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6 Years Old + Ask Anything

6

6 years! That’s how long ago we bought the domain for Yellow Brick Home, thinking, I bet there are other people out there that love DIY, too. And a big glass of red wine.

In 6 years, we’ve learned a lot about our personal style – what we love, what we don’t – and we’ve found ourselves in a bigger house (no more yellow brick, but gray siding doesn’t have the same ring to it, you know?) with more dogs and longer to-dos. We’ve also learned to give ourselves a bit of a break when it comes to this space, relaxing a little more about our self-imposed posting schedule. We’ve always strived for this, but it wasn’t until recently (maybe in the last year?) that we’ve really allowed ourselves that luxury! We had to be okay with it – like a tiny switch in our brains – and click!, it feels good.

Our favorite nooks on the web to read and interact with are typically those that post less frequently, if only because posts are more true to daily life. As unread posts swell in my Reader, I’m personally taking the time to cut back on inspiration overload. I’m sticking to the blogs that make me feel connected to the writer, and in the same way, our goal has always been to connect with you, too. You may have noticed that some weeks we ebb, some weeks we flow, but usually, less is more.

Blogging is weird – funny and surprising and rewarding all at once – and these words bear more weight than they ever could on your screen, but, thank you. We’ve had ups and downs in this virtual world, but as we continue to open our doors to you, every comment, email and hello! on the street has been such a boost to our energy! You’re pretty fantastic.

And so, can you take a moment to tell us one fun fact about you? And while you’re at it, you can ask us anything. Is there anything you’d like us to share more of? Less of? Are you wondering if Jack and CC are really this much in love? (Yes.) We’ll reply right here in the comments.

Also, I’m thinking cake for dinner tonight.

Cute kitties via.

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  • Jennifer Flagg6.24.15 - 7:26 AM

    What are those blogs, your favorite nooks and cranny’s of the internet? I am dying for more DIY reading material, we just bought our first home! Love your blog, love checking it everyday and occasionally being blessed with a post!ReplyCancel

    • Rachel6.24.15 - 7:37 AM

      OMG… this exact post!!! We closed on our first home last week (95 year old house, yikes/yay!!!) and I have totally been craving additional awesome DIY reading (you guys & Manhattan Nest are my all-time favorites) so I would love suggestions!ReplyCancel

      • Kim6.24.15 - 8:21 AM

        Ooh, I’m happy to share some favorites! And congrats, Rachel! What an exciting time in your life!

        Here are a few that make me happy when I see posts pop up :)
        Manhattan Nest
        Chris Loves Julia
        Deuce Cities
        A Tree for 2
        Fire Pole in the Dining Room
        Desert Domicile

        I love that these guys mostly post only when there is something to report or they have a great idea or a quick tip. (I know I’m likely forgetting a few!) Keeps clutter down in my brain, you know? (Of course I love all the other blogs you guys prob like too – Emily Henderson, Vintage Revivals, etc, etc!) I’m also open to hearing any of your favorites as well!ReplyCancel

        • Sarah6.24.15 - 4:15 PM

          I love seeing when you comment over on Manhattan Nest! It’s like a fun little easter egg of “Oh! some of my favorite bloggers follow each other!” I’m excited to check out your other suggestions, my feedly needs a serious overhaul, these should be a good place to start!ReplyCancel

          • Kim6.24.15 - 6:07 PM

            Ha, that made me smile! We’re big fans of Daniel AND MEKKO!

  • Emily6.24.15 - 7:26 AM

    Fun fact: I scroll down my reader every morning to the “y’s” and always say an internal “yay” if you’re on there! Keep up what you’re doing – I’d rather have a few days with no “yay’s” than to see you guys burn out!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 8:23 AM

      Thanks, Emily! I think that’s key to not burning out. Forcing ourselves to write something = no bueno. We work hard, but we like to think we play hard, too! :)ReplyCancel

    • Devon6.24.15 - 4:20 PM

      DITTO! While I would love to be able to read you every morning over a cup of coffee, I’d much rather have you as a treat a few days a week for longer than have you burn out in a year or two!ReplyCancel

    • Devon6.24.15 - 4:25 PM

      I’d LOVE to hear more about the decision making process, especially for paint colors. That’s where I always get stuck and indecisive (and why I’ve repainted my bathroom at least 4 times in 2 years). How do you get unstuck? (of course, it’s just me deciding, I’m sure having a second stakeholder opinion would help!)

