In the whirlwind of our home’s transformation for an exciting new project, we recently experienced a moment of unexpected sorrow. We’re talking about the dearly departed Ramsey, our sweet, never-hurt-a-fly ceramic ram. Remember him? He was more than just a decorative piece; he was a silent guardian, a quirky yet comforting presence who watched over us in a not-creepy-at-all way while we slept. Ramsey brought a unique charm to our space and became a truly beloved member of our household, inspiring even our laid-back canine companion, Burger, to occasionally strike a yoga pose in his presence. His quiet dignity and all-knowing gaze were a constant source of amusement and affection for us.
Ramsey wasn’t just any decor item; he was a symbol of the playful spirit we try to infuse into our home design. His serene presence was a humorous counterpoint to the energetic chaos of daily life, and we often imagined him observing all our DIY endeavors with a silent, knowing approval. His unique character even seemed to rub off on our furry friend, Burger, who could often be found striking amusing poses, almost as if mimicking Ramsey’s stoic yet inviting demeanor. It was these little details, these quirky additions, that truly made our house feel like a home, and Ramsey was at the heart of that distinctive charm.
Alas, it is with a heavy heart that we must announce: Ramsey will be deeply missed. His unexpected departure has left a noticeable void, not just on our wall, but in our daily routines and our hearts. Losing a cherished home accent, especially one that has become such an integral part of our personal narrative and a beloved quirky “house pet,” can feel surprisingly profound. The bond we formed with this little ceramic ram, a fantastic TJ Maxx find, was a testament to how even inanimate objects can bring joy and personality to a living space. His absence is a stark reminder of the intense, fast-paced environment our home has become during these past few weeks of book photography.
And yes, the circumstances of his departure felt eerily familiar, echoing a past “tragedy of yore” where another cherished item met an untimely end. The feeling of déjà vu was unmistakable, a pang of sadness mixed with the peculiar humor of such an incident occurring amidst the organized chaos of a major home photoshoot. It’s funny how these small, unexpected mishaps can throw a wrench into even the most meticulously planned operations, reminding us that life, even during a professional book shoot, is always full of surprises. This incident, while unfortunate, has become another memorable anecdote in our ongoing story of home transformation and DIY adventures.
However, unlike that previous incident, John didn’t have to draw a depiction of the event to claim responsibility. This time, the blame couldn’t be laid at his feet, offering a small silver lining to the ceramic catastrophe. In fact, yesterday, we unexpectedly bid a fond farewell to our beloved TJ Maxx find. Ramsey somehow popped off the kitchen wall where he was temporarily hanging, part of a carefully curated book vignette above the fireplace. The cruelest twist? No one was even in the room to attempt a heroic catch on his descent. The thought that he died alone, a solitary ceramic hero falling in the line of duty, truly pains me. Even John, usually the more stoic of us, felt a little sad about the loss. Ramsey was a good little ram, and we truly cherished sleeping under his all-knowing gaze. His presence added such a unique, personal touch to our decor, a testament to how even small, affordable finds can become treasured elements in a home’s story.
The incident with Ramsey underscores the immense pressure and intricate ballet of our three-week book photoshoot marathon. We were doing so well, navigating a house full of cameras, lights, people, equipment, secret projects, and an ever-shifting array of extra furniture and accessories. It’s truly been like Catherine Zeta Jones trying to slither through those red lasers in that iconic scene from “Entrapment” (you know the one), but with significantly more lurching, uncoordinated movements, and the added challenge of trying to make everything look effortlessly perfect. This high-wire act makes it hardly surprising that on our second-to-last day of shooting – yes, today is officially our very last book shoot day after three full weeks of intense photography right here at our casa – Ramsey became our first casualty. Poor guy. The question now looms: what not-creepy-at-all ceramic animal will grace our bedroom wall next? We’ll just have to wait and see who catches our eye when the dust settles. But for the time being, there’s undoubtedly a hole in our hearts (and quite literally, on our wall) for our dearly departed Ramsey, a beloved symbol of our DIY spirit.
