The Difference of Our Home

My home is a guest house I rent on my parent's property. It is the art work I put on the walls; some of which I painted myself or I collected from fellow art students. It is the flooring my fiancé and I picked out as the first fixer-up project we did when he moved in. And by we I fully mean him because he is way more capable of handy work. It is the bedding that could be more white and spot free but also shows that our little baby boy spends time cuddling and eating there with us. Dare I say, it is the collection of THINGS. It is the people that live in it and the many people that visit it. It is the collection of things from the journey to get here. It is my 560 square foot of safe haven.  

Through out my interior design career, I have helped people create "home". For some, that meant walking into a showroom and saying effortlessly and without question of the price, "I'll take all of that vignette." While I admire their braveness that that chunk of product will somehow magically look just as good in their home despite different lighting and floor plan, it seems so irrelevant and subjective. On the other end of the spectrum, I've also worked with some that collected their whole lives and for some reason had to start over and get "new". Ive seen them shake and cry and get upset that the idea of "new" was no longer a fresh and exciting idea but an actual scary and heart aching process. People who came in saying, "Yes! Let's revamp my space. Please help me. I AM READY."  But these same clients then left saying "I just can't part with my 20 year old sofa." From a sales perspective, this was the WORST kind of client. They were the most time consuming and maybe for some they were eventually possible to "tackle". But for my empathetic little designer heart, I didn't want to tackle them. I actually quite admired their attachment to their things. I liked listening to their memories about the family they raised with their Ethan Allen sectional. It wasn't some Italian designer made piece. But, it was theirs. And it was their people's. And no matter where they moved, it would always fit. (Hypothetically of course!) But these are the things that mattered for them. And I cannot help but admire that.

There are two types of people who are out there; the people that think home is a building to fill and the people who build a home out of sentiment. While the latter makes them more vulnerable to loss, it also gives the warmest feeling when they walk into their space. A feeling of belonging. A feeling of an embrace. "Home" is not far off from "Love".

It's Black. It's White.

Rule of thumb.  Bring a bit of black into every room.  Why?  Because we have a tendency to forget contrast which leads to rooms feeling like they could literally float away.  But I digress.  I will definitely post a separate blog about how to incorporate black.  But for now, let's oggle over my latest DIY refurbish project!

I have literally had this white dresser since I shared a room with my twin sister circa 2003.  That room included pink and purple walls, meticulously picked out by my twelve year old self with pride! The dresser was adorned with a matching jewelry box attachment and vanity mirror which graced too many Myspace selfies.  I've kept it because it was just a piece that I got used to.  And despite it's undeniable girly-ness, was practical in size and storage space.  A couple years ago I did remove the jewelry box and mirror making it a little more grown up but not by much. 

Well last week I figured instead of spending a couple hundred that I don't have on a new dresser, I would slap a fresh layer of white paint on this one.  But if I was going to repaint it, why not do something more unique!  I knew right away I was going to do black.  Because I am a brave soul who had nothing to lose except high school memories.  Which is more than ok.

After removing the frilly handle pulls, I added crisp acrylic handles since I really am obsessed with modern mixed with traditional.  But to bring some of the frill back, I added a wood overlay on either side of the dresser as an ode to it's original state.  Plus, it would make the piece a good photographing piece from very angle. 

I think it looks beyond bad ass and can only imagine it in my next, larger home where it can take center stage in perhaps a guest room or Parker's room. Here is a list of supplies it required:

Primer- $20 (more than enough so I will be keeping this for future refurbishes)

Black Paint - $10 Nightclub by Behr

Sandpaper - $5 from Walmart

Paint brush - $15 total.  One for primer. One for paint.  Although i preferred using my old craft brushes which were much cheaper anyways because they didn't leave brush lines in the paint.

Acrylic Pulls - About $5 each from Home Depot totaling in $40

I am debating getting a piece of smoke glass cut for the top of it to really make it look polished but still waiting for a quote for that.  Other than that, a couple fresh felt pads for underneath to protect my floors and it's better than new!  So all in all this project cost me about $100.  Which is more than I planned but well worth the facelift if you ask me.

