This post was 3,000 words long. They all felt overly complicated and heavy and weird. I clicked delete. Then I just typed what we’re really feeling, complete with things we’ve never said out loud and even a few things we’ve never fully admitted to ourselves before.
The truth is that we love you guys. Like for real. Even for the tough love. We know you say it because you care (or hopefully you did at some point), and we want you to know we care right back. We want to do a good job. We want to do this with joy and excitement. We want to inspire you. We know this is an incredible way to have made a living and we are full of gratitude for the experience to have shared the last seven years of our lives with you guys online.
We would NEVER be here without you, and not a day goes by that we don’t know that. It’s why we asked for your feedback last week and read every last comment. We appreciate the honesty and the passion you guys have on the topic of making this blog great. And we agree with a lot of what was being said. We have been feeling off for a while – like we have lost our rhythm and we’re somehow missing the mark for ourselves and for you guys. We too miss the good old days when we did this for the love and were full of such obvious joy and spontaneity. This felt like a place we all hung out and it just doesn’t have that vibe anymore.
Over the years many amazing opportunities popped up for us. Things we never dreamed of doing in a million years, and things we’re incredibly grateful to have had the chance to experience. A book deal, curating paint picks with Benjamin Moore, a line sold at Target, a showhouse, etc. But in hindsight those things also made this feel a lot more like a business than a personal blog to many of you, and to us as well. We have actually ramped those down behind the scenes in an attempt to get back to our roots (we no longer do the BM color collection, the second book is mostly written, our products at Target have completed their run, and we finished the showhouse) but we never really made a big announcement about that – so it’s completely understandable that some of you might think we’ve moved on to those greener pastures and left the blog in the dust, so to speak. The reality is that our site propels the success of any outside project like a product or book, so we could never turn our backs on the blog and expect those items to continue to sell as well.
Not only have we felt this shift from “John and Sherry” to “Young House Love: The Brand”, but the blogosphere as a whole has become increasingly sponsored/corporate lately. We can see from the outside prospective as a reader, or even a fellow blogger, that it’s hard to read a blog post without suspecting some ulterior motive or money-making system behind it. Last week a few of you mentioned that we might need to keep giveaways around because they pay us well, which surprised us since they’re never something we accept payment for (we like to pass free things along to you as a thank you for reading).
Along with the whole business/brand thing that’s going on, and the side gigs that felt like they muddied the water for some of you, there are certainly other things we wish we had handled differently in hindsight. Just to name a few, there’s: being too defensive, over-explaining, letting things get in our heads and change our lighthearted approach, and the internal struggle between being transparent and oversharing personal details like a vacant new house without an alarm system (looking back we wish we’d handled our third house announcement differently). We know many of you felt insulted that we didn’t share more freely about that house, and we truly apologize.
Anyway, back to that whole “we’re sexy stumbling and you know it” thing. It’s endlessly frustrating to do a job that you love poorly, especially when it’s a blog baby that you’ve birthed yourself and nurtured for seven years. And especially when it’s such an amazing job that we once felt so inspired and joyful to wake up and do each day. What’s wrong with us? We know this is a dream job. We acknowledge it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. We know most people who have built something like this would be more inspired than ever. It’s not that we lost the gratitude, I think it’s that we feel like we’ve fallen out of our groove. We feel like we’re letting you guys down repeatedly. It got to the point that every time we pressed “publish” we braced ourselves.
So in an attempt to stop stumbling around and feeling like we just can’t get it back, we’re taking a break. We don’t know exactly how long we’ll be stepping away, but our guess would be at least a month. We will certainly be exploring other options for supporting our family (something we mentioned we were considering back in April). We had that fiery blog-spark back when we had day jobs and did this as a hobby, so we think it could be a good change. We’ll also be taking a break on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, but the blog will stay public so you guys can access the archives whenever you’d like.
Our internal struggle and the state of this blog is entirely of our making, and we completely own that. Please don’t get mad at anyone for being honest with their feedback last week or accuse them of sending us packing. We have been struggling with that “something is off” feeling for a while now, and after way too much denial and “we’ll turn it around” pep talks, we finally asked for your feedback because we truly wanted to hear what you were thinking. It was cathartic and helpful for us. It has allowed us to very clearly see that if we have any respect for this blog and our love of it, and for you guys and what you’d like to see, we need to take a break if we ever want any hope of getting back to that fun/real/spontaneous place it used to be when this was something we did for the love instead of the high stakes game of supporting a family.
