April 30, 2017

Three Ashleys, Two Kitchens: a Tulsa Kitchen Renovation

April 30, 2017/ Ashley Daly

When we moved into our current home, we knew we wanted to renovate the kitchen. Though definitely not the worst kitchen to exist, it's over sixty years old and kinda blah compared to the rest of the house. We'd done a handful of things to make it more attractive like painting the eat-in breakfast nook dark green (which I love and plan to keep!), removing cabinet doors, and adding a light fixture. However, in addition to falling short on looks, it also has some functional issues. For example, the oven is basically the size of an Easy-Bake oven and the vent hood is large and menacing and so high that I have to jump to turn it on. Also, due to the layout, I'm not able to put the dishes up while the dishwasher door is open and even with the light on, the pantry is dark in the evening. Homes should be functional. So yeah, we wanted to renovate.

January 15, 2017

My Three Rugs: One Space, Three Different Looks

January 15, 2017/ Ashley Palmer

Alright, alright, so I have a problem with swapping out things in my home and Retro Den only enables me. Don't look at me like that. I could have worse habits like popping my knuckles.

So naturally, I have had three different rugs in my living room over the past year and a half. And now, for your entertainment and mine, I'd like you to join me for a review of my rug swapping journey.

October 30, 2016

Three Ashleys, Two Kitchens: Meet Ashley Whiteside

October 30, 2016/ Ashley Daly

We do home styling for people. We come into spaces that aren't quite done and leave them beautifully finished. We move, we shift, we work with your style, we shop your home and give you resources. That's what we do. What we don't do, however, is completely reconfigure kitchens.

Ashley Palmer and I both have kitchens needing help, but we were struggling with the logistical side of the redesign–what materials would work best in this situation? Who do I hire to make cabinets? Can I knock that wall out? Palmer checked out various contractors who couldn't relate to her design sense, and I have had a year of troubling, sticky small home renovations with craftsmen who didn't quite work out. It wasn't fun.

October 23, 2016

Small Shifts Can Make Your Home Feel Better

October 23, 2016/ Ashley Daly

The other week I invited Daly over to help me prep for a photo session we had scheduled at my house. I've spent a lot of time and energy over the past year and a half decorating our home, but one room I had somewhat neglected was the den.

The den serves many purposes for our family. It's a TV lounge, an office for my husband and a play area for our daughter. In other words, it gets lived in a lot. The den was actually an addition to our 1950s ranch house that was built in the 60s. Luckily, they matched the stone to the main part of the house, so it doesn't look like an extra room tacked on from the outside. However, on the inside, there are a couple of interesting things going on.

September 25, 2016

Macrame Headboard by House Sparrow Fine Nesting

September 25, 2016/ Ashley Palmer

Last year when I dreamed of sleeping under a giant macrame headboard, I knew who to call. Natasha Ball of House Sparrow Fine Nesting (HSFN) is not only a friend of ours, but one talented woman when it comes to all things textile.

Well, needless to say, Natasha made my dream a reality. Not only is this giant gal a beautiful piece that adds warmth and interest to our room, but I love knowing how much passion and care went into her creation.