I got the most interesting comment on Instagram this week while I was in the midst of installing pavers. The comment said “Surely you make enough money to hire this job out!” I dont know if it’s because I had time to chew on it while I was working, or if this feeling has been bubbling just under the surface for a while, but I want to share with you guys why we still DIY.
When I stared Vintage Revivals 9 years ago I was in a rough rough place. Court’s addiction to pain pills had taken over the last 8 years of my life and I had completely lost myself. When I found the world of DIY blogs, the simple fact that these awesome and inspiring women had taken matters into their own hands, ignited a fire in me that 9 years later still burns. They were just doing it!
Back then there were 2 huge needs that DIY filled. Financial and emotional. We had very little by way of money and finding an $8 table at the thrift store and spending $10 on spray paint to make it over was about as far as I could stretch. Creating a home I loved on a budget that I could handle was magical.
Emotionally DIY transformed me. I never considered myself a creative person (mostly because I had never tried). Each project that I worked on taught me something, and most importantly unlocked the simple truth that I live my life by. That every thing has potential to become more. Buildings, furniture, people, relationships, no matter how far gone, can be- not just salvaged, but dramatically transformed with attention and hard work.
Over the years as Vintage Revivals grew from a wild passion into a business everything became bigger. Bigger projects, bigger budgets, bigger workload. It would seem like a natural progression to hire projects out. After all we are in the business of creating content, and more content means more business.
But man that just doesnt sit right with me.
Vintage Revivals isnt about mass content, it’s about doing something and learning along the way so that I have something valuable to add to the conversation. Not just a regurgitation of the same tips that everyone else in the world shares. And to be totally honest, it took some really hard personal reflection to decide that, because in a world where you can be anything it’s easy to look at others and think that what they are doing is right, and what you are doing is wrong.
Learning new skills, pushing myself to do things that I’ve never done before- that is where I find happiness. It’s not about saving money, or speed, or doing it professionally, it’s about fulfillment.
I love to DIY and I dont care who knows it!!
Ok your turn, I want to hear why you DIY!
Everything I can. Tables, dressers, skirts, recipes. Everything.
I just started my own biz after 26 years of being a SAHM. It been a blessing and so uplifting! I feel ya girl. Way to be authentic.
Love this. 🥰❤️
I totally agree with you Mandi because I feel the same way and I love the sense of accomplishment I get when I do something myself.
I’m with you! I don’t blog and, though always creative, didn’t start DIYing until building 4 homes with Habitat at the age of 50. It was still several years before I came across DIY blogs and realized there was a lot I could change in my home and on my property myself or with help of friends! I get tremendous personal satisfaction from DIY!
Um if you didn’t DIY how would we ever see Courts mad dance skills?!!!! 🖤
Agreed!!!
Whew I so resonate with your feelings about using DIY during difficult times. I love it! It is so fulfilling and so therapeutic for me. Thank you for being real and sharing your awesome ideas! You are AMAZING! Please keep DIYing.
I LOVE that you still do the majority of your projects yourself. While I still have yet to muster the courage to take on anything as complex as some of your projects it does inspire me to “just go for it” on others. All of the DIY blogs that I follow prove that we are capable of doing a lot of these projects in our homes and get so much satisfaction when its complete. Keep the DIY coming 🙂
Why wouldn’t you do it yourself? There is great satisfaction in completing a job yourself. I have been following you for many years and have seen your skills skyrocket!
My DIY is financially motivated, but that is partly because I have a certain taste or flair that would be expensive to implement if outsourced. I’m also a control freak and wanna-be designer, so DIY means I can have a specific idea in mind and implement all the details the way I want them.
Gurl…You! This! Your story of loving some one who struggled with addiction! The redemption! Your transparency & honesty! The awesome projects! The outstanding tutorials & tips! All of it! Yall are goals! Never stop doing all the things!! 🙌🏻
It is awesome that you found something that filled needs that you had. Your needs may or may not have changed, but you still love it. That it what matters. I love that you continue to show us that it is ok if we can’t afford to hire out a big project, or we simply choose to DIY because we want to. I love your blog.
