The moment we’ve all been eagerly anticipating has finally arrived! We are absolutely thrilled to announce the upcoming release of our first-ever home decorating book, a true labor of love that feels just like “birthing a book baby.” Mark your calendars: this comprehensive guide to creating a beautiful home is set to launch in early November. While the official “due date” is November 6th, it might vary slightly depending on your retailer. We’re practically on pins and needles with excitement, practicing our deep breathing exercises (hee, hee, hoooooo, hee, hee, hoooooo) in anticipation of sharing this incredible project with you all.
Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of this journey is the incredibly long gestation period this book has undergone – a remarkable three whole years from concept to print! The phrase “labor of love” truly has never been more fitting. Every page, every photograph, and every idea within these covers has been meticulously crafted and refined over this extensive period, fueled by our passion for home design and making spaces beautiful and functional. For everyone who has been patiently asking about pre-order details, the wait is over! You can now secure your copy of our highly anticipated home decorating book by clicking on any of the trusted retail logos provided below. Pre-ordering is not only a fantastic way to ensure you receive your copy as soon as it’s released, often at a discounted price, but it also offers a tremendous boost to us as authors. Plus, an added bonus is that pre-ordered books sometimes arrive even before the official release date, giving you an exclusive head start on your next home transformation project. Don’t forget to support your local businesses too; the book will be widely available at your favorite independent bookstores, many of whom can also process pre-orders for you directly.
Reflecting on this wonderfully long gestation, we’re reminded of John’s Facebook status from almost exactly a year ago – a playful nod to the ongoing project (and yes, that’s our dear friend Jamie from a previous post!). It truly puts into perspective the immense journey we’ve undertaken to bring this vision to life. Today, after countless hours of dedication and creative energy, we’re holding a 336-page mocked-up book in our hands, brimming with hundreds of innovative and accessible house-sprucing ideas. This physical manifestation of our dream is about to head off to the printer this very week, ready to be transformed into a real, tangible book – one you can hold, read, and proudly display on your coffee table. Not just one copy, of course, but thousands, ready to inspire homes across the globe!
So, what exactly is this book about? Let us assure you, this is not a formal, intimidating decorating bible filled with esoteric designer terms and unattainable, upscale rooms. That’s just not our style! Instead, it’s an empowering idea book crafted specifically for everyday folks like us – those who love their homes but need practical, budget-friendly, and actionable inspiration. We’ve packed it with a generous portion of doable and affordable suggestions that you can easily pick, choose, and adapt to perfectly fit your unique home and personal taste. Some projects might be more involved for the seasoned DIYer, while others are super easy and quick wins for beginners. Some ideas are completely free, utilizing what you already have, and some might require a bit of saving up for that dream upgrade. Essentially, if you love our blog, you’ll adore this book – it’s like having the best of our blog, but in a beautifully curated, organized, and expanded physical format. Instead of waiting for a post or two a day, you’ll find a treasure trove of 243 distinct ideas, each accompanied by stunning photos, helpful checklists, clear tutorials, and captivating illustrations galore. Plus, we’ve sprinkled in bonus tips, insightful sidebars, and our signature dorky humor, making the entire experience both educational and entertaining.
And here’s a crucial detail we’re bursting to share: we’ve filled this book with over 200 brand-new photos and 100 never-before-seen illustrations that have never appeared on the blog! Yes, you read that right. Absolutely none of the tips, projects, or visual content in this book are simply regurgitated from our previous blog posts. There was zero cutting and pasting involved! While some of the general ideas and fundamental tutorials might feel familiar – how could we possibly exclude must-have how-tos like painting furniture or upholstering a headboard, which are foundational DIY skills? – we made a conscious effort to present them in an entirely fresh and exciting way. This means that instead of seeing the same table we painted three years ago for the blog, you might discover a completely new dresser makeover that we secretly completed back in January specifically for this book. We know it was extra work, but it was incredibly important to us that the book felt fresh, innovative, and brimmed with different “takes” on a vast array of decorating ideas – encompassing both timeless classics and unexpected creative solutions, and pretty much everything wonderful in between.
