No really, who are you people? You’re a mystery wrapped in an enigma.
To help answer that very question, we thought we’d use our blogiversary week to get to know you fine people a little bit better – who you are, why you read and how you think we can make Young House Love even better moving forward.
So if ever there was a time to comment, it’s now. Please – no, pretty please – take two minutes to answer the questions below. And if you’ve never commented before or are unsure how, it’s easy. Just click the number in that green speech bubble to the right of this post’s title and scroll to the bottom of the page. Real names and e-mail addresses aren’t required so the pressure is off. And if you’re still too shy, feel free to e-mail your answers to [email protected].
And since we’re already stealing a page from Decorno’s book by doing this poll in the first place, we promise to recap all of your comments at the end of the week, a la her State of the Blog Address. So here we go with the asking of the questions:
- Who are you? Male/Female? Age? Location? Marital status? Any kids?
- How often do you read Young House Love? (Daily? Once a week? Whenever you have free time at work?)
- How do you prefer to view Young House Love? (On younghouselove.com? Through an RSS reader like Google or Bloglines?)
- What are your favorite types of posts & why? (Easy DIY ideas? Before & after pictures? Design Dilemmas? Major home improvement undertakings?)
- What are your other must-read blogs? (If you have one of your own, feel free to plug it right here!)
- What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2?
- And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house (assuming time and money were no object)?
- Anything else you want us to know, or just gotta share with the world?
Thanks again for your time! And have we told you that you look lovely today? Because you do.
sceniclady says
1. Female, 31, married, Chicago, IL, no kids
2. Almost Daily
3. younghouselove.com
4. I really enjoy the design dilemmas/before and after
5. I read too many blogs but just to name a few: decorno, desire to inspire, Making it Lovely, Design Sponge, and How About Orange
6. I wish more readers would send in their afters, after you post the dilemmas…
7. I just want our landlord to fix our rather large leaking windows, sigh
Megan says
1. Female, 24, Wisconsin, Married 2 years, No kids (2 dogs and a cat)
2. I read it daily
3. younghouselove.com
4. I love everything you do! You’re such an inspiration in so many ways!
5. As a fellow Wisconsinite, I also follow “Everything D&G”
6. Keep up the great work!
7. I would landscape the heck out of my yard, add another bedroom and bathroom, finish our basement, and completely re-do our kitchen.
Sandy says
1. Who are you? Female, so far the oldest to respond to your survey (I’m leaving the actual number out), Boston suburb, Married, 2 daughters in early-to-mid 20s (I guess you can do the math) and they still live at home (luckily we have the room).
2. How often do you read Young House Love? At a minimum, daily; but I confess it is usually multiple times daily. It’s the only way I can see if there have been any new posts!
3. How do you prefer to view Young House Love? I go right to your website.
4. What are your favorite types of posts & why? First off, I love the witty and clever way you write your posts. Fun reading. I definitely like the Before & Afters and Design Dilemmas. I also like the color consults and the wedding crashings (some day some of those ideas might come in hand should one or both of my daughters get married!). Our house is new construction so we don’t have many DIY home improvement projects to undertake. I love anything having to do with decorating and even though my style is not quite as contemporary as yours, I do look to your posts to draw decor inspiration!
5. What are your other must-read blogs? I’m a newbie to blog reading. Would love recommendations on other decorating blogs to read as I have no idea (I will take note on some of the ones others mentioned here)! I am obsessed with HGTV’s Rate My Space and often comment on the postings (although I’m too chicken to post any pictures of my own) … atually I think that is how I found out about your blog.
6. What advice do you have to make Young House Love even better in year #2? I love it the way it is, but you inspire so many, it would be nice to know how/where YOU get YOUR inspiration. Share some of your inspiration pictures. Decorating for the holidays (all of the major ones).
7. And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house? Although I have stainless appliances in my kitchen, I would get high end versions including a massive size refrigerator (ok, so that might necessitate some minor reconfiguring of the kitchen …)
8. Anything else you want us to know, or just gotta share with the world? I would like to learn how to be better at accessorizing!! I admire that talent.
Ryan says
1. Who are you? Female, 29.75, Spokane, married, NO kids (one dog)
2. Read daily at lunch
3. with Google Reader (I used to click through the bookmarks for every blog, but decided to give Reader another chance and it’s Great!)
4. I like before and afters, major remodel changes (inside and out) and paint/colors projects.
5. I read a bunch of houseblogs plus friends/family and nothingbutbonfires
6. I agree with a lot of the above suggestions
7. Is this a change assuming everything is up to date and functional? (so after new electrical, new kitchen, finished bathroom, paint exterior trim, scrape/paint interior, refinish floors, add heat to upstairs…) After all that is done I’d like to add a small balcony off the back of the house upstairs to get more light and make it less atticy.
Anne says
Who are you? Male/Female? Age? Location? Marital status? Any kids?