      I’d also love more stories about the dogs- their photos are just too cute for words! I have a furbaby of my own and could listen to dog stories all day! (fun fact: he was labeled as highly aggressive and untrainable by his first owner when dumped at the pound, but I think he was actually just a tad hyper. Now he is used by our trainer to train other dogs who aren’t socialized and kids on how to be around dogs!)ReplyCancel

      • Kim6.24.15 - 6:16 PM

        Devon, are you sure you want to ask US about paint colors? We’ve painted the living room twice and we’re debating a deeper, richer color for the nook! Here’s the thing – it’s just paint! Yes, it might be a pain in the ass to take everything off the walls and move the furniture, BUT it’s so much better to make things right and take risks that you know will make your heart happy!

        Honest to goodness, we struggle just as much as anyone else with our design decisions, and in the end, you just have to go with your gut. Go back and look at photos you’ve pinned to see if there’s a recurring a theme, but if that’s too overwhelming, do the opposite and stay away from inspiration overload! Sometimes that’s just as stressful. (And in the meantime, Scott and I are in a complete state of design paralysis as we waffle between way too many rug options for the nook. It was enough of a leap to decide on the upholstery color! You know what though? Nothing is that serious! ;))

        LOVE your dog story, and good for you for saving and adopting a pup! Jack and CC have basically hijacked our Instagram feed, so we try to keep most pooch related things over there… but they’ll likely make more appearances as we prep for the One Tail Adoption Center!ReplyCancel

  • Rachel6.24.15 - 7:39 AM

    Congrats on 6 years! I think your comment on a less-frenetic posting schedule generally being truer to real life is spot on. (Plus who has time to read THAT many blog posts anyway?! I don’t need something else to feel vaguely guilty about, like an overstuffed RSS feed I’ll never catch up on :))

    And that picture of Jack and CC… OMG.ReplyCancel

  • Julia6.24.15 - 7:49 AM

    I, too, would love to know what other blogs you’re enjoying these days. I really appreciate blogs like yours that show people there are plenty of projects they can tackle themselves. My fun fact: my husband and I are in the process of building our own home pretty much entirely ourselves. You’ve given me lots of design inspiration!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 8:23 AM

      Julia, OMG. Just checked out your Instagram feed. Ahhh-mazing.ReplyCancel

  • Brooke6.24.15 - 7:56 AM

    my DIY action at home has slowed considerably since the birth of my youngest daughter, Coco, but your site and specifically your workshop has inspired me to get my basement craft/sewing area organized and prettified. Still a work in progress, but such a difference already! Fun fact: I painted the ceiling of our nursery to look like the stripes of a circus tent and it’s my favorite room in our house.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 8:25 AM

      If you can’t have fun in a nursery, where can you!? Good for you for taking that awesome risk!ReplyCancel

  • Luci6.24.15 - 8:07 AM

    Six years is an impressive milestone! Thank you so much for sharing your creativity and your hard work with us. As others have said, I get a rush of joy when I see a new post from you guys in my reader. It’s a highlight of my week. Fun fact: I’m remodeling my kitchen on my own with help from my dad, (although that project has been spilling into other areas of my house) and you have been a huge inspiration, both in giving me project ideas and in making DIY feel accessible. (Thanks!) And I’ve shared several of your posts with friends when they ask for advice–like refinishing a farmhouse dining room table or installing trim. I have to second Emily’s post from earlier this morning: please keep doing what you’re doing!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 8:24 AM

      Aw, thanks, Luci! Have so so much fun creating a kitchen YOU love!ReplyCancel

  • Adrienne6.24.15 - 8:41 AM

    Fun Fact: We’ve got a full house too but the ratio is a tad different – 2.5 dogs (.5 = 17 yr old rescue chihuahua) and 1 cat.

    Thank you for doing what you do, especially helping pets in need! Once I work for myself (trying to get there!), that will be one of my main goals.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 8:50 AM

      Haha, your .5 dog – that’s awesome! You WILL get there, and your goals make me incredibly happy.ReplyCancel

    • Ryan6.24.15 - 3:43 PM

      We have a half dog too. Yoshi is a 13-year-old paraplegic shepard mix. There are things I’d love to do in our house like reupholster the couch and chairs in the living room and get the wool rug cleaned, but while we have half-dog those things will wait.ReplyCancel

  • Erin Etheridge6.24.15 - 8:48 AM

    your blog is one of my faves precisely because of what you mentioned: I feel like I know you guys, and your posts never feel businesslike or forced.