In summary: we love you, we thank you, and we hope you understand.
Rosanne says
Just checking in and finally had a chance to read all the hub bub. Life happens to everyone, me, you, Luke. Been a reader pretty much from the beginning. Do I check your blog every day?…yes. Have I read every post?… no. And I am ok with that. Happy to hear you’re taking a break, will certainly miss you and will be checking every day til you return… Peace and Love!
Heather MacFeather says
I wholeheartedly respect your choice even if it means not hearing about your latest home reno extravaganza.
I have missed the weekly photos of Teddy. As the third born child, I am rooting for his charming and adorable project to get back to regularly scheduled programming. (Someone has to keep up the clever/corny humour going).
Best wishes, Heather
Sara W. says
I would just like to say thanks for letting us be a part of your lives for so many years; I can’t imagine the stress that must create on your family– just know we are all thankful for what you’ve done for us (strangers who you will never meet, and still have provided so much for!) You do what you need to do– we have your back! Good luck with whatever you decide, and again, thanks for all the love you’ve dished out over the years!
Amy says
Here’s another for the pile of encouraging comments. We love and thank YOU. My husband and I aren’t big blog followers, but we refer to “John and Sherry” in conversation like we know you. We bought our 1950s ranch house three years ago, inspired in no small part by your awesome work. We have not done a single thing to our house without consulting your blog. Many things we copied from your projects, and a couple of others we actually installed before you did the exact same thing to your place. (Great minds think at least a tiny bit alike!) We juggle at-home work with care of our two very young kids, and we have been fascinated by your posts about your daily schedules. We are in awe of your creativity and productivity, both in home renovations and in blogging. Never once has it felt to us like you were doing anything less than your best, which is superhuman by most people’s standards. Having witnessed your growth as a brand, we’ve just felt happy for you as we’ve seen the book, the Target products, and the rest. You guys are brilliant and you deserve to enjoy the results of your very hard work. If you ever come back to your blog, we’ll be there. If you posted updates every six months, we’d read them — seriously. We bought your first book and we’ll buy your second. Maybe you’ve earned our “brand loyalty,” but to us, it just feels like supporting the great work of people we hope will continue to share. Thank you for all that you’ve done, and we wish you and your family all the best in whatever you tackle next.
Lori says
Absolutely agree – I would read ANY updates, no matter how frequently or infrequently they appear. Even if it’s just an annual “Christmas letter” – but please, oh please, let it be more frequent than that!
JoeyfromSC says
I will miss you guys!!! Please enjoy your break as I know it is WELL deserved!! I love the honesty in this post as I have always loved that about you guys!! I do pray you come back eventually though lol..The blogosphere will not be the same without ya!!!
Much love!!
Jennifer says
I work as a hospice nurse. I just wanted to let you know that when people are on their death bed, the number one regret is that they worked too much. You will never regret less work, more family. Enjoy yourselves!
Natalia says
wow! I think it takes a lot of courage to take a break from something you love because you know you aren’t giving it your all. We all need seasons of rest, from that point, we can start fresh and I applaud you guys! I have loved your blog for years and it actually has been one of the catalysts for my love of decorating and design. It also helped me to feel like I didn’t have to be a professional interior decorator to have a home that I loved. Thanks for that.
With that being said, I also miss the day to day small posts about random things. One of my favs from the old days was about how you guys save money and live on a budget (and lived with one car). We had 1 car for a while and it was nice to see others lived that way too ;)
Enjoy your time off and I hope you get clear direction on the blog and your next steps!
Alissa says
Gosh, I think it’s been years since I’ve left a comment here, but I really want to say “good for you!” You have a lot on your plate, but I think (I hope) this decision means that you are putting yourselves first and giving your “in real life” family and friends the time and attention that you want to give them.
It’s been great fun for me to watch you move through several houses, and two pregnancies and births, and while I may feel like I know you, the truth is I don’t really, and while you may feel like you love your readers, you certainly do not owe them anything. I once had a blog with a modest number of followers and it was exciting for a while, but the best thing to come out of it were the lasting friendships I made with just a few of those followers (and fellow bloggers).
