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!!
Nicki says
Good luck Petersicks! The blogging world will not be the same without you. No other blog even compares. I am so sad to read this. I wish you both well though. I think you have a future in design, not advertising! I doubt this is going to happen since it seems that one of the reason’s for your decision is that the publicity got too much for you, but I sure wish I would turn on HGTV one day and see that you guys have a show of your own! But if you could find a way to still incorporate designing into your careers, without blogging, it would be very fitting for you since you are so talented. Good luck! I’ll be praying for you guys- I am sure you have a bright future whatever it may be.
jennifer says
NOoooo Come baaaaaackkkkkkk!!!!! LOL
Riann says
I want to thank you for sharing your adventures through your blog over these past years. There were so many “Oh, that’s so cool” and “That’s so awesome” and “Hey, I think I could do that” moments for me. But, your family must come first; those little ones grow up so fast. I wish you the best.
Melinda says
HOW ARE YOU GUYS SO CLASSY?
Thank you for being everyone’s favorite blog for the past few years and for having the guts to move on from something that started to feel inauthentic/stale to you rather than dragging it out like the last two seasons of The Office (not that it ever felt like that to your readers – I just respect you for making that call for yourselves regardless!)
You are such a creative and joyful little family that I honestly feel nothing but happy for you. I mean I’ll definitely miss your posts, but it feels more satisfying as a reader to know you guys had this really fun, full adventure and then were able to bring it to a proper end and move on when you wanted to try something else for a while. Seriously, so much respect and love for you!
Have so much fun on your next adventure!!
Julie says
A bittersweet day for sure, but I pray every blessing on your beautiful family. I do predict, however, that when you reach a level of completion on your house, and IF a magazine decides to feature it, said magazine will see their sales skyrocket!
Erin says
I’m sitting here trying to think of something profound to write but I keep coming up with nothing profound except to say I’m devastated. You brought such an honest, fun, and fresh perspective to blogging. I always looked forward to your next project. It’s like the end of an amazing book that you don’t want to read too fast b/c you don’t want it to end and in the end you are left with tears in your eyes from something you truly enjoyed being a witness to. Best of the luck in the future and you should feel immensely proud of what you had with Young House Love. Hope we do get to see you in the future!
Diana says
Four years ago I did not know what a home blog was. My niece showed me your blog, in the middle of your first home bathroom remodel, and I have been hooked every since. I always look forward to reading your daily posts. Through Pinterest I have found other blogs, though NONE as personal, fun, educational, and real as yours. Not catching up with you daily is a new adventure for me! I am grateful my niece surprised me with a trip to your book signing to meet you all. What a great gift you have given us. You have a wonderful family. Good luck with your future plans!
Pam Lee says
I was so excited when your name popped up this morning. I will miss seeing you all but understand. Please keep the archives available forever so we can see your smiling faces and your lovely home. And revisit your wonderful ideas and projects. You know the picture of Burger in the new chair on the veranda…..I just made it my desktop picture, and I have cats! But he’s soooo precious. Hope to hear from you again someday when the time is right!
Love to you all,
Pam
Chris says
Awwww – you guys. I was quite critical yesterday of your send-off. Too cold. Too corporate. Not enough Petersik. After all, there are a lot of folks who invested daily time to you and cold turkey-ing it seemed rather un-Petersik like, even if you are exhausted by all of this blog-biz. But, today’s add on…well, it was just perfect. Exactly what needed to be said and in your slightly adorable clumsy way, made us feel like the real John and Sherry stepped in for a few minutes to right a slight that some (though clearly not all!) of us felt. Perfection. Whatever it was that made you jump back in for this final update – my guess is that is where your spark lies. Not worrying about looking clumsy. Saying what you mean in your real voices. And frankly, just being the bloggers that many of us loved from the day we began reading. Well done! And yes, keep us updated as you are inspired to do so. I suspect you will have a hungry audience when you check in, on your terms. I know I will be jonesing for a blog to take your place, but there aren’t many that capture your style – a little Manhattan, a little This Old House, and a lot of humor. I haven’t found a replacement yet and I’ve been to all of them to take their temp. Good on you both – all the best from a long time (since nearly the beginning…yikes) reader.
