Friday Guest Blog Interview: Young House Love!

Happy Friday! Today I’m sharing one of my very favorite blogs…

Young House Love is an inspiring and informative resource for all things home renovating. Sherry & John, the brains behind this great blog, are a young couple that has tackled every project from floor boards to kitchen remodels.

If you ever want to drop in on a charming duo that is not only rhetorically amusing but also incredibly insightful (step-by-step guides to just about any home project), pop on over! Today Sherry & John share with us a few of their favorite tips… in the form of PDB’s four favorite questions… and you’ll love their answers.

You may recognize this couple from their appearance on the cover of the 2009 spring edition of The Nest – a popular newlywed magazine from the creators of the The Knot (and a personal favorite). They’ve also been featured on HGTV’s Rate My Space, were key bloggers behind True Value’s DIY Blog Squad, and have a wonderful house tour featured here.

Young House Love is part of my daily read. Not every other day and not once a week – but my daily read – because these twenty-something-year-olds are inspiring and creative at a whole new level. I love their fascinating stories and their endless projects… but most importantly I love their engaging and positive attitudes surrounding the whole mess that is remodeling.

As a young home renovating couple ourselves, it’s inspiring to see such beautiful progress and ‘project tackling’ from like-minded friends! Jump on over to their blog and prepare to be thoroughly charmed.

I’ve provided a few of my FAVORITE before and afters from their sweet little Richmond home, so follow the jump for a wonderful PDB interview and some serious eye candy – and don’t forget to visit Young House Love for a step-by-step playback of each of these projects.

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{PDB Interview with Sherry & John of YHL}

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What inspires your design style?

Our style is such a hybrid it’s really hard to put into words. It’s sort of beachy casual meets light and airy with a smidge of modern-classic and a hefty dose of natural texture. We’re all about function, livability, ease, and layered tones and materials- and we like to keep things pretty gender neutral so the house really speaks to both of us. Since the hubby is all about natural textures (bamboo blinds, jute rugs, dark furnishings, leather ottomans) and I’m more of the ethereal-lover of the group (breezy white curtains, painted furniture, reflective mirrors, white frames) our house just sort of evolved from something super ugly to a place that we’re both proud to call home.

What do you love most about what you do?

I’m so fortunate to get to do something that started out as a hobby, an outlet, and a passion as a bona fide full time job. No day is ever the same and we get to help others transform their homes on a budget as we learn and share our adventures (and misadventures) along the way. What could be better than that? John and I never imagined that our blog could become a full time job. We didn’t set out with a business plan and a mission statement. We just wrote about what we love and got to work on this tiny ranch of ours and the rest just sort of happened organically. We’re still pinching ourselves!

What are your favorite design trends?

Hmm, that’s hard because we’re of the “just love what you love” school of thought. We never dismiss something because it’s too trendy or adopt something because it’s in at the moment. Heck we’re still super into garden stools, capiz, jute, and ikat while others might say they’re done to death. But what’s the fun in having to work hard to stay on top of trends when you can buck that approach and fill your house with pieces that make you smile? Who cares what “they” say, right?! But we do certainly appreciate trends that help us think beyond the norm and stretch our brains to see even more possibility in our home (like unexpected painted ceilings, patterned duvets, and textural tone on tone wall stripes- fun!).

What are three design suggestions that you would like to offer our readers?

{1} Hang your floor length curtains high and wide. We’re talking a few inches below the ceiling or the molding and about 18″ wider than your windows on both sides. That way you get maximum height, maximum light, and your windows look twice as big and beautiful.

{2.} Have a cohesive whole-house color scheme. When we first moved in we picked nearly every color in the rainbow for our walls and the house felt like it had a multiple personality disorder. Bad idea. Opt instead for easier flow and try sticking with something a bit less broad. For example, some layered gray-blue tones, a few neutral rooms (some darker, some lighter) and a few pops of fresh leafy green throughout the floor plan (in a small bathroom and on a bedroom ceiling for fun) can add so much effortless elegance and interest without feeling chaotic.

{3} Make your home work harder for you. When we moved into our house it had a private dining room and only two bedrooms. We wanted three bedrooms and noticed that our giant living room would easily accommodate a dining area. Plus “open living” is so much more our style. We easily converted the dining room into a third bedroom and moved the dining area into a corner of the living room (conveniently located right off of the kitchen). Doing things like popping a pendant light above the table and widening the doorway between the new eating area and the kitchen made the switcheroo look even more intentional- like it had always been there. Don’t be afraid to customize your home for the way you live!

Thank you, Sherry & John!
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Credits for Images: All photos were taken by Sherry & John of Young House Love.