Good luck with whatever you decide to do next! (Try to remember that whatever decision you make will be the right one.) And thanks for sharing so much of yourselves over the years.
Jess says
I wish the internet would take a month-long hiatus so all the haters and meanies of the world would find something more positive and productive to do with their time. There is such a thing as constructive criticism, but geesh! You two deserve an award for even keeping this comment thread open!
Vel says
Miss you both! Come back soon.
Melissa Breau (@MelissaBreau) says
Missing you.
Chris from Baltimore says
Still sad as sad can be…………………..
Anne says
It’s like a favourite magazine that is not available anymore and I just keep looking around for it. It’s even more clear for me now than before, but your blog is the only one I really want to read, any other blog comes second and I don’t even enjoy them as much anymore now yours is out of the mix.
Please now you never let a lot of us down and we just enjoy whatever you write, because whatever your write was good. But you gotta love what you do, so hopefully you’ll find your love for the blog back and this is not a goodbye, but an “au revoir”. Enjoy the time off, I know I need a brack from time to time and you barely had any. I’m sure you’ll figure it all out what’s best for you. But we love you and we miss you.
Kim R says
Still getting hits even without new posts. :)
Miss y’all!
Kerry says
Still missing you guys! Hope your break is going well and would love to see you back with us soon if you’re ready. :)
Deb N. says
Seventh Inning Stretch!
Sarah says
Just wanted to say…. MISS YOU which is a weird thing to say to people I have never met! :o) Your blog posts were such a bright spot in my day! Wishing you the best!!
Erica says
Though it is neither my blog nor my business, I think you are taking the right approach. I read YHL daily, starting pre-Clara, but I too have seen the shift in your posts and have found myself less engaged in reading regularly with each passing month. I think when you are young and passionate about each and every nook of your home — and that is your singular focus– it is a lot easier to connect with readers of a “DIY design blog”. As your focus has diversified, so too has the focus of your posts and maybe that is where I started to lose some of my interest. That’s life! Best of luck to you both.
WendyP says
As Rose said to Jack in “Titanic”….”COME BACK!!” :)
Jean says
Thought I’d check in at my usual 3pm tea break. Still missing your blog, but hope you’re enjoying the break.
Katie Katie says
I have never been one to comment but I have been following you guys forever. Really, this is your blog and if you want to post 3 times a year than you should feel every right to. Reading the ugly comments is just insane and you guys don’t deserve any of it. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about anything. I truly hope that you will not stop all together just for the fact that I love seeing what you do to your house and design style! :)
Alison says
Happy Thursday to you.
Meagan says
Sherry & John
I have enjoyed every moment I’ve spent on your blog.
My heart wants to pour out to you, and I am sat here overwhelmed by my emotions. But it always comes down to two words.
Thank you.
Carrie says
Please come back. That is all. :)
Amie Durr says
I thought for sure we were nearing a month of not posting. Nope :/ just feels like a super long time
Ginny C. says
I miss seeing your posts. I hope you guys are enjoying taking some time to regroup and relax! I pray for peace and happiness for you guys. It’s so stressful to deal with thousands of people questioning every decision you make. You do what’s best for you and your family! I love every post you have done, and even if I relate more to some than others, I’m not the one writing and doing the work. This is your space! I hope the negativity doesn’t bring you down, because I love the joy you guys have on your blog. It really is like a ray of sunshine!!!
All the best to you! I hope to see you back when you are ready and rested! Lots of love!
Ashley says
I still miss you, but I hope you all are having a wonderful day! :D
jessica says
You’re one of about 5 blogs I read faithfully. I love your style and your fresh take on things. (and you’re funny!). Just wanted to say so. My husband things blogs are weird. But, I can say things like, “on young house love, they did…” and he doesn’t look a me like I have 17 heads. That’s proof that you got somethin’ goin’ on.
Thanks for the inspiration for all these years (we own a ranch). I HOPE you make a huge return (bigger than life, better than ever!), but you gotta do what you’re lead to do at this point in your life. So, God bless you & best wishes!