– Female, 25, married with no kids in Springfield, MO
How often do you read Young House Love? -Daily
How do you prefer to view Young House Love? -On younghouselove.com
What are your favorite types of posts & why? -All of these! (Easy DIY ideas? Before & after pictures? Design Dilemmas? Major home improvement undertakings?)
What are your other must-read blogs?
– designspongeonline
– simplelovely.blogspot
– thepioneerwoman
– blackeiffel
– frolic
What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2? -Less posts about TV shows.
And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house -Completely redo our bathroom and kitchen. Bigger vegetable garden in the back yard.
Meg says
Female, 20, University of Illinois, Single and without any youngsters
I used to read about everyday during the summer but thanks to pesky schoolwork I now visit you guys about once a week.
I go directly to the source-younghouselove.com!
I love to see what you guys are doing to the house and I really enjoy before and after pics! I also enjoy the reader design dilemmas and the wedding crasher series is always great.
My first must read design blog was MakingItLovely which in turn got me turned on to you guys. I don’t have as much time to read the blogs I once loved but to name the few I used to read everyday….Apartment Therapy, Making It Lovely, Smallspacestyle.blogspot.com, Desire to Inspire, Bijou Kaleidoscope, Décor8, Decorno, sfgirlbybay and Little Green Notebook.
No advice! You guys have the perfect blog!
Well first I’d like to own a house……But I wish I was living in an old, art deco, hardwood-floored apartment instead of my stupid little 1960’s wall-to-wall carpeting, bad-drywall one.
I’m almost done with school and I’ll be off to Philly next summer!! (anyone here from Philly who wants to tell me where to good neighborhoods are I’d greatly appreciate it!)
Elizabeth says
1. Female, 23, Married, Philadelphia, PA
2. Daily/Free time at work
3. Google Reader, but I click over to read comments sometimes.
4. I love the Before/Afters, Design Dilemmas, and the DIY ideas.
5. Apartment Therapy, Best Week Ever, Decor8, Making it Lovely, and the Hyper Homemaker.
6. I wish Design Dilemmas would send in more afters!
7. A bigger bathroom!
Meg – I live in Philly and I love it! And we live in a old, art deco, hardwood floor apartment in the Art Museum area and its the best! :)
Kristin says
Who are you? Female, 26, VA, Married, No kids
How often do you read Young House Love? Multiple times thru the day
How do you prefer to view Young House Love? on younghouselove.com
What are your favorite types of posts & why? I like everything because you have a great sense of style and wonderful ideas that anyone can do.
What are your other must-read blogs? Making it Lovely and Becoming Home.
What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2? Nothing everything is great.
And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house (assuming time and money were no object)? I would love to have a new kitchen.
Rachel says
Who are you? Rachel
Male/Female? female
Age? 26
Location? London, England
Marital status? Engaged
Any kids? No children
How often do you read Young House Love? (Daily? Once a week? Whenever you have free time at work?)
Whenever you post I suppose – as it pops up on my RSS feed. And yes, shhh, I usually read at work towards the end of my day which is I think about the start of yours.
How do you prefer to view Young House Love? (On younghouselove.com? Through an RSS reader like Google or Bloglines?)
I see the posts on RSS and then come over here to read/post comments.
What are your favorite types of posts & why? (Easy DIY ideas? Before & after pictures? Design Dilemmas? Major home improvement undertakings?)
I like the before/after photos and the master classes as well as more personal posts.
What are your other must-read blogs? (If you have one of your own, feel free to plug it right here!)
Well, my must write blog is http://rachel-catherine.blogspot.com
My must read blogs are numerous but I like http://www.wifeinthenorth.com/ very much.
What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2?
Keep doing what you are good at but don’t get boring. Not that you are. I liked the idea for reader competitions as well.
And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house (assuming time and money were no object)?
I would like to buy one! If it was to our rented flat it would be to re-do the bathroom which is horrid but not ours to meddle with, sadly.
Anything else you want us to know, or just gotta share with the world?
I’m getting married next June.
Mrs. Simon says
1. Female, 28, Married, Washington State, dog & cat kids only.
2. I read daily
3. younghouselove.com
4. Love the before & after pics also love to be inspired especially with easy DIY projects.
5. a few of my favorite other blogs: coco&kelly, All Dressed Up, Mrs. Blandings, Du Wax Loolu, The Love List
6.I would love to see the rooms after folks take your advice/help from the mood board. More DIY and other homeowners tips/tricks.
7. As I live in a condo my impossible change would be a yard with room for our dog, garden & entertaining!
Love your blog- thanks for sharing. We are in the process of selling (hopefully) our little condo to buy a bigger house (with the aforementioned yard!) so I am loving all your inspiring posts, projects, etc.
Melissa says
1. Female, 27, your own Richmond,VA, a newlywed of 6 months, 1 cuddly pup
2. Daily…okay maybe twice a day
3. On younghouselove.com
4. I eat it all up. I seriously hope your motivation for DIY home projects and your clutter-free living wears off on me!
5. Mostly family/friends blogs
6. I would love to see more Design Dilemma afters and if they don’t mind the total cost to the project. If it turns out to be fairly reasonable I would be inclined to try it myself!