Abode On A Budget

I could look at RH and Kelly Wearstler and Room&Board all day.  But right now, as a recent grad and as a new mom, I can't afford it.  And that's OK.  Because I know I am not alone.  And I also know I love my home and despite it being created on a budget, I feel like showing it off to anyone who wants to tour all three rooms of it.  I want to lay out a couple of my tips and resources for you all who are also not at financial cloud 9 YET so you can still feel proud of your home. 

1. HomeGoods - I visit my local HomeGoods store more than I would like to admit.  And honestly, it is Baby's favorite store.  I mean he literally has so much to look at.  And almost every time I go there I see something that blows my mind.  I have found interior designer gold here that looks designer.  I was there recently with a friend and they had these charming gold cactus frames in two sizes.  I think both together totaled under $10.  Neither of us needed more frames but I simply said "If we walked into Jonathan Adler and saw these priced at $50 each, we wouldn't think twice.  We would buy them right then and there."  Perspective is everything.  Don't let the price tag confuse you when you find a great deal.

2. Amazon - The simple things can be purchased on Amazon.  Think bed sheets. Organizational containers.  Frames. Candles. If you have already found a product you like, it's even easier to just do a quick search and one click purchase. 

3. Estate Sale/Garage Sale - This is a new one for me.  Actually, growing up we did this a lot but waking up that early didn't really sit well with my early twenties.  But now, with a baby who wakes up early anyways, I love finding an estate sale.  See my previous blog where I got a set of 12 silver napkin rings for a total of $5.  Estate sales usually lend to better finds because there is no sentimental attachment between objects and seller.  And they are literally selling EVERYTHING in the house.

4. Flea Markets - Sometimes still pricey, but sometimes just as good as an Estate Sale.  I am going to the Los Angeles Flea Market this Sunday at Pierce College and will write a blog about any good finds on there.  And remember, you won't always find stuff.  Use these for inspiration too. 

5.  IKEA Hacks - OMG IKEA Hacks are insane!  I see websites that cater specifically to how to upgrade your IKEA furniture with wood overlays and fancy hardware.  I love it!  But just remember, these hacks too add more money to a low budget furniture piece.  So if you are really on a budget, these are great for those IKEA pieces you already have.  Don't go buying all new IKEA furniture and expect it to not cost a chunk.

6. Refurbish - I am currently repainted and adding new hardware to a dresser I have had for going on 17 years.  What took me so long to do this is beyond me.  But stay tuned for that blog post coming up.

7. Holiday Sales - Look, I always say mix expensive with inexpensive.  So yes you have to buy that designer throw pillow occasionally to dress up your HomeGoods pillows.  But, holidays lend to amazing deals.  There will always be a sale.  So don't be afraid to ask your salesperson when the next sale is.  And if they don't know and you just have to have it, leave your contact for them to reach out to you when the price lowers.  Don't feel bad about this.  That salesperson also wants to make a sale and while they may not be able to control the pricing, they will at least notify you when it is on a little extra President's Day discount!

Hope this helps for you to reach your interior design bliss!  Comment below to tell me about some awesome finds you have had.

Dinner Parties At Home

Since Michael and I have made it a point to have dates, but we also have our cute little side kick, Baby Parker, we have opted to do our own little dinner dates at home.  I really should give credit where credit is due though.  I told Michael one weekend I wanted something nice done that night.  I was thinking laundry or clean the floors.  But what I came home to was our coffee table dressed up in linens and glasses and tons of candles that I had never seen. He spent the whole day purchasing things to make it feel elegant as we sat on pillows on the floor and it meant so much to me!  And something about being able to include Baby Parker made it more special.

So now we are trying to do these dinners every week and take turns.  For Valentines Day though we decided to do it together.  I set the table with this pink blanket I got from Olvera Street a couple years ago.  I used some framed pictures to make it feel more personal.  And candles everywhere!