    Fun fact about me. Hmm. Oh! As a tween and teen, living in the Chicagoland area, I was a competitive Irish dancer. (I live in North Carolina now, so I love keeping up with Chicago through your blog, too.)ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 8:52 AM

      Thanks so much, Erin! And what a cool fun fact!ReplyCancel

  • Laura @ RatherSquare.com6.24.15 - 8:48 AM

    Congrats and happy anniversary! I’m definitely on board with the less-is-more posting schedule, we’re working on that very concept for our blog right now too (taking a summer break to clear our heads and get some perspective). So glad I discovered your blog way back when – I love reading your Chicago-centric posts as well as the DIY/renovation ones. Plus, thanks for all the blog advice you’ve given me!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 10:13 AM

      I think like anything, taking blog breaks is absolutely necessary! We’re working our way towards that special treat as well. :)ReplyCancel

  • Lucy6.24.15 - 8:54 AM

    Huge congratulations! 6 years is an amazing achievement. I started my own blog back in January but have found it quite hard sometimes to have anything to say/have the money to take on a project! You guys are a massive inspiration when it all feels too difficult and motivation is lacking. Thanks for sharing some of the blogs you read above, are there any from over here in the UK that you follow at all?! Fun fact: I’ve just signed up for a woodworking course to develop my skills. I can’t wait!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 11:40 AM

      Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, Lucy! Write when it makes the most sense for you. I don’t have any that I follow in the UK, but I’d love any suggestions!ReplyCancel

  • Haley6.24.15 - 9:11 AM

    Congratulations! Love the blog and the more intentional posts. I have unfollowed some blogs because the became “too commercial”. Also, I love all the dog posts as much as the DIY. I think your dogs know that they are stars!

    Fun fact: I used to Clog and still do when waiting on water to boil or some such. Even went to a clogging convention. Now the only cons I go too involve polyhedral dice. :)ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 10:14 AM

      Oh, they totally know. They walk around the house all day long, with their big heads and all…

      That’s such a random fact! The only convention I’ve ever been to was a paper convention when I used to work at a printing company. Conventions are sort of like blogs, aren’t they? The people that go to them are really IN it.ReplyCancel

      • Haley6.28.15 - 11:43 AM

        Cons are a place to submerse yourself in a hobby and find your tribe. Cons are for people with an interest, even a budding one.ReplyCancel

        • Kim6.28.15 - 6:46 PM

          I agree completely, Haley! Finding your tribe is SO important, 100%.ReplyCancel

  • Anne6.24.15 - 9:47 AM

    I painted my first room this past weekend (bought a house in January and have been very slowly been making it ours). Every time I am frustrated by it not being 100% perfect _right now_ I remember your blog posts (particularly when you were in FULL construction (deconstruction?) mode) and how it is important to allow yourself the time to really make it right, instead of rushing in to make it finished. Thank you for your slow and steady inspiration!

    Fun fact: I was born with an extra adult tooth in the exact spot where my older sister is missing the adult tooth.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 10:15 AM

      Girl, I’m still working on that mentality myself! THINGS just take so long. Our kitchen, for example! There are always road bumps, and being the least patient person on the planet, it’s still hard for me to swallow that pill – but doing things right is the WAY TO GO. Why waste time doing something you’re not super happy about?

      AND THAT IS CRAZY. Whoa!ReplyCancel

  • Kari6.24.15 - 9:57 AM

    Congratulations on 6 years! I’m always grateful that you guys continue to blog when so many are closing their “doors”. I know you’ve touched on this in the past, but I’d love an update on the master plan of the house. It’s been so long since the house was down to studs, it’s hard to remember where you’re headed in the grand scheme of things. You are amazing – can’t wait for more!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 10:17 AM

      Thanks, Kari! And that’s a great idea. It’s been a while since we’ve even revisited upstairs at all… we just get so focused on one project at a time, but it has been almost 2 years since we moved in! Thank you for the idea!ReplyCancel

  • jenn aka the picky girl6.24.15 - 10:10 AM

    Congrats on six years! Wow!

