Finding the Balance Between Sponsored and Not

Jo

I am all for your having sponsorships fund your kitchen, you’re always clear about sponsored content so we’re not being deceived there.

My problem comes from (as others have said) the fact that lately the content is all sponsored, and when it’s not, it’s lackluster.
I used to visit your blog every day, sometimes more than once a day and the content was varied and interesting. And I can appreciate that generating the posts is time consuming and you have other things to worry about, like your family and work that we don’t see here, but there’s a distinct difference between the PR-like polished sponsored posts and current original content. I think if they were more even in terms of quality, the sponsorships would be an afterthought.

That said, I’m going to keep coming back because I want to see how you’ll continue to develop one of my favorite blogs :)

Lilly

Like others have said, I think it’s great you are asking for input.

Since I have a tight budget, I like reading about renovations, decorations, etc with limited budget too. Right now, I pay more attention to that, than to great design. Although, your victorian house needs a big budget I would say.

I am ok with sponsored posts. Sometimes when I am reading a blog, I can quickly tell if it’s a sponsored post right away. Even if they don’t mention it at the beginning. When I start seeing very nice pictures, nicer than normal. Polished scenes. I wished sponsored posts were same format and style than regular posts. That way I can truly feel they are talking about a product they would buy anyway. It wouldn’t seem artificial.

I miss hearing about your family. But I guess you already addressed that topic. About cooking (not Blue Apron cooking), books you are reading, what about roller derby?

Blogs change, and so do their audience. I stopped following some blogs, I follow some new ones now. My life has changed, my taste has modified a little.

I think you are great at what you do. I think you will have plenty of followers either way. Whether you keep your kitchen modest or higher end style.

(I prefer the modest, though)

Victoria

I am also a longtime reader and the blue apron, and coffee mate posts were not ones I would expect from you. I like your style, but I like your get things done attitude. I know you just had another baby, and therefore posts are harder to write and edit, but rather skip a day or two rather than the coffee mate post.

Yes, get help with paying for your kitchen, but show a little more of the dust and debris and choices.

Jen

It’s your house, your kitchen, your business. I am a long time reader and have always appreciated the efforts you make to connect with your readers and to ask for feedback, but at the end of the day this is the center of your house and has a lot of potential impact on your resale value if you were to decide to sell. Your kitchen and mine are completely different from one another, but I can glean inspiration from yours just as easily with or without sponsored products. That being said, if you want to show your readers what it would look like if you didn’t have sponsored products vs. a finished room that does have them, what about a high/low column to accompany the project? Either way, I will continue to read along.

JessiBee

I started reading quite awhile before you had Eleanor. You were the first design blog I discovered and I’ve been a daily reader all that time. It’s been strange to watch how lightening fast the blog world changed and I commend you for navigating it while juggling a growing family, I couldn’t have done it! I loved your first house and it was where “our” style was at the time but times change! People that are into design just aren’t the people who have the same exact house and style 10, 20, 30 years later. You’ve evolved and I love the way you are going with the Victorian. I’m not really looking for the same DIY approach from you as I was in the “old days”. If you made this new house in the same style as the old house it would be ridiculous and I don’t know why some people seem to be expecting that. Anyway, you are damed if you do and damed if you don’t.
Get that free kitchen. Post the hell out of every stage and decision and mishap. Do a Giveaway. Give us the “High/Low” so those of us with less bank can get your look for less. This is the perfect sponsored fit for you. If you can, try to part ways with the food related sponsored content. You try hard ( ex. the DIY painted tray) but it’s not working.

Valerie

Blogging is your job. If there are perks that come with it, I say take full advantage. As you said, all parties are happy. As long as you fully disclose what items are sponsored (which you always do well), there’s nothing wrong with getting more out of your budget.

As a marketer, I can appreciate the value of a well-read and trusted blogger endorsing my products by placing them in her home. If they’re things that you would purchase anyway, and you can get them for free, why not?

