Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Our Latest Article In Do It Yourself Magazine

What’s all that stomping you hear? It’s just us doing the happy dance. We’re super excited to share the second installment of our home makeover in Do It Yourself magazine. They shot our house back in October (here’s a fun look behind the scenes) and actually asked us to write a three part series about making over our humble little brick ranch to run in their Spring, Summer, and Fall issues (available everywhere from Target to Home Depot and of course Barnes & Noble). We still can’t believe that we’re bona fide contributing editors for a national magazine (hence all the dancing).

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While the last issue was all about the step-by-step transformations that we whipped up in our kitchen and living/dining room, this issue moves on to cover the sunroom, den, laundry nook and mudroom (click to read the text on DIYideas.com). Look here we are relaxing in the sunroom. The funny thing about this shot is that we were actually just sitting there (trying to stay out of the way of the cameras) when the crew decided they should snap a few photos of us enjoying our downtime. Who knew the shot would make the story?! Doesn’t Burger look like a zombie with his little arms out? It totally cracks us up.

We were lucky to have two days of great weather to capture our whole house for the story, and we really liked the cute little props that they introduced to cozy things up for the camera. Can you find the tiny touch that they added to the sunroom?

Yup, it’s a little glass dish of gummy bears on the coffee table. How freaking cute is that? And guess who got to eat them all before the end of the first day of shooting? Yup, we did. But in our defense, we had a lot of help from the crew!

We also love how they let us write about things in stages. Showing the before picture as “Stage 1” and the midpoint photo as “Stage 2” really helps us demonstrate that nothing was done overnight. We really learned as we went and each room slowly evolved into the finished spaces that we enjoy today (well, no room is ever really finished…).

Look, there I am with my hammer and crowbar going to town on the half wall that used to be above the laundry center that was hidden behind crusty old bi-fold doors. Oh and we have a little behind the scenes secret to share. Before anyone asks me where I got those adorable ribbon shoes in front of our bench in the mudroom, they’re actually Beth’s (the editor of Do It Yourself magazine, seen here in the left of this photo) so I can’t take the shoe-shopping credit this time. That’s also her cute little jacket on the hook (but the purse and the scarf as well as the purse on the floor are mine). Talk about a group effort!

So there you have it, part two of our little three part series in one of our favorite shelter mags (thanks again for everything Beth, Cat, Erik and Piper). We had a blast shooting with you guys back in October! Stay tuned for the third installment coming in a few months and a super exciting announcement revealing what we’ll be writing about each issue after our last house story hits the presses. It’s something that we’re unbelievably psyched about and we can’t wait to spill the beans! Stomp stomp stomp. Sorry, we just have happy feet about the whole thing.

Comments

  2. kim says

    I’m actually wearing those cute shoes right now! I snagged them on sale for less than $10 at Target a while back.

    On an unrelated note, did you hear they are putting in a Home Goods store in Short Pump? Finally!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Kim,

      I know! Every time I drive by the “HomeGoods Coming Soon” sign I get so excited. Can’t wait to bump into all of our Richmond readers there cause it’ll probably be our home away from home. If you have a question for us just drop into HomeGoods and we’ll probably be there!

      xo,
      Sherry

  4. Meredith says

    I absolutely LOVE the “Stages” idea. I often get so hung up and frustrated looking at “After” pictures because I want my whole house to be there, NOW! But due to limited time and funds, that’s rarely ever possible. It’s great to see how you guys worked with what you had and how your design process evolved!

    Reply

  8. Kelly says

    I was pleasantly surprised when looking through my copy of “Do It YOurself” magazine and saw some people I “knew”! Loved the article and the tips!

    Reply

  10. Katie says

    The two white chairs you have in your sunroom around that table… could you tell me where you got them? I thought I saw something similar on walmart.com once for an awesomely low price, but can’t find them now so…

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Katie,

      The two white chairs in the sunroom were actually ebay finds from back when I lived in Manhattan. They were great for a tiny studio (they stack for easy storage) and they were originally a blond wood color (I painted them white when we made the sunroom table so everything matched). We’ve seen some similar versions on ebay lately (try searching for “bentwood chair” or “scoop back chair” and even places like West Elm. Oh and you might want to try Overstock.com too. They usually have great prices! Hope it helps! Happy hunting…

      xo,
      Sherry

  12. Amanda says

    Yay! Hope my issue arrives today or tomorrow, before I jump on a plane home to Michigan. I love that magazine, after discovering it by accident a couple months ago.

    Little Burger is going to be “discovered” by a Hollywood talent scout, he’s been all over the place in the print lately- famous little doggie!

    Reply

  13. Pamela says

    Love your site! Read you post with vigor each day! Question – where did you get the lamp shade that is on your fan in the family room?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Pamela,

      We think it was from Target (although Lowe’s and Home Depot have a surprisingly wide range of lamp shades). You can check out this old post about how to hang it (and click to see the comments which actually have more info and another pic to help). Good luck!

      xo,
      Sherry

  15. Rachel says

    Congrats! I loved that they showed your house transformation in stages too. It makes it feel so much more doable to see the process.