    I love to read (duh, I have a book blog!), but I get obsessive sometimes. Like, since I watched Unbroken in December, I’ve read a couple nonfiction books each month on the Pacific War (with other fun books thrown in). It’s fascinating, but I guess it’s also a little strange.

    My question: WHEN CAN WE SEE THE CHAIR we debated fabric choices for? I’ve been doing my own debating – and considering super bright colors – so I’m curious.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 10:20 AM

      Ahh! I know! We just dropped it off at the upholsterer last week, so it’ll still be a bit before we get it back. I hate to disappoint you, but we went in the complete OPPOSITE direction! We were so sure we were going to go bold. Then we thought… well, what if we paint the walls a little darker and a little more saturated? And then what if we went with a softer velvet color and kept the things in the room more neutral? There’s still a hint of color though (outside of any comfort zone we’ve ever worked with), so we can’t wait to share!ReplyCancel

  • AnnMarie6.24.15 - 10:19 AM

    Congratulations on six years! And please post whenever and whatever you want — anything but stop posting altogether! It’s been almost a year and yet I’m still scarred tat YHL left the business. I really would have taken one post a month, as long as we still got to hear from them. ~sigh~ I really like what you said about reading blogs because you connect with the writer, even though/because they post less. All my favorite blogs are just like that — Manhattan Nest, you guys, Chris Loves Julia, Making it Lovely, Deuce Cities, and a few more. So thanks for being awesome!

    I don’t have any house fun facts, because I rent and thus have nothing to DIY, but I speak Korean. That’s about as interesting as it gets with me, ha.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 10:23 AM

      Well THAT IS interesting to me! I’m half Korean, but can’t speak a lick of it. My mom is Korean, but I didn’t grow up with her, therefore, I didn’t hear the language in the house. She does speak fluent Korean though, and I’m often asked if I can speak Korean, to which I’m like, womp womp.ReplyCancel

      • AnnMarie6.25.15 - 2:48 PM

        And I have no Korean in me anywhere, not a drop – but it’s hilarious to see Koreans do a massive double-take when I bust it out. I have to shamefully admit that I really enjoy it, ha!ReplyCancel

  • Jackie6.24.15 - 10:24 AM

    Hi,
    I’ve only been reading for a few months and really enjoy you – even this post is pretty freaking cute. I like your posting schedule, style, tone, subject matter, etc.. I also surprisingly like that you just drop shout outs/links to the guest posts or features you write for other sites rather than try to do more with it or rack up the sponsored posts here. It’s refreshingly matter of fact and is not disingenuous. I think you’ve hit the right balance.

    I actually keep you on my Feedly with about 10 other blogs, and definitely light up when I see one of your posts listed amid the 8 apartment therapy articles I’m ignoring. It’s cool how you maintain a very local vibe too but are still accessible. My question – has that ever backfired? Your audience scooping you on local finds or creeping you out in some way?

    Congrats on your success. You earned it.
    Best,
    JackieReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 11:25 AM

      This is so incredibly kind, Jackie. Thank you so much!

      As far as we know, we’ve had no snoopers or anyone creeping on us. Those that we’ve met out and about in the wild have typically noticed Jack FIRST, and then us – ha! You probably notice we don’t share our faces TOO much on the blog, but when we meet any readers in person, they’re always so sweet!ReplyCancel

      • Amy Lynn6.26.15 - 10:05 AM

        We creep on you all the time! ;)ReplyCancel

  • Chris6.24.15 - 10:30 AM

    Like you, I would rather read bloggers who post less frequently but have sometging really good to say over those that feel compelled to post almost everyday but are grasping for content. Good home improvement projects take time and I always appreciate your frankness about the realities of that!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 11:26 AM

      Thank you! Scott and I will literally have in depth discussions about posts we read or shows we watch when things get wrapped up SO quickly. We’re like, how is this possible?! It’s not! It can’t be real! Ha!ReplyCancel

  • Kim6.24.15 - 10:53 AM

    LOVE your blog – seriously one of the few (out of hundreds) on my feed that I read every time there is an update. So THANK YOU for being authentic with such a fun sense of design. I don’t like blogs that take themselves too seriously, so I guess that’s why I’m a sucker for houses with some quirk (like Emily Henderson). And I agree about quality over quantity – it’s so easy to see when bloggers just post something because they feel obligated to – just let it be real!

