Greetings!
We have some exciting news to share today! We’ve been working on something “design TV-related” for a while now, and we’re really excited about the direction it’s moving in.
Think: our blog in 3D…meaning, low-dough/high-smile room redos, real-life DIY adventures, and lots of YOU!
At this point, we need to see if you’d be into A) having us over to help you redo a room or two (or three!), and/or B) helping us redo someone’s elses space(s). (Maybe you’re a mural artist, or a seamstress, or you’d just like to lend a helping hand by painting a wall or working on a craft project with us, etc.)
We also need to know what area you live in. (City/State/Country) (You can live anywhere, and every comment will be read!)
We hoping to round up as many responses as we can in the next 48 hours, so if you’re interested, and you have time to leave a comment, please do!
We’re working with some super-talented and creative folks and they’re very interested in seeing the response to this post, so please don’t be shy, and thank you so much! We’ll definitely keep you posted and we hope to hug you soon!
PS- We’d also like to invite you to join us on Facebook & Twitter!
(We’re seeking responses on those sites too! Thank You!)
Oooohhh I would love for you to come to Big Sky Country, that’s Montana! 🙂 We have so many projects-just like everyone else, and would love to have your hands work magic around here!
Also, where we do shine, is the outside. My husband is a professional Landscape Architect so if you are in need of help with planning and execution in outdoor spaces call on him, Wes be his name….
Sending out the love-
Baumgartners
Come to Wide Awake Wylie, Texas! It is just a few minutes from Kevin’s hometown of Garland! (My hometown, too!) We are just 2 miles from Dallas’ Southfork Ranch, 10 minutes from an awesome antique/junk mall, 10 minutes from a HomeGoods :), and and hour from Canton Trade Days! We have been trying to add some charm to our 8 year old standard builders house and I would love to see how you work your signature kitchen makeover magic! After all, your kitchen makeover is what has drawn so many to your site!!! Wylie is one of the fastest growing cities in America- so please come show us how to add character and charm to these new builds! I would work like a dog for you, too! 🙂
Oh, help meeee! I have a teensy house in Nashville, TN, with a very common problem: every room is “done” (or at least started) except the sad, sad master bedroom. I have a closet the size of a phone booth (which I gave to my husband–I use my one-month-old baby’s closet as my own, which is about as convenient as it sounds). The “master” (which is so small that it seems ridiculous to call it that) is so depressing right now–tiny, crowded, no storage. I hate being in there. Rescue me!
I really admire what you guys can do for little money–I think I’m pretty resourceful with low-dough makeovers myself. For some reason, though, this bedroom has me stumped.
Hey there Layla & Kevin…. I would fall down on the floor in shock if you guys were here at my house.
I live in Staten Island NY. Not to many cottages here lol. Although my house has that warm feeling inside… there is so much help it could use. Especially from you both!
xoxo Lisa
How fun to start on a new adventure. I’ve been following your adoption journey as well and you are in my prayers. We have adopted 5 beautiful children of all colors and abilities. Adoption rocks and my life couldn’t be happier. I hope you “Happily Ever After” day comes soon. As for your new projects I would love option A, I always need help with the craziness we have going on around here. I live in Queen Creek, AZ and would love help making my cold family room a true “Family” room.
Good luck with ALL your projects,
Cheryl
I’m moving into a SMALL studio apartment in Boston in September and I would love to give it a beachy feel!!! (Blue walls in the alcove – blue and white striped slipcovers for my foldout loveseat maybe??) I believe I can paint, but it would certainly be a challenge as I cant change anything too drastically as I’m renting!! I’ll be living here until I graduate in two years, so it would nice to make it as much as a home as I possibly could, and your designs are so so perfect!!!!!
Hi Layla & Kevin! I’ve been following your blog for the past year and I love it!!! I’m trying to work up the courage to start one of my own! My husband and I live in the little town of Silverton, OR. We bought a house about a year and a half ago and have been slowing working on it ever since. We’ve started projects in every room but nothing’s finished quite yet. We would be sooooo grateful for some help, guidance, and expertise from TLC! Especially in the kitchen where we started painting the cabinets and got a little overwhelmed by that task:) So please come on out to Silverton, we would love to have you! And tell Kevin to bring his guitar, my husband Amir plays too and they could have a little jam session in our music room/study/guest room. (Our little house is only 1200 sq ft so the rooms have to multi-task!)
