Ain’t free stuff awesome? If it weren’t, why would Oprah’s audiences blow a gasket on national TV every year when she says “Faaaay-vo-rit thiiiiiings!”
But enough about Ms. Winfrey (Sherry’s perma-smiling over here, because Oprah’s her jam). We’re bringing up freebies because we’re making a swag related declaration. Moving forward, we’re just saying no. We’ll still offer up free house stuff to you guys in the form of our weekly giveaways, but we’re not going to accept products or services for our casa at any special “blogger discount” or for free – even if we genuinely love them.
We have absolutely nothing against other bloggers who do (it’s definitely an obvious perk of the job) but especially since we’re both able to do this full time, we’re appreciative of a few other perks (like working from home with our pooch & our girl by our side). This way it makes it easy to recommend an amazing piece of furniture or a great floor refinisher based on the job that person has done or the item they’ve sold – not based on any special arrangement behind the scenes. We don’t want you guys to ever question our motives for blogging about something. And although we’ve always tried to be totally transparent when we’re writing about an item that was gifted (like this faucet & this lawnmower) and only agreed if it was something we really liked (and always tried to snag a second freebie for a reader, like we did with the faucet & the lawnmower), now no one even has to wonder if we’re endorsing something because we truly love it or because it was free.
Why now? Well, over the next few years, our new house will need lots of stuff. But we want to stalk every single thing down ourselves and buy it (or make it) without any other reason than it’s what we love and it’s actually within our price range. And we don’t want a post about how we need a new dining table to be misconstrued by you guys as “fishing for a freebie” (and we don’t want companies to consider it to be an invitation for them to offer something up in exchange for a post about it). Besides, being constrained by a real budget is when we come up with our most creative ideas.
And although we’re happy to pass on the free stuff from now on, we’ll do our best to pass it onto you guys whenever we can. A lot of our weekly giveaways already come from that technique, so we’ll continue to give away stuff that we think you’ll love. Our little declaration definitely means we’ll be hunting down discounts, sales, and even free stuff on craigslist like it’s our job (oddly enough, it kind of is). As long as it’s a deal that each of you could score too, we’re game (special blogger discounts & freebies are out, but deal hunting in the clearance section & haggling at garage sales are definitely still in).
Oh and this is probably a good time to remind you guys that things in the new home will be happening on a real timeline. No same day 10K makeovers a la HGTV. So we hope you’ll bear with us as we save our pennies and take on Operation New House one project at a time (remember our current house took 4.5 years to get to where it is today!).
Update – Some of the most frequent requests that we get are for info about professionally blogging (how we made our site, 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.
Sarah says
If you hadn’t already gained my respect, this was a grand way to do it. Good for you guys to sticking with your roots and making sure your readers can still relate to you and your struggles. Kudos to you!
Best of luck!
Melissa E says
I have been enjoying your blog almost daily (ever since I found it through IKEA hacks in the summer and went on a YHL binge while trying to get caught up). I understand why this decision has been made but I don’t know that I ever thought poorly of you guys endorsing things or getting things for free. This could be because of the way you two have written about any items that have come to you because of your “status”. Really don’t mind though… this could be because I want to keep the hope alive that someday I will get free things however.
Regardless, still gonna check my RSS notifier all day for your posts.
Jamie says
You guys are amazing. and I am SOOOO excited for your move next week! I almost feel like I am moving too! haha. Cant wait to see some pics of your new house!
Alicia says
Good for you guys! I mean I have to say that I never doubted an opinon that guys did or questioned ‘did they get that for free’ BUT I also know that not everyone is in Young House Love like me… so they may be a bit more skeptical!
Elizabeth says
BTW, I have a question… I have beautiful wood trim in my home, but it’s “plank” style, meaning no carving detail, just squared-off, a medium stain. It’s unusual, and I cannot find many sources of decorating inspiration for this style molding, in terms of color, etc. I would paint it white except then it would just look like very plain wood, the beauty of the color/grain would be lost. Any websites or places you could suggest I look for inspiration? So many people seem to have white or cream trim, it’s hard for me to mentally translate to my home at times. Thanks!
(Or SHOULD I consider painting it? Even though it has no curves or detail?)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Elizabeth,
Maybe try searching around for “bungalow wood trim” on google images and hopefully you’ll find lots of gorgeous rooms with natural trim. As a starting point, wood trim looks gorgeous with sage, golden tan, or even eggplant wall paint! Good luck!
xo,
s
Janet says
Wait a minute – if you’re moving in 5 days, that means it already mid-December?!? Where has the time gone? Good luck with the big move – can’t wait to see and hear about it!