Because of these dinners we have decided to do our birthday a joint birthday this year and set up a big dinner party for our family and close friends.  So i'm currently on the mission to collect crystal glassware and napkin ring holders.  I scored this week a dozen silver napkin rings that reminded me of Kate Spade.  They were $5 for all 12 so it was worth it.  I figured the worst case I could spray paint them to make them a little more modern.  But I found this recipe to polish silver with just vinegar and baking soda.  And they came out super shiny!!! Check out the pictures below and let me know if you think they are too grandma or so Kate Spade.

Parker's Room

First off, I want to clarify that my baby currently does not have his own room.  So I'm not going to pretend I have some huge house and ample space to do everything I wanted for his nursery.  However, with just a portion of my own room, I still feel like I gave him everything he needed and more.  And by he needed, I mean that I needed in order to feel like I poured my heart into it. 

The whole nursery started off with my discover of one of my favorite illustrators, Charlie Harper and his product line through Land of Nod.  I was obsessed with his black and white sheet designs and decided from there I would start with Black and White and then add really bright color.  And my color challenge was incorporating pink because I liked the idea of baby boys being exposed to pink too. 

Again, not a lot of space to work with so it was all in the details.  I painted some creatures on the wall for my little man because what kind of mom would I be if I didn't?!  But I tried to imitate Charlie Harper's illustrative style as much as possible.

Then I featured a little bed side floating shelf from Ikea with little animals Michael and I picked up from different places.  One of which was the trip we took to the San Diego Zoo when I was pregnant.  (The trip Michael proposed to me) These little figurines were from all over the world and we liked bringing in that ethnic exposure to the baby's room. 

Which reminds me!  The sole reason I wanted to bring color was because my rad sister brought me a handmade mobile from Madagascar.  Like HANDMADE!  And it was pink with a little yellow.  So of course I had to incorporate that.

The rest was just little details.  A gifted Jonathan Adler giraffe ceramic nightlight.  A striped rug from Target that I really do wish was more crisp white but will probably replace it at some point.  And Michael's beautiful handmade sign straight out of a Pinterest board.  I mean, could he be any more of a cuter Daddy?!  Yeah, no. 

I hope you guys like it and as you know, no room is ever really "done".  It will change as we get a bigger space and as little man gets bigger and bigger.

Sunday Funday Via The Rosebowl Flea Market

So I finally ventured out to Pasadena to visit the Rose Bowl Flea Market.  Held on the second Sunday of every month, this flea market is supposedly the biggest in LA.  Well, many blisters later, I now agree.  This is an awesome place for inspiration.  That and of course Persian rugs, eclectic pillows, crystal glasses, and old furniture that needs some serious updated fabric.  If you aren't a visual person, this place may seem so overwhelming and probably even like a giant junk yard.  But be patient, and you will most likely see a diamond in the ruff.  I went with my client for some finishing touches for her room.  We went home with a giant Longhorn skull with polished horns for only $100. 

5 Tips To Boost Your Professional Life

So it's been about 9 months since my last post.  And I think this is an appropriate time to follow up with some tips that i've gathered along the way for how to grow yourself as a business.  In my particular field, my business is also my lifestyle and you will probably see that exemplified in the tips below. 

So if you need a boost in your career or you need to expand your network, keep these in mind!

1. Always make time for Dirty Chai's.  Or coffee.  Or wine.  I cannot emphasize this enough.  Make the time to reach out to someone else you know in your field and invite them to get a drink or lunch together to catch up.  I recently did this with a coworker from my previous job and it turned into a two hour dirty chai meetup at Leo and Lily.  It was productive and uplifting to sit around and brainstorm on what our potential is and how to make shit happen. And sometimes we just needed to be reminded these things.

2.  Always have your resume updated and ready to hand out.  Now this one is hard for me because I believe in loyalty to a company.  I think putting in multiple years is significantly better than having a resume with 20 different jobs you only were at for 6 months.  However! You cannot hurt yourself more than by settling.  We all have bills to pay, children to feed (or just to feed ourselves) and expectations of where we will be at in 5 years.  And if someone else is offering something better, especially when you have the education for it, you sometimes have to take a leap of faith to make yourself grow in your career. 

