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Lovable Livable Home: How to Add Beauty, Get Organized, and Make Your House Work for You
This New York Times bestselling book is packed with thoughtful advice and inspiring photos to help you create a home filled with beauty and meaning. In the three years since Sherry and John Petersik wrote their bestselling book Young House Love, they have bought a new house and had a new baby, and they have seen their design perspective evolve right along with their family. In their latest book, they’ve set out to prove that just because you have kids or pets doesn’t mean you’re sentenced to floors overrun with toys or furniture covered in plastic. Through never-before-seen makeovers in the Petersiks’ own house, doable DIY projects, and a gallery of other inspiring spaces, Lovable Livable Home shows how beautiful homes can be functional too.
486 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2015
92 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
About the author
Sherry Petersik
4 books26 followersSherry and John Petersik are the married duo who chronicled their home improvement adventures on the hit DIY blog Young House Love, which spawned a New York Times–bestselling book of the same name, as well as product lines sold by Target, Home Depot, and more. They live in Richmond, Virginia, with their two young children and a feisty Chihuahua named Burger.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
October 7, 2015
I really enjoyed John and Sherry Petersik's original book "Young House Love" and found a ton of fun and useful ideas for my house. Their new book "Lovable Livable Home" seems to be heavily geared toward folks who have kids so there are many projects for kids' rooms, playrooms, homework spaces, etc. Not having children myself, I was disappointed to see how focused this new book is toward child-centric projects since that's not what I am looking for right now. I wish they would have advertised the book in a way that makes it clear that they were going in this new direction (for example, maybe titling the book Lovable Livable Family Home or something similar that indicated that this book was changing direction from their former book to involve more child-related projects). I was just expecting more projects that could relate to my home, and I didn't find them in "Lovable Livable Home."
October 28, 2015
review to follow
September 9, 2019
They have collected a lot of clever ideas for living with kids, but their soooo cute salvaged wood siding wall on page 274 has the distinctive chipping pattern of lead paint, which just made me sick to my stomach, precisely because they have kids and this book wants to tell you how to decorate for kids. Put your kids first and cheap decor lower than tenth place.
September 29, 2017
This book is fun and practical, two of my favorite things. I like the mix of DIY elements, thrift store finds, and hired-out design. The colors are happy, and the writing is humble with a little cheekiness thrown in.
September 28, 2015
The Petersiks are even more lovable than their stunning homes :) Great read with real ideas.
December 3, 2019
DIY is not my thing; my thing is reading books. Young House Love was a blog I found and followed closely. I was never going to do any of their projects, but despite our different tastes and inclinations, I loved it. There are lots of pretty pictures, and many ideas if you need some, and their whole attitude is very pragmatic and individual: this is what we want.
This book does a fine job of recreating the feel of the blog with lots of pictures, some text, some step-by-steps, and a big helping of "sometimes you screw up and then later your change that."
Used to be Better Homes and Gardens magazine ran a feature every year of 100 projects under $100. I loved that issue! Playhouses and cool teen beds and such. These ideas would fit in one of those issues perfectly. (big impact with low pricetag is part of their thing).
Plenty of inspiration, if one is looking for that sort of thing. I just find the pretty pictures very soothing.
Library copy
This book does a fine job of recreating the feel of the blog with lots of pictures, some text, some step-by-steps, and a big helping of "sometimes you screw up and then later your change that."
Used to be Better Homes and Gardens magazine ran a feature every year of 100 projects under $100. I loved that issue! Playhouses and cool teen beds and such. These ideas would fit in one of those issues perfectly. (big impact with low pricetag is part of their thing).
Plenty of inspiration, if one is looking for that sort of thing. I just find the pretty pictures very soothing.
Library copy
January 30, 2021
Most of the rooms are unattractive, and the DIY projects are nothing short of appalling. But I did like the family-friendly focus of this book, and it was fun to see the cool home of some local friends featured prominently here.
May 10, 2018
Well done! Lots of novel and actually implementable ideas for a beautiful home. Lots of inspiration!