Brooke

Hi there,

Good work on getting the conversation started. It’s an important one! I don’t mind sponsored content in theory, but I do mind when it seems out of place amid a blog’s other content. For example, Cup of Jo does a great job of choosing sponsors that mesh with their content. I like and respect the bloggers whose posts I read and am naturally interested in products/stuff they recommend… so I can see the appeal of sponsored content to advertisers, and to bloggers, who use the sponsored posts as a source of income. What’s a shame is that 85% of the sponsored content I read here and on other blogs sticks out like a sore thumb. You can tell the difference between something a blogger likes and wants to share (while receiving compensation, which is cool), and something they are getting paid to produce (e.g., Coffee Mate). Not only is it not interesting or relevant to me (and not what I come to your blog for), I feel that it undermines the credibility of the other awesome work you do by “diluting” your voice.

That said, finding sponsors for your reno seems very relevant to your work and potentially interesting. If you decorate a room and mention the paint was provided by Ben Moore, it feels like a good fit. But not an entire post sponsored by BM about their latest product, if that makes sense.

As for the Blue Apron stuff, it’s just that EVERYONE is doing BA posts to the point of saturation. If I am going to consume sponsored content, it’s nice to at least see a product/service I haven’t seen 100 times in 20 other places. I like to feel like you pick and choose your content with the same care as the items you use to decorate (content “styling”). Unrelated posts are like an ugly plastic lawn chair in the middle of your gorgeous living room ;)

Best of luck at this crossroads. And please don’t lose sight of the many, many things you’re already doing so well!

Lisa Coen

If your kitchen remodel is sponsored, it isn’t actually “free” as you are providing the audience, space and coverage required to implement and advertise those materials. Your time is valuable and it’s no surprise to your longtime readers that you are making a living for your said family of five by creating this blog along with your other projects. You are working your ass off and let’s face it, a kitchen project is going to be expensive. Take advantage of any sponsorships you can get your hands on.

Side thought: I’m sure it’s been said, but I feel like a part of the reason Young House Love shuttered is because they got so much negative feedback regarding sponsorships prompting them to stopped blogging altogether. That was a bummer.

Catherine

Honestly, I have no problem with sponsorships for things like projects as long as the blogger is open about it. It’s when they sort of make this grand post and then slip in something that is SUSPICIOUSLY like an advertisement, that it feels sort of cutting and sneaky. And to be honest, I’d much rather see, “hey we got these nice things comped by the company and we are owning that” instead of, “Look, we just bought this 4K dollar stove, tee hee, isn’t it pretty, too bad 99.9% of you will never be able to afford one” and never own up that it was gifted or majorly discounted. Does that make sense? I don’t begrudge people who work, like you, and are open about your partnerships and get great things! That’s awesome! I’d do it too! Now when EVERY post is sponsored, I just stop reading altogether. But your blog is a great mix of personal, fun, inspirational and sheesh, the guinea pigs, that’ll keep me here for years. xo

Ashley @ Spite or Flight

If you’re in a position to get freebies for your remodel, I say go for it. What frustrates me is when bloggers don’t really acknowledge sponsored items, beyond, oh btw this was sponsored. Like, how much would it cost if a normal person wanted to buy it, you know? I followed the One Room Challenge pretty closely, and while the rooms were really impressive, I thought a lot of the actual costs of things were glossed over by some of the bloggers.

Ericka

Hi Nicole!

As a reader that’s been around from almost the very start, I’ve been mulling this conundrum over in my head for some time. For me, I don’t feel led to comment about whether you should or shouldn’t have sponsors, seek sponsors, or whatever you want to call it. Perhaps its just the shift in writing styles and presentation. Sometimes its hard for us to step outside our comfort zone and try something new. Your blog has always felt comfy which was what attracted me to it in the first place. Like a really great book, I could imagine myself stepping into your world and experiencing all your mishaps, adventures, indecision, brainstorms, successes, failures, and quirks. Advertising can be in-your-face or a little more on the subtle side. While I know it exists out there, I’d prefer it to appear organically. That lets me live the fantasy a little bit longer. And really, isn’t that why we’re all here? :)

Carrie

My opinion isn’t original, but I’ll share it anyway. Sponsorship for a kitchen remodel wouldn’t bother me in the least if you are upfront about the sponsorship. A kitchen remodel is content that I expect from you.

