First off, congratulations to our newest Inspiring Decorator and The Gold Hive blogger, Ashley Goldman. After participating earlier this year as a guest participant in both the spring and fall House Beautiful One Room Challenge, she was recently selected to be a featured designer in the Spring 2018 ORC competition! We’re especially thrilled to be sharing her success with you here on The Blinds Spot, as Ashley selected our Signature Blackout Roman Shades as part of the 7-week reno of her beautiful home office this fall. We’re even more excited that she layered them over our Signature Sheer Weave 3% Solar Shades, which she also has hanging throughout the house.
Two years into the complete restoration and renovation of her 1915 Craftsman bungalow in San Diego, Ashley had several rooms to choose from for ORC, and they all look amazing! She has even more transformations planned for the future. Follow her on IG to find out which room she’ll pick as her challenge next year. We can’t wait to see!
1. What inspired you to become a designer? What has your journey been like?
I went to school for art and I’m a homebody, so the love for beautiful interiors came naturally. I’ve worked for the past 10 years in art museums teaching and managing programs for kids to foster their creativity. When my husband and I bought our first house, it made sense to blend my love for teaching and interiors, so I started a blog, The Gold Hive, to share the renovation stories and DIY design tutorials.
2. How would you describe your design aesthetic?
I’m a believer in staying true to your home’s architecture, so I make design decisions influenced by my 1915 Craftsman bungalow’s character. However, I like modern aesthetics, so I blend the old-school with the new. For example, I use Select Blind’s solar shades in my 100-year-old windows. The shades are modern and streamlined, rather than traditional curtains with valances and tie backs. I think the modern shades balance the historic architecture and enhance the character by not taking away from the millwork. I also like edgy and unexpected statement pieces.
3. What was your favorite project(s)? Why?
My latest project is definitely a favorite! I hand-painted a mural in the likeness of a 1600s etching in our home office. I also painted my den the prettiest shade of dark green, which creates a moody and cozy space. Our kitchen is due for a remodel in 2018, but I made cosmetic fixes, including new paint and a checkerboard tile floor. The house was in pretty bad shape, so the before and after transformations are super satisfying.
4. What’s your favorite trend right now?
Design trends are so tricky! They come and go frequently, and they vary depending on your style. I’m definitely digging moody shades like deep greens and matte black hardware. I’m a firm believer in having a touch of black in each room, but this year I think I’m going to decorate with more blacks.
5. What’s your favorite holiday to decorate for?
Halloween has to be my favorite. However, I don’t go for the blow up skeletons in the front yard, or glittery gourds. Rather, I gravitate toward eerie vintage art, classic pumpkins and neutral, spooky décor like black candlesticks and white spider webs. This past year, I projected flying ghosts on a wall for the trick-or-treaters and they got quite a kick out of it.