November 21, 2015
In the follow-up to their bestseller Young House Love, superstar bloggers/designers Sherry and John Petersik are back with a gorgeous, relatable guide to help readers bridge the gap between how we want our homes to look, feel, and function, and how they actually do. Lovable, Livable Home is one of my favourite new books for its design solutions — doable projects and quick fixes that can bring order and personality to our spaces in an hour or a few afternoons.
Boring built-ins become lively with a coat of bright paint, a ceiling medallion becomes a stencil for a beautiful wallpaper effect, and wooden storage crates become the perfect shelves to corral the flotsam and jetsam in an entryway. These are projects I can actually see myself doing, in spaces I can actually see myself living in. They’re family homes that work and play hard, inviting homes with style and soul.
John and Sherry show us befores and afters from their own homes, sharing lessons they’ve learned as their needs and styles evolved.
I love the Sherry says/John says feature where they share their thoughts on how to talk someone into a purchase (Sherry) and how to talk someone out of a purchase (John). I’d like to see more of these she said/he saids. Perhaps in a third book?
Lovable Livable Home gave me lots of house envy for sure, but it also gave the inspiration and how-to’s to tackle some of the things that have been driving me crazy for years. (The mess of artwork blanketing the dining room table, for starters.) It’s a great resource for even the most beginner DIYer and a welcome tribute to family friendly spaces.
Thank you to Thomas Allen & Son for sending me a copy of Lovable Livable Home to review. (To see images from the book, see this review on my blog, http://wp.me/p4xBed-Mc)
Boring built-ins become lively with a coat of bright paint, a ceiling medallion becomes a stencil for a beautiful wallpaper effect, and wooden storage crates become the perfect shelves to corral the flotsam and jetsam in an entryway. These are projects I can actually see myself doing, in spaces I can actually see myself living in. They’re family homes that work and play hard, inviting homes with style and soul.
John and Sherry show us befores and afters from their own homes, sharing lessons they’ve learned as their needs and styles evolved.
I love the Sherry says/John says feature where they share their thoughts on how to talk someone into a purchase (Sherry) and how to talk someone out of a purchase (John). I’d like to see more of these she said/he saids. Perhaps in a third book?
Lovable Livable Home gave me lots of house envy for sure, but it also gave the inspiration and how-to’s to tackle some of the things that have been driving me crazy for years. (The mess of artwork blanketing the dining room table, for starters.) It’s a great resource for even the most beginner DIYer and a welcome tribute to family friendly spaces.
Thank you to Thomas Allen & Son for sending me a copy of Lovable Livable Home to review. (To see images from the book, see this review on my blog, http://wp.me/p4xBed-Mc)
October 11, 2017
A book for you to "our" taste.
A book for people who have the money to buy a big house, but somehow lack the skills to buy one of those many magazines on decorating. And look! They have a fireplace too. How so 19th century opulent and unsafe. And when you buy a very large house, room mates is the thing you are looking for!
I guess the authors had some mild success with a first book advertised with big letters on the cover and wanted to cash in their moderate fame as the silly ideas keep chaining.
A book for people who have the money to buy a big house, but somehow lack the skills to buy one of those many magazines on decorating. And look! They have a fireplace too. How so 19th century opulent and unsafe. And when you buy a very large house, room mates is the thing you are looking for!
I guess the authors had some mild success with a first book advertised with big letters on the cover and wanted to cash in their moderate fame as the silly ideas keep chaining.
December 22, 2015
I am always looking for new ideas for decorating and organizing, so Lovable Livable Home with its great reviews was intriguing. I was unaware of the blog or of an earlier published book. The pictures are well done, the use of vibrant colors are prevalent with all the projects. I cannot say I found some great ideas to incorporate into my own home, but I enjoyed paging through the book.
October 15, 2015
Enjoyable read -- the Petersiks are fun and approachable. Great photos, very do-able projects. I really liked the glimpse into other people's houses as well -- probably my favorite aspect of the book.
September 20, 2015
So good!! Loved the styles showcased, and there's quite a few projects I want to try now!
September 24, 2015
Some really great ideas in this book!!
