Considering that delivering The Washington Post was my first real job (because what 6th grader doesn’t like getting up at 5am everyday?), it’s kind of an “is this real life?” full circle moment for me that my current gig (this blog) has landed us in the pages of that very same newspaper. My dad (a.k.a. my newspaper delivery partner) has never been more proud. We had no idea it would be such a big write up (with a giant cover picture in the Local Living section, but after we got over our vanity (is my hair weird? does Clara look cute?) we couldn’t believe how awesome it was. Who are we and what did we do to deserve this? But enough blabbering. I gush when I’m excited.
Here are a few shots of the paper for ya (click ’em to enlarge) and of course you can see them in the flesh if you get The Washington Post. And you can read most of the article online here, here, and here (there are three parts to the story, but some of the pics are different than the ones in the actual newspaper article). And if the article has been archived, you can download PDFs of the text here, here and here.
We especially loved this cool call-out thing they did with our old den about where we got stuff/what we paid for it:
As for the pics, the Washington Post scooped us on a few things. Haha. It takes us a few days for us to do projects, take pics, and write posts – so they slipped through and snapped photos of things we’ll be sharing in the next few days. Should be fun…
Anyway, thanks to Terri Sapienza for the write up (us? really?) and for coming down to our house to hang out for the interview (which couldn’t have been less scary even though it sounded crazy intimidating when we first heard that she wanted to do it). She was a blast to have over and we realized that her husband and I lead eerily similar lives (beyond being married to women with rhyming names).
Oh and how insane is it that they actually called Nate Berkus for a quote about us (remember when we met him here)? Sherry just about died when she saw that. There were no words for about ten minutes, which is a total record for her. Consider us flattered (or too giddy for our own good if you’re Sherry- really she’s doing that uncontrollable giggle thing over here). Here’s his quote:
“First of all, they’re adorable,” says talk show host and designer Nate Berkus. In the fall, the Petersiks appeared on “The Nate Berkus Show” as DIY experts and judges for a design challenge. “Their delivery is particularly charming and endearing, and their information is delivered in a smart way,” Berkus says. “ . . . I think Young House Love could easily transition into a TV program.”
How crazy is that? Seeing the paper this morning was like an out of body experience for both of us. We also think it’s hilarious that Nate thinks YHL could be a TV show, because we’ve actually been approached a few times about that over the past few years but are always quick to decline. We’re definitely TV people (I mean we like to watch it) but we don’t want to actually be TV people (as in, be on it). We’re much more comfortable hiding behind the safety of our computer screens. And as Sherry likes to say “we don’t wanna Jon & Kate ourselves, ya know?!” Besides, putting the blog on hold for weeks of filming might leave us with a serious case of withdrawal.
Side tangent officially over. Anyway, you may have noticed some other paper-related news revealed in the article: we’re in the very early stages of writing a book! Like a real one. That they’d actually have in Barnes & Noble. How crazy is that? When a few book agents and publishers approached us over a year ago, we figured that with all of the writing that we’ve done online each day over the past 3.5 years (over 1,752 posts and 891,000 words published) perhaps writing something offline could be a natural side project for us – especially if the topic is DIY and home stuff. Because you know that does it for us. But don’t worry, the blog will still be priority numero uno. After all it’s our first baby (well second, the birth order goes: Burger, YHL, Clara).
So after over a year of fine tuning our book proposal (yeah, it took forever, and ended up being 150+ pages long) we sent it out, held our breath, and were shocked and awed to be signed by Artisan/Workman. For a few weeks we were scared they would come to their senses, realize we’re dorks, and say nevermind – but holy bananas, it’s a done deal. And the process was kind of crazy and interesting, so for anyone else out there who’s looking to write a book proposal (and eventually a book), we’re planning a post about how it all went down and what that experience has been like for us.
There’s still an entire manuscript to be written, so it would be premature to say exactly what the book will be about, but we do know that it’s not going to be some fancy interior design coffee table book or a sordid behind-the-scenes tell-all novel with shirtless Fabio (or shirtless me) on the cover.
