Emergencies that can displace us from our homes or leave us without our safety net can happen anywhere anytime. Being prepared for whatever comes is critical. I’ve got my evacuation go-bag set up by the front door during wildfire season, but it’s also important to have ready all year long. I’m sharing what’s in my kit and listing some resources for you to prepare for a variety of hazards, as well.
Read MoreOur home is full of old-growth hardwood flooring that I adore. When faced with picking a new floor for our kitchen renovation, matching the existing hardwoods was a no brainer. Here’s the story of the sourcing and installation process.
Read MoreMy love of and fear of color, antiquing rugs and clocks, the sentimental and educational show I love, discussing how we can fix the housing and climate crises, a book I’ve pre-ordered, the history of zero waste, home renovation failures, wildfires, and the movie I just watched.
Read MoreInset cabinetry with the exposed face frame and flush doors is the classic style we see in period homes. These charming cabinets are harder to come by, especially on a budget, but I’ve rounded up 10 cabinet companies you can buy from directly and install yourself!
Read MoreMustard tones, living with less during a renovation, more vintage rug resources, advertisements, supporting bloggers, a historic home for sale, activist flags, the shirt I’m wearing through November, a PSA to cut up your masks, alternatives to calling the police, and adulting in summary.
Read MoreYou read that right. I ordered cabinets for my kitchen, and they never came. It was mid-demolition when everything was a mess and we were trying to piece things together. Then I got the news. The cabinets I had been designing, sourced, and paid for weren’t going to show up. Here’s what happened.
Read MoreI’m on the hunt for an antique rug for the kitchen and it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. When hunting for a vintage rug, I have a few go-to stores that carry beautiful pieces, but I also source from lesser-known shops. So, here are 30+ online shops that carry beautiful old rugs for your antiquing needs!
Read MoreA kitchen with multiple green hues, how to stay positive through renovations, appraisal discrimination, repairing old windows, a $7 doohickey, zero waste stores, hunting for a rug, supporting your favorite bloggers, sore muscles, and my monthly playlist.
Read MoreThe renovation is taking shape! We have level floors (thanks to lots of nail pulling and geometry) and the beginnings of the oh-so-transformative drywall!! The kitchen is finally feeling like a safe space amidst the chaos of a renovation and a pandemic.
Read MoreColorizing antique photos, California’s firefighting crew and prison labor, six myths about old houses, a slow movie, the housewarming pineapple, wallpaper satisfaction, what to think about at your next meal, old home accounts to follow, gorgeous kitchen tile, the new cleaning tool I ordered, and what’s planned for The Gold Hive.
Read MoreWe recently added a big teak table to our backyard and it’s the perfect companion to our (soon-to-be) completed kitchen. The solid teak table arrived un-treated which was already gorgeous, but I wanted to give it even more oomph. I hunted high and low for an environmentally friendly oil that’s free of petrochemicals, and I found one!
Read MoreReal and painted bathrooms, stone fruit salad, all clothing is handmade, the implicit association test, seeking old house accounts, revealed tile, heat in redlined neighborhoods, typography and accessibility, and more.
Read MoreHammocks, 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.
My baby is two! Time’s flying… we wish we could slow down these years… I can’t believe she’s two… and all those other cliché things to say. We celebrated her second trip around the sun in our backyard with a small gathering of friends.
What I’m binge watching, the things I ordered for summertime fun, an incredible legacy, ranking films, a dozen things to say to your kids daily, design decisions, sibling bonds, and more.
I have such love for my historic house, but I’ve shamefully been neglecting the exterior paint. The tired finish was peeling and the faded colors did no justice to the architectural beauty of my 1915 craftsman bungalow. It was time for a change - a transformation that would honor the home's history while infusing it with fresh energy.
The thrill of renovating outdoor spaces is they always get better with age. We overhauled our backyard last year and the plant growth during this last trip around the sun is wild! Get ready for lots o’ photos.
Ashley has been restoring her craftsman bungalow since early 2015. The Gold Hive chronicles the journey of DIYs, restorations, renovations, and stories.
I'm Ashley, a type-A homebody fixing up my historic home at a snail’s pace in California. I share home improvement DIYs, tips for sustainable living, and renovation stories - all while aiming to add more color and present real, lived-in spaces.
© 2025 Ashley Goldman / All Rights Reserved
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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.