September 26, 2015
Sherry and John can do no wrong in my eyes. I miss their blog so much that I'll probably just read a page in this book every day.
October 26, 2015
This book contains a lot of good ideas and I enjoyed the updates on the Petersik's home. Their dining room is beautiful! Also enjoyed seeing the children and Burger's comments throughout the book.
December 3, 2015
Nicely put together. Some great tips that would be easy to implement.
August 2, 2016
A lot of good ideas, especially for organization. I like the look of some of the bold pieces but could never actually get the guts to use them in my own home.
July 28, 2016
3.5, didn't like this one as much as their first one. Also really think I already reviewed this ... same idea as Design Mom, but Design Mom did it much better.
November 11, 2018
I am crushing hard on the idea of our next house being more than a pile of toys and mishmashed furniture.
March 16, 2018
I've been loving the Young House Love reboot, especially with their step-by-step instructions of rehabbing beach houses on the Shore, and am so happy they returned to blogging. Their style is a bit more minimalist than mine, but I love their writing style and how they break down home renovation and design issues into accessible, informative posts. It's aspirational, but approachable (unlike much on HGTV).
Here, however, the Petersiks' writing feels "flat," with little of the charm and wit they usually display (a tendency I see a lot in blogs transitioning to books). They've collected a perfectly nice bunch of ideas, primarily geared toward (upper) middle class suburban home-owning families. They also include a number of easy projects that seem rather pedestrian from the usual Petersik ingenuity and DIY spirit.
Ideas I bookmarked:
* Putting a lazy Susan in the fridge so that things don't get trapped in the back (86). For space reasons, Lazy Susans have never been practical for me for spices, but this sounds like a great idea.
* Adding a slim towel bar to the dummy drawer front below the sink (similar) in the same hardware as the rest of the kitchen (106). Practical and blends in!
* Sneaking a mudroom into a kitchen by using cabinets that blend in to the rest of the kitchen (222).
* Hanging a wire basket with Command hooks to the underside of a desk (or the wall) to corral cords for a desk (260). I appreciate that the Petersiks address this modern conundrum and share a practical, easy, and affordable solution.
* My absolute favorite: carving out a crafting space using 2 storage bases and a table top (which they made with 2 layers of wood panels) (264). Yes, this has been done a thousand other times, and I've seen them all and wasn't inspired. But this time everything clicked. I was so excited for the possibilities of this, not just for a crafting space but also a place to use as a desk (really, just laptop storage…). I could finally keep the sewing machine out and have plenty of storage to get out all the stuff hiding under the bed (like sewing supplies, gift wrapping supplies, cards, office supplies, and paperwork).
Here, however, the Petersiks' writing feels "flat," with little of the charm and wit they usually display (a tendency I see a lot in blogs transitioning to books). They've collected a perfectly nice bunch of ideas, primarily geared toward (upper) middle class suburban home-owning families. They also include a number of easy projects that seem rather pedestrian from the usual Petersik ingenuity and DIY spirit.
Ideas I bookmarked:
* Putting a lazy Susan in the fridge so that things don't get trapped in the back (86). For space reasons, Lazy Susans have never been practical for me for spices, but this sounds like a great idea.
* Adding a slim towel bar to the dummy drawer front below the sink (similar) in the same hardware as the rest of the kitchen (106). Practical and blends in!
* Sneaking a mudroom into a kitchen by using cabinets that blend in to the rest of the kitchen (222).
* Hanging a wire basket with Command hooks to the underside of a desk (or the wall) to corral cords for a desk (260). I appreciate that the Petersiks address this modern conundrum and share a practical, easy, and affordable solution.
* My absolute favorite: carving out a crafting space using 2 storage bases and a table top (which they made with 2 layers of wood panels) (264). Yes, this has been done a thousand other times, and I've seen them all and wasn't inspired. But this time everything clicked. I was so excited for the possibilities of this, not just for a crafting space but also a place to use as a desk (really, just laptop storage…). I could finally keep the sewing machine out and have plenty of storage to get out all the stuff hiding under the bed (like sewing supplies, gift wrapping supplies, cards, office supplies, and paperwork).