We’re aiming to capture the don’t-take-yourself-too-seriously DIY spirit of our site without regurgitating a lot of stuff that you’ve already seen slash read here (we want it to feel fresh and new). And of course it’ll have budget friendly ideas along with fast & easy projects that anyone can do (except if you’re tied to a pole). Since publishing a book takes much longer than publishing a blog post, we’re scheduled for a fall 2012 release – and we’re mucho excited. We couldn’t wait to spill the beans to you guys after lots of months spent biting our tongues and keeping cats in bags.
So that’s the news up our sleeve at the moment. I guess it’s only polite to ask – what’s new with you these days?
UPDATE: Check out this more recent post about the book-writing process.
Jen says
Thats SO awesome! Congrats! And Clara does look super cute :)
Stephanie Phillips says
I had a crazy morning (thanks, kiddos) and hadn’t been able to get on here until now but…
CONGRATS!!!!! You two absolutely deserve the recognition. I’m with Nate, you’re adorable. You’re also easy to relate to and seem like a part of our family.
Thanks for doin’ whatcha do and bringing us along for the ride!
Emily Kidd says
question…
we recently moved and had a cali. king bed and large furniture in our room BUT the new house master is tiny. so we opted for a queen and i thought yall genius ikea extra closets would work great for us but my windows are not center. we have 2 wall options for the bed but the windows are all the way to the right or left. ( i hope im making sense) and so both wardrobes wont fit on either side of the bed without covering a window. Now to my question…do you think that it would look weird to do a wardrobe like yalls that only went as high as the headboard, so it would come right under the window?
YoungHouseLove says
That could actually be really cute! As long as they lined up it would probably look built in and intentional. Maybe try taping things off on the wall to try to picture them? Good luck!
xo,
s
Emily Kidd says
you know how you added the piece of wood at the top to make them look built in, would you do the same thing even though there not flush with the ceiling.
YoungHouseLove says
I think adding crown molding across the top even though they’re not flush might make them look polished and nice!
xo,
s
Melanie says
DUDE!!!!
I just opened my Blog and I couldn’t believe my eyes! I almost fell of my chair! And I’m at work, that would have been a site!
Thanks and I hope some people will read my Blog.
I’ll make sure to add you to my side bar! It’s the LEAST I can do, right?
I bookmarked yours and will make sure to visit it. BTW: I’ll buy your book ANY time, and I just love little Nate :)
All my best,
Mel
Sheryl J says
Awesome! I don’t even know the title yet, but your book is officially on my wishlist! Congratulations!
anna see says
This is so exciting! What an amazing article and the book deal? Wowza! Can’t wait. I think the article captured why we all adore you guys so much!
Julia Brown says
HEY! I spy your new rug already already! Post some pics guuuuuuuuuys, puuuuuhhhhlease!
YoungHouseLove says
The Post scooped us! Haha. Pics to come asap! Big Green The Rug is awesome. Can’t wait to share the goods this afternoon.
xo,
s
Ellen says
Congrats on the book, guys! I seriously can’t wait to buy it!
What’s new with me? I have been the master of my local Craiglist recently, buying a fabulous perfect-condition couch and ottoman for $150, a super cute mission style sofa table for $50, and a dying to be refinished and reupholstered cane-back chair for $15. I love my nifty thrifty living room!
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds nifty and thrifty and awesome. Wahoo for your awesome finds!
xo,
s
Sheela says
Congratulations to you all! That’s fantastic news about the article and the book. You definitely deserve it! :)
Jen @ zeelah says
A book deal?! Sign me up!! Congrats– so excited for y’all!
Courtney says
You all constantly make me giggle. In my cubicle and litearlly laughed so loud when I saw that “book cover” that people were staring. Congrats on all the great press and the book! I can’t wait to read it.
jbhat says
Neato! I will be getting that book. And hooray for the flattering article…the the WP is the big-time. They broke a little story about situation called Watergate back in the day. : )
Congrats!!
jbhat
Alison Pelegrin says
Congrats, you two!
