YHL book

[hesitantbride]

Can we talk about this here?

I read the intro and some other parts online (in the book preview part of Barnes and Noble online), and I also flipped through the book at the book store.

Here are some initial thoughts:

-It is a craft book more than anything else, IMO. Although there are some discussions of floor plans, most things are at the micro/vignette level (as in, no larger discussion of scale, architecture, etc) and there are lots and lots of paint projects. There is a big section on DIY art.

-There are a fair amount of pictures from the blog, as in they were already published on their blog.

-That stupid "secret book project" of their master bedroom door was them just outlining the panels in paint.

-To my surprise, there was not that much spray painting. However, for tip 150, Sherry did ORB a pair of Clara's baby shoes.

-They included guest blogger projects from Brooklyn Limestone, HouseTweaking, Katie Bower (of course), Chez Larsson, The Lettered Cottage, Making It Lovely, and Centsational Girl. However, these were all projects that these bloggers had already blogged about, so nothing new gained there.

-They showed a vignette of their kitchen fireplace with the wall paneling painted gray instead of that awful "avocado." It looked much better. Why didn't they keep it that way?

-When I read their intro, the tone was pretty juvenile, IMO. I suppose they were trying to make it casual? But I didn't think it really fit the format of the book.

Any one else flip through the book?

[Deleted]

Nope, but I'm glad you did because I love this summary.

I've been wondering about the super secret book project.

Pretty much what I expected.

[Dumbledork]

ORB'd a pair of baby shoes?? Just.. why?

[lemondrop]

Nov 5, 2012 11:33:36 GMT -5 Dumbledork said:

ORB'd a pair of baby shoes?? Just.. why?

i need to know more about this.

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2012 12:17:14 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

Nov 5, 2012 11:33:36 GMT -5 Dumbledork said:

ORB'd a pair of baby shoes?? Just.. why?

I assume because back in the day people had a pair of baby shoes bronzed as a keepsake.

I had Rubes' baptism shoes made into an ornament. I didn't have the heart to "ruin" them with actual bronzing, paint or the like but I consdered. That's not a weird concept at all. Pretty normal for YHL standards actually.

I saw the book quick over the weekend. It was fine. Typical YHL. I guess I never expect blogger books to be overly new and exciting. Most are usually just different spins on their same MO or stuff they've already done.

I didn't love it. Didn't hate it. Won't be buying it. I however, have a couple friends who aren't up on YHL (read: beat it to deat on the regular) and who don't do a lot of internet, who I know would enjoy some of the inspiration.

Wasn't bad, wasn't great. Like a pp, About what I expected.

[lemondrop]

Nov 5, 2012 12:17:14 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

Nov 5, 2012 11:33:36 GMT -5 Dumbledork said:

ORB'd a pair of baby shoes?? Just.. why?

I assume because back in the day people had a pair of baby shoes bronzed as a keepsake.

Yes, but still...spray paint =/= bronzing. Sorry, but I think the spray paint chemicals have gone to their heads.

[abeaverhausen]

I like this review on the Barnes & Noble website.

Publishers Weekly
Do we really need another forum for glib and talented bloggers to instruct novice decorators? Yes, as it turns out, we do. The Petersiks, whose snail-mail address is Richmond, Va., and whose Internet address is www.younghouselove.com, splashed into the blogosphere when they decided to document upgrades to their dark, dated home. After the makeover, bright colors and light prevailed. While the couple has an obvious flair for transforming fixer-uppers, at first glance, the book’s projects look elementary. Stack books in the fireplace in its idle seasons? A voracious reader of shelter magazines could have thought of that. Still, the very simplicity of some of their ideas might be a virtue. Completing something far less than a full makeover—like a task that can be done in an evening—could be a genuine confidence builder. And the book is solidly apartment-friendly. There is some gold, like the steps to reupholster a chair, hidden in tips for framing and stenciling accessories. This book is a natural for beginners. Experienced do-it-yourselfers should keep looking. (Nov.)

ETA: You can see a ton of the book on Amazon.

[hesitantbride]

On the book tour....

-I am really surprised that their publisher sent them up to CT/NJ right after the hurricane. Why didn't they reschedule those? Someone on twitter called them out about this (hocking their book during a disaster), but they defended themselves and said it was to "bring a distraction."

-I was surprised that they didn't promote their book today on their blog. It seemed natural, since this was the real publication date.

And on today's post....

-That shelf in that bathroom is awful.

[ssmjlm]

Nov 5, 2012 18:51:53 GMT -5 hesitantbride said:

-I was surprised that they didn't promote their book today on their blog. It seemed natural, since this was the real publication date.

And on today's post....

-That shelf in that bathroom is awful.

I think the 2nd post today was a book giveaway of some sort. I saw on my FB feed.

I can see the value of a shelf, but I feel like the one they did doesn't match b/c they just white washed it so it looks weird with the white and black tile.

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2012 13:25:09 GMT -5 lemondrop said:

Nov 5, 2012 12:17:14 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

I assume because back in the day people had a pair of baby shoes bronzed as a keepsake.

Yes, but still...spray paint =/= bronzing. Sorry, but I think the spray paint chemicals have gone to their heads.

This. Don't cheap out on a keepsake. Pony up the dough and have them bronzed for realz. I previewed it on Amazon. Not as many spray paint projects as I thought but everything was pretty much what you can expect from a book of that nature. I really wish though that their publisher hadn't let them talk like juveniles all the way through. The word huzzah does not belong in a book written by two thirty year old adults.

[heyjune]

I previewed it on Amazon. I hadn't noticed until I clicked on the book on there that the title says it is just ways to paint, craft, and update your home. They were at least upfront about that.

I usually skip the text and scroll through the photos when I read their blog, and I'm afraid that's what most people will do with the book since they continued their "blog speak" writing style in the book. On their blog, their misuse/overuse of parentheses and words like actually, basically, totally, and other cutesy terms drives me nuts. I didn't expect to see that in the book. They have a lot of readers, though, so maybe their target market likes that casual style of writing.

[lemondrop]

Nov 6, 2012 9:56:56 GMT -5 downtonali said:

Nov 5, 2012 13:25:09 GMT -5 lemondrop said:

Yes, but still...spray paint =/= bronzing. Sorry, but I think the spray paint chemicals have gone to their heads.

This. Don't cheap out on a keepsake. Pony up the dough and have them bronzed for realz. I previewed it on Amazon. Not as many spray paint projects as I thought but everything was pretty much what you can expect from a book of that nature. I really wish though that their publisher hadn't let them talk like juveniles all the way through. The word huzzah does not belong in a book written by two thirty year old adults.

LOL. I'm sure huzzah isn't the least immature word they used.

[Blueper]

I have to say that I like the style that they pulled out for their book (at least what they showed on their blog) much more than most of their actual decor choices

[bethaboo]

Dairy, I love the idea of turning baby shoes into an ornament. What a cool keepsake.

[emoflamingo]

I hate that shelf too. I love that bathroom tile, but they need some color in that room bad.