    Fun fact about me…hmm…I’m obsessed with designing my house in the correct style (early 1900s) but LOVE modern design. I feel like it’s a constant struggle, but also produces a really fun, unique space. I mean, look at my house: https://instagram.com/p/iont7SkXJn/. Doesn’t it just beg for personality on the inside to match the out? You’re an inspiration as I try! :) Thank you for sharing your world with us!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 11:27 AM

      Kim, your sincere comment makes my day. Thank you so much – and OMG your house is a stunner!ReplyCancel

  • Cait6.24.15 - 11:11 AM

    Congrats on 6 years!! I think I started reading about 5 years ago, and it’s been really fun to keep up with the evolution of your decorating style, and the transition from condo to house. Plus your pets are the cutest! :)

    We’ll have been in our house for 6 years in September (and if I hadn’t accidentally deleted most of my older blog posts, we’d be at 5 years in July).

    Fun Fact: I was in the circus in college, and my acts were Bicycle Built for 5, and Spanish Web.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 11:27 AM

      Well that is definitely something we never knew!ReplyCancel

  • ann6.24.15 - 11:17 AM

    Have you REALLY learned to give yourselves a bit of a break?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 11:28 AM

      More than we ever have before, we think. :)ReplyCancel

  • Heather6.24.15 - 11:23 AM

    Happy anniversary!! Man, 6 years! I think that officially makes you blogging veterans or all-stars :)

    I think your posting schedule has felt really good. I get excited when there is a post, but don’t expect one every day. Obviously I’m a little biased considering we’re definitely on the “less is more”/”this is real life and something fun or awesome doesn’t happen everyday” philosophy. Thanks for the shout out, by the way. We’re totally blushing over here. It’s always nice to be recognized by a fellow (really awesome) blogger and among such esteemed company. Day = made.

    Fun fact? That’s a tough one. In my 9-to-5 job, I use things like “I own a firehouse” or “I’ve been on national TV” but you already know that. I was the president of my high school debate club. How’s that? Nerd alert! :)ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 11:29 AM

      Haha, that’s awesome! Never been part of a debate club (man that stresses me out), but I LOVED being in art club!ReplyCancel

  • Margot6.24.15 - 11:52 AM

    I’ve had the opposite home ownership timeline of you guys. Bought and renovated two different single family homes in Cincinnati, and now am a condo owner in Chicago. I think of all the things I want to do to the condo and giggle remembering your post about how you had no idea what a ‘big’ project was until the house. It really resonated with me!

    So I’ll think about you guys when I make a fauxdenza this summer for my entry and how ‘big’ of a project it is. And then I’ll breathe a sigh of relief it isn’t a single family home larger project!ReplyCancel

  • Josh | The Kentucky Gent6.24.15 - 12:22 PM

    Blogging definitely is a fun trade, but I oddly enjoy it, and I couldn’t agree more about connecting with the folks behind the blog. I would rather interact with someone’s blog less, if they actually share real content vs. interacting daily with someone that just posts to post.

    Congrats on 6 years! Coming up on 2 years myself, and I’ve already learned SO much.

    Josh | The Kentucky Gent
    http://thekentuckygent.comReplyCancel

  • Sarah6.24.15 - 12:46 PM

    My elder sister lives in CHI and I always hope that I’ll run into you when I visit. (Totally random and implausible, I know.) I LOVE your animals and your sense of style!

    Random bit about me – my human to animal ratio is seriously skewed. I have 2 dogs and 4 cats; and I’m a giant softie, so who knows what other animals I’ll soon rescue! I live in a town-home in Phoenix and over 12 years have slowly changed it from a beige box (literally) to a place I love living…although there’s always more to be done!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 1:00 PM

      Aw, love this! Rescue all the animals!

      And girl, there is ALWAYS more to be done. Always! When people ask us how far we are from finishing our house, Scott and I think… never? :)ReplyCancel

  • misie6.24.15 - 12:49 PM

    oh Kim – i so heart you guys – animals included! I lost track of how many years I have followed you and now micky is an obsessed follower – specifically of any and all photographs of CC – his dog crush. Thanks for always sharing the good the bad and ugly – you two are fantastic. We are slowly renovating our cabin – would love to know where you guys go for layout advice/inspiration…our next big projects are a bathroom and a kitchen. whomp whomp.

    fun fact – you can almost always count on a regular cocktail hour of 5pm at our house on the weekend, no matter what. Standing tradition.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 1:18 PM

      Hi, Misie! Thank you for being along for the ride all these years, and especially for being one of my earliest Pet Shop supporters! That meant so much to me at the time, and it still means a lot to me now. CC and Lil’ Buddy would be awfully cute friends, huh?