Julia M says
Today is a day for celebrations!!! Will you be doing a book tour? How can I get mine signed? Maybe when the time comes you can do a signed-book giveaway. :)
YoungHouseLove says
We would love to do a book tour thing! It’s up to our publisher, but you know we’ll beg so we can meet you guys!
xo,
s
Abbey_S. says
Hey Sherry and John,
Whenever you post about your hallway frame montage, can you also include a snippet of information about how you actually hang them to the wall? What I mean is I use those picture-framing kits from Hobby Lobby that include the wire. However, they always seem to pull away from the wall and I have to go back with that 3M tape to get them to stay put. Your pictures always seem flush with the wall. Any ideas or advice?
YoungHouseLove says
We’ll definitely share those details for ya!
xo,
s
LARY says
Awesome news! Awesome article! Awesome quote by Nate! Just Awesome! haha (I’m done using the word awesome for today)
Meghan L. says
Yay! Totally ecstatic for you guys!!! And totally pre-ordering the book whenever it’s ready! CAN’T WAIT!
Lisa in Seattle says
What fantastic news! This couldn’t happen to three nicer people and a dog. I love it when bloggers get book contracts (Pioneer Woman, Oatmeal, Stuff White People Like, and now you!). For book-tour-planning purposes, I will simply mention that Seattle is a huge book-reading town, on account of all the rain.
What’s new? Not my Crate & Barrel coffee table, which still isn’t here after three months! Apparently they have to mine the ore, smelt it, turn it into metal, hammer it into a table-like shape, and have it delivered from Outer Mongolia by a sloth-drawn wagon. Honestly, those people move at the pace of continental drift.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha, hope your table comes soon! Ten points for using the word smelt. Love it.
xo,
s
Adriane says
Embarrassing confession: I totally spit on myself reading this comment. Hilarious! Except for the you not having your table yet part, that’s not hilarious and I’m ready to contact them on your behalf :) Assuming, of course, I can find a pigeon trust-worthy enough to fly as far as Mongolia lol.
Jessica says
I read this post too fast because I was too excited, and then I had to reread the whole thing, then read everything on the Washington Post website, then ask my mom to pick up a hard copy for me since they don’t sell it anywhere near where I live. Congrats!
I love the picture in the Post of your bathroom mirror and window reflecting the light fixture, the ram, and some perfectly aligned casing.
Angela says
WOWZA busy busy day. You guys better order some take out and have some down time tonight so you can let all this excitement settle. Congratulations on the book and the article!!
Kristi says
congrats!
i know you guys obviously plan out your posts a bit and there is a lag between doing the project and getting it on the blog, but i just want you to know I am 100% convinced that Sherry is like 5 months pregnant. . .but you just haven’t told us yet! (We’re so January 2011 out here- hahahah!)
nice write up!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, wow- that’s a conspiracy theory! Love it. Except the Post just snapped all these pics of me and I’m not. Haha. Wait do I look like I am? Yikes! Haha. I’m actually under doctor’s orders not to get prego until Clara is at least two due to some complications with her birth, which means the next kiddo will probably be three years younger than Clara. But feel free to be on bump watch for the next year or two just to keep us on our toes. Haha. I’m sure you’re not the only one. My mom pats my tummy every time she comes over. Real subtle, ma.
xo,
s
Kristi says
you, in no way, look pregnant. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks! I just skimmed your comment somehow and thought it was someone saying I DO look prego and I got all flustered and embarrassed. Whew. Haha.
xo,
s
Jordan@the2seasons says
This is so exciting a big Congrats! Can’t wait for the book.
Monika says
I’m so pleased for you guys, I’m smiling ear to ear for you! I can’t think of any DIYers more deserving than you two (plus Clara and Burger). Congratulations on all your hard work!
