancy restaurant- things I am too cheap to buy on my own but love receiving.

an experience.

For my birthday, my mom took my sisters and I to see Lion King. I love going to the theater, but don’t budget it in (time or money wise), so this was a real treat! It was fun to go to the new venue in our city and dress up for a night out! [Read more…]

Kitchen Update Week 5

Well, hello there! I’ve got a quick kitchen update for you! If you’ve been following along, I’ve been redoing my kitchen week by week and next week is the projected finish date. Here’s what we’ve completed these past 7 days:

Counter Tops have been Templated

What that means is that Bedrock Quartz sent over someone to digitally measure the space so that the countertops can be cut to perfectly fit my cabinets! That’s the good news. The bad news is that the install date is scheduled for May 9th. I was hoping to finish the whole renovation, have it styled and photographed by 7am on May 11th. I can’t tile all of the walls until the counter tops are in so I’m a little stressed about the tight timeline! Especially since I work and the 10th is a work day. So we’ll see….

Ceiling is Painted

sconce / flush mount

When we put up our bead board ceiling, the whole reason was to cover the huge holes left from the old soffit. We put the ceiling up and it took one million nail holes to do so. I was the lucky girl who got to patch each hole (twice) and then paint to finish it off. It looks so beautiful now! I love the texture the bead board adds to the space!

new light is up

We ended up exchanging our old light for a different one that matched the finishes in the room better. All of the lights are from Joss and Main and they were so nice to switch it out for us! Isn’t the new light gorgeous?! I’m obsessed!

Cabinets are 90% Assembled

Last week we had the frame of the cabinets in and now they all (mostly) have drawers and door fronts! High five! My husband has worked nights and on his days off doing this project. I love Ikea, but going from flat boxes to beautiful cabinets is a lot of work!

Hardware is Attached

center bar pull / small pull

The beautiful hardware from Joss and Main has been attached! Hardware is like adding accessories to your outfit- it is just that final sparkle that leaves the room feeling special and finished! It feel SO good to get to this point! Now we can start filling the cabinets with all of our stuff- cue the happy dance! That means my dresser won’t be covered in pots and pans anymore!!!

Collecting Accessories

cake stand/ eat beautiful/ the year of cozy/ hand vase

I love me some pretty accessories! A few more accessories have arrived and I am looking forward to styling them in the finished space! The hand brass vase is so perfectly weird- I just love the color and the quirkiness! The marble and wood cake stand is just a beautiful staple piece that will add some great warmth and texture to the space. P.s. Alice Lane has sent over a code that you can get 20% off your entire purchase! Just use ashleywilson20 at checkout (valid May 4-7, 2017),

What I Still Need to do

So there are the updates. Now for the final to do list (note to self, do not hyperventilate looking at this):

Buy tiling supplies
Tile
Buy crown molding
Install crown molding
Install base board
Caulk and paint moldings
Fill sheet rock hole (where we had to move a light switch)
Attach shoe molding
Install Drapes
Install shelves
Fill in cabinets
Put up beam (to bridge gap between the beadboard ceiling and the living room ceiling)
Put up end panels on cabinets
Paint 1/2 wall
Paint Dining room
Install faucet
Hang art

One week people, one week and then this should be all done for the One Room Challenge. Pray for me?!
p.s. want a free course on how to style your accessories to look amazing? Click below to get your free ecourse!

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

Don’s Nursery Refresh

Good morning! Don’s nursery is a special room for me. It’s the room I poured my soul into decorating before he was born. We’d been scrimping for years to pay off our debt so I decorated his nursery on a budget, and filled it with as much love and personality as I could on as little as possible (you can see how his room looked when I started this blog over 2 years ago here). We’ve made a few updates, so I thought I’d share those with you!

wallpaper / [Read more…]

My Kitchen Renovation- the middle part

Guys, I am officially in the middle part of renovating my kitchen. I now can kind of see progress, but it’s not quite where I want it and I’m scared at how much there is to do in so little time! This is not a fun point to be at 🙂 . I going to show you what we’ve accomplished this week because although the kitchen isn’t getting much better, there is a lot of behind of the scenes stuff happening!