100%. Learning is a key to happiness. When your mind is engaged in something challenging, you are solving problems. You’re mind and body are growing together. Creativity will help you think of the project, but you can’t make it happen without learning the how. Most times, the knowledge only comes after the physical hands-on doing. Thanks for letting us learn along side you. Gives us courage to try the “how!”
I love this post – a lot. I agree with another commenter – why wouldn’t you DIY something? After years of dealing with contractors, I’ve realized no one cares about your home as much as you do. No matter how much you are willing to spend. And there really is NOTHING like the thrill of completing a project, even if it takes several attempts to get it right. We only hire out jobs we know are insanely out of our skill set – or I feel like there isn’t much to learn and paying someone to do one job so I can work on something else in my house is actually a better use of both my time and my money. Case in point: we just hired someone to paint our deck – but that means I have time and energy to get to DIY our bathroom this summer. If I had to do the deck first (it’s huge) it would likely take me several weekends or taking days off of work when the weather cooperates. I’d rather enjoy the deck after a team is here for 2 days and put my energy in the bathroom and get to enjoy that sooner too!
Good luck with the pavers!!!!!!!
This!!! Absolutely agree 100%
Very nicely said. Another good reason to keep DIYing is because that is who your audience is. People started following you bc watching you do it made them think they could do it too. If you hire stuff out you lose all those people who can’t afford to hire someone. Thanks for always keeping it real.
As a follower of many blogs (and an unfollower with no hard feelings of others I can’t relate to anymore), this was SO refreshing to read. Thank you for this take–I love it so much!
The fact that you still DIY makes you approachable and keeps your reader base in tact. We did not all suddenly create blogs along with you so we are still on the $8 table with $10 spray paint budgets and need to learn things along side you as you go. While I still enjoy the blogs that got fancier, I can’t do what they are doing anymore. Sometimes you take on a DIY that I would never attempt but I learn from you and can speak more knowledgably to contractors and have a better idea of how much time and materials are needed to make sure I’m being charged fairly.
Well said! My husband and I often prefer to do something ourselves, even if it costs more in the long run (ie buying the tools to make the project). There is a sense of pride and accomplishment we get from looking back on all the skills we’ve gained and seeing how far WE’ve brought our home. We now have a 3 month old daughter and want to make sure she grows up seeing that she can do anything with practice and patience!
Mandy I have been there with you at
Ground Zero. Your creativity and commitment to every detail plus sharing your knowledge is such beautiful thing to watch.
I follow you because I am not a DIY kinda girl but am presently kicking around the idea of doing a project because of you.
You are very inspiring and love your ideas and passion.
Thanks and super big hugs !!
YES! There are some people that don’t like DIY projects, and they’re the ones that will never understand why someone would want to do it themselves. My husband and I are artists and ‘makers’ and love doing things ourselves. We’re currently working on a tiny home remodel with his parents who happen to have the financial ability to hire out ALL the work and have it done within a week. We insisted we’d do the work ourselves, but it has taken a little longer since we’re not working on the project full-time. It is SO much more satisfying being able to paint every nook and cranny myself, change out all the light fixtures knowing they’re done right and be able to step back at the end of each work day and appreciate the progress we made. I see all the little details that I’d normally overlook if someone else did the work. Granted, we, like you, are good at the DIY game. If we ended projects crooked and sloppily painted, we’d probably need to consider hiring them out. LOL!
Not that I wish addiction on ANYONE, but you are one of the most creative persons I know on the internet. It was a tough journey to get you there!
I love that you are relatable – not just dumping large amounts of $ on projects that the everyday person can’t do.