It’s truly incredible to look back and trace every single phase of this monumental project. We vividly recall signing on with an agent well before our daughter Clara was even born, then diving into writing a comprehensive 100-page proposal in 2010. The following year, 2011, right after we moved into our new home, was dedicated to pitching to various publishers and ultimately choosing the perfect partner for this ambitious endeavor. The turn of the New Year saw us transform our proposal into a complete book outline, then meticulously craft the entire manuscript. February of this year was a whirlwind, involving three straight weeks of intensive photography sessions right here in our house, capturing all the visual content. Since then, it’s been a continuous process of refining, proofing, and proofing some more, ensuring every detail was perfect. And now, finally – truly, finally! – we have sent this book baby off to be printed. What a journey, phew!
Was it a whirlwind? Absolutely. Was it filled with lots of fun moments and creative breakthroughs? Undeniably. Was it an immense amount of work, pushing us beyond what we thought possible? Most certainly. Does it still feel like it’s all a wonderful, surreal dream? Every single day. It’s been one big, exhilarating, “flipping-the-house-upside-down” dream, and we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
So, it goes without saying that when we finally lay eyes on the final layouts, meticulously triple-checking that we didn’t accidentally write something like “hang your fart” instead of “hang your art” (don’t worry, we have a team of amazing proofreaders!), it really is a profoundly gratifying, chest-swelling moment. It’s not in an arrogant “we’re a big deal” sort of way, but rather in a humbling “we didn’t know we had it in us” kind of triumph. Of course, when we initially signed on to write a book, we believed in our ability to accomplish it. Yet, as we progressed, we found ourselves constantly asking, “Ooh, wouldn’t it be cool if we added this too?” Each time we did, a flicker of worry would surface, wondering if we had just bitten off more than we could chew. But oh, happy day, we didn’t! We survived, we lived to tell the tale, and most importantly, we wrote the book we were absolutely dying to create. We have a feeling it’s going to feel even more wonderfully unreal when we’re actually holding the first copies in our hot little hands. We anticipate happy tears, maybe even an ugly cry.
Since the final cover design has officially been locked down, we thought it would be incredibly fun to share the fascinating process behind its creation. It was a journey that proved to be completely different from anything we had imagined – much like almost every other aspect of writing a book! Did you know, for instance, that you meticulously edit the entire manuscript with a pencil on printed layouts over about five to six rounds of revisions, with virtually no computer involvement at all during that stage? It’s a truly analog and immersive experience! From our perspective, the two most surprising revelations about writing this book were:
- how little the publishers changed the inside of the book (which we affectionately call “the meat”)
- how much the publishers are involved with the outside (our endearing term for “the bread”)
Isn’t that an interesting dichotomy? Every time we submitted outlines, and even the final manuscript, we fully expected to see tons of crossed-out sections, rearranged content, and a plethora of suggestions on what to move, do, or change. But aside from essential typos and crucial grammar fixes, the core content, the voice, and the ideas were genuinely all ours. Which, frankly, is kind of awesome! We’re proud to say that in the book, we come across as the same pun-loving, slightly weird individuals that you know from this blog. We honestly thought they might try to “polish us up” or make us more mainstream, but they completely embraced our authentic selves. Our freak flag is definitely waving, baby, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.