Lots of love going your way!
Lani A.
Oh my gosh!!! So totally exciting for the two of you! Come to my humble abode in Leland, NC (near Wilmington)…we just bought a house but have no idea how to decorate it! 4 bedrooms (1 master, 1 used for guests, 1 used for an office and one for my craft room), a dining room…rather a walk through room, kitchen, living room an a breakfast area, also known as a walk through room. We’d love to have some help and of course we would help too…I kinda sew and like to think of myself as handy around the house…my husband on the other hand would be of no use at all except for heavy lifting and making lunch…come, come, come!!! We’d love to have you!
HI:
I live in Louisville, Kentucky. I recently realized that although I love my house, I don’t like it. It is not beautiful or cool or decorated or anything. It makes me sad and I feel overwhelmed. Oh it would be so wonderful if you guys could come up and help us fix it. I have a husband, two teenage sons and two dogs. We are constantly “doing” sports so our home doesn’t get much attention and it shows.
I really enjoy your blog.
Yes please. Foyer, living room and master suite all need serious help! My husband does carpentry, plumbing and flooring and has all the tools needed in our garage! We just don’t know how to design!
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Rachel
I would love to have you come and rescue my kitchen! We bought our 1920’s bungalow 2 years ago and have done some DIY projects but we have a very tight budget and I would love to see you work your magic! Our kitchen is outdated and needs HELP! We are just outside Chicago (9 miles). I love your designs and think you guys are truly inspirational and talented.
Thanks-
Danielle
I would love to help you do “whatever” if you come to Washington State. I am good at painting and creating.
I would love to have you help with our house! We live in Gilbert Arizona and would love for you to come. If you are in the area of arizona I would love to be a worker bee as well because I love your work! I have a 4 bedroom house with a basement and only 1 room is decorated! please come see me!
Kevin and Layla,
While I would love to have you come to my home (we have a house full of boys and their bathroom is pink: toilet, tub, tile, sink!) I’m really writing on behalf of my friend Kim Phillips. I know she responded to you but I don’t know if she told you the whole story. She and her husband have 3 biological children but have spent the last 5 years fundraising to adopt first their blind daughter from China and then their son from Ghana (who they’re still waiting for). They managed to buy a foreclosed home but had no money to fix it up. It was structurally sound but so dingy, dated, and depressing that they tried to resell it after about six months. Not surprising that there were no takers. All this time the main downstairs had no furniture.
Kim and I knew each other in college and reconnected just a couple months ago. I love design and thrifty decorating so we have started working on her house but it’s difficult to upcycle when there’s nothing to work with. (She picked up a free couch but then sold it to buy paint). I told her to look for inspiration for what style she would like and she found and fell in love with your blog. She’s used the word “genius” more than once 🙂 Any room you would want to tackle you can find needing work at her house. Kitchen, living room, dining room, bath, bedrooms, laundry, landscaping.
We live in Riverside, California and any lettered cottage love you could give their house would be such a blessing to their family.
Hi! I’d love to have your help in updating my Arlington, Virginia condo. I’ve got a unusual basement area that functions as a bedroom and I am in at a loss for how to decorate with the lower ceilings it has. Would also love to lend a hand with a paint brush if you choose a place nearby.
Thanks for the opportunity! Best wishes to you both!
So exciting!! You have a ton of comments. I really hope you chose the one above mine. And if you’re in Atlanta, I’d love some work at my house, too. My master bedroom is in serious need. I live in Peachtree City, just south of Atlanta.
You are welcome in Huntington, WV at your convenience. I have several rooms that could really use your help!
Yes! I’m writing from Michigan on the west side, near Grand Rapids.
We’re the nearing the end of a rebuild after a fire where we lost everything. The house that burned was a fixer upper that we had redone room by room and it was full of beautiful cottage-y/industrial/junky/antique-ish things.
It’s strange to have almost no belongings… equal parts sad, exciting and scary too as we’re probably going to move in a little over a month away. Insurance has been slow and I have been reluctant to replace anything other than clothes, books and some jadeite: the necessities.