The Blue Apron stuff does not seem consistent with your brand and like others have said – I’m sick of them being everywhere. When I open Feedly and see multiple BA post headlines on a single day I usually just close right back out again.

Bari

Long time reader here too. I am echoing many of the comments here, but here is what I like on design/decor blogs; current floor plan – future floor plan. The fact I am an Interior Designer by degree, the design of your kitchen is important. I loved when you drew the floor plans for the changes you made for Calvin’s room. I would love to see how you marry the Victorian home/the Balch esthetic/ and sponsorships. I feel sometimes the sponsored content in design gets too vanilla – the same kitchen with faux concrete counters. “Tuxedo” cabinets and tile backsplash. I would love to hear about your dream team vendors – be it a custom cabinet maker from Indiana, kohler (because aren’t they a few hours from Chicago) some reclaimed or restoration speciality company.

I guess my post is trying to say do what is authentic for you, your family, your home. Don’t make a choice because they picked or asked you too. You are the one who has to live with the result. If you do your kitchen out of passion and your design sensibility we will be behind you 100%. If you do it, because a corporation asks you to or will give you a fancy or expensive thing – is it really a cost savings if you don’t love it in 20 years when blogs aren’t even a thing anymore?

Claire

Go ahead and use sponsored stuff, I would ask to keep it “reasonable” i.e. stuff that your family (or my family) could consider for ourselves. A pet peeve of mine is reading magazines like InStyle where they feature a great bag or piece of clothing and then I read that is way, way over what I would consider spending (like thousands of dollars.). I think you are very good about discretely but notably disclosing sponsored posts and I appreciate you mix in non-sponsored stuff too, so I don’t feel like I am just reading a lot of ads.

Rebecca

Another long-time reader. In brief: sponsored posts make sense to me and I don’t anyone to work for free. However, high-end finishes are of significantly less interest to me. I prefer blogs like yours to Architectural Digest because that mag does not present anything within my middle-class budget. I turn to aspirational blogs and magazines when I want to see the finest of the fine, but your blog and design have historical been more approachable. A move away from that will definitely lessen my interest in MIL.

Laura

While I, like many others here, am not interested in the Coffee Mate or Blue Apron posts, I recognize that blogging shifted when it became a more plausible profession. Your income is tied to that source, and that’s okay — I just echo what others have said in terms of trying to keep sponsored content as authentically tied to your regular content as possible.

As far as your tone in the post: I appreciate it! I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen another blogger ask how a reader feels about sponsored content. The simple fact that you recognize this as a potentially sensitive issue for readers and chose to address is openly is great. For the record, I didn’t at all take your subtext to be that you want expensive things and will your readers give you the clicks you need to get it? I took your concern to be more that while a high-end kitchen is available to you, you recognize that that’s not a possibility for many of your readers — and you’re genuinely asking how we will feel about that.

If you hadn’t addressed it at all, I might have felt a little put off by it. But the transparency and honesty help me see that you’re not at all oblivious to the way these perks can sometimes strike readers. I’m happy for you that your work has afforded you the opportunity to do a dream kitchen. I say make it a reality!

Nicoletta

I like a lot of your sponsored posts. I know you have fantastic taste, that’s why I read your blog! I want to see what you like, and you are so good about only writing about things you really like. I think you’re doing a pretty good job about mixing up sponsored and non sponsored. I want to see the kitchen YOU want, and if you can do that with free stuff I think you should do it! I would! Bonus points if you do some giveaways so we can try and get our dream kitchens too!