Book tour? :)
<3 Monika
Emma says
I saw the cover of the Local Living section this morning and gasped “Hey, I know them!”. Well, kinda. I’m so proud you! Way to go!
Meredith says
Congrats to you guys! I love reading the blog and that is fantastic news to hear. I can’t wait to get the book! Yall rock and thanks for sharing your lives with us.
beth from MD says
OMG! I only get the post on Sundays, so I’m running out to buy it now! Super congrats!
laura says
Awesome! Can’t wait to get your book! Do you guys have any posts about successful blogging (to make money)? I need some extra dough. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Laura,
Unfortunately blogging isn’t really a get rich quick thing! At least it wasn’t for us. Heck we still make a very modest living for two people and we always joke that we blogged to no one for at least 100 posts in the beginning. Even a year or two in we didn’t make very much. But we loved blogging and house projects so we just did what we loved and now 3.5 years later we’re both doing it as a full time job. It’s still pretty unbelievable to us. Anyway, for advice on how to grow your blog, check out this post, this post, and this post. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lindsay says
Congrats John and Sherry! This is all very exciting for you guys! You deserve it. Thanks for the daily laughs and inspiration. It really helps brighten my day in my cubicle!
Happy St. Patricks Day!
Cheers,
Lindsay
Danielle says
How awesome! Congratulations to you guys!! I can’t wait to check out that book – couldn’t have happened to a nicer family! :)
Melanie says
I’ve been following your blog very closely for the past few months and am loving every minute of it! It is definitly my favourite find in Blogland, and I’ve even convinced my husband to enjoy it on several occasions (which is super big, he doesn’t care much for blogs – in fact, I don’t even know if he reads mine!) We just bought our first house at the beginning of November and I have loved following your updates as we’re settling into our house and making-over as well! Anyways, I just wanted to say the newspaper article, the tv offers, and especially this book deal are just AWESOME news and I’m really excited to see what the future has in store :D Congrats!!!
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
Congrats on all of the great press!!! Nicely done and love all of the small “tweaks” you guys have made that were outted in the WA Post gallery! Love you guys! You deserve every success in life!
xoxo,
Lindsay from Tell’er All About It
Carissa says
I am only buying the book if THAT is the cover.
Just kidding; I’ll be pre-ordering it AND standing in line a Barnes and Noble at midnight the night it comes out. Maybe dressed as Sherry (hair in ponytail, fun earrings, paintbrush in hand), a la Harry Potter fans? :-)
Love you guys. This is flat-out awesome! Congrats!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha. If someone dressed like me and stood in line (even a line of one) for our book I think my brain would explode. Seriously.
xo,
s
Meredith says
I’m totally digging this idea. I have a painting outfit that I wouldn’t be too embarrassed to wear and lots of fun earrings! I would like to avoid a butt splinter if possible. Looking forward to exploding your brain Sherry!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, if you came with a butt splinter I would give you ten books for free. Actually I’m not sure if I even have that authority, but I’d try. Haha.
xo,
s
April says
That is AWESOME!!! I was just thinking about posting and asking “Where’s the Book?” and here it comes!
Jazmin says
The RUG and WALL FRAMES are awesome!
Sara says
I actually stumbled across the article late last night (I’m on the West Coast) looking for something on your blog. I was super excited to see your take on it this morning (and to hear about the book!). Congrats on everything!
Dana @ House*Tweaking says
You rhetorically asked, “What have you guys done to deserve this?” Well, let me tell you what you’ve done. You’ve stayed true to yourselves and your readers. You’ve successfully renovated and updated a REAL home into something stylish…and you’re on your way to numero dos. You’ve created spaces that pets and kids alike can actually live in. You’ve been honest. You’ve stayed optimistic. You’ve put a lot of sweat, laughs, late nights, thought and research into each and every DIY project. You’ve shared every step. And you’ve done all of this in a financially responsible way. So, yeah, you DO deserve this and more. I think this book deal will just be the first of many YHL spin-offs – although I’m glad to hear you won’t be Jon & Kate’ing it.