The new house is a simple farmhouse that we designed to use every inch of. It’s Leed certified and well built. We’ve invited my mother to live with us and built a little cottage for her behind the garage. Her front door and my back door are connected by a breezeway.
The fire was caused by arson and we were all home, in bed when it was set. Thankfully we all escaped, but it has been a long road. My husband and I and our three children are all eager to be in our own home again and to make it ours. I’m especially looking forward to decorating the kids’ rooms, to create havens for each one of them.
I wish you the best in this opportunity. Seeing the beautiful rooms you have brought into being at home and abroad, I know it will be a great success.
By the looks of all these comments, you guys could be busy for a loooooooooooong time! 🙂
AHHH! Seriously? Wow, would love a room re-do, or two or three…..
Plantation, FL
I would jump at the chance to have a room made over by you guys..it would be a dream come true!
I am in a suburb of Dallas and need help! And with four kids it has been a slow process. I think the room I need the most help with is the kitchen/family/nook area.
Good luck with the new venture, I am sure it will be fab!
Are you kidding me?! I would love to have you guys do my whole house! Come on over to Waterford, CA and I am ready for “my” make-over. As for helping y’all help someone else, I will paint a wall, clean up, whatever.
Congratulations on this new venture. You both have worked so hard and deserve every success!
I live in Minnesota, so you could visit your Dad while redoing my house. 🙂 We have a daughter that will graduate Spring 2012, so have 3 rooms that need redoing. Two of them need new flooring, paint, styling and one huge area needs new floors and whatever else. The $ is set aside to do so, but we’re not do it yourselfers when it comes to our home and virtually have next to 0 tools.
Want to help us out? One room would be my jewelry design studio/office. Currently a leftover ghastly pink/fushia room from our only child, a now 16 year old daughter. The carpet has been ripped up for 3 years waiting for action, but we’ve been scared to make the plunge with wood flooring choices.
The second room: is our Master bedroom. 17 years ago, while pregnant with our daughter, and freshly moved into our home I stenciled grapes and vine on the border, and I’m embarrased to say that it is still up. Uggh! We need new flooring in there, paint, lighting, window treatment, headboard, etc. in there. Currently using a fireplace mantle for headboard, but would like to move that into the livingroom area and use it as a focal point i that room.
The third room, is a vaulted large living/dining area with an atrium door going out our backyard direction and a bay window area looking for a makeover as well. All new flooring is needed here too.
Please, can you help us out. I love you and Kevin’s style and talents.
Gretchen
Hello! We have an 1890 farmhouse. We’ve done a lot of other projects but would be so nice to have a pretty Master BR as a little retreat. We have three terrific kids that keep us busy. As great a guy as my hubby is, he’s not handy. Our plan has always been to turn the small apartment (which is never been rented) attached to the house into our master suite but it’s been 12 years and it’s not been done yet. I know you could make it beautiful! I’d love to help too. I’m pretty crafty, not afraid to paint, etc. and I can sew too!! I’m in Lancaster, NY. Susan
I can paint and sew and I would LOVE to help! I would love to have a room makeover or help out with someone else’s! What fun! I am originally from north AL, but live in the Nashville area now! Can’t wait to see what you guys are up to!
I would love love love to have you design a room for us- particularly our basement, which has so much potential and is already finished! We live in Omaha, Nebraska:)
I have a daughter in Minneapolis, MN who would probably LOVE help with her little house. I’m a couple of hours west of the Twin Cities (Mpls/St. Paul) and could use a tip or two, myself!
I would love to have some help with our family room. We are 1 block from Lake Michigan in a small Wisconsin City called Manitowoc. We have some great elements, a huge room that is 16 feet wide by 26 ft long, a brick wall, and a french door. The room needs to be more cozy, I always envisioned your look for this room but can’t pull it off myself. I also collect many old objects that I would be happy to have you repurpose. Oh I hope I am lucky. It would be a dream come true.
HOW FUN!!!! We live in Dover, Delaware. We have lived in our house 10 years this November and our house still has the same original 70’s kitchen. We need you!!! It is brown and just sad!