      Also, that’s a GREAT question. Our friend helped us with the kitchen layout, but we’re sort of stuck on our bathroom layout. Our bath/laundry/bedroom all share walls, but the layout is just wrong, wrong, wrong. It’s so much more than just replacing what exists (wouldn’t that be so easy, haha?!), but we want to make sure we do it right the first time if we’ll be moving walls and plumbing. We’re looking into some options for professional designers and a trusted contractor (does THAT exist?!), at least for the beginning stages of layout. After which, we’ll try to DIY as much as possible to save on costs and have fun!ReplyCancel

      • Kim6.24.15 - 1:21 PM

        Oh, and about the inspiration… I do look at Pinterest from time to time, but honestly, we just go with our gut. And as cheesy as this sounds, we think about what our house would want. We like to honor the fact that this home was built in the late 1800s, but with little character remaining, we say, ‘is this what this house would want?’. Sort of like a little mix of our and the house’s wants/needs.ReplyCancel

  • Sarah Z6.24.15 - 1:18 PM

    Oh man, you guys have to make it to 10 years… I need 10 of those fluffy kitties in my life! Seriously, though, your blog is such a favorite of mine. Maybe it’s because I used to live in Chicago, or maybe it’s because you’re my style inspiration for all things home-improvement, or maybe because your passion for animal rescue is so awesome! Either way, your voice is definitely appreciated and valued on the ol’ internet.

    Fun fact about me: I design museum exhibits for a living! I used to work at The Field Museum, but now I’m at the Science Museum of Minnesota. It’s fun, challenging, and very rewarding. If I could do ANYTHING, though, I might a) become an archeologist; b) become a vet; or c) drop everything and move out to the country to return to my roots as a farmer’s daughter in Iowa.

    Keep up the great work you guys!!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 1:22 PM

      Sarah, that is AMAZING!!! Please tell me you got to play with Sue the T-Rex after the Field Museum was closed for the evening! Please!ReplyCancel

      • Sarah Z6.24.15 - 1:32 PM

        Of COURSE I did! Haha. Perks of the job! And, lots of people don’t realize that the skull that’s mounted to her skeleton is a cast. Her real skull is way too heavy to be supported on the mounts, so it’s in a case on the 2nd floor. It’s really cool, too, because you can get nice and close and actually see how the pressure and weight of 65 million years of being underground smooshed her skull and jaw. Man, I miss that place!ReplyCancel

        • Kim6.24.15 - 1:51 PM

          Oh, Sue. We need to get back there! It’s been a couple years.ReplyCancel

  • Sage @ Plaster&Disaster6.24.15 - 1:59 PM

    Congratulations! Just at the start of my blogging adventure (like you, also with an awesome co-blogger, though not my husband), and you guys are such an inspiration. We’re six months in, can’t wait to see where we’ll be in six years! And desperately hoping a dog will join the team at some point…ReplyCancel

  • Ruth6.24.15 - 3:17 PM

    Fun fact: I follow a random mix of other blogs but I first scroll down my list and read yours first! Your blog is the first DIY blog I ever followed and I feel inspired by your projects everyday – about to start on my first DIY using your staining and refinishing techniques!

    Thank you for making my work breaks so wonderful!ReplyCancel

  • Steph H.6.24.15 - 3:38 PM

    Fun Fact: I found you through another fav. blog (A Firepole In the Dining Room), and I follow you both so much on Instagram that I feel like we’re friends.

    Also, we’re getting ready to rescue our second kitten on Sunday. Name options are Spanky or Frankie. Thoughts? Our first kitten is Louie.

    Finally, can I PLEASE have CC?! She is one of my most favorite animals to see. I just want to snuggle with her all. day. long.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.24.15 - 4:11 PM

      Spanky!