Lisa Touloukian says
Feeling like I just lost good friends, but totally understanding that this is part of life/growing/taking the next step. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for sharing your lives with me. I will forever be grateful.
Lauren says
Aww I’m so sad to see you guys go! Seriously. Like sadder than I should be probably, haha. Chalk it up to pregnancy hormones. Best of luck to you and yours! I hope to see you pop back up in the future.
Angela says
Hope you will continue to rethink the blog. I am noticing that several of my favorite bloggers are cutting back to posting only 2-3 times a week or not follow any set schedule at all. And while we all enjoyed your replies to the comments, that is something that you could cut out. We all enjoyed being a part of your “family” and seeing those gorgeous kids grow! Good luck in your future endeavors!
Kribss says
I feel like I was given the “its not you, its me” speech. I am sad.
sue says
Exactly! It hurt my feelings because after launching several vigorous defenses of their approach to blogging, it felt like a time in my past when I vigorously defended a boyfriend, only to have him turn around and give the “it’s not you it’s me” line. Like they had fallen out of love some time ago and just led me on. It hurt my feelings. :(
Becca says
Kribss, Sue, it’s definitely us. Many readers feel like they are the boss/customer in this scenario. They demand more and more personal information (3rd house – great example) and get their feelings hurt over a goodbye post.
This goodbye post was super classy given how much we’ve asked of them. We’ve paid nothing and gotten so much in return. Their commitment to us greatly outweighs our commitment to following. I for one came here willingly and eagerly.
Hillary says
I feel like my favorite store was closed for renovations and then on the grand re-opening day, there was a sign on the door that said “Actually, we are closed forever!” I will miss reading every day and am totally bummed! Good luck and thanks for all the inspiration over the years! :)
LN says
I was hoping you were saying you were back. Thank you for the past and cheers for your future. I will miss seeing the weekly pictures of Teddy until he is 52 weeks. To all of you including Burgher, thank you again, but I will still be checking just in case…
Amanda B. says
So much gratitude, right back atcha! Thanks for introducing me to cloth diapers, thanks for showing the internet such a great example of class and community, thanks for sharing your impeccable style, and thanks for all the home-related inspiration. And all with LOVE! Thanks, thanks, thanks, love, love, love, and best best best wishes for your next chapter.
Heather says
Is it weird that the most disappointing thing to me with this post, is that Burger is missing from the photo? I mean, I’ll miss you, but I have nothing but love and respect for your decision. So the only thing left to complain about is the missing Burgs.
xoxo
H
Heather says
PS, can I still refer to you as “my friends John and Sherry” when someone asks me where I got the idea to box out the front columns on my porch or how I picked Revere Pewter as the perfect shade of greige? It happens more often than you think. BTW, one of the highlights of my year was when you liked a few of my instagram posts. I even saved a screenshot of the IG notifications. #nerdalert
Marcia R says
God bless you. I wish the best for you and your family. Thanks for sharing so much over the years.
Erin P says
Thank you, really! (And best wishes)!
Ashley P. says
I’m going to miss you all greatly, but I am especially going to miss the weekly pics of Teddy. He and my little girl are around the same age, so it has been fun to watch them grow “together”. Best of luck to all of the Petersiks. BTW – should you find yourself with a little “extra time” in the future, I am sure I speak for all of your readers when I say that we would love an update from time to time. You guys are the best. :-)
Allison says
Good luck with your new adventures and enjoy your family time. I’ll admit that I teared up a bit when reading this post. You’ve been a part of my daily routine for years now. When I was happy or when I was going through difficult times, you always had a post up that would make me laugh. True story: the top post the first time I found your blog was the google-eyed kitchen cabinet knobs post. I knew I was hooked when I saw that crazy photoshopped image.
Erin says
We love you and will miss you, but are super proud of and excited for you. Bless your beautiful family in all the adventures ahead!!
Jen B says
Kudos to you both for staying true to yourselves and having the courage to do what feels best! Feels like we are all losing a (virtual) friend, but at least we have the archives to look back on :-). Thank you for 80 months of an almost daily read, it’s been great! Would love if you posted an annual update (sort of like an old school Christmas card letter??) to show off the kids, the house and you guys. Best of luck wherever your path leads!