7. I would definitely attack our kitchen. The previous owners of our house “flipped it” and they went with the most inexpensive improvements, as a result we have WHITE ceramic tile in the kitchen. I think I mentioned above that we have a dog…! And they chose an industrial strength washer and dryer so our clothes take as much of a beating as our white tile.
8. Keep up the good work. You all have received so much exposure in only a year. The posts above are from all over!
Staz says
1. Staz, female, 31, Northern KY/Cincinnati, married, two dogs, three cats.
2. About every other day when I have free internet time.
3. Randomly through my favorites.
4. Easy DIY ideas, reader before & afters (ahem, I might be a bit biased since mine was featured), major home improvement undertakings. I’m always interested in the really big projects as that’s what we’re always doing around here.
5. I’ve had my own for years (new.burlapsoul.org), but it’s not really design-focused. Mostly I just keep up with my other blogging friends and I love to view others’ DIY home renovations on Flickr.
6. Maybe “how to keep a clean house with tons of pet hair?” Other than that, no suggestions!
7. Oh, I would completely rip off the roof and expand the second story so that it was full sized. Low angled ceilings get old really fast.
8. You guys do a great job! Plus, you were my bedroom inspiration. Keep up the great work!
Val says
1. Who are you? I’m Val *waves* 23, just moved into our first house, no kids, but two outrageously cute kittens. My fur kids. Oh, and I’m from RVA too. And really, when you mentioned something about RED the other day I kind of freaked out, I go there too!
2. How often do you read Young House Love? Daily, and honestly, usually more then once a day. I’m kind of addicted, but not in a weird stalkerish kind of way
3. How do you prefer to view Young House Love? I’m a website girl all the way. While I am quite computer savy, RSS feeds confuse me
4. What are your favorite types of posts & why? Easy DIY Ideas are my favs. Just about everyone that I see, I kind of freak out a little bit and rush about the house madly trying to figure out where I could use it in my house. I’m not sure if the man thinks it’s charming, or just plain weird
5. What are your other must-read blogs? Hmmm… madeinrichmond.net, dooce of course, and misszoot
6. What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2? Tough one, I think you are doing a pretty good job so far. The only thing I could suggest would be maybe some tutorials (ie-how to arrange furniture, accessories, etc with in a space, choosing the right color for your specific mood, choosing a decorating style that fits your life)
7. And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house (assuming time and money were no object)? I’d finish up our kitchen, and replace the cheapo appliances (the man says it just needs some sanding and painting, I tend to disagree)
8. Anything else you want us to know, or just gotta share with the world? Love the blog, please keep it coming. Oh, and I got accepted in a nursing program last week! Yay!
Tricia says
1. Female, 38, married, kids
2. As often as I remember to check
3. Read at website
4. Before and afters, design dilemmas, color advice
5. Too many to list, but yours was the first decorating/design site I ever marked.
6. ?? I don’t know, but I appreciate the transformation photos, very helpful for the design impaired – such as myself. :-) I am learning!
7. How do I slowly transition from my tradition decor to more contemporary?
8. Just found the site this last month, but really enjoy it. Thanks for all the work you put into it, and for inspiring the rest of us to make the most of our homes.
Megan says
Megan, Female, 31, Utah, Married with three kiddos.
Of course, I read your blog twice daily and I prefer the actual site. Love everything about the site but prefer the home stuff. Love the design delimmas and before & afters the most because I am always looking for ideas for our home. In fact, I just blogged about my window treatments inspired from you! Found here: http://megitys.blogspot.com/2008/09/evolution-of-room.html .
There’s nothin’ I’d change about your site. Works great for me. And if money were no object, my kitchen would be the first to be fixed. It’s a tiny, narrow gallery kitchen with blue carpet and no dishwasher.
So congrats on your one year blog-a-versary and keep it coming!
McGee says
1. Who are you? Male/Female? Age? Location? Marital status? Any kids? McGee (and DH Mike), female, 30, Texas, married, one daughter, Meredith (age 2)
2. How often do you read Young House Love? (Daily? Once a week? Whenever you have free time at work?) Several times a week – you’re linked on our blog. :)
3. How do you prefer to view Young House Love? I click through from our site.
4. What are your favorite types of posts & why? (Easy DIY ideas? Before & after pictures? Design Dilemmas? Major home improvement undertakings?) I love Before & After posts, major home improvement undertakings, and instructions on how to do various things.
5. What are your other must-read blogs? (If you have one of your own, feel free to plug it right here!) Our site is http://www.mikeandmcgee.blogspot.com. We have a long list of blogs we love there – feel free to check us (and them!) out.
6. What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2? I’m already married, so I’m kind of past all the wedding stuff. I love seeing design and decor posts. I’d love to hear more about your future remodeling/redecorating plans. What will you do when (if) you ever – gasp! – finish this house? Will it be time to move?
7. And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house (assuming time and money were no object)? If $$ and time were no object… hmmm… we have a LONG list. I’ll have to write a blog post about that.
8. Anything else you want us to know, or just gotta share with the world? We live in your typical suburban house, and it’s pretty darn devoid of character. Our overall goal with renovating our house is to bring character and charm to a basic cookie cutter home. :)
Katie says
Who are you? Male/Female? Age? Location? Marital status?
– Katie, Female, 24, Boones Mill, married one year and one week
Any kids?
– nope
How often do you read Young House Love? (Daily? Once a week? Whenever you have free time at work?)
– pretty much daily
How do you prefer to view Young House Love? (On younghouselove.com? Through an RSS reader like Google or Bloglines?)
– younghouselove.com
What are your favorite types of posts & why? (Easy DIY ideas? Before & after pictures? Design Dilemmas? Major home improvement undertakings?)
– Design Dilemmas by far. It’s great to see how you can incorporate exsisting furniture into a new design plan.
What are your other must-read blogs? (If you have one of your own, feel free to plug it right here!)
none in paticular except yours- I love to surf from one blog to the next from blog rolls. You can catch everything from renovating and design to crafts, sewing, cooking, fashion… the list goes on and on.
What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2?
Keep it up- seriously I know that’s not exactly what you wanted to hear, but…
And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house (assuming time and money were no object)?
I would love to have the chance to go back and purchase ONLY things that I absolutely love, rather than simply going with the flow and by the book. I’ve come to realize that my attachment to an object or a piece of furniture means a whole lot more than some decorating book telling me that it looks right.
Meg says
Thanks Elizabeth!! I’ll be sure to check it out!
Tammy says
Tammy, Female, 45, Greenville, SC, Married, 16 yo Daughter, ugh….(who really wants to re-do her room, maybe I should ask for help sometime)
I read your blog every weekday (at work)on younghouselove.com
Favorite posts usually consist of the before/after posts and anytime you give a helpful hint following you own experiences (the paint you used on your front porch chairs)
during your DIY
Other favorites include “April Showers”, “The Country Doctor’s Wife”, “Petunia Face”, and “Musings of a Barefoot Foodie”!!!
Do some teen related rooms (see comment above).
If money were no object, the basement/garage would be our makeover. Work space, garage space, would especially include a hang out area for the kids with TV, pool table, etc. Something to keep them hanging out here.
Nothing else to share, just keep up the fun work
Kala says
1. Who are you? Male/Female? Age? Location? Marital status? Any kids?
Female/25/Copenhagen, Denmark/Married/No kids
2. How often do you read Young House Love? (Daily? Once a week? Whenever you have free time at work?)
check my google reader every other day
3. How do you prefer to view Young House Love? (On younghouselove.com? Through an RSS reader like Google or Bloglines?)
RSS google reader
4. What are your favorite types of posts & why? (Easy DIY ideas? Before & after pictures? Design Dilemmas? Major home improvement undertakings?)
All of the above
5. What are your other must-read blogs? (If you have one of your own, feel free to plug it right here!)
too many to count
6. What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2?
Maybe having a contest or something or maybe do a once a week great find.
7. And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house (assuming time and money were no object)?
I would love to do something with my living room. It is a completely blank slate and I am a little lost for what to do with it. It’s hard because I see all your great ideas but then remember I no longer live in the U.S and can’t really shop at most of the places. Though I love when you do Ikea things.
8. Anything else you want us to know, or just gotta share with the world?
Congrats on the first year!
Jessica J. says
I most definately did not read the 101 comments left before me. Props to you for doing it though. Here I go,
1. Female, 23, Bothell, WA (Seattle Suburb), married just over a year. Three kids of the 4-legged variety, two dogs and one cat.
2. I read multiple times a day because I love it when you update and I just can’t keep myself away.
3. I read on younghouselove.com. I keep thinking I should try a reader, but I haven’t. Do you have a favorite site for feeds?
4. My favorite are DIY and Before & After. I can most identify with those because it’s stuff my husband and I are always doing ourselves too!
5. Oh I have too many must-reads to list. But some faves are: Dooce, Not That You Asked (captainhambone.typepad.com), Beacuse I Said So (mom2my6pack.blogspot.com), Newlywedisms by Bryn, A Baby? Maybe…, 86’n It, Re:Habitat, All Things G&D, The Newlywed Diaries, Tiny Old House, The Brick House, Whoorl, and my newest Eddie Ross. (I really need a reader don’t I?)
6. In year #2 I’d love to see a weekly staple post – like on Friday’s have a “shopping find of the week” with an awesome item on sale or just a good deal that you love. I love all your mood board items, but I’m not looking to make over a whole room, I just like individual items that I can use, so having a more common occurance of those would be great. I’d also love to see more reader submittals. I know you can’t necessary change how often people send you stuff, but maybe you can offer an incentive (like a give away?) to fill that inbox.
7. Only one?? Well, I’d love new carpet, and white trim and doors (instead of the original wood we still have), but we really need to re-landscape the backyard. We tore out a detached deck and now have a half-weed-half-dirt yard. I’m hoping to put in grass, some shrubs for added privacy, replace the chainlink fence with cedar, and maybe some raised planters for growing vegetables. Oh, and since we’re in the cost-is-not-an-issue-dream-land, how about a stove, dishwasher and fridge in Stainless Steel to match our updated microwave! And some stone counters… In the reality I actually live in, we’ll probably replace a our peel-n’-stick bathroom floors the previous owners left us with some tile in the future (DIY of course!) because thats not too expensive.
8. Secrets I have to share… oher than I wish I was you, writing for such an amzing website and living in your house with that cute dog everyday, I don’t really have any.
In keeping with your blogiversary week… I’d love to start my own blog, but have no idea where to begin. I’ve got all kinds of my own projects I’d love to share, and my husband even set up a website and everything, but I just can’t do it. I even read through your first posts (well, I’ve read them all) and still can’t. Any words of wisdom for me and others in the same boat?
Thanks!
Sarah says
1. Lady, 24, Married, 2 dogs
2. Daily!!
3. younghouselove.com
4. Before and Afters, Easy DIY
5. Lots!
6. Sale Alerts! More after photos of advice you give out
7. we have a cape cod with slanted ceilings upstairs- I would push the roof up to make a straight wall, add a closet and Master bath, and then move my bed right into that space!
8. you rock
Abbie in CO says
1. Abbie; 29; Steamboat, CO; will marry next year; 2 dogs
2. I read as often as you post!
3. I read through Google Reader and often click over to the actual post
4. I love before and after pics because it helps me visualize improvements actually happening
5. Wedding; photography; party/event planning
Visit me at aglimpseofthegirlnextdoor.blogspot.com
6. More before & afters!
7. Where do I start? I would completely redo the kitchen and would update the bathrooms even more than we already have.
8. Great blog!! Keep up the good work.
Sara says
1. Sara, 25, IL, Married, 2 cats
2. I am a stalker and check YHL at least twice a day.
3. yhl.com (never heard of rss reader before)
4. I like your posts about your own home projects, diy ideas, and design dilemmas.
5. I am faithful to you on the blogs. Actually, I have tried visiting others and yours is just so easy to navigate and organized that I get irritated with others.
6. Keep on doing what you love! Your enthusiasm shows in your site.
7. Besides buying a nice piece of land and building…add on to have a master suite and separate laundry room instead of my kitchen/dining/laundry room.
8. I am open to my house being the experiment for “YHL On the Road”…yea, come on over!
Jennifer says
– female newlywed living in Birmingham, AL with one dog and one cat
– read at least once a day
– read old-school style … my browser is well-acquainted with your URL :)
– love before & afters, especially easy things that can be done in a weekend
– does mine count? I use my own blog roll to visit my faves
– keep up the good work and keep enjoying it (it is so apparent that you do!)
– oy, just one?? new kitchen.
Melissa says
1. Female, 32, Married, Southeast Minnesota
2. Daily
3. Thisyounghouse.com
4. Easy DIY’s and your moodboards w/ before & afters
5. Adventures in Renovating a Broolyn Limestone
6. No advice, just keep up the good work
7. I would change my kitchen
Lisa says
1. Female, 27, Midwest, no kids yet.
2. Daily.
3. Google Reader
4. Before and after pictures, easy DIY ideas, design dilemmas, major home improvement undertakings – all of the above!
5. Other must-read blogs – Amalah.com, Unclutterer.com
6. Keep up the good work! I love reading. Maybe a contest to win a free design consultation?
7. One change? We’re in the process of making a whole lot of changes (kitchen remodel going on currently) but I’d probably add a master suite addition over the garage.
Katie says
1. katie, 26, live in st. louis, married with 2 dogs and 2 cats
2. i usually check the blog about once a day during the week while at work
3. younghouselove.com
4. my favorite type of posts are the before/afters – i’ve gotten some great ideas, plus it helps me to stay motivated to work on my house, i want my own after pictures!
5. i have a big list of blogs that i try to check at least once a week
6. no advice really :-)
7. the kitchen, for sure, but it would also be nice to have a bigger bathroom
8. your blog was one of the reasons why i decided to start a blog about our house, thanks for the inspiration!
laura says
1. Female/26/Toronto Ontario/engaged/kids on day please
2. I read it daily. I feel like I know you since I read about you all the time. Is that weird?
3. Through younghouselove.com
4. I love your easy DIY, and before & after photos, however my favourite thing you have posted so far has been your recap of your wedding. I am in the midst of planning my own, and I am obsessed with sending the cute save the date postcards. I wish I could cut & paste our faces into your wedding day :)
5. Decorno, making it lovely, perez, dlisted, SGM
6. I hsve no advice- you are doing so well on your own!
7. I would finish the basement we have been working on for 1.5 years/ add a second story.
ErinEvelyn says
1) Erin. Female. 36. Appleton, WI. Married 6yrs. Twin 3yo boys.
2) Daily Reader.
3) younghouselove.com
4) favorite YHL posts? I like ’em all, but ESPECIALLY when you incorporate your love of thrift.
5) Other must-read blogs? Not really. Just yours.
6) Since some of the major DIY undertakings have been completed in/around your house, you might consider bugging Richmond friends & neighbors to let you capture the evolution of THEIR projects. (Example: another kitchen redo, for inspiration. See below.)
7) We absolutely adore our 78yo character home, but the 10×11 kitchen with 2 windows and three (that’s right THREE) doorways needs an overhaul WITHOUT adding on! Next summer, hopefully. A challenge? Yes, but it’s bound to be a drastic B&A.
8) I DO look lovely today. Thanks for the compliment. It’s my birthday.
gena rodsan says
Who are you? gena
Male/Female? female
Age? 46
Location? NJ
Marital status? married
Any kids? 3 – 17, 17 and 21
How often do you read Young House Love? daily
How do you prefer to view Young House Love? On younghouselove.com?
What are your favorite types of posts & why? Before & after pictures
What are your other must-read blogs? This yellow farmhouse, posy gets cozy, Princess Lasertron, anything decorator/cottage
What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2? keep up the good work !
And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house (assuming time and money were no object)? we are in the process of a 2000 sq ft reno – adding an elevator, 3rd floor suite for our twins, gym and an expanded MBR suite on the 2nd floor and reno’ing carriage house. If we’d had the extra money we would have put in an indoor pool. The pool outside now doesn’t get enough use in jersey !
Anything else you want us to know, or just gotta share with the world? no thanks…. like I said, keep up the good work. It’s fun reading about your “young adventures” and remembering being young myself. Oh, and I’ve recommended the blog to my eldest son’s fiance for wedding ideas – neat stuff.
cara says
1. female, 24. richmond! living in “precipice of engagement” according to my bf just now, that is a Direct Quote, no dogs :(
2. i usually check YHL everyday
3. i always go to the YHL url directly, you designed the site so i should view it how you designed it!
4. i love DIY ideast
5. making it lovely, not always right, dooce
6. i think you guys are doing a great job! maybe a daily or weekly inspiration board
7. i would love to get rid of the wall to wall carpet & hopefully there’s good hardwood floors like in the dining room, and redo the kitchen. and get rid of the stucco in the living room but that is 99.9% not going to happen because it’s way too much work. we’ll just live with it. maybe a darker color to help mask it?
8. i think i found your blog thru Making it Lovely & i love that you’re in Richmond because i know the places you mention. it makes me happy that you guys are on the map with Oprah & HGTV since you’re in Richmond :)
Teeni says
1. I’m Teeni, female, 32 or 33??, Mount Vernon, Iowa, married, two kids, one dog.
2. Daily, sometimes multiple times per day if left to my own devices.
3. yhl.com. Apparently I’m so impaired that I don’t even know what RSS reader like Google or bloglines are.)
3. Design dilemmas, the moodboards, and your clever writing styles.
4. The Beginning Farmer
5. It’s perfect just the way it is. Maybe a few more gratuitous Burger shots.
6. Put it on 40 wooded. rolling acres.
Christine says
1. Female. 36. LI, NY. Married. 2 kids.
2. daily
3. younghouselove.com
4. L-O-V-E design dilemmas !!!
5. Elements of Style, Nie Nie Dialogues…I’m trying to cut down.
6. My first answer was keep going but I deleted my whole post, My NEW answer is have a few kids and continue to be so ORGANIZED! THAT would be COOL.
7. I’d knock down some walls, open my kitchen up to the rest of the house.
Shannon says
1. Female, late 20s, Richmond! Newlywed.
2. Several times per day.
3. Your website is so calming – I always read the website.
4. I love the easy DIY ideas and hearing how and why you made the design choices that you did. I also love the before & after.
5. Go Fug Yourself cracks me up big time. I also bounce around to other home/diy blogs, but I don’t have too much time.
6. Seriously – keep doing what you’re doing! It’s fab.
7. We have a Cape Cod style house with 1.5 floors (slanted upstairs ceilings), so I’d LOVE to read more about clever, attractive storage. We’re not clean enough to be able to get away with open storage (though I drool over the way it looks). Also, I’d love to hear if you’ve been mixing your own cleaning products and how that’s been working out.
8. Just a thank you for making the design decisions that seem so difficult to some of us so easy. You two rock.
Colleen says
1. Colleen / Female / 26 / St. Louis MO / Single / Nope
2. Daily! Look forward to it after work (purposefully save my visit till after work, so I have something to look forward to during the usual daily browsing at work).