Caz

I’ve been reading your blog for a long time (well before you closed up shop on your paper goods line) and I honestly haven’t enjoyed reading it for a long time. It seems lackluster and the issue isn’t so much what you’re writing about – a sponsored kitchen – for me and it seems for others, it’s the continual stream of sponsored posts that dominate this blog now. My memories of the ‘old days’ were that you had more creative endeavors that intermixed with the sponsored content. You can find sponsored posts about lightbulbs and snack food and whatnot anywhere.

Now your blog seems like a long stream of buying objects, putting together wish lists, writing half-hearted posts, and hawking random goods that seem forced. Even in this explanation post there seem to be so many interesting ups and downs with living in a Victorian that you could’ve gone into. Peeking behind the veil more, not just a curated collage of images you’d want to stick in a room.

I don’t really care if you get a 30 inch range or a 36 inch one or what finishes you use – it’s great if you can get a free kitchen. But I’d like to see more of that peek behind the veil look and some interesting narrative to go along with it.

Ana

I don’t mind sponsorship posts, good for you for being able to even consider it! However like the others mentioned, I miss the posts with a more personal voice. It’s happening to so many blogs nowadays, it’s too bad. All the best with your reno (I’ll still be checking in :) )

Carly G

I just wanted to echo what most people have already said and urge you to do sponsored posts as long as you actually like the products. At the end of the day you have to live with the finishes you picked and it would be a shame to settle for less when you have such a great opportunity. I feel confident that you can find a happy balance between fun inexpensive DIY projects and fabulous sponsored items to create a space that is uniquely you.

Katrin

If you can find sponsors for your kitchen renovation, then by all means take that opportunity! As you said, it makes everyone happy. I think a renovation project like this would be a bit different than the Blue Apron posts. I am one of the people who are annoyed by these. Yes, marketing comes in waves, but I am annoyed by a TV ad that comes up a bazillion times a day as well. Also, it doesn´t really fit your blog, I don´t think people come here to see what you´re cooking ;-) Having said that, whatever keeps your business going is good for us readers as well. If I see a Blue Apron post here oder anywhere else, I´ll just skip it. No big deal.

Lisa

I’m Australian and so don’t really connect with posts like Blue Apron or coffee mate. But I feel pretty safe in saying that there are not many people who would turn down a free kitchen of their dreams if it was offered to them, so why should you be any different? This blog will not sink or swim based on that, it is how you will engage and interact with readers about your design and the choices you make, that will keep us coming back. Grab your opportunities with both hands and take us on an interesting journey with you.

Vanessa

Apropos the last post, I too am Australian so any blog sponsors are largely irrelevant to my spending decisions although some of the US based homeware stores like West Elm now have physical as well as online presence here. I’ve been a reader and rare contributor since June 2013 when your blog became my preferred entertainment during breastfeeding my third child (I was a bit over the blissful mother / child nursing image by then). I see no real impediment to accepting sponsors for some or even all of a major kitchen reno subject to 1. transparency as to which product or service is subject to sponsorship and 2. the sponsored products or services being consistent with your overall requirements and the general spirit of the projects you’ve already canvassed in your blog (ie authentic) 3. providing comment on alternative / cheaper products / finishes 4. Keeping the focus on design and efficacy of the space. Living in a 1930 ‘gentleman’s bungalow’ I can say that it is important for both your family’s enjoyment and ultimate resale value of your home that you do not muck around with DIY in a crucial area like a kitchen if you can avoid it as you’ll probably just end up redoing it in a few years which I think is a greater waste of time and materials; hence we are at a stalemate now with our own kitchen which cannot withstand anymore cosmetic make-do makeovers even though I had originally thought that would suffice. By the sound of it, even if you proceed with your intended DIY, it’s entirely possible it will morph into a full scale renovation. I hope I haven’t been too didactic (yes, I too skim over seemingly unrelated sponsored posts) but I continue to enjoy the insight into the more sumptuous, slightly overstated way of American interior design and decoration even if it’s not something I’d normally adopt in my own home together with the insight into your evolution to a family of 5 (please feel free to show some photos of your children’s room with 3 week old disintegrating Lego creations to keep it real). I always smile when you refer to your home as Victorian after the British queen long after the war of independence; just one of those cultural / linguistic quirks I suppose. Good luck with your decision.

