You guys have been curious about everything from how our concrete counters are wearing and how our refinished foyer grout is holding up to how our new blogging schedule is working for us. And since we’re not always great at updating you guys (blogging tends to follow an “on to the next thing!” pattern), here’s a big ol’ rundown, which marks the third one in this series (here’s our first one and our second one so you can check out if we covered other topics you’ve wondered about there).
Our Ardex-concrete counters: These guys have largely been awesome, and our sealer choice has made them even more durable than we expected. For example, we thought we’d end up with scratches/divots/marks, but after nearly two and a half months of use, there’s not a one! Not sure if it’s because we haven’t been chef-y enough (we tend to make pretty basic meals, and we hardly wield Top-Chef-sharp knives at all times) or just thanks to the two large wooden cutting boards that we keep on the counter (they’re where we place hot pots and slice things for the most part). We do hear that using the dark stain with the Ardex might show more scratches (we went au-naturale with ours) so that tip might help those considering that option.
As for staining, nearly everything we’ve spilled just sits on the surface and can be wiped away without issue (like how water beads up on sealed wood) so we have only noticed a few splatters (perhaps citrus?) that sat long enough on the counter to soak in and make subtle dark spots on the concrete that can’t be wiped off (below left). They don’t really bother us since the counter has that industrial vibe going on anyway. I did place piping hot tea on the counter and a very very very very vague ring of haze appeared (it’s nearly impossible to see unless you’re a inch away looking at the exact right angle), so we’re sure to use those cutting boards for hot things, and so far there haven’t been any others (below right).
The grout stain in the foyer: Still looks identical to when I applied this stuff back in early January. Even with semi-frequent moppings, muddy shoes/paws, and a whole lot of foot traffic, the grout is holding its own. And it was awesome to hear from folks who used this in spaces like showers many years ago who say theirs is doing just as well.
The appliance paint we used on our fridge: Our bisque-turned-white fridge pretty much looks the same these days, other than having a lot more magnets on it thanks to Clara. The good news is that the magnets don’t seem to scratch or peel the paint off at all, but we did notice a bit of a scraped area along the right side of the door. We think we were carrying something large like lumber and it must have brushed against that edge and scraped it. D’oh. So in summary: everyday use doesn’t seem to hurt it at all (even on the handles where we touch it all the time – or the doors where Clara drags magnets around). Just don’t scrape heavy stuff along the corners and hopefully yours will be in good shape.
Our new washer & dryer: LOVE it! We have been using these guys HARDCORE with a newborn in the mix, and we couldn’t be happier. You can read more about how/why we picked them here, but so far the washer gets things super clean and spins them dry a bunch so they’re only damp when they go into the dryer (bonus: less dryer time, and more encouragement to sun-dry things since they’re not emerging soaking wet). We also really like crouching less thanks to the washer being a top-loader, which is surprisingly handy with a baby in your arms.
Our pantry re-org: This food-storage upgrade has been holding its own. It’s not as perfectly organized as it was back in the day, but it’s such a huge step up from the old dark shelves and no-system-at-all issues it had before. We really like having the microwave tucked in there, and the door organizer and the hanging bread baskets are the MVPs of this makeover. We gained a lot more narrow storage (read: nothing can fall to the back and get lost) and that has been invaluable.
The game closet: This is what our little “toy library” currently looks like after a newborn came into the mix. No, Teddy hasn’t been playing with that stuff, but with a baby in my arms (or on my chest) most of the time, I don’t spend as much time helping Clara put things back in an über organized fashion like I used to (well, most of the time). But although it’s completely messy, all that mess is tucked behind that door – and for that I’m eternally grateful. Clara miraculously still follows the one-thing-out-at-a-time rule, which explains why this chaos isn’t spread out all over our office or living room instead of being contained to this closet. So ultimately: this closet has been a lifesaver. Even if it’s kind of a pit these days. And yes, that’s my Kahleesi wig on the floor. Clara is obsessed. It’s all sorts of hilarious.
Our fiddle leaf figs: There have been a lot of questions about these guys, so the answers are: they were $58 from Home Depot on sale, the red pot is from Lowe’s, and the little wheeled cart that it’s on is also from Lowe’s. I just water them once a week (deeply, usually around 20 ounces or so) and they seem to like indirect sunlight. The one in the corner of the office seems happy for the most part (below left). The other one seemed pretty happy in that other office corner, but when we got the shelves for along that wall I moved him into the dining room. BAD IDEA. Turns out he hated me for it. Not sure why (there still seemed to be indirect light in there, and I kept watering him the same way I always did). So yesterday I moved him into the corner of the kitchen (below right). It’s like a fiddle leaf fig hail-mary. I hope it works.