Lindsey says
And this is why I love you guys. :-) Can’t wait to come along for the ride w/ Operation New House!
Skooks says
I always knew you guys were on the level. :) So very happy for you and excited to see all your renos in real time. Now I won’t feel so far behind. ;)
heyruthie says
thank you. this keeps you “within reach” for all the rest of us out there. such a great move.
Robyn says
You guys never cease to amaze me with the upstanding way in which you conduct business on this blog. La la love you!
Kim says
I love that this stance! It makes things feel more in reach for the “real” folks.
Thanks!!
Brandi says
It never bothered me either way, you two always seem to give an honest opinion – freebies or not. Love your honesty! Looking forward to following your new adventures in the new house. :)
Jennifer S. says
Yay!
Rebecca says
Thank you! Absolutely can not wait to watch you make over your new home in real time. I just recently found your blog, so I missed seeing rooms “evolve”. Looking forward to it!
Elizabeth says
I really appreciate & admire this.
Having just bought our first home [a 1925 beauty for $20,000!], my husband & I have gone two weeks with zero curtains, because we need to save up again after all our initial renovations.
I’m excited to see your new place & to know that someone else is working hard at fixing up a house into a home.
oneida says
this is exactly why i love you guys! you have integrity with what you do and you care more about your readers than about what you can get out of the situation. thank you for being this way and thank you for doing it ‘our’ way so we can learn from you! there are so many things on your blog that i want to use for our house (once it has a floor and we can move in :P) and i know that it is possible without having to figure out some behind-the-scenes improbable stuff.
Kiran says
I cant wait for the new casa! This is so exciting! Takes me back when we were super excited of our casa :)
Erin @ Where Beauty Meets Function says
I cannot wait to follow the new house!!!
I didn’t find you guys until most of the renovation work was completed on this house. So, this will be a blast! And super motivating! :)
And while I’m kinda sad for you guys not getting freebies anymore…I’m glad you will be doing it right along with the rest of us! :)
Jenn says
Good for you guys! I’m always wary of blog posts with reviews of free products. It’s my only major blog related pet peeve. I have yet to read one that sounds like it’s truly unbiased and balanced (I haven’t read any of yours). There’s a certain children’s music album that several bloggers received free copies of and all gave it gushing recommendations. When I downloaded it onto my Zune, I found that while the lyrics were good, the music and singing and production quality ranged from only so-so to pretty bad. I may be slightly more knowledgeable than most since I’m married to a musician, but at least one of these people (like the other one who is married to a musician) should have been able to figure out this pretty big “con” and call it out in her review. It scares me to think of spending big bucks on home decor/furnishings based on a review that might be extremely biased in favor of the one who gave the freebie.
I imagine that you guys would be pretty honest about pros and cons, but I think most people are too worried about being “nice” to the company/person that gave them the product.
Hope all the final details of packing and organizing the move go smoothly!
Emily says
One thing that no one has mentioned (though I haven’t read through ALL of the comments) is that the purpose of your blog is to show us how you pull off amazing DIY projects on a budget. If you’re getting everything for free that doesn’t really help your readers learn ways to save some money on their own projects. A $1000 bathroom renovation is just not impressive if you got $3000 worth of materials for free.
It’s certainly a great ethical move, but it’s also the move that makes sense for what you are trying to accomplish with this blog. We appreciate it because that’s why we come here! We want to know how normal people can make their homes beautiful. Thanks you guys!
Stephanie Phillips says
I am SO excited about your new adventure! Maybe as excited as you are! You’re style is way better than mine, but it really is inspirational to see how you manage to transform a modest little house into an inviting home. I plan to steal many ideas, so keep them coming!
Mo says
Just a quick question, I may have missed somewhere, but are you guys still doing design boards for folks? Haven’t seen any on here lately. Is that due to the economy or have you all discontinued doing them?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Mo,
We actually just don’t have a spare moment to whip up reader commissioned mood boards anyway, so we had to stop offering them. Here’s hoping we have spare time again someday and can reintroduce them (with a big blog announcement of course!). Until then we plan to share generic boards just for fun (and sometimes for our own house) from time to time. We love making mood boards too much to let them die!
xo,
s
Julia says
You guys totally rock. Your genuineness and sweetness have always been evident, and you are a true inspiration to keepin’ it real AND having a great time in the process!
xo
Rachie says
Wanted to say that I love the journey -its so full of inspiration. Keep doing what you are doing guys!