Kati

I do basically not care too much about whether posts are sponsored or not but I observed in the last years, that sponsored content tends to be quite boring, not only on your blog but also on others and I most likely do not read sponsored posts or blogs with tons of sponsored content in general. That’s why I used to read your blog quite frequently a few years ago but don’t do so anymore nowadays.

Kimberly

I love your blog! Do what works for you– I would really honestly love to see you go all out, and if that involves sponsorships, great! I love that bloggers can be creative with items that they are finding that they love, even if they are getting these pieces for free as part of a sponsorship. Please keep on sharing what you’re doing in your lovely house! You have great style, and it’s so interesting to see your home coming together in exactly the way you’d like. Even if that changes over time — as that is, actually, the reality of so many of our homes!! <3 <3

Kim Q

While I agree with JC above, my only additional comment would be that when too much is sponsored within a project, that project then becomes unattainable to your readers. I don’t know about all of your readers, but I enjoy seeing things that I can sometimes incorporate into my own house, be it ideas, actual items, or simply a stylistic direction. That might not always translate well with sponsored items, at least for me.

Jessie

Go for it! You work hard at what you do. If sponsored posts help you get the kitchen of your dreams, how is that any different than my hard earned dollars generating rewards on my credit card that go towards my recent reno? (we bought our (expensive, otherwise unattainable) tile using points. hurrah!) We all do what we need to do to get the results we want. I think it’s a bit unfair for it to be expected that you do it all the hard way (longer, less extensive, whatever) when you can show your readers what can be done with different companies’ goods. You’re always above board about what you’re doing and I really appreciate that.

Jen

I think this is the most interesting post I’ve seen up in awhile on your site, and it’s honest and real and, if that’s the case, people won’t care how you pay for it.

Life is messy. Sites that don’t acknowledge that are not as interesting. This is real and messy, and shows the reality of owning an older home and trying to fix it up.

Pamela

One of the most successful and enjoyable blogs ever was “younghouselove,” and their fans don’t want to let them rest in peace. Their policy was always,”no swag.” They would accept a discount if the provider would also offer it to their readers. For this reason, what they did always seemed attainable if you put in the work.

I love your house. It is similar to mine (my husband and father did all the rewiring), and I often look at what you are doing for inspiration. If you just start slinging in all sorts of high end items because a sponsor is paying for them you kind of lose me. I can relate to saving for a coveted 36-inch range, while making do with the old sink until such time as you can afford that, too. Interim solutions are part of my life.

Katie Cohen

I didn’t read other comments, because I didnt’ want to be influenced. However, I think you need to check your audience. I may or may not be in the majority of your readership based on age, income, interest, etc. However, in my opinion, I prefer not to see sponsored items incorporated. As someone interested in at home, diy projects, having lots of gifted items takes away from the authentic experience a true homeowner would go through for budgeting and execution. If I just want to see a pretty, inspired design, I can look through pinterest or a magazine. If I’m following along with a remodel with unlimited budget, its on a different blog. However, your site isn’t soely marketed as home, diy, and you’ve partnered with companies before. I’m thinking about the items from Land of Nod that were for a kids’s room or play room a few years back. Or rugs we see in your house. So its probably fine for you to do with sponsorship. It just isn’t my jam.

Jenny

I’m fine with sponsored content as long as it’s interesting! I enjoy seeing pretty tile, interesting light fixtures, etc. I think if the stuff you are able to get because it’s free is a higher price range it would be fun to have some round-ups of a)other cool light fixtures/tiles/etc in all price ranges (like you’ve done before) b) mood boards for the kitchen in various budget ranges, etc. That way even those of us who can’t afford your finished product can be inspired but also get some good in-budget ideas.

Soph

Do whatever you want! I enjoy your blog because you post about the decision making process as well as results so it doesn’t matter to me if it is sponsored or not. You always do things with integrity.