Susan from Canada says
I have missed you enormously and was so happy to see your post in my inbox. All the best to you in your new adventures and please keep us posted from time to time. Your emails are always welcomed with pleasure and enjoyment.
bridget | 623designs:interiors says
Thanks for all the inspiration! You’ll be missed!
Jen says
This blog has been such a huge inspiration to so many people! Thank you for everything you’ve shared with us over the years; I will really miss seeing the updates on your house!
Suzy says
So happy I discovered your blog 4 yrs ago. Still my fav & found so much inspiration & love right here every day! Very proud you are putting family first. See you down the road as I am sure you guys will pop up somewhere interesting…
Melanie P. says
You will be missed Petersik clan! I hope you come back from time to time, just to show us some updates on your house and on the family! Best of luck in all of your future endeavors
Barbara in snellville,ga says
Love your blog and your fresh take on life and showing us DIY projects that we could also do in our
homes. Still waiting for John to write a cookbook on healthy and thrifty meals. Your family is
awesome. Been a pleasure to take the journey with you and will miss you.. God bless you in your next adventure. Great photo. Thanks for signing my books at your local bookstore last fall.
Lisa says
I am so sad to see you go!! This blog introduced me to the blog world. You ABSOLUTELY made it feel possible to become a DIYer when I didn’t even know how to pick up a paint brush. What an AMAZING 7 years filled with love, laughter and adventure. Just by reading this blog I can tell that whatever your next adventure is you will SUCCEED. Thank you for being so REAL and showing the ordinary person that they are capable of creating a wonderful home, being a great spouse and loving parent. You both have it all!! Congrats on being brave enough to step outside of your comfort zone again!
Sarah says
Thank you…..just….. thank you.
Olivia says
Wow, I will really miss you! Thanks for everything! Enjoy those precious moments with your two little sweeties.
Debi C says
Well, this sucks! Mainly because I just found you over the past year and learn lots from your posts. I totally understand your decision and wish you well on all future endeavors.
savuryandsweet says
WE LOVE YOU GUYS!! I was so happy to see updated Teddy pics this morning, I hope you continue sharing those. Enjoy your littles and have great adventures you Petersiks :)
Rachael says
This is strangely awesome. I love it when people realize what’s not working in their lives and make positive, proactive steps to change it. Go get ‘EM, Petersik’s!!
Emily says
Thank you for that little update – it was so nice to read!!!! All the best to you and yours….whatever you guys do, it will be the Next Big Thing. We will miss you over here!!!!
Jill says
I’m mountain time and would wake up to your blog in my inbox, which I was excited to find this morning! I was nervous to open it, b/c I knew it could mean goodbye. I’m so sad that you won’t be here in the mornings, and will miss you, but even as I face a major change/transition in my own life/career, I know moving to new and unknown things are hard but good. I’m a beer reader, but am so grateful for the time I did have, for your input into our lives, your book and will hang my YSL bee hook in the updated bathroom in your honor. Blessings to you in the next season of your lives!
Summer says
Oh man, I’m so sad! You were the first blog I started reading and I have read every single word since and even started blogging myself (beauty though). You two were such an inspiration to me! I am so sad to see you leave. I hope that in the future you will return to us with a whole new outlook on things! I wish your family the best! Until next time….
Hannah Milley says
I’m so glad that you added that extra bit today. It feels like a lot less harsh of a breakup ;) I’ve been following this blog since well before Clara was born, when you were in your first home (which I still love and often go to posts on for inspiration). Good luck to you and I’m sure I speak for almost everyone who reads your blog when I say that we will sincerely miss you and your family, not just your DIY posts. I hope to see updates on your family every once in awhile on social media. Thank you for the many years of inspiration.
Jennifer says
um….What? I mean, really….What?!?! I just don’t get it. I didn’t think you guys lost your spark, like some. The scale back was totally understandable. This just feels completely abrupt. Like *smack* into a brick wall abrupt. I want to be happy for y’all, but I’m too shocked to go there yet. You owe us nothing in reality, but it kinda feels like you do, I feel vested in your family, your home, your dog. I want to see your master bath completed, what you end up doing with the dining room, the kitchen finished, Clara and Teddy. You put so much of yourself out there and then left. That just really is not nice at all.
