To everyone who has said “go rest!” or “we understand if you have to catch your breath after this showhouse marathon and before this baby comes” we are SO APPRECIATIVE of the encouragement. We’re still over there every day shooting each remaining room for afters/source lists and are also hoping to record a video tour for you guys, but we fully intend to cash in on that whole sit-down-and-breathe-for-a-second thing as soon as we finish documenting everything.
But amongst the last crazy week of showhouse stuff, another crazy thing happened that we just had to talk about for a second. We can’t begin to tell you how awesomely surreal it has been to see our line of hooks and rails out there in the real world (on Target shelves, in your hands, on your walls, and next to your dogs and babies).
We’d been in our own little bubble with it for so long that it was amazing to see Instagrams, tweets, and Facebook photos from you guys. So we couldn’t let another day go by without saying: THANK YOU for being a part of this latest adventure of ours. We are so grateful.
Everything started rolling out in Target stores throughout last week (it’ll be carried in most US stores for 14 weeks) and you can see the full store list here for which ones will carry it. We actually saw your pictures of the end cap before seeing it in person ourselves, which was pretty crazy. And when we saw it with our own eyes? Kinda made our brains explode.
The home improvement department also got a few other new DIY items like paint and removable wallpaper. Plus they’re carrying our book in stores for the first time as an exclusive paperback version.
Along with taking a moment to send out a giant thank you to you guys, we wanted to bring you behind the scenes to touch on a part of this whole process that was kind of a surprise to us: packaging design. For so long we had been focused on how the products looked, that when Liberty asked for input on the packaging we were sort of caught off guard. But it ended up being a fun assignment.
The graphic designers at Liberty were the brains behind it all – taking inspiration from the colors and themes that they saw frequently on our blog. Together we made little tweaks, like ditching a version of our blog backdrop (the small gray heart pattern) behind the products in favor of a cleaner, less busy solid gray. And we loved their suggestion to put a wood grain detail on the sides of the packaging to bring in some texture.
The funny thing is that it was originally supposed to just be some generic wood texture from an image library somewhere, but when we were doing the product photography here last November someone suggested that we just shoot our kitchen table and use that real wood-grain shot instead. It had already become the de facto backdrop for the other photos, so it was a no brainer decision. So yeah, that’s our real kitchen table on the side of each box.
We were also tasked with choosing the visuals that we’d shoot for the back of the packaging as well as writing the copy for it – which ended up being a fun opportunity to share our inspiration for each item (like an octopus painting made by Clara along with a ceramic octopus that I got Sherry a few years back – or Burger himself, our four-legged muse).
This copy is also the text that appears in the “Overview” section of each item on the Target website, if you’re so inclined to read each one.
Now that we can freely use the hooks without fear of blowing our cover, we’ve put them to good use in a few places in the showhouse (since it’s about the only house getting attention from us lately). We put this wood hook rail in the girl’s bedroom after painting it blue and adding some mix-and-match ORB hooks (the color is Blue Lake by Benjamin Moore). This is obviously the version with the ledge, which was nice for extra storage.
We went sans-ledge for the one in the boy’s room and painted it with a random diagonal of yellow at the bottom (Citron by Benjamin Moore) using painters tape across the rail, while leaving the raw wood up top.
We also used a trio of doorknob hooks in the master bedroom closet (two of the larger beaded knobs flanking the smaller hex knob in the middle) but we still have to shoot that room. We’re working on getting more after pictures documented today so we can share them tomorrow if all goes well.
Ok, now I’ll shut up about it. Sherry and I are still kind of reeling that this stuff is out there in the world after nearly three years of development, and we’re both so grateful to you guys for supporting us. In other Wednesday news, if all goes well and we have our son on Wednesday the 16th (that’s Sherry’s scheduled date), that makes this the very last Wednesday of our lives as parents of one (well, two if you count Burger) so that’s kind of blowing our minds too. Happy Wednesday, guys!
Update – Some of the most frequent questions that we get are requests for info about blogging (how we started, how we grew our following, how we make money, etc) so we shared all of the details about how we started a blog, grew our traffic, and turned it into a full time job.
candace says
I picked up my Octopus hook two days ago! In love! You deserve all of the success – thanks for all of your hard work! I’m an IN LOVE with the showhouse pics – I’m over the top inspired every day. Hopefully you can sneak in some down time before Baby #2 arrives.
AmandaW says
I got skeleton key in the mail yesterday! Love it!