3. Have people proofread your emails.  Yes we are in the day and age of texting but a good, clean, formal email is ALWAYS appreciated. 

4.  Hand out good ol' traditional business cards.  Do you know how many times I give people my business cards and they just comment on how thick the card is, or that the letters are shiny or just how they like the design?  Every time.  Business cards are more impressionable than many may think. 

5.  Always look presentable.  Actually, always look DAMN GOOD.  Your represent you so....impress people!  And I know not every day can be your best or you just want to wear sweats to go get ice cream, but then be the person who gets their nails done every few weeks.  Keep your brows maintained.  Brush your hair.  A rule I go by is if i'm going to work I always dress like i'm going to an interview.  And if my hair is back in a bun, then I spend extra time on my makeup.  And if i have minimal makeup than ill add an extra braid or curls to my hair.  Anything to make people think that I want to be here and that I got ready to be here. 

With that said, add me on LinkedIn!  If I can answer any questions, please comment below and I will respond right away. 

The Tuesday After Graduating

I am ridiculously thrilled about the fact that I have finally graduated ArtCenter.  I say finally because so many times I considered not finishing.  This seems to be common in design school because its less about the diploma and more about the portfolio in job searching.  But I couldn’t help that I wanted that piece of paper and therefore the bragging rights that I completed one of the hardest design school programs in the world and survived.  Might I add, I graduated while pregnant, working full time, in heels, and hardly anyone at school knew I was busy growing a baby while making my portfolio until 2 weeks before graduation.  This gave me a huge sense of accomplishment and I knew that i was ready for the “real world” now.  

    I remember different announcements and speakers discussing the impending “Monday After Graduation” dilemma.  The fearful question of “What now?”.  The realization that there were no more homework assignments to sweat over. No more two hours commutes to school.  But to be honest, the Monday was easy!  I went berry picking with my favorite little people and family in town.  I watched these kids ride ponies and feed baby goats and laugh so carefree.  (And yes I totally partook in feeding the little baby goats!) They loved life and nothing could ruin their excitement.  This is what I wanted to carry with me.  I don’t want to go into this next transitional time with fear or concern about what is next but pure happy giggle fits about the opportunity right here and now!  

    So after a day of farm play and pool time on ridiculously huge floaties with Perrier in hand, it becomes Tuesday.  It is time to send out resumes to everyone who sounds remotely interesting and begin the journey of seeing how I can use my talent and drive and giggle fits to keep creating and growing our world.  And when tomorrow comes, it will be Wednesday.  And then Thursday.  And life goes on.  And I will look at this week as the most important week of my career life.   And now....time to find work that can compete with my usual schedule of homework assignments and crazy commuting.  

Rotten to Ridiculously Perfect Bathroom

Yes, I said rotten.  As in my bathroom was previously molded, developing termite damage, and teeny tiny!  While I couldn't necessarily change the size of it, I was able to open the space up.  We ripped out the shower.  Well, actually we ripped it all up!  When the original contractor said that if I wanted no ledge around the shower bottom, he would have to cut up my chosen tile, then I decided to do something a little out of the ordinary.....drum roll please....CONCRETE.  You would probably assume as I did that this means you can just tear up the existing floor and expose the original concrete but no no no!  You have to have it repoured and sloped to create an automatic draining for all the water.  

But aside from that we did subway tile, piping for the shower rod, marble trim, the perfect grey for the walls, and a stunning shower rain system.  I'm currently working on making my own shower curtains because of course we need everything custom.  My favorite touches are my Jonathan Adler sconces, wood inlays around the door, and as a result of a damaged door jam during demolition, a barn door painted in Behr Marquee Gray Wood paint.  

Get To Know Ashley Hinkle

This page will be a little different than the others.  Here is where you can get to know me, personally.  I think personality and lifestyle bleeds into work ethic, performance, and projects.  If it didn't then it wouldn't be my passion now would it?  So please, ask me questions.  If you don't, I fear I might bore you with my ranting and cat pictures.  

And if you don't know where to start, feel free to peruse my Instagram below.