Haley J.

Sometimes sponsored posts from bloggers feel like they’re trying to hard to make it work. If you are getting items sponsored for your kitchen design that you love and would choose if you had no restrictions, then I say go with sponsored items/posts and show us your beautiful vision. What I most want to see is inspiring design. Your sensitivity to the issue and soliciting for opinions is lovely, btw.

ursula ellis

Your blog and so many others provide readers and design geeks like me free entertainment, advice, specific tutorials….
I think you should put together the kitchen you want to put together with well-earned extras, blog about it, and I’ll certainly go along for the ride and enjoy all of it. Saying up front that you were “gifted” certain items allowing for a more luxurious space makes it all transparent.
Thanks!

AFOX

I say blog away! Do what works best for you and your family – I will read it no matter what – I love your work. Thanks for asking!

Vanessa

I’m torn as a reader. In one sense I had to save up to make any changes to my gut-job of a kitchen reno, and love LOVE all of it because I know I saved for it. In that sense I also love seeing blogs go from horrific or unsafe and find themselves reach the need for a full gut. If sponserships get you there, then go for it!

But on the other hand there are times when I’d like blogs to take a turn on the “funds are low, how can I turn this around to be function and new/shiny”. The creativity really comes out when you’re stuck, plus it helps me as a reader think outside the box.

Bottom line though – you have little kids, I’d throw $$ at it (through sponserships) and get the whole thing looked after all in one go.

Amie

Nicole, you have made beautiful houses (this one and the last) and three fantastic babies. I am sure whatever you decide for sponsorship help in your home will work for your family.

I say, Go for it! Take advantage of the help you can get and let your growing family experience nice things. As long as the partnerships and sponsorships make sense for your morals and brand, why not? Just let us know what the retail price of things are or offer a budget option is you can. Those of us who follow along like a little help to find deals.

Megan

I think most of the sponsorship backlash comes from posts like Coffeemate and Blue Apron that have absolutely nothing to do with design or DIY. They come of as disingenuous, and readers hoping to see a new room or a new project don’t want to read another Blue Apron post or see random Coffeemate bottles. As a reader, I don’t mind sponsored posts when they relate to the original content of the blog. I feel like Yellow Brick Home does this well. One of the previous commenters pointed out YHL’s “no-swag policy,” and while I don’t expect bloggers to ignore free or heavily discounted products (relating to their blog content – that’s the key!), it might make your projects seem more relatable if you a) work with sponsors who agree to give discounts to your readers or b) seek out some sponsors with more affordable products OR source alternative, less expensive products to suggest to readers on a budget. Kind of like those save and splurge articles and posts we often see in makeup/clothing magazines and blogs.

Meredith

You should do what works best FOR YOU. Sponsorships are absolutely a part of your income as a blogger, and if you want to use that income stream to pay for your kitchen update or other remodeling, that is really YOUR CALL. Say you were working a 9-5 desk job and your employer had a tuition reimbursement program that paid for 50% of your tuition. If you wanted to go back to school, you’d take that money, right? You’d be crazy not to. Same thing here. You will certainly still put your own spin on things (is a pink fridge on your moodboard? ;) ) and THAT is why people come to YOUR blog– for you and your unique style and point of view. If people expect you to take the time to put yourself into projects and put the care and effort into posting them and sharing them with the world, then, as consumers, those people shouldn’t expect you to do your job for free. We don’t expect news reporters, hairstylists or web designers to provide their services simply for the love of their craft and without expectation of monetary gain, and neither should we expect our bloggers to provide their services to us without taking advantage of all of the ways in which they can support themselves by doing what they obviously love doing.
And for the record– I’m not a blogger, but read and enjoy MANY blogs out there and respect the fact that people blog to support themselves and their families by doing things that inspire them. (That’s everyone’s dream, right?)