I have a house that was built in 1967 that we bought 2 years ago from the original owners and they had not touch the house since it was built. We painted and put in new carpet at first and just finished redoing the kitchen and opening it up to the living room but would love to more on to other parts of the house. The house has 5 bedrooms, a sunroom and playroom that all need to be redone but I can’t decide where to start next. I would so love your help. I live in Stillwater, OK.
Hi Layla and Kevin.
HOLY MOLY!!!!
Where do I sign, give me the dotted line.
I am not sure which I am most excited about..
you doing rooms in my 1870 farm house that has a definite identy problem.
She thinketh she is a beach cottage, cause of me. I have been trying to
save money for you to do a design consult, or chango presto even.
I would love to help out on my hjome or everyone elses. I am wayyyyyyyyyyyy
to excited to even have a complete thought right now. hehe
I live in New Fairfield, Ct., a mile from a beautiful lake and my son has a pontoon boat to
lure you here when you need doen time. I am 1 hr from NYC, and Westchester county is 30 minutes.
I am also close to the Ct. shore.
Please know I would be a great help with cleaning, painting, furniture painting and all make ready work.
Good Luck with your new brainstorm.
Sounds amazing!!
Hugs, geri.
Okay I may be like the 8000th comment on here BUT I have the perfect house for you to come help me with!!! We are located just north of Dallas, TX. My husband and I are newlyweds and we live with our sweet shihtzu named Moo. We purchased our home 2 years ago in a beautiful little neighborhood modeled after Savannah, GA. We have a two-story home with porches on both levels, covering the entire front of our home. I think our porches (one or both) would be so fun for you to help us with! We love Southern coastal charm and would love to have both the inside and outside reflect that! Inside, we have a few rooms such as the master bedroom and living room that we have started decorating with a vintage, cottagey, pottery barn style, though we still need so much help!! We also have rooms such as our guest room and our kitchen that are just total blank slates! We would absolutely love for you to bless us with your crazy skills! Thank you so much for giving all of us this opportunity! :o)
Please come to Orange, California. Minutes from Disneyland. We just bought first home last wek. 4bdrm 50s Ranch in a classic neighborhood filled with 50’s “storybook” style ranch homes, most still original. Our place? So fun our place but never updated and had multiple families living in home. Think everyroom a different color paint, carpet, light fixtures etc. hard wood yay! ugly carpet boo! We have scraped off acoustic sparkly ceiling, white primered EVERYTHING ( including faux paneling ), pulled carpet, working on floors, all in one week!!!! We move in next weekend. Lots of work, tons of potential. We have our hands full, could use a few extra and your creative mind!
Might be too late posting here, but hey I’ll give it a try! We live in Manassas, VA (near DC). We just bought a foreclosed (previous rental) house last year, and have been busy doing what we can to it. My husband and I are not the handiest people, but I am very willing to do anything (just afraid of making mistakes!) We currently have two bathrooms upstairs that need to have the tubs removed, and the rotted-in-the-corners floors removed and redone. These bathrooms need it all! Would love to have you all come out!
We are in Dallas, Texas. We live in a 90 year old home in North Oak Cliff. I would love someone to come and re-do our bedroom! It’s in desperate need of help!
Hi, I’m a landscape designer in the Seattle WA area. I would love help with our bedroom – close but not there – and living room – I can do AMAZING things with outdoor containers and indoor plants – that’s my business – but interiors intimidate me – love your style. THANKS!
I would luuuuuuv you guys to put your creative spin on our house. The hubs and I bought really young while in college and have simply not had the time or money to redo the house. As is typical in 1980s houses in our area, every thing has a door… Yes including the kitchen and the hallway… Would love for you to come visit Reno, NV nestle in the sierras and help us with our kitchen/living room!
I’m a stay at home mom of 5. Our house is great, but every single room has needed to be updated in a big way. My precious husband does what he can, but his time is very limited. I am home all. the. time and am so ready to be able to enjoy my surroundings as much as I enjoy the little ones that surround me. You are a very gifted designer and I would be so honored if you were able to put your special touch in our home.