    Btw, it looks like they flipped the drawing of your house plan. Didn’t they? It doesn’t look right.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Wow Rachel! We didn’t even notice that for a few days. Yup, the floor plan was accidentally flipped, but it still generally shows where things are and how our house is laid out (even though everything’s flip-flopped). Good eye!

      xo,
      s

  16. Angela says

    Congrats! I was just reading the first installment yesterday and was awaiting the second and BAM here it is today! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  21. L.J.T. says

    As a longtime reader I’m not surprised that they wanted to feature your place, its totally fab. But all this press at once is amazing!

    Reply

  25. Sam & Jacci says

    LOL – funny that I should know your house so well that I picked up on the flip-flopped floor plan right away, too. “Wait a minute… the washer and dryer are on the RIGHT side!!!” :) You guys are just too stinkin’ cute all curled up with Burger on the daybed. Really.

    I was thinking about your sun porch and all you’ve accomplished in such a short time. Do ya’ll ever sit down for a Saturday lunch at that thrift store DIY table and feel like you’re almost playing house because everything is just pretty as a picture? I think I would :) How rewarding it must be to relax there and reap the benefits of your work. Great stuff!

    Jacci

    Reply

  26. Amy says

    Can I ask a question (and maybe this has already been answered and I missed it – sorry!)? How big is your lot, acreage-wise? It looks huge in all the pictures!

    Ah, everything is so green and lovely in the photos. I love the colorful glass bottles! Spring is slowly getting here up in Minnesota, and this feature makes me even more excited for it to come. Nice timing, and nice work!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Amy,

      We’re actually lucky to have an almost-acre lot. The huge private backyard (which goes on beyond the grass and includes the woods behind it) is actually what sold us on the place (and made it a perfect spot to get hitched too!). We’re so excited for the warmer weather we’ve had recently. Here’s hoping it makes it up to Minnesota asap!

      xoxo,
      Sherry

  27. heather s. says

    I like the stages as well. You used to have that on your blog but the last time I looked through the House Tour you removed the stage 2 pics.

    I noticed the floor plan mistake as well. Sad that I know other people’s houses so well…

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Sharee,

      Unfortunately I didn’t catch the name of the florist for you, but I’ll put in an email to the editor over there and see if I can find out for ya! She’s certainly a busy lady but my fingers are crossed that she sends that info my way!

      xo,
      Sherry

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I’m already back with an update Sharee! The florist is actually located out of California but she’s a wholesaler so you might need an account to work with her. They’re called Mayesh and Beth Eslinger’s contact there is Laura London. Here’s the number: 888-462-9374. Hope it helps!

      xoxo,
      Sherry

  29. Nicolette says

    I picked up this mag on a recent trip to Lowe’s and was just tickled to find your familiar faces in there! I’m a graphic designer, aspiring interior designer and first time home-owner. Starting a blog seems to be the obvious way to combine the 3 passions and get some recognition. Thanks for all of the inspiration… in so many realms!!

    Reply

  32. G&D says

    This so neat! With all the great ideas you guys have, you deserve a MONTHLY installment in this mag! Love the picture of you 3–Burger looks so cute!

    Reply

  33. rhiannon says

    I bought the magazine and was wondering while flipping through the pages, “Do Sherry and John read this?” And then you were right on the next page! Ha!

    Reply

  34. Juliet Robinson says

    Hi Youngsters! I actually ended up buying this issue of the magazine because it had so many great ideas in it and have added your article to my DIY/Decor idea binder. One question about your sunroom daybed. (I have the dark brown version in my mini sunroom). What kind of mattress do you use? Mine came with a really squishy/soft mattress and I find it’s not very comfortable for sitting in as you kind of sink in to the mattress. Can you tell me what kind of mattress you have and what linens you’ve used on top of it? Mattress pad with a fitted sheet on top?

    Love your style, and can’t wait for more of these kind of articles!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Juliet,

      We just purchased a regular twin mattress which offers nice support and brought in a mattress pad and a fitted sheet to complete the look (soooo comfy). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  35. adrienne says

    I loved your photos, especially the simplicity of the yellow room with white chairs! I have a narrow room similar and like the chairs in yours better than my loveseats.

    I have a question for you on DIY magazine. A little back ground-We did a home makeover project to raise money to build a Habitat for Humanity House in NOLA. The project was really amazing. Like we took cat stained floor that we used a 6′ sticker stencil to make to make look like an inlay wood oriental carpet. We added wood panels to update an old frig etc. and the results were published in the book “The House that Faux Built: Transform Your Home with Paint, Plaster and Creativity” (100% profit goes to charity) You can download free chapters and see videos at http://www.fauxhouse.com. So my question is-Are you in a position to submit articles on other projects besides your own to DIY magazine? Or if not, is there anyway you could email me with a contact that I could either email or send a book to? I’m at [email protected]. The projects really were amazing.

    Reply

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