Speaking of the monumental conclusion of our book shoots – can you believe our last book process post was three whole weeks ago? It feels like a lifetime! We thought it would be incredibly fun, and frankly, a bit cathartic, to share a few behind-the-scenes glimpses from these last 21 insanely exhausting, yet simultaneously completely amazing and exhilarating, days. This intense period has been all about transforming what started as a humble pile of papers – sketches, notes, ideas, and aspirations – into something tangible and real, a true testament to our dedication to DIY home improvement and interior design.
This mountain of creative energy has now become a “holy-cow-it’s-real” book. The next thrilling steps in this exciting journey involve meticulously laying out and designing each page, ensuring every detail reflects our vision. Then, it will be sent off to “the printer’s” – a phrase that sounds so simple but represents countless hours of work. We’re thrilled to announce that it will be available for preorder this summer and officially launch this fall. Ahhhhhh, the anticipation is almost unbearable! And as you know, this little ol’ blog has always been about sharing whatever’s genuinely going on at our house – be it exciting DIY projects, unfortunate incidents involving broken ceramic animals, or miscellaneous photography-related chaos. So, naturally, we had to alert you to the latest developments, encompassing both our ram-related injuries and our significant progress on the book photography front. As our shooting marathon draws to a close, we’ve amassed an astounding collection of over 2,000 photos (!!!). From this vast archive, a curated selection of approximately 200-ish images will make the final cut, each chosen for its ability to tell a compelling story, capture a unique angle, or illustrate a key step in a process. We took countless variations and progress pics, often keeping only one perfect shot for every ten taken, to ensure the highest quality for our readers. We even bravely tackled three different cover concepts yesterday – all of which, we are happy to report, we managed to subtly “worm our way out of” (haha, the thought of seeing our smiling mugs on the cover of a book for years to come was a little too freaky). Thankfully, all the concepts came out looking absolutely fantastic, especially without our awkward faces in them, so we’re eagerly awaiting to see which one the publishers ultimately select. This book is a true labor of love, designed to inspire and guide anyone passionate about DIY home decor and renovation.
And you know over-sharers like us are itching to spill all those pics and deets right this second, but alas, our lips are sealed for now! We’ve got to save all the juicy reveals for fall when the book is officially out. So, without further ado, here’s as much as we’re permitted to divulge when it comes to the exhilarating chaos that was our lives during these past three weeks of intense book photography. Prepare yourselves, because the level of dedication required for this project might surprise you. Um yeah, for instance, the playroom has secretly been painted about nine times. No, we are not kidding. Nine distinct color transformations in a single room, all for the sake of perfect shots and diverse visuals for our DIY home decor book.
This wasn’t just arbitrary painting; different parts of the playroom received different colors, strategically chosen to spotlight specific shots, projects, and vignettes. This meticulous approach ensures that the entire book isn’t dominated by just a few recurring shades like Moonshine and Sesame, which feature prominently in other areas of our house. It was a creative challenge to constantly reimagine and redecorate the same space. And yes, part of the reason we’re ambitiously tackling even more “Dude, Get On That Already” challenges now is definitely because all the items that usually call the playroom home have been temporarily displaced and scattered into other rooms while we diligently paint and shoot in there. Our sunroom, guest room, our own bedroom, and even the dining room have all transformed into temporary storage areas – total “crazytown”! In keeping-it-real news, about four colors into this repainting frenzy, we candidly admit we got pretty sick of it. Haha, the glamour of book writing isn’t always glamorous!
But oddly enough, by about the eighth and ninth color changes, the whole process started to feel like second nature. It was a bizarre rhythm we quickly adapted to, painting walls after Clara went to bed, fueled by sheer determination and the vision of our finished DIY home decor book. Last night, we even undertook the intricate task of stenciling one wall, meticulously preparing it for a special shot we’re taking this afternoon. Yowsa, the things we do for art! It begs the question: what will we possibly do with ourselves when we’re no longer painting the playroom walls every few days after Clara drifts off to sleep? The silence might be deafening, but the sense of accomplishment will undoubtedly be profound, knowing we’ve created a comprehensive guide to home styling and renovation.