Keep up the fantastic work, you constantly amaze me with the projects & designs you come up with – and of course health and happiness to you and your family 🙂
I DIY because when you can look at something and know you did it with your two hands is an amazing feeling. Also, labor is the most expensive part of a job. I grew up around construction but never really appreciated it till I had bought a house and am making it mine. I have developed a new appreciation for people who have skilled jobs.
I absolutely love the satisfaction of knowing I did it. I created it. I completed it. Love everything you do!!
I just hate to have the same “cookie cutter” things from the stores. I do recreate a lot of my projects because my family or friends want to have a certain thing but are a little pricey for them. I know that we makers should price our projects for the quality we put into it, I know by far many maker’s projects are better than mine but if someone really wants it…. I’ll make it for them. For awhile I was making Liquid (Liquor) Dispensers but now it seems that everyone can make it by watching YouTube videos. It did hurt my sales but I hate that people use cheap materials or the wrong type if plumbing fittings just to cut back on the sale price. I feel the same way, if I can make it myself I will but the only problem is my back pain and nerve damage that prevents me from doing it all the time. I enjoy watching y’alls videos and I’ve gotten some great ideas from your both of you, thanks!
I DIY because I like to have something to show for my hard work besides a home filled with strangers doing a project I know I could do myself. I work too hard for my money to pay someone else for their labor. My DIYs are a labor of love. We built our own home, put in our own in ground pool, I did all of the landscaping, and yes we are both self-employed! At 35 we have more equity than most people have at 60! You keep doing your thing, I totally get it.
I love this post. I love the reasons why you DIY. Good for you for knowing yourself and having such wisdom and insight into your needs. Your needs also fill my needs—I love that you are one of the only true DIY bloggers who has unique, original content. That is why I follow you. So many others just put products together but you create. You inspire me in allllll the things my home and yard could be. Keep focused—you are going great things! Thank you!
Yup! 100% yes! We DIY cause we love it, cause we like to be creative, cause we want to learn new things. Yes I can hire someone, but the satisfaction that comes from learning and creating is so much more fun! Thanks for sharing and thanks for your content always! You guys inspire!
For me DIY fulfills a part of me that thrives off of a sense of accomplishment. I love being proud of a project that came from my hard work even if it’s not perfect. We did recently “hire out” a bathroom remodel that I designed and were so disappointed with the quality of work….and it was EXPENSIVE! Never again 🙂 We can learn how to do anything with enough time and effort. Keep on with your DIYing! You obviously love it and are amazing at it!
I love so much that you expound on the emotional side of DIYing!! No matter how much money is in your pocket you cannot put a price on the satisfaction of seeing a project from start to finish. The sense of accomplishment that comes from planning, working hard, problem solving, leaning a new skill (or getting better at one) and then standing back and admiring your work is a process that can be very addicting… I’m a good way! Thanks so much Mandi for all your inspiration and the fun way you include us in your DIY adventures!
When I DIY, all of my troubles float away. I literally think about nothing else except for the project right in front of me. I get such an incredible feeling of accomplishment when something I’ve thought about doing in my head or sketched on paper ACTUALLY WORKS!! I love the process so much that I will stop by a construction site and stare at the work being done because I want to know HOW TO so badly. I will never stop DIYing, no matter how frustrating it can be sometimes or how much more money I have in the bank. If I didn’t have DIY I don’t know what I would do. Thank you for sharing, Mandi!!
I don’t care much for DIY projects. However, I can respect your passion and desire to create something. Create something you are proud of. Whatever you do that brings you joy and a sense of accomplishment is what you should be doing.
Just had to stop to say Thanks to you for this post and to the wonderful community for all the great comments above. Three cheers for people who see potential beyond the exterior, who value transformation, and who work their butts off to improve their world, whether it’s within their own hearts, homes, or relationships.
Yes!!! I’m a stay at home mom and we are cosmetically updating our little home. I didn’t want to wait around for time when my husband can work on it. As little as it was, I caulked for the first time (lol) and I was SO proud of myself! Watching all you DIY ladies has given me LOTS of ideas and the push that I can do it too! Love keeping up with you and your projects!