Sue says
Hi guys. When will these be available at Target in Canada? I’m loving the white octopus :)
YoungHouseLove says
We know you Canada folks have been asking for them up there so we hope they decide to pick them up!
xo
s
Heidi says
Are any of these products made in the USA? I know you two have taken great pride on making your home as green as possible, especially when it comes to what chemicals come in your home. Do you know if these same practices were used in the final list of chemicals used to make these products?
YoungHouseLove says
They’re designed & engineered in the US by Liberty Hardware – in North Carolina & Illinois – and they’re manufactured overseas in China, where Liberty also has an office full of employees. Liberty Hardware and Target both have very strict standards (Target doesn’t work with any factories that aren’t inspected for worker safety and ethical treatment, and Liberty has been working with them for years). We usually buy hooks/rails/hardware at places like Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s (all of which are made from similar materials in similar ways) so we like that this line reflects what we’ve brought into our house for years. We also got to forgo the plastic packaging that’s on a lot of hardware sets for cardboard only, which was nice.
xo
s
Haley G says
Congrats on your stuff being at Target!! I was wondering about that wood/pink unicorn wall art sitting on the ledge in the showhouse girl’s room. My unicorn OBSESSED 5 year old needs that asap! Was it DIY?
YoungHouseLove says
That was a DIY project for our book. You just stain a piece of wood, make a template for the shape you want on it, and paint around that so the wood color comes through on the object. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Jackie says
I bought a bumblebee hook! Seemed only necessary :)
Blythe says
I’ve tried a few Target’s in MI that are supposed to have the collection, but no luck yet :(…I’m hoping that will change soon!!
AutumnTao says
Congrats, folks! You deserve it. I adore your blog and all the stories and the book. Wishing you a safe delivery and a quick recovery. Your little one is coming on mine and my husband’s birthday, and our second little boy is due the 19th. We’re all so fortunate, aren’t we?! Cheers. XO
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet! Good luck with your little one!
xo
s
Janet says
You guys are just SO awesome! Couldn’t be happier for all of the amazing things you have going on. May God continue to bless you and yours and while I am in complete agreement with the chorus of “put your feet up,” don’t forget to post a quick pic of the barnacle when he arrives first :) I think you will find yourselves actually getting MORE rest once he comes if that is possible? You crazy kids haven’t stopped in months!
Kristen says
I was soooo excited to run over to my local Target & pick up a few items from your awesome line. I know I can get them online, but I wanted to see them in person…and maybe caress a ceramic octopus while I’m there.:) to my utter dismay, they do not carry any of it at the Bozeman Montana Target store. So sad!! Do you know where a list of stores that actually do carry these end caps might be? I am dying to get my hands on this stuff. Thanks!
Kristen says
Oh man, I’m such a nerd! I just re-read the post & you linked a list of stores that do carry your items. Ha, thanks so much for thinking of everything.can’t wait to see a post about baby barnacle soon! Congrats!
YoungHouseLove says
Sure, here’s a list for ya: http://www.libertyhardware.com/yhlstorelocator
xo
s
Meredith @ La Buena Vida says
How lame am I–I have been reading your blog for YEARS and never noticed that the background was actually little hearts. I just saw geometric pattern, ha!
I’m excited for you about how much store coverage you got! Even my podunk little town is getting one of your endcaps, and we often don’t get the Target collaboration lines! Congrats guys!
Kim Rily says
I think everyone who wants you to take a break should stop posting on the comments section, so you can rest. (Like the irony of this comment?)
And just so you know, April birthdays rock, though you will have to deal with planning parties around spring break and/or Easter. (Planning my son’s April 14th birthday. He wants to invite about 37 people including all his preschool teachers. We had to cut it back just a bit.) And it all goes so fast! We are having to change his room from Dr. Seuss to all the super heroes because “he’s not a baby anymore.” Waah! Congrats. Do not respond to this comment. And I, to do my part, will not make any comments here till after the little boy is here.
Kelly says
Happy Wednesday! I love the teal octo most of all! Everything is great actually. Definitely will be on the look out for this locally (PHX in da house)
Prayers for the safe arrival for baby as well.
Jazmin says
I want two of the octopus hooks for my kids bathroom! I have blue and teal stripes and looks pretty grown up since it’s also a guest bath, but I think the white octopus hooks will make it look whimsical and classy!
These will hold towels right? I ask, because they look more for a desk area with light stuff. In any event, I want them!
Jazmin
YoungHouseLove says
They were made for keys and small items like jewelry and belts/scarves but I think small hand towels might loop over them. Big full sized towels would probably slip off though.
xo
s
ElizabethAnn says
Wow! How did I miss this?! Congratulations!