      Unfortunately, Chunk is a packaged deal with Jack, and the poor guy can’t figure out why no one fights for him?! Ha.ReplyCancel

      • Steph H.6.25.15 - 12:36 PM

        I’d totally take Jack too! I think CC’s utter ridiculous it what wins everyone over. Jack looks a lot like my sister’s old pit-bull mix, Indy, and he was the sweetest guy ever. So tell Jack I love him too, CC is just silly. <3ReplyCancel

        • Kim6.25.15 - 1:07 PM

          Yes, Jack is our very serious little buddy. :)ReplyCancel

  • Anna, Sydney6.24.15 - 4:31 PM

    Hmm, fun fact… these days I live in Australia but I grew up in a north European country where I for several years worked in personal security, and two of those years I was assigned the visible security (i.e. Uniformed) for one of the princesses when she was at school. There was of course also the secret service with their sunglasses and armoured vehicles. But I was the one she hugged every day she arrived at school. :) She’s married now, the little cutie.ReplyCancel

  • Serena | Pretty Fluffy6.24.15 - 11:14 PM

    Biggest congrats on 6 years!!
    As a fellow blogger who wants to embrace a bit more slow/intentional blogging of high quality content over quantity, do you have any tips that helped you let go?
    I love all your projects – we’ve just bought our first house so can’t wait to start doing all the ones I’ve pinned (the doggie gate is still my fave!!)
    Oh and fun fact – I’m secretly hoping my daughter’s first word will be dog, forget ‘mama’! :)ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.25.15 - 10:14 AM

      Hi Serena – the doggie gate is totally up your alley! Can’t wait to see your take on it!

      As far as letting go… Scott and I used to think we’d need to post at least 3 times a week to keep blog traffic steady (this was years ago). We’ve never been a 5-posts-a-week blog, but lately, as our projects get bigger and more time consuming, it felt better for us to do larger updates in fewer posts – like, 1-2 a week. To keep up our old pace (which we tried for a while), just started to feel really miserable (sitting down to edit the photos felt like a chore), which is not, in our opinion, the point of blogging at all! It literally felt like a switch in our brains – if we DON’T post tomorrow, you know what? It’s really not a big deal. It really isn’t! We’d rather share the ups and downs and what we’re learning as MUCH AS WE CAN to avoid burnout. There’s still so much renovation in our future, and our readers have given us some of the best ideas that we’ve implemented, so we can’t wait to keep sharing! Just reading through the comments on this post has warmed our hearts so much, and it just goes to show that when we’re hard on ourselves for not sharing a massive project every day (who can do that?!), it’s all in our minds. In other words, we love you guys!

      How was that for a ramble? This is a sit-down-with-cocktails conversation, ha!ReplyCancel

  • Carol6.25.15 - 8:08 AM

    Congrats on 6 years and everything you’ve accomplished in that time!
    Fun Fact: I used to work for the National Park Service and once got paid to spend two weeks training at Grand Canyon NP!! (Do you know about the Denali sled dog puppy cam? I feel like everyone should.)ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.25.15 - 10:06 AM

      Thanks, Carol! I haven’t heard of it, but I just looked it up – and cute!ReplyCancel

  • Trilby6.25.15 - 2:04 PM

    Congrats on six years!! I’ve been around for the last few with you guys. Mostly as a lurker, but I’ve commented a couple of times when something has really struck the right chord. I used to read gazillions of blogs (mostly parenting/lifestyle/DIY kinds), but when I lost a computer a while back, I really pared down my list upon getting a new laptop. And you guys remained. That’s my way of saying I feel connected to you! I love your content, the pace of posts (though seriously, I could read updates daily!), and your REALness. (Is that a word?) Fun fact about me: our first house was 100 years old when we bought it, and half updated. We did the other half of the updating ourselves. While it was fantastic and rewarding (and hard!), when we bought our current house two years ago, we went 180 degrees in the opposite direction and bought a new, ultra-modern domicile that needed NOTHING in the way of updates. I still get the itch to change things every once in a while, but I’m happy to not HAVE to do it.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.25.15 - 2:12 PM

      Aw, thanks so much, Trilby!