We are completely capable of hiring someone to do our projects, but when you see how much we are to save by doing the work ourselves… well honestly we end up doing it ourselves. We follow fellow DIY’ers for inspiration and tutorials, but we feel that the money we are saving helps towards another project. Most importantly, we have 3 sons and teaching them how to build decks, remove cement boards, laying hardwood floors or installing stone countertops is more rewarding. It is therapy at times and other times we may need some counseling when we are tired or stressed. The bottom line is that enjoy the craziness, teaching our sons to budget for projects and learning some skills along the way is our gift to them.
I love this, I DIY as much as I can because I think you can really find new ways to be creative by going through the trial and error process yourself. My body is pretty uncooperative these days though with a joint disorder so I wish we could hire more things out but I plod along slowly to DIY when I can 😁
I really appreciate you not “outsourcing” your projects. This makes your content relatable in a way that so many other bloggers, that have grown big and are able to hire help, don’t seem to understand. We don’t all have unlimited budgets to make our homes beautifully unique – but we do have our willingness to extract the most out of our creativity.
Hi Mandi, my initial reaction was,
1. it is far more satisfying and fulfilling if one diys it.
2. This is YOUR brand! This is why we follow you and your story. It’s the essence of Vintage Revivals.
3. It’s a teamwork effort – you and Court make a great husband and wife team. And look so cute doing it, while raising a family!
4. You have the skills and expertise! Why let that go to waste?
5. You save on labor costs, and then can take those nice mini vacations to France and Disney 😉. Win-win!
After reading your blog it made me smile. You are probably old enough to be my daughter and so I relate to you as such. My husband and I are retired and as I read different individuals blogs and Follow along on projects, it gives me encouragement to try new things. Whether it be growing a garden, painting, refinishing furniture etc. it brings such a sense of accomplishment to these new hobbies and gifts we develop. Knowing you did it yourself feels way better than just going to a mall, picking up a phone and just writing a check or hiring out. No diss on those who choose to just have projects done by others either. Keep up the good work.
I TOTALLY agree with this post. Though I don’t blog I do a lot of DIY around our house myself. The act of being creative is fulfilling and therapeutic. It is also extremely satisfying to enjoy every moment of the process, not just the finished product.
Never stop!! It makes people (like me!) who are in the early phases of figuring how much they can accomplish on their own feel empowered. Also it is so easy to look at the final product of something and say, “that’s pretty!” But to see the whole journey is so much more rewarding!
I love the authenticity of this. This is why we follow you!
I LOVE this! And I love that I can always depend on your blog and instagram for fresh ideas and the nitty gritty it takes to get them done.
I DIY because there is such satisfaction in doing projects. I like being able to say “I did that!” And I cant speak for everyone but I think a lot of us are here because we like seeing you plan, design and execute your vision for things. It’s amazing to see things come together!
You guys are not crazy, you’re saving tons of money and you have a blog that needs info to keep your blog going, and you enjoy the process and the gratification of diy. And I notice it has a healing power when you’re busy.
My late husband always said, “Never call a guy unless you absolutely can’t do it yourself!” Although as we got a little older he would sometimes say, “Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.” I’ve been DIYing since 1974 (gasp!) but at almost 59 I am asking myself a little more often if I really should. Sigh. You go girl! You’re inspiring!
I’m with you! If it’s something I think we can reasonably do, end up with professional (or semi-professional) results, and I get to learn a new skill while doing it, I’m game! Plus I’m cheap…we got a quote for almost $3k to refinish about 1/3 of the flooring in our house a while back…we’d never refinished before, but about $800 later and we knocked them all out ourselves! Never want to do that job again, but wouldn’t trade that for the world… 😀
Beautiful point.
Breath-taking one!! Keep up the Good work