The lights are up

My husband installed the lights! We have a sconce over the sink (we used to have a ceiling light, but liked the idea of moving it down. And since the ceiling and wall were already ripped up, it was easy to do). That’s the good news. The bad news is that I think the ceiling light is too dark of a brass and they don’t look great together. I’m going to try to exchange the ceiling flush mount light for something lighter.

sconce / flush mount

The stove has been delivered

I choose a Samsung range from RC Willey and they delivered it to me and took the old stove with them! It was SO nice and convenient! We choose a convection oven and are excited for the faster time and even cooking. I used to have to rotate the food in my old oven because it cooked so unevenly. We went with a stainless steel finish and it is gorgeous! It is sitting in my living room and we haven’t used it yet (yes, eating meals without a stove, sink, cabinets, or dishwasher is super fun 😉 ).

stove [Read more…]

What to Expect- Ikea Kitchen Ordering

What to expect when ordering a kitchen from Ikea

Welp, it’s week three of my kitchen renovation and things are starting to get exciting! Our kitchen is getting torn apart (goodbye old cabinets!) which means it’s time to order new cabinets. Before starting, I looked at a bunch of cabinet options and we ended up going with Ikea because of cost and customization.

I read so many blog posts about ordering a kitchen from Ikea and couldn’t find what to exactly expect when you order a kitchen from them, so I thought I’d document the process here. If you like to know what to expect and you are planning an Ikea kitchen, this post is for you!

1 Go to Ikea and get ideas.

Lots and lots of ideas! Open each cabinet in every one of the mini kitchens and note what you love and hate. You might be surprised at what you like in real life that you wouldn’t have guessed you would like! Grab a few kitchen catalogs and eat some Swedish Meatballs. Maybe pretend you’re Summer from 500 days of Summer (oh wait, is that just me who does that?!)

2 At home, plug in the measurements of your kitchen into Ikea’s kitchen planner.

Ikea has a free website they offer where you can try out every cabinet configuration you can dream of and see what it’ll look like. Make sure to create a login and save your work (the program is prone to crashing). Change and tweak your kitchen until it’s perfect (and then save it once more).

It’s officially time to head back to Ikea to place your order.

Plan on at least 4 hours at the store to complete your order. I suggest to go early on a weekday when it’ll probably be the least busy. Bring a truck or trailer and some tie downs since you will need to haul your kitchen home (though you can pay for delivery).

Once you arrive at Ikea

Go straight to the kitchen planning area of the stores (where all of the computers are on the 2nd floor) and get in line for assistance. You can sit down at an open computer and when it’s your turn you’ll get a salesperson. Have your kitchen plan open on the computer and a list of any questions you may have.

Your salesperson will go through your plan with you

They will try to ensure there are no mistakes. They’ll add in anything you might have missed. Depending on how complete your plan was this could take 45 minutes to an hour. You’ll pay for the cabinet part of your purchase in the kitchen planning area so that it can be picked for you in the warehouse while you finish shopping. You will be given a receipt, the plan for your kitchen, and a list of every piece you will receive and your order number.

Don being an angel while we placed our order. Tablet plus lots of snacks = happy toddler. If your child is potty trained and 37″-54″ tall, they can use IKEA’s play place.

What if something is out of stock?

We had two pieces end up being out of stock- a drawer front and a part to our dishwasher. Those will be shipped to us for $15 in about one week.

Note, if you buy during the sale (especially at the end), most or all of your kitchen might be out of stock. Be prepared to wait 7-10 days for it to be restocked.

How long will it take to pick?

We were told that for all 90 pieces of our kitchen it would take around one hour for the warehouse employees to gather them. It was a little longer than that. Have lunch, buy your kitchen accessories, back your truck or trailer into the loading area and then head to the Furniture Pickup area to see if your order is up on the screen.

Inventory time.

Once your order has been pulled, you will need to take inventory and make sure they got everything from your order. This part isn’t fun and takes 30-45 minutes of checking each item off the list. You need to sign that all items were picked so you’re in charge of ensuring it was done correctly.

Loading up.

Now you have all of your pretty cabinets in flat boxes and it’s time to load them up and take them home. You might want to wear gloves for this step since the cardboard can cut you (I wish I wasn’t telling you this from personal experience). Tie your boxes down and drive slowly home. Our trip home took much longer than usual because we took a slower highway instead of a freeway.

Sales Timing

We went during the Ikea kitchen event where all kitchens are 20% off so it was extra busy. Being there during the sale saved us $900 so if you can time your visit during a sale, it sure is worth it!