July 6, 2018
It took me foreeeeever to finish this one but it was actually pretty good? It was somewhat boring at the beginning - I don't know who these people are but I know they're a Big Deal in home decor and while they were amiable enough, that kind of ultra-familiar tone can read as disingenuous to new readers. However, by the middle I had actually seen a few pictures I was interested in incorporating into my own home, I'd come to enjoy the commentary from both Sherry and uh... John? Jake? Something with a J? I wasn't paying that much attention but I digress: I found things I liked and have incorporated a few ideas into my own home. I even found a few DIY's toward the end that I /might actually do/, and that's the rarest find among Home Decor books for me.
If I find it secondhand somewhere, I'll definitely buy it.
If I find it secondhand somewhere, I'll definitely buy it.
March 30, 2023
I picked this up at the library because I'd read their previous book Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update Show Your Home Some Love and enjoyed it so much that I bought it, even though their style wasn't quite mine - the projects could be applied to different styles.
This one, though, felt even more of a departure from my style. It doesn't mention in the title that it's pretty heavily focused on kids and larger families (which was not what I wanted), and the projects felt even more specific to a certain style of decorating that is not mine (in short, it all feels quite bland). It's a well put together book, but it just wasn't for me.
This one, though, felt even more of a departure from my style. It doesn't mention in the title that it's pretty heavily focused on kids and larger families (which was not what I wanted), and the projects felt even more specific to a certain style of decorating that is not mine (in short, it all feels quite bland). It's a well put together book, but it just wasn't for me.
February 20, 2018
Don't follow their blog. Didn't read the first book.
Still, this one was worthwhile, if pretty typical - why do all the pics in books like this seem to come from either rich people, and/or families that include an architect or craftsperson of some kind? (sigh)
I especially liked the sections on entryways and work spaces, and there were some interesting ideas for pets and pass-throughs. And it was funny to hear how their experience with toy storage has evolved (as it does for all of us).
Still, this one was worthwhile, if pretty typical - why do all the pics in books like this seem to come from either rich people, and/or families that include an architect or craftsperson of some kind? (sigh)
I especially liked the sections on entryways and work spaces, and there were some interesting ideas for pets and pass-throughs. And it was funny to hear how their experience with toy storage has evolved (as it does for all of us).
January 18, 2019
I have been drawn to their style since day 1, and their frugal/creative/realistic solutions to making a home with kids dazzle, is truly inspiring and refreshing. They keep it real. While I could just drool at all the lovely things they've done in their own homes (for days), I like that they used examples from other people's homes in this book as well---offering solutions for diverse living conditions.
June 27, 2018
- 1.5
- Overhyped?
- Could've done with more text
- Didn't find it super inspiring / helpful
- There were only a small handful of things I found visually appealing but I guess homes are very personal
- Perhaps they were trying to keep the projects accessible but some of them were extremely simplistic
- Overhyped?
- Could've done with more text
- Didn't find it super inspiring / helpful
- There were only a small handful of things I found visually appealing but I guess homes are very personal
- Perhaps they were trying to keep the projects accessible but some of them were extremely simplistic
March 6, 2021
This book is both thought provoking and encouraging. Some of the ideas were very useful. You do not have to spend a ton of money to organize your home into something beautiful. I have been trying to declutter my home and this book inspired me to pick up the pace. This book is worth time to read.
August 2, 2022
Fun dialogue. Helpful ideas and how-to’s. Organized well. Cute book and I love love love the unique ways they suggest displaying children’s art in really cool ways (pages 298-301). Also, their formula for how much lighting you need for a room is great (p. 128). Square footage of the space x 1.5 = wattage (divide between 60 watt bulbs).
December 10, 2016
I got the Kindle/tablet version of the book from the local library...I'm not sure if I would have paid for it, but it made me feel more confident about beginning the process of improving and decorating my own home. I'm excited to get started!
January 1, 2017
I read this one for work, and I enjoyed it. It was fun, casual, and had a lot of great pictures. It did feel like they tried a little too hard to be funny, but I found the pictures and ideas inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews