Update: Aaaand less than 12 hours later we’re back with an update on the bottom of the post for ya. Smooth, right?
Hey there! Long time no see.
The break has been great. Admittedly a little weird, but really reinvigorating. So we’re immensely thankful not only for your support and kind comments, but also for helping put words to some of the things that we had been feeling for some time. And while the last month hasn’t been enough time to fill in all of the blanks about our future (heck, when are life’s blanks ever clearly filled in?) it has made one thing pretty obvious to us: after seven awesome years of sharing our home and our life, it’s time for our next adventure.
This blog has been a staple in our lives for 80+ months, tagging along for all but three months of our marriage and our entire existence as parents. So we thought it would be nearly impossible to click off that urge to over-share this past month (we expected our blogging spark to come back with a vengeance). But maybe it’s us getting older, the kids getting bigger, or a general shift in life priorities – but it actually felt just right. So this break has given us the clarity (and the guts, I guess) to move on… and hopefully move the needle on that life balance we’ve been talking about for so long.
We won’t go as far as to declare this the end of Young House Love or our blogging days. Who knows, maybe somewhere down the line (when the kids are both in school?) we’ll get that burning in our bellies again – perhaps here or in a completely different capacity. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know that the most amazing things have happened to us when we’ve stretched waaay out of our comfort zone – as much as that sounds like advice you’d find on an inspirational kitten poster.
We plan to keep the blog archives available for as long as we can, and will be freezing comments soon, but we won’t be completely dropping off the planet. Some completed product designs with Liberty Hardware and Shades of Light may pop up, and our second book will come out on September 22nd, 2015. Those folks have all been amazingly supportive of our decision, for which we’re incredibly thankful.
Speaking of which – “Thank you” doesn’t come close to expressing how grateful we are for getting to share our weird little world with you guys for so long. We have nothing but love and gratitude for this whole experience – and for you. (*This is probably where we should fade up on that Dirty Dancing song*)
But let’s not say “goodbye” let’s just say “see you on another time.”
Peace, love, and ceramic animals,
John & Sherry
PS: We did randomly snap a few fresh photos for the House Tour page over the break (some of the rooms were pretty outdated). Feel free to give the dining room’s blue trim the side eye for us (yes, it’s still there!).
Update: The same few questions kept popping up in the comments (we just can’t quit you). As for the “what are your new jobs” thing, we’ve mentioned in a few previous posts that we left the door open in our past professions (advertising/copywriting/consulting), which we can do as freelancers from home a lot of the time, while switching off on the stay-at-home parent thing. We know things like the book and products we design are driven by this blog, so we can’t live off those or anything. Didn’t mean to be mysterious! As for the Facebook/Instagram questions, we’d love to pop up there from time to time to say hi. And we hope our blog archives will be up for a good long time (we use them to reference things like paint colors, so we’d never want to lose them!).
We’re also really sorry if this feels abrupt. We’ve made a few public attempts to wind down and gain balance over the years (like when we moved to this house and after Teddy’s birth) but they’ve always been at odds with our “all in” personalities, so it wasn’t until taking this break (yet another attempt to recalibrate) that we realized we felt closer to our goal. We debated lots of alternatives – drastically fewer posts / shorter posts / no comments – but nothing felt like the version of Young House Love we were excited to carry on with. And we tried to keep today’s post light and happy (the last one felt so heavy) since this truly is a moment of extreme gratitude, despite it being a difficult decision to make.
Flawless and graceful exit, eh? Right. So here we go. Ack, we suck at this! We will miss you!!
Cathy says
Bummer. Love reading this blog. Good luck with the next chapter, keep us posted form time to time!
Liz C says
Oh, my goodness. What a rollercoaster of a morning THAT was – first the incredible glee/joy of seeing you pop up in my feed reader again…then the crushing realization that I won’t get to have that feeling again.
I am so glad you guys are doing what makes you happy, but so incredibly, crushingly sad that you won’t be around any more. There’s been a big hole in my online life not seeing what you guys are up to, and I am selfishly so so sad this is ending.
Thank you so much for everything you’ve done, all the sharing you’ve done…all the things. Words cannot express how much we’ll miss you.
katie savage says
OK, I’m crying a little. I will miss you, but know that you will have support from me in whatever home and design endeavor is next. I think you guys rock.
Whitney says
I have been checking for a new post every day for the last month and was hoping you wouldn’t come back that… this is totally bums me out! I hope you will keep us updated with your lives as you feel like BFFs! You have been such an inspiration to us all and show that you really can follow your dreams! All of the best in the future you guys deserve it!
Melanie says
I totally understand your decision! Will you still be a little active on Instagram or are you gracefully bowing out there too? Love seeing pics of your sweet family every once in a while :)
Erika says
your wit, creativity, kindness and charm will be missed on the internets! good luck and hope to see you again soon…Not sure if anyone else has said this but you should start vlogging!
thehappyhealthfreak says
Wishing you and your family all the best! I have been following you guys for 5+ years, at least pre-Clara days :) And it has been so fun to go on this journey with you. You’ve given me many fabulous DIY and decorating ideas over the years, I cannot thank you both enough.
I have a blog too and even without kids I know how hard it can be to keep it current and fresh, always coming up with new ideas. It can easily shift from a hobby to a “job”.
Kudos to you both for knowing what you want. It’s been a fun ride and I look forward to “seeing” you again one day. Take care.
Myra xo
Naomi says
Hi! Love you guys. Could you please Instagram for us? :) We’d love to watch Clara and Teddy grow, and know snippits about your new adventures.
Debbie V. says
In the words of Mark Twain:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Good Luck to you in your new adventures!
Kelly says
Best of luck with everything!
I’m looking at this as I’ll be able to “catch up” with my house so it too can be what I want it to be, thanks to your posts! :)
Sarah says
Wait, you’re breaking up with us?! This is one of those it’s not you it’s me things right? =)
Definitely will miss the blog posts!
Chelsea says
This is exactly how I felt when the Spice Girls broke up when I was in 6th grade.
I really hope you will continue posting here or on instagram as least occasionally. We care about you, and want to know what you are up to! I feel like you’ve been such a big part of my life (as strange as that sounds). I started reading as a single college gal, and you’ve seen me through marriage, decorating an apartment, influenced SO much of decorating our first house, and through now to motherhood. Wow, I’m really really gonna miss your blog.
Courtney says
Well done Petersiks! There’s nothing more damaging to living a joyous life than to continue to do what makes you unhappy. Or thinking that you can somehow do the same thing better, or differently, or more diligently, or take a break and the problem will be alleviated. You’ve had an amazing and satisfying journey with Young House Love. Many people, including myself, will miss your delightful presence but you’re clearly ready for whatever come next. Best of luck and much happiness to the five of you.
Annie says
Oh John and Sherry, I’m so glad to hear you’re moving on. Congratulations to you! I had my first baby a week after Clara was born and have so enjoyed watching you guys grow as a family. But sheesh, you worked so many long hours and there were many times I’d be exhausted after a long day and think to myself, The Petersiks are just getting started with their day! How the heck did you do it all? Anyway, thanks for the super fun reading material, the inspiration and the fun. I’ll think of you whenever I look at my daughter’s turquoise octopus jewelry holder from your Tar-jhay collection. Take care and best of luck on your new fabulous adventures!
Jenn says
I am very sad that I won’t get to read your blog every day anymore, however, I am happy for you to move on with your lives and I know you will be doing some awesome big things. I have always been inspired by everything that you’ve done, and wish you the absolute best. You will be very much missed.
tsn3 says
I’ve been reading your blog since your first house, but never left a comment. Thank you for pioneering the DIY blogs, and for always being humble and classy, not an easy feat! I’m happy that you have come to a decision that makes you happy, even if it makes your fans a bit sad. Best of luck in your future endeavors, your talents will surely take you to bigger and better opportunities– and we will be following!