Cost

Are you wondering what everything cost that we got from Ikea? The total we spent at Ikea was $3,571.17. This includes new cabinets, a dishwasher, a sink, and some accessories. We have a small kitchen so the total will depend on your selection and size of a space you are making over. We went with the Bodbyn cabinets (which I am so excited about)! Click here to see the grand total for our whole kitchen renovation.

[Read more…]

Teaching Your Toddler Independent Play

teaching your toddler independent play

tree house from A Perfect Playhouse (no longer available)

Guys I am a busy mom. I COUNT on Don to be able to play alone so that I can get a few things done each day. When I learned that my encouraging him to play by himself was good for him, I was thrilled. Is that not the best win win situation ever?! I wanted to tell you why its so beneficial and give you some tips on teaching your toddler independent play.

why independent play is important

Let’s start with a quote from Dr. Sheila Anderson, Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Education at Weber State University. She says that during independent play,

Children freely express feelings and ideas, exercise imagination, and feel the joy of self-discovery.” She goes on to explain that, “This fosters creativity. As they plan and carry out their own ideas, confidence emerges, as well as the ability to sustain attention, and persist in problem solving.”

via (no longer available)

tree house and bench from A Perfect Playhouse (no longer available)

So independent play (whenever a child plays on their own) builds creativity, imagination, talents, and helps a child develop a sense of who they are. It teaches self reliance and problem solving. So we can all agree this is an worthy goal! Now on to how to actually get your toddler to play on their own. [Read more…]

Prepping for a Kitchen Remodel- what to do first?

Prepping for a Kitchen Remodel

If you are starting a kitchen remodel, it might be tricky to know what to do and when. I’ve been there! I know the anxiety ofhaving a big project just around the corner and being too scared to prepare. The very first thing I suggest you do for prepping your kitchen remodel is deciding where to put the stuff. That way you can function while you renovate. Before you start construction you need an action plan for where to keep everything that were in your cupboards. You’ll want to know what you’ll do with the items you tear out (cupboards, counter tops, etc.). Lastly, you need a plan b for eating. Having these items figured out will keep you and your family happier through the construction process.

Where our most important kitchen items are going during the remodel.

So where do you put the stuff in your cupboards? The answer will really depend on your house and where you have space. I live in a small condo now so I will be putting the most important items in the shelves above my washing machine (in a closet off of my dining room/kitchen). The least important items I will be boxing away and putting in closets. One very important piece of advice I will give is to purge while you have the chance! You’re going to have to move everything multiple times, so this is the best time to get rid of anything you don’t use or have too many of. Donate or give the items to friends and simplify your life right now!

Get rid of clutter and you may just find that it was blocking the door you’ve been looking for” – Katrina Mayer

the closet where my rarely used kitchen items are living 🙂

Next you need to decide what you are going to do with the items you tear out of your kitchen. The worst part for me about living in a construction zone is when there is stuff everywhere so that every room of my house is effected by the remodel. To lessen that, make a plan for where you will put your old cupboards, counter tops, stove, dishwasher and sink. For us, most of those items will either be donated to Habitat for Humanity or be thrown away or sold.

Before doing anything, preparation is the key to success”

-Alexander Graham Bell

I know my husband was thinking about reusing some of the cupboards so I am coming up with a plan with him so they don’t sit in my living room for a few weeks. You might need to rent a trailer to dump or donate the items. Make sure that is part of your plan and budget now so you are prepared for them.

If you are going to sell items, make a plan for when your new item will be available so you can list your old appliance a few days to a week before the new one arrives.

Now the big question- how are you going to eat without a kitchen? For us, our fridge and stove will where they are. We are planning simple meals that don’t need a lot of prep (cereal for breakfast, one pot dinners) and are budgeting to eat out while the largest part of the construction is happening. This step really depends on how your family currently eats and what space you have. Planning meals for your temporary kitchen will help with the stress of renovating.

At this point in the renovation process you have come up with a plan for our kitchen (I have tips on this step here), made a budget, made a plan for when you’ll renovation, and started buying items. Now that you’ve gotten the ball rolling I hope that figuring where you’ll have your makeshift kitchen, what you’ll do with the old kitchen items, and how your family will eat without a kitchen makes you feel more at ease and prepared for your exciting remodel!
p.s. want a free course on how to style your accessories to look amazing? Click below to get your free ecourse!

How to Store Jewelry on a Budget

dress / bib / cuff / mirror

Raise your hand if you have a pile of jewelry on your night stand or in your bathroom or on your vanity? Or if you don’t wear the beautiful pieces you have because they are a disorganized mess? That is how I was and I was really sick of it, so I did two simple updates on a budget to store jewelry. Here’s what I came up with-

bracelet/watch stand

First up, I just got a few new watches and a gorgeous cuff. I wasn’t sure how to store them since I’ve never many, but after some searching, I found the most beautiful acrylic holder on Amazon for $13! So if you’re a watch/cuff/bracelet hoarder like me, I fully recommend this stand because it’s modern, inexpensive, and takes your mess and makes it art.

cuff / bracelet/watch stand / brown watch / navy and white watch / black watch

Secondly, I wasn’t happy with my necklace storage. The problem is that I had too much of it and because I had SO much space, I was holding to way too many pieces that I didn’t actually use. I loved the old solution I had (I go over how I made it here, but it’s a $5 project and SO easy), but I was ready for something new.

dress / pants / bib / moccasins

This time I bought a backless frame from Michael’s for $20- it is 16″hx20″w. I didn’t love any of the finished options, so I went with a plain one because I figured I could paint it any color I wanted.

white pillow / blue flower pillow / mint throw

I brought it home and painted the frame the same color as my walls. I also bought 12 cup hooks that I screwed into the frame. And there you have it! Instant jewelry storage! This cost me about $22, but you could totally find a thrift store frame and do it for less than $5. Or use something you have on hand for bonus points! Either way, this is an easy, inexpensive option that anyone can do.

Plus it forces you to go though all of your necklaces and ponder if you actually wear it or not. Sometimes I find that giving away things can be hard. If you have the same struggle here’s a suggestion for you- use a box that you keep in your closet or some hard to see place for for thrift store donations. When it gets full, donate everything. The beauty of the box it does give you time to decide if you can’t live without something.

cuff / acrylic cart

swan print

I am super happy with how it all came together! I really like the simplicity of the necklace display and feel like it lets the necklaces be featured like art.

Since my vanity was clean from the jewelry organization, I created a quick video on how to style a vanity. I have a whole post with more vanity styling tips (including a comprehensive list of items to make your vanity pretty and functional) in case that would be helpful for you.

In conclusion, if you have a jewelry mess, I hope one of these solutions was helpful for you! If you’re a watch/bracelet lover, check out the watch stand. If you are into necklaces, the frame solution above is a gorgeous way to display your special pieces. I know that if you easily can see what you own, that means that you’ll wear it more often!

dress / clock / book imperfect house / book shabby chic

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

Apartment Therapy

Have you heard of the site Apartment Therapy? I like to visit the site for gorgeous, small space ideas, but when I heard about the back story from the founder Maxwell Ryan, I was blown away! I love decorating for the pretty reasons, but he presents the idea as your home surrounding being therapy and taking design and presents it as important for how we live and thrive. Maxwell Ryan recently did an interview on the Chris Loves Julia podcast (episode 33) where he tells why he started the site- it’s a great listen! Here is a summary of the part that I couldn’t stop thinking about- originally he was a teacher for the Waldorf school (a school that emphasizes the role of imagination in learning, and the intellectual, practical, and artistic development of pupils) and part of his job was to visit the children’s houses to meet with the parents. The Waldorf school impressed upon him that environment is important in how we grow- the school walls were painted different colors based on what age the children were, they used different thickness of pencils based on age as well (thicker pencils for younger students). What he found with the home visits is that the home effected the children in the classroom. He says “the ones that did best, came from the best homes.” That it wasn’t a rich or poor thing, but the parents that were able to take care of their home, having it tidy, organized and well lit- their kids did better at school.

record player / record / boots / drapes

Is that interesting or what?! That making your house a happy place isn’t just vain, but important to your child’s growth?! And if it helps your child in school, won’t having a well-kept house help you in life too?! I really like what they say on their site’s about page:

A calm, healthy, beautiful home is a necessary foundation for happiness and success in the world.

Creating this home doesn’t require large amounts of money or space. It requires inspiration, connection to resources and motivation to do something about it.

The basic elements of good home design can be learned and achieved by all.

Simplicity and luxury are not mutually exclusive.”

book / robe (no longer available)