Beyond the endless painting, there was a constant hum of various DIY activities: gluing, taping, spray painting, dyeing, stenciling, staining, and a whole host of other secret “DIY bid-ness” unfolding around the clock. Every project, every vignette, demanded meticulous attention to detail to capture the perfect “process shots.” And, of course, we had to protect our hands for those crucial “process shots” so we didn’t look – as our discerning daughter Clara would say – “messy, messy, Mommy!” Hence my recent affinity for dark nail polish, a clever trick to hide any grub under my nails, and John’s somewhat Dexter-ish rubber gloves, essential for maintaining a clean and professional appearance for the camera. These small, often overlooked details were vital in ensuring the instructional clarity and aesthetic appeal of our DIY home decor content.
Throughout all this creative chaos, our little one, Clara, had an absolute blast checking things out, her curious eyes missing nothing. And yes, those are indeed my snazzy spray painting clothes, complete with fuzzy red socks – a testament to the practical (and sometimes humorous) attire required for intense DIY home renovation. Our amazing photographer, whose name is Kip Dawkins, quickly became a beloved figure in our household. Clara adored following him around, her sweet voice squealing “Hi Kip! Hi Kip! Hi Kip!” on repeat, much like kids endlessly asking “are we there yet?” every two minutes on a long road trip. By the end of week one, she not only knew everyone’s name but could also accurately identify their cars as they pulled into the driveway (“Marcie’s car! Kip’s car! Susan’s car!” became a normal morning refrain). She was surprisingly good about keeping a pretty safe distance while still thoroughly enjoying all the action and excitement. We are so incredibly grateful that this creative insanity didn’t completely wreck Clara’s life, and we are especially thankful for John’s parents, who graciously snuck off with her whenever things got really hairy or overly complicated. Clara handled so much “change” at home with amazing resilience and cheerfulness – in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts asking where everyone went when they stop coming by every day. Her adaptability made the entire DIY book creation process much smoother.
Here’s a little peek into how we meticulously shot some of our pictures to demonstrate the mid-process steps of a few of our DIY projects. For the bigger creations, they were carefully laid out on the floor and shot from a greater distance to capture the full scope of the work. That crisp white expanse you see in the background is a “seamless” – a crucial tool in photography that ensures our process shots appear simple, clean, and utterly uncluttered, allowing the focus to remain purely on the project itself. In contrast, most of our “after” shots are meticulously “styled in situation” – meaning they’re photographed within various real settings in our house to provide those photos with a natural, inviting environment. For example, a finished piece might be placed on a table, hung on a wall, nestled in a room, positioned near a window or door, or even showcased outdoors. While these scenes are undeniably in our home, they might only look vaguely familiar to long-time readers, as so many elements like furniture arrangements, wall colors, and accessories have been strategically changed for the book. Oh, and that large, reflective object hovering above us? That’s a reflector, expertly positioned to keep the lighting consistent and flattering throughout the entire DIY home decor book. I must admit, during those long hours, I liked to pretend it was a sail, and we were out in the tropics on a beautiful boat, a little mental escape. I guess I’m just as guilty of daydreaming as Clara, who famously saw fishies here in unexpected places. This meticulous approach to photography ensures that every project, every tip, and every styled space in our book is presented with clarity and inspiration, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in home styling and renovation.
Even Burger, our beloved four-legged family member, was remarkably cool with all the new folks and extra stuff invading his space. He embraced the chaotic energy with his usual laid-back demeanor. Look, here he is, perfectly at ease, perching nonchalantly on a disembodied Karl (our sectional’s spirit animal, perhaps?) as if it’s no big deal at all. We made sure to work him into the book like a true champ, because what’s a YHL book without some quality Burger shots delightfully featured within its pages? His presence adds that extra touch of warmth and personality, making our DIY home decor book not just instructional but also deeply personal and engaging.