Susan says
I, too, have been reading for a long time and also never left a comment before now. I’m impressed by your courage in stepping into the unknown and very much applaud you for it. I’m also so happy that you knew yourselves well enough to know when it was time to hit the “pause” button and then listening to what’s REALLY important to you and the kids and…going for it! That honesty and humility is what made your blog so much fun to read these past years.
Other than that – I simply wanted to say, “Thank you.” I wish you rainbows, unicorns, everything bike related (for you, John) and a never ending stream of ceramic animals (for you, Sherry)!
Kristi says
I can’t say I’m not sad or disappointed (because I selfishly totally am–I loved following your blog!) but I also completely get it. While we aren’t bloggers, my husband started a web show for fun a couple years ago, and after one of the videos he made went viral in early 2013, our lives completely changed. We had a 7 week old at the time, and we went from “taking things easy for a year” (we both worked in marketing at a university at the time) to flying over 35,000 miles that year with baby in tow, and then over the course of the past year, both quitting our jobs to focus on the web show and projects that came from it full time (we did a tv show and are finishing up our first book that will come out in February.) With all of the attention, it took everything we had to not close up completely and just become hermits in our personal life. I have found myself sharing less and less on social media and wanting to keep more and more private. You guys will definitely be missed, but I can’t say I don’t blame you. Looking forward to what the future holds and I wish you guys the best!
eva says
Thank you so much for everything you’ve given us! My house is much prettier all because of your blog. Hope this isn’t goodbye forever!!!
Courtney says
I agree! These folks have inspired me not to be afraid to do things myself!
Silvia says
oh man, your blog was my favourite! I will surely miss it!
But I wish you all the best for whatever you’ll be doing in the future, and I hope to see you pop up from time to time in other corners of the world wide web!
Alex says
Best of luck with everything! I hope you’ll still sneak us a few photos when you do get around to tackling that blue trim (and the other rooms!) – I’d hate not to see the house in its finished form ;-)
Vanessa says
I must admit I really miss you guys. However this your life and I am so happy you are doing what’s right for you. I’m glad to hear you are all good and get one more shot of those cute kiddos. I wish you all the best and hope to hear from you soon- maybe!
Michelle says
So so sad for me (my fave blog is going away!)…but happy that you’re doing what you need to do. Thank you for sharing so much with the world! I hope we still get glimpses of your home improvements through other avenues. You guys are wonderful!
Cynthia says
Goodluck in the future, thanks for having such a great blog. Keep posting on instagram because you guys are so cute! xx
Can’t wait for your second book !
Jenny G. says
=(
Kind of feels like my friend is moving away. I will miss you guys and your blog. Best wishes to your sweet family. Thank you for letting us into your home and your lives. It’s an incredibly brave thing to do. Keep working on your lovely home and enjoy living and doing, just for yourselves. I’ll look forward to your next book!
Take care, Petersik Family <3
Adrianne D says
I’ll be honest, I’m a little sad. But I totally understand. It’s gotta be tough to try and keep us informed and entertained all while trying to live your own lives… privately. I look forward to your second book and hope for your return back to blogging (even if it’s a once-a-month catch-up post). My life will be a little empty without you in it, but I will learn to survive. Good luck with everything!! And I agree with above, perhaps keep Instagraming… I’m not a creepy stalker I swear.
Courtney says
I feel a little bit like I’m losing a member of my family! Holy moley! But best of luck to you all, I hope that life brings you all of the beautiful, wonderful, amazing things that you all deserve. Which is amazing things because it has been apparent though “getting to know” you all through this forum…that you all are pretty amazing people…genuine and very sweet. I hope your archives stay up for a while…my husband and I may be starting our first big reno soon and we could certainly use the guidance along the way! But until next time my “friends” I will think of you all fondly every time I look at my spray painted ORB lamps! :)
Erin says
Noooooooo!!!!!!! I am so very selfishly sad:( I wish your family all the best but I will miss you all so much!!!!
ana villalta says
LOVED all your ideas/projects/craziness and will truly miss it but as a parent it makes complete sense life goes on and things change, thank you for opening the door to your minds and lives for these 80 months its more than what even your hardest of critics would be willing to take on :) best of luck on your new en devours which ever they may be, and its not a good bye, its a see ya later!