Jill H says
My favorite part of this post was “…our son…” Absolutely got teary eyed! Congratulations on ALL of your projects, and now I need to find a white octopus hook for my aqua-walled nursery pronto!
Caroline@CreatePretty says
Oh goodness I was so excited when I saw this in store. And I saw the paint. I was like whaaaaa? Target has paint!!
I didn’t look closely, but are you associated/have any say with the paint? You may have answered this… I didn’t read other comments today :)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s all Target. Isn’t it cool though?!
xo
s
Mandy says
You guys are awesome and we LOVE our octopus! Our 20 month old son walks in the kitchen and says hello to his octopus every day. Thank you for including our pic from Instagram and I hope you can rest soon before the barnacle arrives.
Big hugs,
Mandy
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so sweet Mandy!
xo
s
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
So fun to see all of those pics of fans with their new YHL products!!! I have to get my butt to Target this week and pick up some hooks. LOVE!!! I want the Octopus one in every room in our house!!! ;) OMG one more week! Crazy, but I can’t wait to see pics of your little one. :)
Vanessa says
So excited for you guys! Cannot wait to get my hands on some items. Even the packaging is great.
Laura Radniecki says
Oh my gosh! How exciting!!!
I can only imagine your excitement, standing next to that display in Target and seeing YOUR handiwork available for everyone! ***Happy Dance in the Target aisle!!!***
I’ll be checking the list to see if my local Target in rural Minnesota carries them!
xo! Laura
Kerry says
I’m so happy for all of your successes — you deserve every bit of it. You’ve worked hard, kept it real, and inspired so many.
I bought a white octo hook to hang keys at our beach house. I’ll DEF share a photo of it once I hang it.
Can’t wait for next Wednesday! April is a great month to have a baby (my bday was yesterday).
Olivia says
Yes, let it sink in and enjoy the fruits of your hard work. Congrats!!
Samantha @ Fabulous Fabris says
Agh! So exciting! I can’t wait to get to a store that has it and check it all out. I think I want a ledge one for our mudroom :)
Best of luck with the new baby!!! What an exciting year it is for you guys.
Ali says
yay for April 16th birthdays! Congratulations for making it through this crazy Spring- enjoy the next weeks and new adventures as parents of two!
Kaia Smith says
Your line is supposed to be available at my local Target (Hutchinson, MN) according to the website..but it is not :( I called our Target and asked them when it will be out on the shelves and they said that since they are in the middle of a remodel that your line won’t be out on the shelves, and it probably will be sent back! So super bummed! They said I possibly could let them know what I wanted and they might be able to bring it out from the back for me which is nice, but still makes me sad. Just thought you guys might have wanted a heads up- I hope other Target locations are not doing the same thing.
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry about that! Thanks for the tip!
xo
s
Amanda L says
I can’t believe you are doing all these things with just a week to go in your pregnancy!!! I was laying on the couch trying to entertain my toddler at that point. You go girl! Best of luck for a safe and most of all UNEVENTFUL delivery!
Kristin says
Love it! I was so stoked to find the end cap – I hunted through the entire home decor section and was so sad when I didn’t find it. But, alas, there it was in the home improvement section! Picked up two ORBy bees for our future nursery. I have no idea what we’ll hang on them – maybe some artwork with a ribbon hanger? But I don’t care because BEES!
Stephanie says
The Target closest to my house isn’t carrying them. WTH? However, the one close to work is, so I know what I’ll be doing for lunch today!!! :)
I can’t believe you’re one week away from having your son. It goes so much faster when it’s not your pregnancy. ;) Best wishes, and I agree with everyone else, please take some time to rest. It’s going to be super crazy busy. Having two just changes things.
Anna // Gone Banannas says
I might have a mini meltdown if my Target doesn’t have your stuff in stock yet. In other news, YAY FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY!!!
Briel K. says
I’m glad you are planning to try and do a video tour of the show house. I’d LOVE to see that!
Congrats on the Target launch!
minneapplegirl14 says
Went to Target today and got the octopus! can’t wait to hang it up!
Bonnie C says
Woot!! We made the collage! lol Conrats on the official launch and good luck with the show house. :) Poor Sherry didn’t get her rightful 4 weeks pre-due date maternity leave… girl’s gonna need some SERIOUS downtime on the flip side. ;p GOOD LUCK!
Laurel says
You guys are amazing! Hands down the hardest working family on the internet. And April 16th- that’s my birthday, too!