Our organic mattress: This mattress is half a decade old, and we have been really happy with it. We heard from others who had issues with dents from where their bodies are, but ours doesn’t feel pitted or dented after all this use, and it’s still nice and firm (we like a firm mattress, so we “built” this mattress to that specification).
Our Target hooks: You guys have been asking if we’ve used any of our hooks besides this picture hanger in our house. I put a mismatched group of white ones to use in the closet to hold all of the necklaces that were formerly tangled and crammed into a drawer in my night table. Now I actually wear necklaces! Also: necklaces hypnotize Teddy.
Our white & stained kitchen cabinets: The white painted upper cabinets and wood stained lower cabs are still doing well. It has only been about half a year, but so far, so good. The white isn’t too hard to keep clean (I occasionally wipe down a drip if I see one, or dust the ledges a few times a month when I remember) and the stained lowers have been good too (they hide more dirt and splatters, but I can’t figure out if I like that or if that’s a con, since at least with the white uppers I know they’re clean and a big glob of syrup isn’t blending in). Nothing has chipped off or bubbled or anything, which is nice. We definitely recommend good prep work (sanding, deglosser, etc) and good primer/paint if you’re going the painted route (it can scrape right off without those steps).
Our homemade terrarium: A moment of silence please. This guy is dead as a doornail. Womp-womp. Regardless of keeping it in the sun and using that supposedly helpful “activated charcoal” somehow this one went wrong. So let’s file this under Black Thumb Petersik.
Our Expedit changing table: So far this has been great. We have a big basket of diapers and the wipes are kept on top to the right of the pad. We both have been using it a lot (we even walk upstairs to change him there sometimes since it’s more comfortable than using the ottoman downstairs, where we set up a little station). We haven’t switched to cloth dipes yet (tried them but they’re still a little loose and I live in fear of blowouts these days) but I’m looking forward to seeing how the changing table works for those as well. We’ll probably store the cloth diapers in the same basket where we keep our disposables, and line the white trash pail with a wet-bag and possibly move that into the bathroom so we don’t have to bring diapers that we spray back into the room. Will keep you posted.
Our upstairs hardwoods laid with Elastilon: The hardwoods we chose and the underlayment choice of Elastilon have been awesome for the most part. Our wood floors themselves haven’t felt too soft or scratched/dented, even with a dog and a preschooler beating on them. As for how the flooring is laid, it hasn’t appeared to flex or have any gaps or anything after over a year of use (through extreme heat and extreme cold). The seams look just as good as they did when we laid them, and everywhere that had nice level underlayment feels super solid and nailed down. In other words, you would never know it was a floating hardwood floor instead of a traditional nailed-down version in our hallway, our bedroom, Clara’s room, or Teddy’s room. BUT… (here comes the but)…
… there’s one spot in the guest room where we think the underlayment wasn’t level and we WISH we had known that so we could have fixed it because now that area feels a wee bit bouncy. It doesn’t look janky at all, and guests have said they don’t even notice it when I confess how much that spot bugs us, but it doesn’t have that nailed-down super solid feeling like the rest of the floors do. Boo. But for the most part we love Elastilon, and our hardwoods. Just a warning to anyone using it: unlevel subfloors might make things feel a little flex-y and less solid.
Our scaled back blogging schedule: We’ve been really happy with our decision to slow down. As some of you have wondered, fewer posts have correlated to lower traffic and less income just as we expected, but the change has felt really good to us. I’ve never been a more hands on mom than I’ve been for the last two months, and I’m so grateful that I didn’t miss out on those moments in the name of one more project or one more post.
Do you have anything that you’ve tried and ended up loving or loathing? Feel free to share the gushiness (or the warnings)!
Psst- In the “oops that was a bad call” arena, you can check out this post, this post, & this post. Sometimes the best choice is elusive, but there’s something comforting about the whole if-at-first-you-don’t-succeed-try-try-again thing.