JH says
I was with you guys since the very beginning. To say you will be missed is a huge understatement. I wish you nothing but the very best in your new endeavors. Take care always. x
Yvette says
Change is good! xoxo
Elv says
NOOOOOOO :'( (enter sobbing here) I’m soooooo going to miss you guys! I feel like I’m losing a friend! You’ve been a staple in my blog reading for so long and now your gone. But I agree with everyone else here that you should do as you please and if you think this is the best, than who am I not to support your decision!
Hopefully you’ll post once in a while? Instead of ‘bread-winning-blogging’ more ‘casual-blogging’ or will it be ‘no-blogging’ (hence the freezing of the comments?).
Anyhow, sad to see you leave but happy for you that you’re going to pursue new adventures! You deserve it! xo
Casa Marcelli says
John and Sherry, first of all, the office looks aMAzing. Seriously, so great. I loved getting to see the updates! We’ve just redone our study and I was inspired in so many ways by your office.
Secondly, thank you. Thank you for sharing your lives, tips, advice, lessons and humor with us all for so many months. I will cherish every moment. We purchased our first home last spring and, when met with the overwhelming task of renovating and loving our home into fresh new life, I found myself turning to your blog over and over. You helped me figure out how to rejuvenate dingy grout, hang curtains, pick paint colors for walls, and paint trim. You taught me that “the middle makes no sense” and to hang in there. You taught me the value of doing “stage one” renovations and waiting when I wasn’t sure how to proceed. You confirmed for me my love of board and batten and ignited in me a passion to add it to our hallway! My husband isn’t a blog reader, but even he became familiar with you guys from my constant comments of “oh, well, I got this idea from Young House Love today,” or “well, Sherry says that you should…..” or “John just wrote about this very problem!!!”
Though you never knew it, I felt like you held our hands as we stepped into the adventure that is owning and renovating a home. We will ever be grateful to you for that.
Props to you for finding your groove, stepping out into the next adventure of life and finding what works for your family.
As you move on, just know—you are loved—if even by a bunch of faceless strangers. :-)
See you around.
Kana says
Hi There!
I stumbled across your website back in 2008 when we first bought our house. (I think you were just changing the name of your blog?) Since then, I’ve read your blog religiously (ok, I admit, ever since google got rid of google reader, I missed couple days here and there…!). Every time my husband and I had a house project on our hands, I would always tell my husband “Hold on, let me see if John and Sherry have done that before!!”. So many times, your blog has helped us in more ways than one – whether it was small projects like painting or drilling holes in the wall without making a mess, to simply giving us the confidence to tackle big projects on our own (we gut renovated our kitchen mostly by ourselves!). For the last 6 years you guys have been a part of my life (every morning at 10am to be exact!) and I am so grateful for all the information you’ve shared with us.
We will certainly miss you but I wish you the best of luck in your new adventures! I know without a doubt that you will be successful at anything you take on!
As you said, there is no good bye! I’m just going to pretend like my best friends are moving to a foreign country with horrible wifi!
With sincerest gratitude and love,
Kana
Shelby says
I’m another voice weeping with regret on your decision to move on. I’ve been looking around for another blog to fill in over the past month and haven’t found anything nearly as great as your blog! Best of luck on your new adventures, hopefully you’ll throw us a bone now and again. :) You have been missed and you will continue to be missed.
Cindy S says
I can honestly say THIS SUCKS! ;) Now where will I go for DIY ideas with a budget friendly appeal? Then on the other hand, congrats on a VERY successful 80 months blogging run! I have loved every minute of it over the 6 years and you will be missed by your dedicated fans here. Enjoy your growing family as that time is a precious treasure! Dr. Seuss once said, “Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened!” Thank you for sharing YOUR story with us. See you….sometime.
Emily Clark says
Precious family. Happy for you guys and thankful for all of the work that you put into this blog.