Emily says
As a blogger who hit the same wall, I totally get it. I stepped away from my blog nearly two years ago after YEARS of blogging (sometimes professionally) and only now am I feeling inspired enough to step back into the ring. Blogging has changed so much since many of us started writing back in the very early 2000s and I can’t blame you for feeling the pressure and the frustration and that feeling of wanting to tell everyone enough to make them understand what you’re thinking and feeling, but not so much that you feel like you’re oversharing or becoming defensive. It’s a tough place to be. Good luck to you both – no doubt you deserve the rest!
Linda D. says
Just a thought: I’d be willing to pay a subscription fee to keep the OLD content online and available for me to have access to those step by step instruction/how to posts. Videos are great, but those full posts with words AND PICTURES made me confident enough to tackle things around my own house. I’ve never found another single blog with so many different things so clearly explained. And even though I totally understand you guys wanting a new adventure, I’d LOVE to find a way to preserve access to all the old adventures. ‘Cause, you see, for me they’re still NEW.
Anyway, best of luck with your Next Steps. Ain’t Life grand?
Tera says
Thank you for writing and sharing everything you have! It has been so fun seeing your creative masterminds transform homes and love on your sweet family! I’d be lying if I said I’m not sad about no more YHL posts (when I told my husband about it, he got really quiet and seriously apologized to me because he knew how sad I would be!), but I’ve gotta get over that and stop being selfish ???? anyways, y’all deserve the most happiness so I’m very glad you have found a new balance that’s working better for your sweet family! Thank you for writing a real, humorous, helpful, and super duper blog for so many years! You will be missed!
Sapna says
Im going to miss you guys a looot !!! :( very sad and depressed , please come back …
Danielle says
I just wanted to say Thank you. I’ve read your blog everyday for several years. You’ve inspired me in ways I can’t describe. I am truly grateful that you shared your lives as completely as you did, and as hard as it is to say, I wouldn’t have wanted to see YHL any other way. Wishing the best for your family. I know your next adventure will be fantastically awesome just like you are.
Katie says
Is this how people felt when the Sopranos went off the air?
Kelly says
Good luck to your family! I bought the book, the blog and loved getting to know your family. You will be greatly missed!!!!
Linda says
Smart choice!!! Especially now that you have kids. When they’re babies it’s not such a big deal, but as they get older I could see how it might be better to have more family privacy.
Regardless of that, a 7 year run at a particular job/hobby is a longtime and it makes sense you’ve changed & grown and want to move on to something different.
Also If you do get back into blogging/media of some flavor it might be easier just launching that as it’s own thing rather than trying to recalibrate this website and reader base to fit whatever that may be.
Thank you very very much for keeping the site up. I love the content and really appreciate you guys. Thank you for all the years! We’re wishing you the best!
Eva says
I discovered your blog several years ago when I googled “how to make a gallery wall”. You have inspired me ever since. I got teary reading your message this morning for two reasons: first, I will just plain miss you guys, and second, because I completely understand the need for change. I made a big career shift after having my second baby (after 11 years at the same job) and have never regretted it. It was very hard and emotional, though. Good luck to you guys and thanks for all of your tips, inspiring photos, entertaining posts and, most of all, for giving me the confidence to do things in my home that I never would have done before!
annakristina28 says
Thank you for an amazing run! I will sorely miss seeing new YHL posts in my Feedly, but you need to do what is right for your family and I’m happy for you! Best wishes on your new adventure! But before you head out… one question, and one idea.
Question: Where can we find updates for the new book release (and soon-to-arrive products) once YHL goes radio silent? I don’t want to miss anything! (And I’m hoping your current lighting collection will stick around a while!)
Idea: your posts are plastered all over Pinterest (and the interwebs)… which hopefully means clicks even without new posts. Do you think there’s some sort of self-maintaining ad program that you could use to generate a little bit of income to help defray the hosting costs of keeping the website up? It’s such a good reference and inspiration. My husband and I are saving up for a first home, so I’ve marked so many of your posts for “someday” and am crossing my fingers that you’re able to keep the site alive for a good long time!