Rachie xo
jbhat says
This is why I heart you, Youngsters. Not only because of your good taste and good ideas, but because you are good people.
jbhat
Laura says
I think I just fell in love a little bit more. Seriously, are y’all for real? Character, class, fabulous work ethic…LOVE your blog! Oh, and P.S., I regularly start sentences with “John and Sherry…”.
KellyMichelle says
I am so happy for you guys. It will be so fun to watch as you make your new house as awesome as this one [maybe better!]
Oh and Clara is adorable, but I don’t have to tell that to you two.
Thanks for your honesty and great projects! One day, when we finally
buy a house, I will be putting many of your ideas to use I’m sure.
Charlotte says
I love y’all. Just puttin that out there. I wish I lived in VA so we could be friends in real life.
Lonely Wife Project says
I think you guys are pretty awesome!
greenbean says
INTEGRITY!
Dannielle says
Really love that you guys wrote this. It shows that you guys are doing it to the best of your ability just like the rest of us. We don’t have blogs and are learning renovation one step at a time. Love this blog :) xoxo
Caroline says
Thank you, thank you! I agree with others when I say this definitely takes a lot of integrity, but it totally makes it more real and attainable to US (you know, those crazy people trying to do-what-you-do??). I really appreciate this and am looking forward to the entire journey that will offer up ideas that hopefully we can afford/create as well. Thanks!! And let the countdown continue…. Congrats!
Meredith K A says
What are you guys going to sit on now that you’ve sold all your sofas?? I guess you kept one out of two between the living room and den, and I can’t remember if you sold the daybeds from the sunroom, so maybe you still have one or both of those as well? I was just surprised to see you put the PB sofa up for sale when it is in such good condition, seems like it would have a place in your new greatroom until you get a new sofa, and maybe even a permanent place in the new house with perhaps a new slipcover in a different color. But hopefully this means you’ve already got your dream sectional lined up to be delivered to your new house after you move in! I have my fingers crossed for you :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Meredith,
We still have two sofas (the sleeper in the office and the cream one in the living room) along with the two daybeds so we’ll be ok! We only sold the tan PB one in the den since we couldn’t find a place for it in the new house! But we do have a plan when it comes to ordering our I’m-so-excited sectional as soon as we’re in the new place.
xo,
s
Ellen says
Awesome. We’re renovating our 94 year old house with our own very meager budget, whatever we can, whenever we can afford it, DIY, and it’s great to have a place that saves their pennies and does the same. We’re looking to you for tips and tricks and DIY!
Missy says
You guys rock. Don’t want to repeat what’s already been said, but seriously… your decisions seem so well thought out and adult! ;)
Do you think this include something like True Value Squad if you were asked back again? I know ya’ll turned it down for other reasons, but what if Home Depot or Lowes jumps on the wagon??
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Missy,
Good question! We definitely wouldn’t accept swag from any company in exchange for a post about it (or a number of posts about it) – no matter who they are. But we’re still open to teaming up with companies in other capacities, like how we write for BabyCenter and BHG’s Do It Yourself magazine, which are fun little side gigs that don’t feel like we’re pushing products. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Holyoke Home says
Good for you! As a fellow home improvement blogger, I think it’s really important to feel really good about your content and how you came to create that content!
Wishing you tons and tons of health and happiness in the new casa!!!!
Mayhem says
I really appreciate this. Totally understandable why some bloggers do accept freebies, but honestly I trust the opinions of those who don’t much more!
Katreena says
I am so excited about your new adventure! I always love starting with a fresh canvas! The only bad thing…you are going to give me waaaaaaay too many new ideas! ;-)
I also love that you guys are ditching the freebies and only working with what you have (and what YOU can budget). It really helps us “followers” who want to snag that same item, but don’t have a freebie gift card to put towards it. Nothing against the products you have received in the past. I am just looking forward to a new approach to your DIYing!
Congrats on your new journey!
kay says
Kudos to you for maintaining control of your blog and not selling out to advertisers. I have recently unsubscribed from several design-related blogs because their ads and promotion of sponsors has overshadowed the content. It’s like reading a magazine with too many ads–it’s not worth it. Keep playing your game.
Rhiannon says
I wouldn’t be nearly in love with your blog if everything a magic wand wave and voila your house is done! I love love love the process! It’s real. It’s what my hubs and I are dealing with and probably the majority of your readers. You guys are awesome, real nice people with that extra special spark! I have no doubt you’ll keep it up and I’ll keep reading, step by step by step!