*This post contains affiliate links to things we have purchased and loved*
kari says
Just a note about the dents, scratching, or general visibility of imperfections of ardex countertops with a darker stain: we used ardex on our countertops (just on top of vinyl countertops) and we mixed in to the concrete mix a powedered dark onyx pigment. These things are bombproof! We have had them for just under a year and you cannot see anything on them. We have dropped things, scratched the tops, broken glass on them, set hot things on them, you name it. They still look brand new. I highly recommended them as an affordable great looking upgrade (as noted, the sealer is key).
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome Kari! So glad to hear that!
xo
s
Jamie D says
Thanks for this update!! Love these posts.
Your necklace hooks reminded me- do you all know how much longer your Target line will be available? I’m saving up to buy several of the hooks, but I don’t want to wait too long in case they will be pulled from store inventory soon.
YoungHouseLove says
They’re supposed to be in stores until July 15th, although they seemed to roll out in a staggered manner (so they might remain a little longer in some stores).
xo
s
Jamie D says
Thank you!!
Lilly says
Do I spy mother’s milk tea? LOVED it when i was nursing. I kind of wish i could drink it now, but seeing as how i am not nursing, i don’t want to risk any sudden production of milk. that would be totally awkward lol
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, that’s leftover from having Clara! Oddly enough I save it for years and then seem to forget I have it. Lately I’ve been loving peppermint tea for some random reason. Maybe because it’s sort of refreshing for a hot beverage in the summer?
xo
s
Andrea J says
Sherry–have you ever made iced peppermint tea? It’s so good! I love it for the really hot days of summer. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds awesome!
xo
s
Jane says
Beware sherry. Peppermint is well know to stop/reduce milk production. You dont want that at this stage , do you.
YoungHouseLove says
Eeks, thanks for the warning Jane! Definitely don’t want that!
xo
s
Michele says
we love that yellow rug in the bedroom!!
did you buy via website? if so, can you provide a link?
YoungHouseLove says
That was from Pottery Barn a few years ago, but they no longer sell it. Maybe try ebay?
xo
s
Mrs. Frugalwoods says
Wonderful overview! Glad to hear your kitchen cabinets are holding up well. Ours are still looking sharp in spite of semi-frequent coffee/wine/misc. explosions on them–they wipe clean so easily. I agree that the prep work was key. I’m really glad we took your advice and spent time on it!
YoungHouseLove says
So glad!
xo
s
Jamie M says
Thank you for all the updates!! I have a little one who’s 7 weeks old so it’s nice to hear the Teddy updates :)
Until when will you wait to use the cloth diapers? Our little one is now 8.5lbs and I’m wondering whether to start now or wait a little longer to use our bum genius diapers.
YoungHouseLove says
I would just try the diapers on and see how they fit. Teddy is a big boy, but because Clara used them first I think they’re a bit larger from her use, so the leg holes still feel a little loose.
xo
s
Emily says
I knew you’d love the washer and dryer. We have similar models in the Bravos line and I just LOVE them. We’ve had them since October and I have never regretted spending the money on them instead of the basic model
We also bought a Maytag dishwasher and are in love with it too. Made in the USA products for the win!
Emily @ Life on Food says
I am afraid of the fig tree finickiness. This kind of seals the idea of not getting one for me. I hope yours comes back.
Danielle Ferretti says
I absolutely LOVE these follow up posts ! Thank you, thank you for keeping us updated. I am still working up my courage to stain our grout and install ceiling molding. I think soon….
And I am SO happy (ok and a tad proud!) to see you still have a little Super Hero Cape hanging around the toy closet for Clara… That was made with love ! Let me know when Teddy is ready for his own. :)
Meanwhile – just please blow some raspberries on that round tummy of his ! OMG – he is filling out perfectly !! :) And I love to see Clara’s interactions with him – they melt my heart.
xo
Danielle
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Danielle! Clara just had her cape on yesterday because she says for Halloween this year she wants to be a fairy dragon. Basically that cape with a wand. Haha!
xo
s
Danielle Ferretti says
OMG – it would SOOOO make my day if Clara used the cape for a Halloween costume !! There even might be some squealing involved… just sayin’.