3. On younghouselove.com directly…haven’t gotten into those other things really.
4. Love it all! I can’t pick one – but if I had to it would be the super helpful design dilemmas.
5. AT (all cities/sites), Door 16, Making it Lovely, Urban Review STL, plenty others from time to time.
6. Just keep it fresh and be open to new idea (which you def. have, so just keep it up!).
7. Oh man, a kitchen gut remodel!!! And I rent, but I’d still do that, even though I know I am not staying forever. That would rock!
8. CONGRATS! :)
Samantha says
1. Samantha, 23, MD, Engaged, no kids (yet!)
2. I read daily! As soon as my Google Reader updates, I’m there!
3. Google Reader!
4. Hmmm I love Design Dilemmas and Before & Afters. I’m an interior designer, so I love picturing the way that things come together, seeing what I would have done and getting inspired. I also love the sales you guys find!
5. Since I’m engaged (to be married January 10!) I read a bunch of wedding blogs right now- Weddingbee especially!
6. The only thing I can think of is a new way to present Design Dilemmas.. the way it is set up now, I look at the images, then the explanations, but I want to see the image while I’m reading the explanation- right now I have to scroll back up.. I end up going up & down, up & down.
7. Well, for starters, I would GET a house :) We are working on it, so hopefully we will get there soon! I am all about a handyman house. Being a designer, I’ll want to personalize and design it as much as possible!
8. Hmm I don’t think so! Yay for making it a year and being so successful!
McGee says
The question about the ONE change we’d make inspired a post on our blog: http://mikeandmcgee.blogspot.com/2008/09/lets-fantasize-for-moment.html
laura @ the shorehouse. says
1. Female, 36, NJ, co- habitating (dating same dude for 9 years ;-), no kids but a lovable mutt.
2. I check in several times a week; when I do my Google Reader reading (I’d say 4 times/week).
3. Google Reader, but then I’ll many times click over to the .com for better layout.
4. Before & Afters and Home Improvement
5. SOOOOO many (over 100 cataloged in Google Reader). A large percentage are home design/improvement or cooking.
6. It ain’t broke, so don’t fix it. :-)
7. We would finish the attic redo that the previous owners started. We’re hoping to make it a killer hang out headquarters. There’s a widow’s walk with access via ladder only. There’s visions of spiral stairs dancing in my head…
8. That there is an open invite for you to come work on #7. ;-)
MC says
1. MC. Female. 22. Roanoke, VA. Married. 1 Lab.
2. Daily Reader
3. .com
4. LOVE design dilemmas and before and afters; they’re great inspiration for pulling rooms together on a budget — which I definitely need.
5. I love Hooked on Houses, Lovely Listing, The Inspired Room, and All Bower Power. Its not a blog, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE with my whole heart, Ballard Designs. (I visit them VERY often, so it counts).
6. I’d like hear about what routine, if any, you follow for cleaning. Everything always looks so fabulously clean and dust free! I also liked the contest idea someone else proposed, but other than those things, I’m happy as a clam!
7. In an ideal world, I’d like to have our master suite built and a sun porch added on.
Stephanie says
1. female, 23, kansas city, single, no kids
2. twice a week, when I’m bored or looking for inspiration at work and home
3. on your website directly, I am starting to think I should subscribe to an RSS reader
4. DIY ideas, wedding & house crashing, mood boards, I the near future I’d like to own and I like seeing what others are doing currently
5. design*sponge, my blog: http://turtlesoupdaily.blogspot.com/, how about orange, decor8, etc.
6. doing great so far! I can’t believe it’s only been a year!
7. Start by buying a house and completely personalizing it from top to bottom… if money were no object!
8. Thanks and keep it up!
Jen@OurDailyBigTop says
1. female/37/VA/married/3 kids
2. daily (love google reader)
3. I subscribe via RSS feed, then click over to read.
4. I like room makeovers with mood boards & wedding crashers.
5. Too many! But need my fix of Popsugar.
6. Decorating for holidays. I loved all your DIYs and personal touches for your wedding. I’m sure you’ve got lots of ideas for the holidays too.
7. Expand kitchen to add room for comfy seating since everyone always stays/hangs out in the kitchen.
8. Congrats on your anniversary!
L says
1. 28, Female, Married, San Diego, 2 dogs
2. Daily
3. RSS though google reader
4. Before & After, Shopping Tips
5. Apartment Therapy, LA
6. The wedding spotlight thing really doesn’t seem to fit in- I like your focus on design/decor
7. We desperately need a new master bath
Lisa says
1.28,Female, Married, Florida, 2 Dogs
2.Daily! Love all your posts!
3.younghouselove.com
4.DIY ideas, Before and Afters, Shopping Deals
5.Making it Lovely,becoming mom…
6.What is your routine to keep everything clean in the house? Keep up the great work. You have inspired a lot of projects around my home.
7. Get all new appliances!
8.When are you going to post another house tour?? When are you planning to start a family?! Can’t wait to see all your nursery ideas when the time comes!