Darcie says
I’ve been stalking my Target looking for you collection, I was fearful none of the SoCal stores were getting it, but I’m happy to see that Irvine is in fact on the list and that I can continue lurking in the home section!
My wallet it crying, it knows we can’t enter Target without buying something! :)
Carrie Lea says
My store isn’t carrying you guys! :( Not that I am surprised, our store kinda sucks compared to all those and hour away (What? Doesn’t everyone go to Target in the other towns they go to?)but I will still support you online!
And BABY! Oh my gosh! I’m so excited to meet the Barnacle!
LARY@Inspiration Nook says
So exciting!!! I cannot wait to see these in person.
Diana says
I love that they used a picture of your actual kitchen table! That’s hilarious & awesome!
I checked the last time I was at Target but they didn’t have it out yet…going again tomorrow and hope to find it (I saw on the list that my Target is supposed to have it).
Trish says
I was in Target today and it made me smile too! Also, my b-day is the 17th and my baby girl turns 1 on the 18th (I was in labor on my bday last year!) so there are some good dates for having a baby next week!! :)
Kelli Fox says
Wow! It is the neatest thing to see all you guys have accomplished. keep it up! we love to follow along :)
Steph Reiner says
Seriously you guys are the best. I’d be giving you hugs and bringing you home cooked meals for these few weeks of crazy if we were real life friends (or at least didn’t have like 400 miles between us…) I scoured our Target in Sacramento for the YHL but couldn’t find it! It could have something to do with the toddler needing to be entertained that might’ve distracted me…
And I LOVE the boys’ room hooks! I’m so totally stealing this idea for my daughter’s room! You guys are so creative and I love seeing what you guys come up with… Okay I better go before this gets too mushy. Preggo hormones will have me sobbing all over my keyboard. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Steph!
xo
s
Raquel says
So happy for you and all you are experiencing at the moment! Congratulations–and do stop to take it all in! Life is good!
Alyssa says
You guys are just amazing! Seriously! All this big time news and you are still regular John and Sherry who started this blog years ago. I love that you don’t act like big shots now. You are so real and I appreciate that more than you’ll ever know as a reader. I have always tried to be a supportive reader by sharing your blog with others and buying the book and now I’ve added two “Burger hooks” to the list for our two chihuahuas! I know I’m just one person , little old me, but I hope I some how I make a difference. I was so super excited to see the line at our Target and I already have my eye on the shelf rail:) I loved that the items were uber affordable and general enough that anyone would use them, yet special enough that you feel pretty cool having them in your house. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I like you, a lot….and I’m not a creepy stalker! That is all:)
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Alyssa!
xo
s
Marisa says
The 16th is my husbands birthday and he’s pretty awesome. Good luck guys! Can’t wait to “meet” your little guy!
I didn’t see any Canadian stores on that list. Too bad for us…
Danya says
I went to Target looking for your line and couldn’t find it. Thanks for adding the link which lists what stores are carrying them. Looks like Liberty forgot about OREGON and a few other states! I hope it is coming later because, I am very sad.
YoungHouseLove says
Good news! There are 11 stores in Oregon on the store locator that carry it (you just have to scroll down more to see them I think).
xo
s
Liz Blaufuss says
Oh, this is just so exciting for you guys! Your family is darling and I love all of your decorating ideas. I can’t wait to rush out to Target today and buy me some HOOKS!! They are so cute.
Congratulations on all of your success. You should be very proud.
Stephanie @ Whole Health Dork says
So happy and excited for you! It must be such a rush! Who would have thought when you started this adventure all these years ago that you’d be here now? Life is crazy!
Jessica says
I was looking at the Anthropologie website and I noticed a set of super cute whale bookends and then upon closer inspection, how awesome is it that your book is tucked between the ends!
Here is the link :)
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-office/27210285.jsp?cm_sp=Grid-_-27210285-_-Regular_13
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that crazy?!
xo
s
Mamaw says
Congratulations on getting your stuff in Target. Can’t talk now…gotta make a run to Target. Love you guys!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Love you right back!
xo
s
Melinda says
Hi Sherry and John!
Just finished staining one of your hook holders. I went to Target today and purchased the white hexagon hooks. Everything is very sturdy and easily assembled. I’ll be hanging it up in our bathroom today. We’ve been without a proper towel rack for a while because I could not find something I liked. When I saw the YHL line, I nearly flipped. I was so pumped! Good luck with everything!
YoungHouseLove says
Ahh, that’s so awesome!
xo
s