I have sewn/made 3 (out of 5) of Zoe’s Halloween costumes – and since she wants to be Lava Girl this year – I will be making hers again… In her little head – all Moms make their kid’s Halloween costumes from scratch, and it warms me up that she thinks like that since it makes it that much special. :)
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet!!
xo
s
Diane says
I was wondering about your succulents on the kitchen table too. I must be doing something wrong because I started out with a cute container some pretty stones and now I’ve had to transplant them all into their own containers and they’re growing like crazy plants. do you cut your’s back or trim??? my husband usually calls me a murderer when I think about a inside plant so you can tell I’m no green thumb!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re just those little mini cacti on the table, so they don’t seem to grow very fast (I haven’t detected any growth since I got them). They seem happy enough though (not dried out, still colorful on top, etc) so maybe you just bought faster-growing succulents?
xo
s
Anna // Gone Banannas says
Thanks for taking the time to updates us on all this stuff guys :) Ever since the scale back in posts, I get super excited when I see a post from you. I also scaled back by posting because, even though I am not making any money from my blog, I still felt the pressure to be constantly DOING something or MAKING something and I think it effected the quality of posts. There is something about posting simply when you have something to share that is really freeing and ultimately more rewarding! <3HUGS<3
YoungHouseLove says
Hugs right back Anna! And happy blogging!
xo
s
Alex says
Love the updates! Do you all keep library books for Clara somewhere special or different so they don’t get mixed in with owned books?
YoungHouseLove says
She has a little book box in the car where a few of them stay until we return them and there’s a basket in her room next to her bed for the favorites we read before bed.
xo
s
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
Thanks for providing such a wonderful post about your project updates. I have been considering a similar update with stain on my kitchen cabinets and a bath cabinet – since I hate to apply so many layers of paint – and I’m so glad to hear that the finish is holding up and you are still happy with it. This was an awesome post! Thanks so much.
Katharina says
I love your new routine! It’s nice to see somebody actually & consciously slowing down in this virtual (and real) world!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Katharina!
xo
s
Alexis says
Clara has the most beautiful smile. It is truly what happy looks like.
Lindsay says
Changing table question. How tall is it & how tall is John? I’m trying to convince my husband we should go that route instead of a traditional changing table, but he is convinced that it wouldn’t be tall enough for him to use comfortably. He’s 6’2″.
YoungHouseLove says
John’s 6′ tall and it’s comfy for him (I think it’s all about what you’re used to because it’s around the same height as the dresser we used for Clara’s changing table in her room), but one way to make it taller is to add castors. We actually bought them and added them and it felt too high for us (probably just because we’re used to something lower) but you guys might love it! They’re in that original post if that helps :)
xo
s
Lindsay says
Thanks so much! I really appreciate the way that you guys still respond to comments, even though you’ve made the decision to scale back on blogging. I’m so happy for you and your family and hope you’re cherishing all of the extra family time! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Lindsay!
xo
s
Deena says
My husband is 6’3′” and I’m 6’1″ and we both had no trouble using an un-doctored (no extra wood frame, no castors) expedit as our changing table for our daughter. A malm 6 drawer dresser works great as well. We switched to the malm towards the end of my daughter’s diaper-hood when we were transitioning her room to a “big girl room.”
YoungHouseLove says
So glad to hear that!
xo
s
Vanessa says
Although I am sad there are less posts, I am so happy you are doing that for your family. What I wouldn’t give to be able to spend time with my child. That’s worth more than anything else. We love your blog at any spend and content amount!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Vanessa!
xo
s
Andrea J says
Is your diaper-changing station on the Expedit shelving tall enough for you two? I am planning my baby boy’s nursery (due in less than 5 weeks!), and when I was at IKEA yesterday looking at the Kallaxpeditwhatever 2×4 cubby shelf, it seemed much too short for me (I’m 5’7″) for diaper changing. Even with the customization you gave it, it seems like it might be a little low… Please enlighten me on how you like it, and if you feel like you are hunching over or not. :)
Andrea J says
Ok, I just re-read the post about updating/hacking the Expedit for Teddy’s nursery, and saw the bit about the height… but I honestly don’t see how John isn’t hunching over when changing diapers!