Jennifer says
1. Jenn, female, 27, PA, married, 1 dog
2. I like to drop by a couple times a day to see what’s new!
3. I prefer the website, but I use RSS on iGoogle at work to be sneaky.
4. My favorite posts are the before & afters, thanks to your help. I love the refreshing commentary in all of the posts.
5. I’m a bit of a news junky, so when I have time, and I’m not here, I’m usually just on msnbc.com.
6. Keep up the great work!
7. I would de-clutter! This is also assuming I got up the nerve to get rid of stuff.
8. I just want to say congratulations on all of your success and on inspiring so many people!
Meghan says
1. Meg, female, 29, Annapolis, MD, married, no kids or pets
2. Daily – sometimes twice a day! (Does that sound dirty? :)
3. I honestly like coming to the site – I should sign up for RSS, but it’s like a fun surprise everytime I check your site to see what’s posted!
4. I LOVE DIY and the before and afters – I own a home built in early 80’s and still stuck in the early 80’s so I need all the inspiration and know how I can get!
5. I have way too many to list here – a mix of design, life, news, and crafty blogs. And definitely many from your blogroll.
6. LOVE the blog and all that you are already doing – and can’t wait to see how you decorate for the holidays!
7. Seriously, I can only choose one? I would gut the awful concrete pad in our teeny tiny backyard, put in flagstone, tons of plants, some grass and furniture and make it an outdoor oasis!
8. Keep up the great work!
Jenn says
1. Jenn, 29, fellow Richmonder (Westover Hills), married two years ago, dog no kids
2. daily
3. I use RSS on Google but click over to the site when I have the time
4. DIY projects – good motivation for our own house projects!
5. May December, Decorno, the preppy wedding (another Richmond blog) and I love chats on the washington post site
6. Love that you post so frequently – I’m hooked
7. Transform our funny, loft-like second floor into a master suite.
8. Keep inspiring us! Also, if you haven’t been… the Decorating Oulet on Midlo Turnpike has great deals on lights and rugs (Shades of Light outlet) and the Interior Outlet on Huguenot has great (discounted) fabric.
Melissa says
1) Female, 26, Richmond (Near West End), one dog, no kids
2) Daily
3)younghouselove.com
4)Before & After pics, places to shop for home stuff in Richmond, inspiration pics
5)The Preppy Wedding, McCain Blogette, Style Me Pretty
6)Keep up the daily posts! Keeps me interested!
7) Master bedroom/bath addition and cute “booth” nook in the kitchen (very richmond-ish)
8) I would LOVE a “Young House Love” Seminar or class to work on decorating ideas, DIY projects, etc.
lime in the coconut says
Who are you: Female,
Age: 47
Location:FL,
Marital status: Married.
Any kids: 4
How often do you read Young House Love?
Maybe 1X week, sometimes more.
How do you prefer to view Young House Love?
On my own Blog roll(it updates when a new post)
What are your favorite types of posts?:
Sooo depends(on day, week, mood), but love Before afters and lots of GREAT pics.
What are your other must-read blogs?
I have a bunch. But probably read Desire to inspire, Cote de Texas, hooked on Houses, Small space style regularly….I(BTW…blink, blink) Am ‘Lime In the Coconut’…which I try and add posts to several times a week!
What advice do you have for us to make Young House Love even better in year #2?:
For me, Visual and simple works best. Loved seeing your whole wedding thing. But,because I am so visual…I have a harder time when you are helping people out with design dilemas…Hard to visulize, and too much verbage. Just sayin’. But when I have time…love reading it fully. Think I need cliff notes some days.
And, for fun, what’s one change you would make to your house (assuming time and money were no object)?:
Today??…New front entry (including walkway), new Floors and Blast (raise) the roof…and oh soooo much more. sigh.
Marty says
1.Female. 64. Atlanta. Widowed. 3 sons, 3 daughters-in-law, 3 grandchildren, soon to be 4.
2.I usually catch up on a week’s worth of posts at once, which is how I read all but a very small number of blogs
3.On the website. I use tabbed browsing by subject. I have seven folders of decorating sites, and I read one every day. Or sometimes I play catch up. I have design folders as well, but not as many :-)
4.Hmm. I like it all. I do like before and after. I enjoy seeing how people implement your suggestions with the mood board. My personal style is more relaxed traditional, but that doesn’t really matter. I’m still learning from you.
5.Must read: our family blogs, Nesting Place, Holy Experience, Antique Mommy, one of my decorating folders each day, BooMama, Seth Godin
6.Advice for you two is above my pay grade. I do like explanations of choices, would like to know more about color. Oh, but then I like the simple DIY. I’m not much help.
7.Much bigger deck and patio, more hardwood, redo/update all bathrooms, much more landscaping, hire someone to do ALL my projects at once. Enlarge den and dining room, come to think of it.
8.Anything else you want us to know, or just gotta share with the world? Nah. But you impress me.