Gina says
BIG props – I knew I liked you guys! Seriously, though, I’m on a budget and love your blog because it is so encouraging and inspiring to see what’s possible with just a little creativity and elbow grease.
Tracy says
Do you do any quality-control measures for the blog advertisers? Or is it buyer beware?
I too am intrigued by the painting of the paneling. I’ll be interested to see which conditions in your house you all have to immediately “mediate” until you can fix it properly as part of larger project.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Tracy,
Good question. We interact a lot with our advertisers (many of them do giveaways with us and then ask about advertising, so we know they’re a product/service that our readers like and hopefully someone that we’ll enjoy working with further). We also get lots of reports from our readers if they order anything from sponsors of ours (usually on our sponsor shout out posts) so that’s always nice to hear! So far everyone has said positive things when it comes to working with each of them (about their friendliness, quick shipping, good quality, etc). And of course if any readers ever contacted us to say something negative about the wares or services that they received from one of our sponsors it would definitely be something that we take very seriously! So far, so good though!
xo,
s
Ali says
I’m so excited that you guys are going to post on your house in real time and with a real budget! It makes me love you and the blog even more! :) I think real creativity take limits and those limits (budge wise) help us relate to you as “real” people (not a TV show or magazine with a team of people and a mega budget) decorating your home! It makes the art and design of your home even more valuable! Hope that I make sense!
So impressed and we’ll love the crazy chaos posts even more when in 4 to 8 years we see the finished projects! I love that you are “playing” fair and not sneaking around with “free products” and “free services”! Way to stand out in the blog world!
~ Ali
Shannon says
Thank you so much for taking this approach. I feel like my blog reader has turned into a giant commercial somedays. Some blogs got to the point that I’ve stopped reading them. So glad that you won’t be going that route!!!
michelle says
ok, you both will think i am a total weird-o, but I had tears in my eyes, because I am soooo happy you guys get a new house, and new projects to share w/ us. CONGRATS!!!!
Kristin says
I found your blog a few months ago and I may be considered a bit obsessed. :) I don’t own my own house yet, but love all of your ideas and enjoy your sense of style.
I too am glad you will not be accepting free items to endorse. As you stated, you guys are DIY-ers (and darn good ones at that!) so I am so thankful you are sticking to your wonderful morals and creative ways instead of having a house full of brand new items.
I am delighted everything is working out for you guys and can’t wait to read about all the little updates – no matter how small they might seem in the whole scheme of things.
connie says
This really doesn’t have to do with ‘free blogging’, but there was that picture of the front of your new house, and it got me thinking: are you splitting any of the plants from the old house and replanting at the new house? That way you could bring part of the old to the new and ‘recycle’ at the same time. I know it’s the middle of winter so it might have been impossible, but it’s a shame because so many of your plants were so beautiful at the old house, and so easily transplanted!!
fyi-love your website and can’t get enough of your blog!!
YoungHouseLove says
That is such a sweet idea Connie! Unfortunately it’s really cold here (finally, after being freakishly warm for a while) so we don’t think anything will make it- but we do have a few potted bushes and plants that will come with us to remember our first house by (assuming they don’t die in this cold weather)! Fingers crossed…
xo,
s
Ashley says
THANK.YOU. I hate that feeling of questioning a person’s/blogger’s genuity. :D It really makes your content that much better!
Emmy says
I love that you have decided to go this route “) I am inspired the most when you make something creative and the fun part is tracking those special inexpensive finds, it would make it feel more real life to me than seeing something gifted and super expensive, (not for me “mommy on a budget”). Can’t wait to “walk” along with you guys. The decoration will begin in five days, let the countdown begin! YES super excited!!!! I totally understand what you mean by slow process we moved into our home almost 1 year & 1/2 ago and its still a work in progress, I am happy because my home will have inspirations from your 1st house and the new one yeay! I can’t wait for the ideas and inspiration. My bedroom paint is the same color your master bedroom and I love it! Best wishes
Carolyn says
Can I award you with 5000 bonus points for this decision?! way to go for not being lured by the carrots advertisers put in front of blog writers. I don’t want to read an advertisement, I want to read about real-deal, relatable and approachable DIYers (that’s you btw!) I like to see how making a home can be done on a budget, as well as seeing the process, not just the end product. You. Are. Awesome. End of gush :)