It was at this very moment, about a week and a half into our relentless shooting schedule, that a striking realization hit us: our house hadn’t looked this utterly crazy, this completely turned upside down, since the day we first moved in. Yup, that’s our guest bed, prominently displayed in the corner of the living room. It wasn’t just there for a single shot; we literally carried that substantial piece of furniture all over our house, meticulously positioning it for various different photographic compositions. It became a bit of an ongoing game, a humorous challenge we embraced: “Where can we possibly put the bed next?” The funny thing about seeing the guest bed in the living room, particularly against the backdrop of our expansive main living area, is how dramatically it illustrates just how giant this room truly is. It’s truly a gymnasium-sized space, offering endless possibilities for creative staging and showcasing large-scale DIY projects within our home. This chaotic yet exciting phase is all part of the journey to create an inspiring home decor book.
And here’s that very same guest bed, strategically placed up against the back of our fireplace, completely blocking traffic and creating an intriguing visual barrier. This particular setup, though logistically challenging, yielded one of our absolute favorite finished book shots. It brilliantly showcased two distinct DIY projects within a single frame (neither of which are visible here, of course, keeping the anticipation high!). Oh man, is it fall yet? The excitement to finally share all these creative transformations and home styling tips with you guys is practically bursting through the seams. This image represents the meticulous planning and innovative problem-solving that went into every page of our upcoming home decor book.
Look closely, and you’ll notice the guest bed has moved from the corner, but now there’s a stylish drop leaf table positioned in the background. We had some specific dining scenes to shoot for the book, and since our own dining area features a rather giant round table, we strategically borrowed a regular rectangular one from a local shop for the day. This simple swap made it significantly easier to snag those “normal” and aesthetically pleasing shots required for a versatile home decor book. It’s these kinds of thoughtful details and practical solutions that define the behind-the-scenes magic of creating compelling visual content for home styling and DIY enthusiasts.
Oh, and look again! That’s not even our sofa! It’s another fantastic item graciously borrowed from a local shop, which we cleverly utilized for a few distinct vignettes within the book. This standard-sized sofa serves a dual purpose in this shot: it not only provides a fresh look for the vignette but also beautifully illustrates just how truly giant our own sectional, affectionately named Karl, actually is. To put it in perspective, we usually have eight framed pictures hanging above Karl, as contrasted with the mere three that fit comfortably over this standard-sized, borrowed sofa. It’s a subtle yet effective way to showcase scale and highlight the grandeur of our own beloved furniture pieces in our DIY home. These careful decisions about staging and borrowing underscore our commitment to providing diverse visual inspiration for readers interested in interior design and home styling.
So, to the incredible crew who have practically become like family after nearly a month of “living” with us, sharing our home’s chaos and creative energy: thank you for absolutely everything! Your dedication, professionalism, and enduring patience made this entire book photoshoot possible and, honestly, genuinely enjoyable. And to all of you, our amazing readers, for bearing with us through this intense period where we’ve juggled the monumental task of finishing the book, undertaking a major kitchen redo, battling “the bean” and “the bug” that tore through our house earlier this week, and diligently preparing for our upcoming trip to Portland (which meant we were a little slower on comments from time to time): thank you for your immense understanding and unwavering support! Your encouragement keeps us going through even the most challenging phases of home renovation and DIY projects. And finally, to any and all varieties of dark chocolate: we honestly couldn’t have done it without you! When you don’t drink coffee, you have to grab a little zing of caffeine and a dose of delicious motivation wherever you can find it. Dark chocolate became our steadfast companion, our little secret weapon against fatigue and creative blocks. It’s been an incredible journey, filled with unexpected turns, immense learning, and a profound sense of accomplishment as we near the release of our DIY home decor book.
Have you guys broken anything lately that held sentimental value? Or completely turned your house upside down for a grand project? Or, perhaps, gotten to know a group of total strangers over the course of a month to the point that you know their favorite music, food, color, quotes, and movies? It’s truly crazy how much has happened since Christmas, and how rapidly our home has transformed. Is anyone else still scratching their heads, wondering how it’s already mid-February? How did that even happen? Time truly flies when you’re immersed in the creative process of home styling and turning a dream into a tangible reality. Share your stories with us; we’d love to hear about your own adventures in DIY home renovation and the unexpected turns life throws your way.
Psst- You can check out our other three book-related posts over the last year, offering more insights into our creative journey and DIY home decor tips, right here, here, and here.