YoungHouseLove says
I think it’s all about what you’re used to because it’s around the same height as the dresser we used for Clara’s changing table in her room. We actually bought castors and added them (in that original post) and it felt too high for us – probably just because we’re used to something lower. But John’s a vocal guy, so if he wanted to jack that thing up he’d add them back on. We loved how they looked!
xo
s
Nichole says
So happy for the update on the grout! We just moved and we have some bathroom tile grout that has seen better days. I thought we were going to have to redo it, but then I saw this and realized we can try to fix it! Yay! Looks like I have a new weekend project on my hands!
lisa says
We had a strand bamboo floor laid by a friend in the business. He tried the floor nailer at first, but the bamboo was so hard the nails kept bending. We picked the bamboo because we hoped it would be super hard for pets and kids and shoes and moisture at the cottage – so we were kinda pleased to learn it was so hard the nailer could not get through it. Luckily these floor boards also also had a kinda click lock edge though, presumably so you could install it floating or nailed. So he opted to install it floating. Which worked out great except for one area where it was too snug to the wall so the floor would pop up, then you would step on it and feel it flex down. It was in the middle of a heavy traffic area so quite annoying. We were stumped how we were going to fix it after the fact. He said it would be no problem and sure enough he very carefully used his compressor and some type of nailer to nail where the boards met, at the v-groove. He painted the nail heads first to blend in. When my husband told me how the two of them resolved it I was fully expecting to be disappointed when I saw it. But I could not even find where they put several nails! And I knew where look. No more popping floor boards. I think if you are not expert with your compressor and nailer you might want to practice before you try to nail exactly in that v-groove.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome! Thanks for the tip Lisa!
xo
s
Donna S. says
Hi! Thanks for the updates! I have completely given up on plants in my house! I just wanted to tell you that your kids grow/change so much, so fast that cutting back on work to spend that time with them is so great. As a RN, I always had flexibility in my job and was able to spend so much time with my kids that I feel so lucky-my kids are now 25 and 21! Time flies! Enjoy your babies!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Donna!
xo
s
Sierra says
I love that you have chosen family first! You can’t get those moments back, but you can always blog more when T is older and in school. Life is all about change and growth. Amen for a great family who recognizes what matters most!
Thank you for always inspiring! Loved the pantry update. The baskets are a great idea. I’ll have to give that a try.
Shana says
Thanks for the updates! Would love to read a baby #1vs baby #2 update, like what has been easier/harder/different this time around. I have an almost 3 year old and a six month old and I was surprised by (and still am) the little differences between the babies and how we approached certain things since we were veterans in the baby dept now.
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to write a post like that!
xo
s
Cynthia St. Clair says
I love posts like this one–it’s like visiting with friends, which is what I consider you to be! I was particularly pleased that you’re still delighted with the new washer and dryer, as our ancient second-hand ones are on their last legs and we need to get serious about replacing them, ideally with the same models you have.
Here’s another longtime YHL reader who applauds your decision to cut back on the number of posts per week and focus on family time!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Cynthia!
xo
s
Annie says
WOW! This post was so informative! Ya’ll have got to be the hardest working people EVER!
xoxoxoxo,
Annie
Jessica says
Hey! I too use the white Expedit as a changing table and love it. You guys are a huge inspiration to me in my DIY adventures. Love your style and enthusiasim. Your little ones are adorbs. Also, we are an Honest diapering family too. AND we originally hail from good ol’ VA, but now reside in Brooklyn, NY with our 14 month old daughter, pup and cat. We are also wickedly funny like the two of you. Oh, and equally as modest ;) So much in common! Have a great day, Petersik’s!
YoungHouseLove says
So funny! Let’s start a club!
xo
s
Jessica says
Haha! S, I’d Love to! =)
Camile says
We have the same terrarium that I purchased as a kit from Red Envelope in Feb of this year. It is also dead as a doornail. Not sure what went wrong but glad it’s not just me!
Alice says
Your white grout in the entry still looks great!
While you have scaled back your blog posts, I have scaled back on my reading of blogs (I had way too many in my favorites!) because I couldn’t keep up! Therefore, it barely seems like I am reading YHL less!
Kerri says
My dad and I laid laminate floor in the master bedroom in mine and my fiancé’s house. There was one spot where we tried and tried to get to get one panel to sit nicely and not bounce a bit but the house is 100+ years old and what can you do. It’s on my side of the bed but if anyone else besides me or my dad walks over it, they don’t notice. Too busy checking out the nice flooring.
Thanks for the updates. When you did the concrete countertops they intrigued me as a “phase 1” update in our kitchen, and now that I hear they are doing well I might look into it a bit more.