I would love either option A or B. My husband and I and our two children live in San Antonio, TX in a Hill Country Cottage style home complete with covered front and back wood porches, built in the 1980’s, but the bones are timeless. We have been slowly renovating our home and would be interested in redoing either our living room (has sautillo tile and dark stained bead board ceiling with stone fireplace, it’s very dark and we want light and bright), or our eat in kitchen (with 80’s hunter green counters, dark wood cabinets, but updated stainless appliances), or our back porch….really any room you want, we love you guys! I am a seamstress and have made slipcovers out of drop cloths for friends, headboards, pillows, burlap curtains, etc. I also have taken many thrift store finds and made them into something fabulous! We have been renovating slowly on a budget, and have had a ball. We have been slowed down a bit over the last year with our son’s illness and hospitalization with his Pseudo-tumor Cerebri searching for cause, treatment and cure. Fortunately, he is improving and is back in school. My husband and I are DIY’ers and when my husband is not creating museum exhibits (King Tut, Michael Jackson, Cleopatra, Lady Diana etc), he is very handy around the house. His background is in architecture and is great with power tools! We would also love to help out on a reno!
I would love a bedroom redo I love your sense of style. Please come to Dallas, TX. We have a 75 year old home that needs you!!!
oops, forgot to mention that we live in piney eat Texas. It’s 2 hours east of Dallas and one hour west of Shreveport LA. 🙂
Make that a big HECK YAH from Canada…Prince George, BC!!
We renovate but would always take extra help…I’m up to my eyeballs in my kitchen torn apart and 3 kids 😀
A and b for us..cant wait to hear what you do for others..or see it!
me! me! pick me!!
I live 20m outside of Chicago in a cape cod built in 1947. I have 3 kids and love my family & home. You can come do any room you want!!
I was so excited when I read this as I have been following/recommending your blog to everyone I know for decorating inspiration! My husband and I just purchased our first home a couple of months ago here on the OBX of NC. We live in Frisco, a village located on Hatteras Island. My husband works on a charter boat and I am a nurse. We have a 2 year old little girl and our second is on the way. However, this time around everything will be blue. 🙂 Our beach house, which is our primary residence, is not very old but lacks the cottage appeal which I am looking for. And of course with little ones and a hard working husband this will be a work in progress for years to come. Thank God for paint, which is a quick and easy fix. However, only one room down so far. My next project is a hand me down dining room farmhouse table re-do. I want to paint and distress it. I could definately use some help! We would LOVE to have you guys come help us make our new beach house into a coastal cottage.
PS. My grandmother who lives a couple of hours inland has a barn full of old antique furniture waiting for us to pick through and use/re-do.
Oops, forgot to add our “website”. Check out our blog for a pic of the new house.
Top 5 Reasons Y’all Should Come to Memphis, TN:
5. BBQ & Elvis – must I say more?
4. My hubby Ben & I are Kevin & Layla wannabees & are huge advocates for doing what you love
3. I’m a home stager, hubby is a Marriage & Family Therapist & we would be great assets to your team
2. Our little 1950’s home would LOVE to be a cottage when it grows up
1. To have you guys come here or to be a part of your team would be a dream come true!
hey guys!
so exciting!!
come to long island, new york!
love your website!! I have been following you guys for quite a time and am excited for your new ventures to come. I have a whole tract 1950’s house that needs cottage help we have been trying to do a little at a time for awhile. We are in Anaheim, Ca. Let me know if you are my neck of the woods and need any help I am a highly experienced getter for a decorator. I was trained at an early age(8) from my aunt that was a decorator and I helped her move things from one side of the room to the other and then back again and maybe back again without complaint!!!!!! I can do anything!!paint mural, tiling decking, molding, sewing, cooking at times,,,if you dare…(smoke has been known to happen… don’t know… burnt the pizza on thurs,, but my sweet honeybear still ate it after take out hamburgers…true love i guess )
have a beachy day,
chelle
I am a fine art/mural artist and decorative painter. We live in NH, less than 2 hrs from Boston if you are ever in New England!
How exciting! We’d love decorating help. We’re a young couple (which means haphazard, gifted hand-me-down furniture and style confusion!) and live in a townhouse in Iowa City, IA.
I would love to have you in Santa Paula, CA!