Jess says
Totally understandable – the content hasn’t been useful in a while. Best of luck and looking forward to your return! Xo
JString says
Enjoy a much deserved, and needed, sabbatical/maternity leave you never took! Family first, always. But, I have to say I can’t wait to see what you do with the rest of the new house. :-)
Mary says
I would just like to know if Burger was consulted about this break! ‘Cause I’m pretty sure he would have nixed the idea. He always was a sucker for the limelight! Love that Burger. Love you all. Still checking in daily. It’s somehow comforting to hear how everyone else misses you guys so much, too. Thank you for everything you’ve shared. If you write it, I’ll read it. If you video it, I’ll watch it. If you sell it, I’ll buy it. I’m a fan for life. Very best wishes to the whole family, and thank you for effecting my life in such a positive way.
Jessika says
Hi John and Sherry,
First, I applaud you for taking a break. Do what you need.
Second, have you thought about going back to basics? Your big projects are impressive and wonderful, but perhaps people might need help on smaller things, from “how to use a mitre box, how to pre-drill screws and make them flush, how to get a good glossy paint job (and how to repair it if it chips with time), etc.
I also think that you could easily pair with a few other people so that the workload isn’t as “MUST ALWAYS BE DOING ALL THE PROJECTS!” in your life. Those people would get publicity, which is nice. And you’d write the posts, so it’d be in YHL-style. For example, I’m gutting and redoing my garage… but it will take about 30 steps until I’m done, with about 500 decisions along that way. That’s a lot of fodder for posts. I’m not saying you should choose me by any means, but I’m just giving you an example that you can be a knowledge source without having to always do 100% of the project.
We just had our first child, and though I frequently still get “a case of the buildies,” it’s a lot more difficult now to sacrifice time for it. If it’s a project that needs daylight to do, that means James will be awake, so any time I take on the project means less time I’ll be with him… and since my husband and I both work outside the house, that’s a hard sacrifice a lot of the time. I think there’s a way to rework your blog so that you remain a fantastic source of info… without having to constantly be working on projects and blogging about them.
You used to feature discussions where you gave people advice. I think that’s on the right track… but you’d have to go a step further. More (and better) photos. Discussions of which products to use and why, and how to do smaller things. So, a YHL project post, but not in the YHL home.
Hang in there– this will come together.
Best wishes.
Kathryn says
So missing my daily dose of awesome!
Dona Stone says
It’s been 9 days and I feel such a hole in my day. Like I just lost a friend who makes me smile and laugh and nod in total agreement. Come back soon. You are sorely missed.
~Dona
Sabrina says
I still love you guys. I can barely stand to read most house blogs. But I think as you have grown, the pressure to be “perfect” and have long detailed posts has weighed you down. Look at your first posts, they were not as long and wordy and you just shared what you did instead of an expert opinion. I miss the posts where people paid you guys to do a mood board for them (cant think of the name). Loved those bc you were tackling real peoples houses and there was tons of diversity. I love the family posts… try doing a quick one a week. And maybe dont forget to just post about how to maintain a cute house. We are not all always re-doing a house. But how do you keep your house organized and clean and fresh? You have to decide what is best for you as far as one of you going back to work, but I would try to keep trucking on as is. Just start reading those first posts and be inspired.
Karin says
I’m really annoyed that some nay-sayers have given you doubts. You have been able to create and market books and product lines and do show houses precisely because you are GREAT at this blog and people love it. Of COURSE the blog has evolved over time because you and your lives have evolved. Remember that you have a pre-schooler and a newborn with a *magnifying glass* over your lives. I don’t think, when you are in the thick of it, it’s easy to realize how derailing that second baby can be. Just know you have done a wonderful job at, yes, monetizing your passion for design and sharing your lives on a blog (so what? I say good for you!), while maintaining integrity and caring for your audience, and everything you have created is yours to do with as you please. Whether or not anything at all is earned, or who profits from it, is your business. The blog is a free bonus – a gift – to all of us who enjoy reading it. You can take your lives offline whenever you want and feel good about what you have accomplished. To the people complaining “it’s your job, so go do it” are completely missing the point and they need to get a life!!!! Anyway, I am a long-time reader, I LOVE your style and advice, and I think it’s a treat whenever you post, and I hope you don’t go away. But lordy, don’t listen to some of these whackadoodles trying to make you feel like you owe them something!! Hang in there and love your babies and get back on your feet on your own schedule. Your fans will always be here. <3
Marcy says
I understand your need to take a break and refocus but as one of your biggest fans I really miss the blog!! I have gotten so many great ideas and have started to use color more but also not afraid of white. Please come back and just do what makes you happy with the blog – its yours we just love to follow along. Thanks
Karen Ann says
I think y’all should plan to take 4 weeks off at least once a year, to keep yourselves and your lives fresh for you. Work won’t always be fun, but you’re both creative people so you should plan each year to take some time to step back from the day-to-day and rethink things and get refreshed.