      I think that we’ll feel that way someday too. We always say that we’ll live in this house for a long, long time and enjoy the hard word we’ve put in, and then we’ll retire to a tiny, perfect condo again. (Thus completing our circle… although the tiny, perfect condo will hopefully be on a sunny beach somewhere!)ReplyCancel

  • Trude6.25.15 - 3:23 PM

    Congrats on your blogaversary! :) Fun fact about me is that I was born in Norway to a Norwegian dad and American mom, so I have dual citizenship. I love that you guys post when you have REAL content. It really irks me when bloggers post apologies about being late or something – it’s your space! You set the schedule! And if any readers get miffed about it, feel free to remind them of that. ;)ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.25.15 - 3:29 PM

      Trude, isn’t that such a funny thing? A lot of times I wouldn’t even know it’s been a while since a blogger has posted, but then they start the post with apologies! We’ve all got things to do, and I love when blogs keep it real. No apologies needed, we’re all friends here! I ain’t mad.ReplyCancel

  • Rebecca6.26.15 - 12:06 PM

    Congratulations on 6 years! That is quite the accomplishment. I’ve been following you for quite some time — five years, maybe? I found you through a house tour on Apartment Therapy. It was the second tour when you had just built the entertainment center the living room of your condo. However, I was hooked when I saw that you had an orange bedroom at one time. I knew that you were a blog to read. Plus, we both live in Chicago. (Rogers Park for me.)

    Fun fact about me: I have a tangerine-colored kitchen and lavender bathroom. Clearly, I’m a color person, but have tried to show more restraint lately. That bathroom will be a very subtle, almost barely-there green (or possibly barely-there lavender. I just can’t let go of that color.) by the end of this summer. I hope!

    I love your DIY posts. You and Scott are two talented people.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.26.15 - 2:05 PM

      Oh, wow, a throwback to the orange bedroom! We loved that color at the time, and believe it or not, orange is still my favorite color. We’re showing a bit more restraint now, but have moved in a different color direction – navy and greens and super clean black/white.

      Good luck with your bathroom! I vote pale lavender :)ReplyCancel

  • Kaleigh6.26.15 - 2:01 PM

    Congrats on five years! I’m on year three and sometimes I wonder if anyone is actually reading, but it doesn’t really matter to me. Blogging is my creative outlet. I love to write and tell our story whether anyone is reading or not! Our house is coming along slowly, and reading your blog gives me hope that SOMEDAY it might be done. We just have to go one project at a time!

    Random fact: In our last home (a one bedroom/one bath condo) I went a whole week without a toilet during renovations… one whole week we just had a hole in the floor …. you can only imagine!! Our local coffee shop got a lot of business ;)ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.26.15 - 2:07 PM

      Holy smokes! That is nuts!!

      But really, are houses ever really done? We’ll be tweaking until the day we move out, I guarantee it!ReplyCancel

  • Leyla / Paper and Ash6.30.15 - 6:35 PM

    Belated congrats on 6 years!

    I think I was lucky enough to stumble across your blog about 4 or so years ago and have been a huge fan ever since and I honestly don’t think I’ve missed a post! I too look forward to seeing your emails pop into my inbox and despite following several blogs you are hands down one of my all time faves and I am all for less posts that you are honestly excited to share than forced content on a more regular basis. Its the blogs that post 2-3 times a week that I’ll make a point of reading rather than those that post daily. Having renovated our kitchen and being 2 years into an outside landscaping project and garage project I KNOW how long these things take!!!

    Anyway the thing I love most is how much of your personalities come through in your posts – It probably sounds weird from a stranger – but over the years its like hearing updates form a friend. I love your authenticity, realness and the inspiration you share. I am also a big fan of your Instagram with all the posts of handsome Jack and cute CC – although more cat pics please!!! ;-) – and admit I was a bit fan-girl flattered when you followed me!

    Random Fun Fact – I have been lucky enough to visit Chicago once – I live in New Zealand but my brother (an astro physicist!) got a scholarship to Chicago to finish his thesis in Radio Astronomy and spent 6 months there where he built a radio telescope that then was shipped to Antarctica where he spent a year operating it. (I said it was random! ;-)) Anyway I took he chance/excuse to visit Chicago and loved it and hope to one day make another visit to your beautiful city.

    Keep up the amazing work – and make sure you take those (guilt free!) breaks you deserve!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.30.15 - 7:28 PM

      I love this comment! I definitely recognize your name from Instagram, so hello to New Zealand from Chicago! LOVE your fun fact. Did you get to visit Chicago in the summer or winter? Basically, those are our two seasons. ;)

      I will do my best to take more photos of Libby and Maddie. They’re old ladies now (turning 12 this summer!), so they’re super lazy and like to hibernate under the covers most days. Those little ladies rule this roost, but don’t tell that to Jack or CC. xxReplyCancel

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We’re Kim + Scott, Chicago based content creators behind the Home + Lifestyle brand Yellow Brick Home.

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