As for what’s new with me? Well, we just got an offer on our home that we’re trying to sell by owner!! The goal is to downsize so that sometime in the near future I can follow my dream of becoming a designer.
Thanks for being such a great inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahooooo congrats Dana! I can’t wait to watch you turn your next house into a lovely and welcoming home. And thanks for the kind words. You’re sweet.
xoxoxo,
s
Cara says
Congratulations! It was only a matter of time before someone scooped you guys up for a book.
Ofelia says
What a wonderful news! A book! That will be amazing proyect, no doubt. PLeeeease, do a translation of it. I read YHL every day, and enjoing it every single word. But Im a mexican woman, I speak spanish (cause a live in MExico) and really I would like read your book on spanish very much! Congrats!
liz @ btb says
Um, WOW. First off, congrats on the book deal and the interview. How in the heck did keep quiet for so long?! Even though I would definitley be glued to the TV if y’all had your own show, I’m kinda glad you declined. I wouldn’t want to hear about a messy, reality TV style break up. I mean, who would get Burger? Split custody? Of the horror.
*I spy a green rug!*
liz @ btb says
oh* not of….. duh
Jennifer says
This awesome you guys!!! You are my third blog to be authors! Matt Logelin and Pioneer Woman!
Congrats!! What an honor! Can’t wait for the RIC book signing!!
shanna says
Congratulations! it is so exciting to see bloggers getting book deals!
Nicole says
I am so happy for the both of you!!! Love, love, love Clara and Burger!!
Could you tell me where you purchased your white head next to your TV that cost I think $200.00 and also the one that sits on the floor!! Thank you!!
Can’t wait for your book to come out. Much happiness!!
:)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh that horse head was from Target for around $12 (the $200 price includes a ton of other accessories too). And the faux topiary that sits on the floor was on sale from Pottery Barn for something like $15 (it was actually a birthday gift from John’s cute family).
xo,
s
Meredith says
Congratulations! This is so exciting!!! I really do feel like I know you guys. Seeing your faces and that wonderful article in The Washington Post makes me so happy. I read those Home Front Q&A’s every week. Can’t wait to check out the transcript and see what kind of advice you offer.
I’m really looking forward to your book. It sounds like it will be coming out around the same time I’m getting married. Maybe I’ll add it to the wedding registry :)
Bobbie Brown says
Wow! Congrats to you guys on everything! Awesome, awesome, Awesome! And… that picture of you guys on the front of the paper, totally needs to be framed, it is a great shot!
Kelly says
Great news on all counts– but the cover had my cracking up in my cubical today. Can’t wait to see the book.
http://www.simplykellyblog.com
Laura says
Well you two are adorable! And I triple dog dare you to make that the actual cover of your book. You’ll definitely stand out in the DIY section.
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Congrats to all of your new news to us!!! That is amazing!!! Best of luck with it all and I can’t wait to read through your book when it comes out.
missy says
You guys are so famous! I wonder where you find the time to do it all. You’re happy, your baby is happy, your house is clean, you’re clean(minus paint in the hair.haha). I look foward to your posts everyday and I want to say this one was such a surprise. Congrats with all that is going on in your lives. You are a inspiration to all. Keep doing what your doing and thanks for the laughs.
Missy
penny says
Amazing! I would def be at the midnight book signing and maybe even try to smuggle my chihuahua Sunday (who would be coming as Burger.. in track suit HAHA) And man that rug got there fast! If you figured out how to print them off from Photoshop I’ll take one in orange! I’m so excited, can’t wait to put YHL the book on my coffee table :) You all looked perfect, congratulations!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh. Sunday as Burger in a track suit = the best laugh I ever had. Amazing. And the rug was insanely fast. Overstock is crazy!
xo,
s
Shannon says
Congratulations!!! I will be buying that book the second it comes out!!! soooooooo excited for you both!!! You guys are wonderful :)