However, when it came to the book cover, we quickly learned that most authors actually only get to provide “feedback,” with the publisher ultimately having the final say. Thankfully, we adore our editors, and the feeling appears to be mutual, resulting in a wonderfully collaborative process in the end. Initially, we shot some of their proposed concepts during our three-week photography extravaganza back in February. Out of all three initial cover concepts, there was one particular idea we tried our absolute darndest to wiggle out of: featuring our faces prominently on the cover. We simply didn’t want to be sitting or standing there, stiffly posing in some styled room. Why? Honestly, it just felt so… serious. We desperately wanted the cover of our home decorating book to exude playfulness, happiness, and fun. After all, this isn’t a lofty academic tome on box pleats; it’s a happy-go-lucky, inspiring home idea book designed to make decorating enjoyable! So, after shooting all three concepts, including some terribly awkward photos of us sitting on the sofa looking rather forced, we were relieved to hear that they officially decided against the “pose-on-the-sofa” idea for the cover. They agreed it looked genuinely forced! Wahoooooo! We celebrated with gusto. There might have even been an entire box of Oreos sacrificed to the “We’re-Not-On-The-Cover Book Gods” (by way of our grateful bellies). Then, about a month later, we received news that they were moving forward with a fourth concept, developed by a new, brilliant designer. And yes, it included us on the cover – but not as big, and definitely not posing stiffly in a room. Whaaaaa? Here was the very first draft they sent over, filled with initial ideas from their talented team:
We opened the PDF file, holding our breath, and then just stared at it for a good long while. And then, a surprising realization dawned on us: we actually kind of liked it! Not primarily because our faces were on the cover, of course, but because of the overall vibe it conveyed. The playful look and feel created by the different typefaces, the charming wood letters, the distinctive blue stitched spine detail, and the clever paint can integrated into the ‘O’ of ‘Love’ – all these elements were fun, cheeky, and absolutely miles away from stodgy or serious. Naturally, the designers asked for our feedback, so we gave it considerable thought. While we still kind of cringed at the initial idea of seeing our faces on the cover, we offered a few general suggestions:
- What if we made the spine more of a vibrant teal tone and less of a baby blue?
- What if we added some charming house keys hanging subtly at the bottom from the “e” in the word “love”?
- What if we used wood letters in a chunkier, more modern font that truly popped?
- What if we took ourselves off the darn cover entirely? (This became a running joke, a testament to how many times we tried to subtly – or not so subtly – weasel our way out of it!)
And their fantastic response was:
- “Sure! Color picks are just preliminary, so you can definitely weigh in on those!”
- “Sure! We absolutely love that idea! It adds such a personal touch.”
- “Sure! We’ll get them hand-carved by an artisan in the exact typeface that you pick, and then photograph them in a studio so they look perfectly real and have authentic shadows.” (How incredibly cool is that?! These wooden letters were custom-made just for our book, and yes, we have totally begged them to send them to us so we can keep them forever!)
- “Nope, you’re staying right there. Everyone here loves that it makes the book feel personal, and it’s not a giant, stiff-looking photo, so hopefully, you’ll learn to love it too.”
Over those months of intense development, several other subtle yet significant changes also took place. For instance, some tips were reclassified as bonus tips instead of numbered tips, primarily to help manage the page count – and consequently, the final price – ensuring it didn’t get too high. Ultimately, we ended up with a delightful 243 tips, which is our lucky number (it’s old pager code for “We Love You,” a sentiment we thought was incredibly fitting for a book dedicated to loving your home!). The book’s subtitle also became much more specific and refined, thanks to invaluable feedback gathered from focus groups. So, without further ado, here’s the final design – artfully mocked up to appear in a dynamic 3D view:
The final cover design for our home decorating book is clean, yet undeniably fun. It manages to be sophisticated without being overly childish, while still retaining a playful and cheeky charm. We absolutely adore that awesome zing of color running down the spine, complemented by a few more vibrant pops on the front and back. We also particularly love how effectively it blends elements of masculine design (represented by the bold wood letters) with feminine touches (through the elegant scripty fonts). And everything, from the meticulously stitched spine to the charming paint can and the evocative house keys, just feels – we don’t know – incredibly homey, warm, and inviting?
Just for kicks, here’s a detailed look at the front, spine, and the back of the book. The back cover, in particular, is so much fun when viewed up close, as our website’s subtle heart background pattern is cleverly worked into some of the colored boxes, creating a delightful hidden detail for our dedicated readers to discover:
Thanks to that striking teal spine, we genuinely believe this DIY home decor book will look incredibly cute and inviting on any coffee table, or perhaps even elegantly stacked between our beloved horse head bookends, nestled amongst our other cherished decorating books. Can’t you just picture it perfectly squished in here, waiting to be picked up and explored?
As for why the book cover doesn’t directly mirror our blog header, we actually thought extensively about this, and came to the conclusion that it wouldn’t be the best idea for several compelling reasons:
- It could feel a bit uninspired and boring if it were a direct, unoriginal lift from our existing blog design. We wanted the book to have its own distinct personality.
- Crucially, this book is far from just repackaged blog content. It features completely new, exclusive projects and ideas. Therefore, we didn’t want the cover to resemble our blog so closely that readers might mistakenly assume it was simply a compilation of old material. Every single project we photographed was secretly completed specifically for this book, meaning all images are truly never-before-seen.