Meanwhile, I hope y’all are enjoying this fabulous weathered here in our home state of Virginia.
Robin Z says
You lovely folks…of course you need a break. Who doesn’t, from time to time?
Just as an idea, what if instead of renovating your personal home, you renovated investment properties, either to flip or to rent out? Or if you began a design business where you designed exclusively for clients, a la the great Emily Henderson (and please don’t say you can’t, we all saw the AMAZING showcase. A triumph. You can. And probably should. It’s up to you to save the world from bad design!!!)
Hyperbole aside, you are very talented designers and maybe this is just a time of growth for you. You’ll get your groove back.
Hugs,
Robin Z
Paula M. says
Great ideas! They’d be fabulous at that kind of home decor/design work! … I also like @Jessika’s ideas (several Comments above) about sharing projects with others. There are all kinds of things S&J could do that wouldn’t involve something huge like building a whole new deck or a new room. Smaller can be good!
Nancie says
DAILY AFFIRMATION NOTE ** to make up for years of reading and never commenting before now.
I am also missing my daily dose of awesome (as stated by another commenter above). So, what’s new around the house or with you guys? Please show us soon (whenever you’re ready, that is – I swear I am not trying to bully you into coming back, but just want to let you know that you are wanted and appreciated!)
We miss you!
P.S. I will be very busy for the next 3 days – next “daily” affirmation note will likely be Monday ;-) #gottomakealiving
Stephanie says
You can please some people sometimes, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Do what you need to do to make your life and family happy!
joanna says
I know that I am a new reader and have shared your site with my friends who just bought their 1st homes. You have been an inspiration! all the work and the paint colors! i chose my paint based on your house.
I am a blogger too and even though I only blogged for several months I too needed a break.. mine was due to morning sickness .. but still everyone needs a break! and I know millions of people are still looking at your blog for home redo inspiration!
<3
Emily says
I’ve been checking daily since you announced your break…and I miss you!!! Your return (which I’m REALLY hoping is imminent) will be very enthusiastically welcomed by the masses who love you. That said, I do hope that you are getting some much needed family time and R & R.
zana says
M back to see if you guys r back!! :)) I hope Ur enjoying Ur break….blog about it wen Ur backn all refreshed =D in other words miss you guys!! Hope u guys r chillaxing n enjoying Ur time off! Hugs n love to Clara Teddy n burger! <3 hope to see u guys here soonish #yhl<3forever
Suzanne B says
Bless you and your family. Enjoy your time together and don’t think about the blogosphere..life will go on. I’ve enjoyed your projects and updates but you’ve earned some time off. Best wishes!
Danielle says
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us all. As a new homeowner you have provided so much inspiration. It takes courage to do what your doing. May God bless you all and your new journey. Thanks again. Best wishes and blessings.
Bridget says
9 days since your last post. I still check your blog every day hoping you’ve changed your mind and I have posted one of your amazing projects. I’ve actually never written a comment on your blog before. Now seemed like the right time to start. Had to make sure you knew how much you are missed. No worries, I’ll keep checking each day. Hope you are finding inspiration and your hiatus will be short lived.
Susie says
You are shining stars no matter what you decide to do!
Susan says
Well what the hay bales happened here? I got behind and now this?! I kid. Do what you need to do and what is best for your family. No apologies are needed. Only you know what is best for your sweet family. XO
Mammaw03t says
Don’t know if y’all are reading these anymore, but I have to say this…I miss y’all. I miss your wit, your sharing and over-sharing, and much, much more. I hope y’all come back someday, but know that things must change. You are now a family with growing children, you have new opportunities for your lives. Do them while you can. This blog will be here. And we will be waiting. Be sure and let us know when the new book comes out. Best of luck to you and hope to hear from y’all again soon.