Stephanie says
I’ve been a dedicated reader for a while now. If I read your blog in an rss reader like feedly, do you get the same traffic statistics and/or sales revenues as if I visited your site directly? I want to make sure and support you as much as you have provided me with great content.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Stephanie! You’re too kind. With the end of Google Reader, we no longer get any revenue from folks who read through sites like Feedly or Bloglovin, but anyone who clicks over to our actual site to read here (or comment) counts as an impression, which helps :)
xo
s
Maria Gonzalez says
Just wanted to thank you for always being so transparent and inviting people into your lives. Also, for sharing when it is time to withdraw a bit (from the computer screen) since that is a lesson we all need as well, especially bloggers. You inspire me and make me laugh all the time! Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Maria!
xo
s
jeannie says
I can’t get enough of the green door — LOVE IT! I want to embark on some bedroom painting projects this summer & they will DEFINITELY involve some bright doors.
Katie B. says
Two years ago (or so), you tried out some succulents and I wanted to try them, too. My husband and I went and got a few and I planted them in little glass containers like you did that year. I also found out I was pregnant around this time and I felt AWFUL. I let all my outside flowers die becuase I was too sick to water them. But I was determined to keep the succulents alive.
Well, all my zeal turned into over-watering, which, you know… succulents don’t like. So I killed them. I killed succulents.
So when I saw you make your terrarium, I was like… nope. Not gonna murder any more plants.
I applaud your effort. And I mourn the loss with you. :) Hehehe!
I killed two peace lillies this year. Now THAT is talent. :)
YoungHouseLove says
You’re cracking me up with the peace lily thing. That’s also a talent I most likely possess! Haha! Someone else commented about using real-looking fake succulents in the terrarium and I’m so into it. SO INTO IT. Try to die plastic plants, I dare you.
xo
s
Sayward says
That was me! If America’s Most Wanted had a list for wanted serial succulent killers, I’d be on it. I cycled through the stages of grief and frustration and money loss hard. Then one day at Hobby Lobby the lights of Heaven shone down on (in my opinion) extremely realistic looking fake succulents. I hunched over them protectively like Gollum with the ring, took them home, tossed the corpses of my failed gardening attempts, and shoved those plastic suckers into that cactus soil (of which I still have a giant bag left over). Now my cute glass containers with their carefully layered cute rocks and special “didn’t help me” cactus soil are brimming with gorgeous plants all year long. I never looked back, and my life is significantly better now.
JOIN MY SISTERHOOD!!!
YoungHouseLove says
I’m so there. Looking all Gollum-y and stuff.
xo
s
Jen W. says
I was wondering how the kitchen cabinet hinges were holding up. I’m thinking of painting my cabinets and I’d love to reuse the same hinges, but they could use some sprucing up.
YoungHouseLove says
They’re still doing great! We really like the exact spray/brand we used. Really seems to hold.
xo
s
Kerrie says
Hey, I had a family friend come to my house and talk to me about replacing my hardwoods. There are areas where they feel like they are coming up and areas where they have been beaten up pretty badly (some from before I bought it and some from the dogs). Interestingly enough, he told me that he could inject something under the floor to even out the pockets, and it would only cost me a couple of hundred dollars for all of the spots that I had mentioned. Perhaps you guys could get this done for next to nothing in the guest room. :)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s an awesome idea. Thanks Kerrie!
xo
s
Nicole says
Love these updates! And I’m really happy for you both that you scaled back to spend more time with the kiddos. I just returned to work (at an ad agency–so you can both relate) after having my second and always struggle with work/life balance.
Curious how your Dash & Albert stair runner is holding up for you? I installed one while on maternity leave thinking that the rug would be safer than bare wood for the kids, but it seems to be stretching out. Not sure if I just didn’t get it tight enough when I installed.
YoungHouseLove says
So far it has been doing well! We vacuum it regularly and we don’t wear shoes and so far it seems good. No stretching that we can tell. Maybe since we stapled it in so many points that it’s pretty secure (not lose enough to stretch?).
xo
s
Catherine says
I have followed your blog for many years. I have to say I am the most happy to see that you are following through on your lighter schedule. I’ve seen you make some resolutions throughout the years to scale back and then a few weeks later would see a single post that clearly took up hours and hours of your time on top of the many other things you had posted all week! Not to mention your annual day in the life post that has me wanting to crawl into bed and take a nap for you ;) Work life balance is hard to find, but it’s so important. I’m sure you’ll probably hear negative things from people who promote the rat race, but I think it’s amazing, especially since you’re “public figures” because of all this. Best of luck to you!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Catherine!
xo
s
Jess says
Thanks for the updates. I was just curious if there have been any updates to the “Ideas Anyone?” dilemma posts from the fall. There weren’t many, but I loved those and still wonder what was done (especially to that large, bare wall).
