We’re finally ready to introduce our book baby! After a long labor of love—over three years in the making—it’s slated to arrive in early November (the official release date is November 6, though it can vary by retailer). We’re equal parts excited and relieved. Deep breaths, everyone.
This felt like the longest gestation ever, but it’s finally happening. For anyone who’s asked about pre-orders: you can pre-order through your preferred retailers. The book will also be available at independent bookstores—ask your local shop and they can pre-order it for you. Pre-orders are handy: they often come with discounts, help authors in meaningful ways, and sometimes even arrive before the official release date.
Today we’re holding a 336-page mock-up filled with hundreds of practical home-improvement and decorating ideas that are about to head to the printer. This isn’t a highbrow decorating bible full of designer jargon. It’s a friendly, approachable idea book full of doable, affordable suggestions you can adapt to your home. Some projects are more involved; some are quick and cheap. Some are free, some might take saving for. Think of it as our blog, reimagined for print: 243 distinct ideas with photos, checklists, tutorials, illustrations, sidebars, and a little of our dorky humor.
We also included more than 200 photos and over 100 illustrations that have never appeared on the blog. Nothing here is pasted from existing posts—every tip was written or reworked specifically for the book. Familiar how-tos like painting furniture and upholstering a headboard are presented in new ways, and many projects were completed specifically for the book to keep the content fresh and surprising.
The process was a clear memory: signing with an agent before Clara was born, writing a 100-page proposal in 2010, pitching publishers after moving in 2011, turning that proposal into a full manuscript around New Year’s, a three-week shoot in our house in February, and then many rounds of refining and proofreading. Finally—at long last—we sent it off to print. It was intense, exhausting, and exhilarating all at once.
Seeing the final layouts was a proud, surreal moment. It wasn’t about self-importance; it was about realizing we pulled off something we weren’t sure we could. We kept adding features and worrying we’d overreach, but the team and schedule held, and the book became what we wanted it to be. Expect genuine moments—maybe even some ugly-cry tears—when we finally hold the finished copies.
Two things surprised us most during the process:
- How little the publisher changed the book’s interior—most of the content stayed true to our voice.
- How much input the publisher and designers had on the book’s exterior—cover design and packaging were very collaborative.
When it came to the cover, we learned that authors often provide feedback while the publisher makes the final decisions. We loved our editors and enjoyed a really collaborative process. During the shoot we tried a few concepts—some awkward and forced—and initially resisted one idea in particular: using our mugs on the cover. We didn’t want to look posed and serious; we wanted playful and friendly. After seeing a new designer’s concept, though, the vibe clicked.
The first draft from the design team surprised us. The mix of typefaces, wood letters, a stitched spine detail, and a paint can dotting an “O” all felt cheerful and cheeky—definitely not stodgy. We shared a few practical suggestions:
- Tweak the spine color toward teal instead of baby blue.
- Add house keys hanging from the “e” in “love.”
- Use chunkier, more modern wood letters.
- Try to avoid using our faces if possible (this became a running joke).
The designers embraced our feedback—hand-carved letters were commissioned, color choices were refined, and the playful elements were kept. One request remained: the publisher wanted the author photo to appear, since it made the book feel personal. The result felt right: balanced, fun, and homemade without being childish.
Some editorial choices were practical: to manage page count (and price), a few tips became bonus tips rather than numbered items, and the subtitle was refined through focus-group feedback. The final count: 243 tips—our little lucky number. The completed cover design is clean, playful, and colorful, with a mix of masculine and feminine elements and cozy, homey details like the stitched spine and wood letters.
We purposely avoided replicating the blog header on the cover for several reasons: the book contains new, never-before-seen projects; a direct lift would be visually boring; the blog design changes over time and we didn’t want the book to feel dated; and working with a professional designer revealed creative options we’d never considered.
That said, you’ll still find familiar personalities inside. Clara and Burger (our dog) pop up throughout the book; they just didn’t make the cover because the editors wanted the title to clearly read as a decorating book. Burger, in particular, is a favorite—he wanders in chapter to chapter and adds cheeky interjections. Clara even joins us for a project.
We’re thrilled that the book reflects who we are and what the blog is about: down-to-earth, creative, and a little goofy. We’ll share more behind-the-scenes details, a sneak-peek video, and book-tour dates as they’re finalized. For now: this book is real, it’s coming soon, and we can’t thank you enough for the support during this incredible journey. Love, love, love.
Psst—if you want to see more about our book journey, we have earlier posts that announced the book, described choosing a publisher, shared photo-shoot prep, and offered sneak peeks. We’ll also update our book landing page with tour dates and additional behind-the-scenes content as plans solidify.