Abby Kinch says
You all have been a great inspiration to me over the years. It sounds odd, but you have me the confidence to decorate and design my own house so that it reflected me. And I thank you for that. We have since moved to a true fixer upper and watching you all do it one small step at a time and live with rooma untouched for months has given me hope and patience with this new home. I thank you for that as well.
Go enjoy your next adventure. May you continue to blessed in all you do. Thank you for sharing your lives for as long as you did and so freely. You’re off to great places……
Kandace R says
Almost in tears over here… I have been following you guys since the beginning and have loved watching you and your beautiful family grow.
This past month I have missed you guys so much :(. Hoping we still get to see some of your adventures on Katie’s blog when you visit with the Bowers. Also…will you guys please come back in a few months and just give us a quick update on what you guys are doing job wise, a pic of the kids or any other rooms you have done? I feel like i’m loosing friends here!!
P.s I am happy for you guys and your new adventures…just sad for all of us who love you guys like family! ;)
Karen Kaus says
Congratulations on a great seven years and best of luck for the next seven and beyond. And thank you for having shared so much with all of us :) Enjoy your beautiful family!!
Sarah says
Thank you both so much for everything you have shared with the world over the last 7 years. I discovered your blog right after my very sudden and emotionally traumatic divorce, and it really inspired me to pick myself up and insert some love into my home after feeling like there wasn’t any left. Best wishes to your whole family.
Nicole Shearer says
this makes me very sad. I hope we will still get to see finished rooms in your current home. Best of luck
Janet K says
My heart feels the way it did when Dumbledore died. Full of love and so heartbroken because of it.
Mindy Waggoner says
Having been a person who’s followed you from (almost) the beginning.. seeing everything from the wedding posts, to the trouble with Clara’s birth, Clara being born..it’s been a great ride. Before your external projects it did feel like it was a close-knit group.. a “family” per say! But, always has been fun! I enjoy reading your posts and I hope to see more from you in the future, maybe a once a month thing where you bundle everything in one post. Family updates, house updates that you’ve done (if you continue to do so!).. we’re all like a family here! We’ll miss you terribly! Good luck in your adventures!!!
Sharde says
Good luck with your next adventure and enjoy the family time! We’ll miss you, of course, but excited that you guys have a new sense of direction! And agreed, I don’t feel like all the blanks are ever filled in.
Sarah in Indiana says
Best of luck with your next adventure. I hope you guys will pop in here from time to time to give us a bit of an update to let us know what challenges you decide to take on next Also, you promise that when you redo your kitchen there will be a magazine spread, right? :-)
SLH says
Wishing you the best! But PLEASE occasionally post photos of your finished house. We’d LOVE to see them. We promise we won’t ask “where did you get that?” “how did you do that?”. We’d just like to admire you beautiful home. It has served as inspiration for my own home.
Robyn S says
You will be greatly missed! I still remember the first time I stumbled onto your blog. I was in Home Depot looking at primers/paints/stains with a project to repaint an inherited coffee table. I had absolutely no idea what to do or what materials I needed having never DIYed anything! A quick google search on my new smart phone directed me to your blog and gave me the confidence to tackle that project. I’ve since gone on to renovate our master bathroom, kitchen, backyard and even cloth diaper my kid all thanks to you guys! To say you touched my life is a huge understatement; you have inspired me and given me confidence I did not know I had. Best of luck in your new endeavors! May you continue to inspire others with your talents.
Crunchy Hot Mama says
Tears!!!! I was glad to see ya’ll back but realized you’ll be gone again. I know it’s the best for your family and you need that time to connect and enjoy the little ones, but know you will be missed :( A ton of us feel like you’re our friends and we’ve been through ups and downs with ya’ll, so it will be hard. Thank you a thousand times for all you’ve shared with us…I gained some new crunchy methods thanks to you :) I will definitely be looking forward to the next book tour!! Blessings!
xo,
Jess
Sara says
I’m so sad. But I wish you all the best and peace and clarity for what you are searching for.
Stephanie says
I too am a little sad to read this news, but wanted to say best of luck to you and thanks for all the fun! I’ll watch for your next book.