- We love to redesign and refresh our blog every few years to keep things exciting and current. We didn’t want the book’s cover to look dated – both to us and our loyal readers – once we naturally outgrew the current blog design. The book needed a timeless appeal.
- Finally, it’s an incredibly fun and enlightening process to witness what a professional book designer can achieve with your “look” or brand aesthetic. They possess an expert understanding of visual communication and often have such insightful and interesting reasoning behind certain design choices that we, as authors, would never have even considered. It’s not every day you get the unique opportunity to see yourself and your brand through the discerning eyes of a top-tier book designer, and the results are truly inspiring.
So, that’s the full story of how we were completely convinced we had successfully weaseled our way out of being on the cover (we even confidently declared it in this earlier post), only to find ourselves there anyway! But hey, at least we’re not sitting stiffly on a sofa, forcing smiles. Haha. And we have bunny ears! And I’m wearing fabulous red shoes! Plus, we’re quite small on the cover. So, if you decide to place a cute little paperweight over that part when the book is on your coffee table, we won’t even be visible. #crouchingtigerhidden$herdog
Another delightful fun fact? That particular photo wasn’t originally shot with the intention of being the cover image. It was just a random, casual portrait we snapped back in February while we were in the midst of shooting all of our extensive projects, purely “just in case” they needed an author photo for the back flap or some other internal use. Sometimes the best things happen by happy accident!
Oh, and did you notice the funny detail about John’s hand in the original picture? Yup, no drill! The brilliant designers ingeniously cut his arm, holding a drill, from an entirely separate process photo found inside the book and seamlessly grafted it onto the cover image. We absolutely love that little touch! We’re not entirely sure why, but it’s like one of those fascinating behind-the-movie tidbits, revealing the magic and clever artistry involved in crafting a compelling book cover. It’s John’s very own Frankensteined Drill-Arm, a testament to creative solutions in publishing.
While our beloved pets, Clara and Burger, make charming appearances throughout the inside of the book, they ultimately didn’t make it onto the cover. Our editors rightly pointed out that including them might inadvertently lead the “Young House Love” title to be misinterpreted as a relationship or family book, rather than the dedicated home decorating guide it truly is. This is also precisely why the designers thoughtfully chose to emphasize the word “HOUSE” with bold, prominent wood letters, making the book’s core theme immediately clear. But rest assured, we made up for their absence on the cover inside the book itself! Seriously, Burger is, without a doubt, our absolute favorite part of the book. He basically wanders in and out of chapters, offering hilarious, Burger-esque commentary (yes, he talks to us when nobody else is around, and it’s gold!). And Clara, our wonderful daughter, also found her way into more than a few sections, even getting to collaborate on a special project with us, adding a truly heartwarming family touch.
So, in the end, we feel profoundly confident that this home decorating book truly represents us, our passion, and the spirit of our blog. There’s still tons more that we’re itching to tell you about this incredible adventure, but we don’t want your heads (or, let’s be honest, our own heads!) to explode with too much information all at once. Therefore, we’ll be occasionally diving into more behind-the-scenes details about finishing this book of ours in upcoming posts, sharing an exclusive video that we shot and edited with some exciting sneak peeks, and finally dishing out the specific dates and cities for our eagerly anticipated book tour once all those plans are definitively set in stone. For now, all of this enthusiastic jabbering is simply to say: holy cow, this book baby is actually coming out into the world, and we love you all deeply for the amazing support, encouragement, and patience that you’ve shown us during this intense, incredible, and utterly rewarding journey. We genuinely couldn’t have done it without you, our amazing community. For reals, guys. Love, love, love.
Psst – For those who crave even more insight into the making of this home design masterpiece, you can delve into a bunch of links to other book-related happenings! Discover when we first announced that we were writing a book, learn how we meticulously picked our publisher, see how we meticulously prepped for our extensive photo shoots, and get a delightful photo-shoot sneak peek. Plus, be sure to swing by our brand new book landing page, where we’ll continuously update with more information, including crucial book tour details and other fun, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, as soon as we know more! Your ultimate guide to DIY home design and creative living awaits.