Rachel

I’m kind of surprised to read back a few posts and see what basically amounts to lynching by your readership over sponsored content. As a blogger like you, I too struggle with the balance of taking on sponsored content and working to be compensated for the time and effort it takes to put original content together. However, it’s your life and your house. Do what YOU want and let the readers come and go as they please. The ones that are really Your People will always stick by you.

Gail

Nicole,
You have a wonderful blog. I have read about you since, I believe, before you and Brandon were married….Pink Loves Brown? It has been fun and interesting to watch you and your wonderful family grow and succeed.
You are brutally honest and have the most integrity I’ve seen in a lot of bloggers. I know you will do what is ultimately right for you and your family and disclose your decision to your readers.
I don’t live in an old victorian, I do not in the midwest, I am not in my 30s and I do not have 3 children. But I love reading your blog, even the sometimes random product placement posts. I am a “mature reader”, with a child your age! So I think of you more as a successful child. I am so proud of you and your family.
A few years ago we embarked on a kitchen, family, bathroom remodel. I got my dream kitchen with everything I wanted in it…. because we could afford it. It costs a lot and I love it! I would have been happy to accept sponsored items….if I had a blog and those items, I wanted, were offered free or at a discount. Why not!
As a blogger you are also concerned with meaningful content and perhaps multiple posts. Perhaps presenting your audience with several posts of visuals of your proposed various scenario options. And a post of your absolute no restrictions dream kitchen. See the responses.
I know sponsors have “people” who read (spy on) blogs looking for opportunities for the sponsor to sponsor. Why not take advantage of that. I believe if you don’t put it out there and “ask” for something it won’t always happen.
I know in the end you will do what is best for your family. I trust your judgement. I and will continue to read your blog.
Best of luck!
Gail

Kim R

I think as blog readers we have gotten greedy expecting bloggers to entertain us and also do it the way we want them to. I read you blog for several reasons – your writing style, primarily, to see what you do to your house (Truthfully, I wouldn’t want it, but I am still interested in how you transform it), and of course, the adorable Calvin pictures.
I get paid for the work I do every day, and I think you should be, too. Because although it is personal and engaging, it is still work. I’m sure there are days you would prefer just to play with your kids but you are working on the blog any way.
So I say, get anything sponsored that you can. I think I know you well enough to know that you will be true to your style. I lean toward sponsored items versus posts, but am not opposed to those either.
And get going before your house burns down or someone gets hurt!!

Melissa

My thoughts are that you, as a blogger, who is choosing to share their life with us, the readers, should be making that decision based on what works best for your life & family. I understand readers and pretty much everyone out there in internet-world have super strong feelings one way or another and, unfortunately, because they can remain anonymous, they actually may state those super strong feelings in a less than friendly manner, but what it comes down to is what works best for you. If you lose readers because you chose the option they didn’t want, is that really that bad? Perhaps you’ll gain even more readers who appreciate the decision you made! Either way, I’m super excited to get to follow along with your upcoming renovations! Yay!

CathyS

What wonderful people! Everyone genuinely likes and admires you, Nicole. I have learned so much from reading your blog…and then from your friends who respond! I echo the majority! Go for a kitchen your family will love and get the most use from and take advantage of whatever suits YOU, we all will enjoy the ride!

shells

Couldn’t give a monkey’s if you paid for the products out of pocket or if they were “gifted” in return for being featured. Since it’s your home and you have suck wonderful taste I can’t see you using anything that you don’t totally love anyway, and how it was paid for is irrelevant to me.

Michelle

There have been times where certain blogs sponsored blogs just didn’t feel authentic to the blog, it was a money thing. I don’t feel that way about yours. I don’t blog like you, don’t make a living, I think if you’re working on your house and you get a way to get something for free, then do it and share it. I don’t read comments anymore on any blogs, save for a couple very specific ones of people I know. I rarely post comments save for trying to win things or giving congrats or condolences on certain posts. If I do not like where a blog is going (direction wise), then I will pull it out of my Feedly. I control what I read. So, keep “doing you” and if that means a sponsor helps pave the way for what you wanted anyway, congratulations! :)