YoungHouseLove says
I wish! We’re still waiting for after pics. We’d love to share them if/when they come in!
xo
s
amber says
Just another note about your fiddle-leaf figs–I have a great book called the House Plant Expert, and it says to water these with care, making sure the soil dries out to some extent between waterings. I think houseplants often are hurt more by over-watering then under-watering, so it can be beneficial to be a *little* neglectful!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Amber! I usually just do it once a week when they get really dry (their leaves start to wilt) and then I dump a whole bunch of water in (I read somewhere after they dry out that they like “deep waterings”).
xo
s
Kathy says
You’ll never regret putting your family first. :)so happy for you guys!
Joanna @ TheNestbook says
Great post! Two things:
1. I have that same door organizer in my kitchen pantry and I love it! Isn’t it amazing to be able to put that unused space to work?
and
2. I just re-sealed my Ardex counters after 6 months of use and posted about it here:
http://www.thenestbook.com/2014/06/24/re-sealed-concrete-counters/
YoungHouseLove says
Love it!
xo
s
Beth F says
I’m not green thumber myself, but I’m wondering if the vent right by the plant was too cool for it??? I know the air is pretty cold coming straight out of the vent.
YoungHouseLove says
Yeah I wondered that too, but the happy office one has been right next to a vent for a few months and seems psyched about it.
xo
s
Lily says
Glad to hear updates — and see how well everything is holding up!
x Lily
http://whilemyboyfriendsaway.blogspot.com/
twelvedaysold says
I’ve been enjoying the new pace of posts. I check up on my feeds a couple times a week (not daily) and there was always a buildup of YHL posts. Now it’s a lot more digestible! Not that it would matter if you started posting more, but I’ve been enjoying having posts more laid out. And a happier family with a new baby to take care of!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much!
xo
s
Liz || Shopping My Closet says
Thanks for the informative round-up!
Liz @ http://www.shoppingmycloset.com
Sarah Ramirez says
Clara and Teddy’s picture…..HOLY MOLY!….they look like twins! So cute.
Morgan says
I love seeing these posts, they are so helpful! I’m glad to see your fridge paint has held up well. I’m wondering if you guys have had any more thoughts on painting your stove? I’d really love to paint our bisque and black stove white, but am nervous to try it until I’ve seen someone I trust (you guys!) try it first.
YoungHouseLove says
I would love to! My only issue is that ours has little markings on the metal for the heat (ex: high, low, off) that would be gone if I painted over them, so I worry that might be confusing? Has anyone tried it?
xo
s
Amy B. says
I like the updates because it’s always interesting to see what worked and what didn’t.
We’re in the market for a mattress and really want an organic one. But wowee are they expensive! Even the queen size you guys got in 2009 has gone up 45% in 5 years. Curious, if you had to buy that mattress right now for $2800, would you?
YoungHouseLove says
Wow, that’s a jump! I think $2800 might feel a little too high for us. Ugh, but it’s a great bed and it has lasted us so long and is still comfy, so if we knew it would be this nice we might? That’s a hard question!
xo
s
Justine says
Hi there, love the update. Just on the marks on the fridge, they actually might be from the fridge door swinging open to wide. Ours did the same, and I thought was is that, and worked out when the door swings way open the door rubs on the fridge and scratches the paint off, even on new ones not just repainted ones.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip! Will have to study the mark to see if that’s what’s up!
xo
s
Lindsay says
Love everything…you guys are amazing! I close on my house on Thursday and I am coping so many of your ideas and thinking….”what would YHL do?” HAHA!!! I found a similar table in your kitchen but wondered how that is holding up? Are you still happy with it? Still like that it is not completely flat and level? Also, do you get watermarks and must use coasters all of the time?
Love that you are cutting back too…..we can never get this time back with the kiddos!!!
Lindsay
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet! The crazy thing is that even through grape juice spills and a giant soy sauce explosion, the table still looks great. We’ve also never had issues with water rings or anything soaking into the surface, so I can only explain it as having some sort of invisible matte wax that seals it (it’s definitely not anything glossy) so it’s more protected than it looks.
xo
s