Our holiday was full of family, laughter, and an almost comical number of Ikea boxes filling the duplex. This week we’re sharing how we tackled installing two kitchens over winter break — including the rocky start, the turning point, and the moment we finally saw the light (both literally and figuratively). We also got an avalanche of feedback from readers about the small sleeping nook we debated in our last episode, so we’ll explain how we adjusted our plans to make the space work for more families. Plus, we tested a new money-saving trick (why haven’t we done this before?) and asked our international listeners to share design norms from their regions — we’re excited to see what comes in.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it below. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you may have to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- On Christmas morning our kids discovered their dollhouses (we mentioned thinking about them in Episode #124). We filled the interiors with furniture that came with one of the houses and a $35 box of accessories we scored on Facebook Marketplace the night before.
- Sherry and the kids are starting to fix them up, and we’ll share more photos as they progress.
- Thanks for all the feedback from Episode #124 about the small sleeping nooks on each side of the duplex. As discussed on the show, we found a flexible solution that uses Ikea mattress bases to maximize adaptability.
- We’ll post final photos once everything is in place, but for now here are the quick phone “renderings” Sherry made to illustrate three different bed configurations we can achieve with the pieces we bought.
- Many readers recommended a pop-up trundle bed from Ikea. It doesn’t support the highest-voted option from last week’s poll (two separate twins), so it wasn’t the right choice for us — but if you want a pop-up trundle that makes two twin mattresses sit on the same level to form a king, this one was suggested repeatedly.
Pinterest 100 Game
- Here’s the full 2019 Pinterest 100 list for browsing, and you can hear last year’s game in Episode #78 or the earlier quiz in Episode #30.
- Also, here’s the makeover we featured where reader Angela painted her tile floor for under $75 using a stencil — it still amazes us how dramatic the change is for such a small budget.
Design Norms Around The World
- After Episode #122’s discussion about laundry room placement, a UK listener suggested we gather examples of design norms from around the world. We’d love to hear what’s typical in your region, especially where it differs from what we usually talk about.
- Please use the Google Form below and be sure to include your country, state, or region so we can group similar responses.
Duplex Kitchen Progress
- The photo above shows roughly half of the boxes delivered for the kitchens and laundry rooms on each side of the duplex — the rest were stacked on the opposite side.
- The first couple of days were slow, but we found our rhythm and made good progress. We plan to publish a detailed how-to post about installing an Ikea kitchen — this is our fourth time — with tips on steps and materials that help the process go more smoothly. Look for that in the next week or two.
- Here’s the bowed exterior wall Sherry mentioned on the episode. It needed a lot of shimming to keep the metal cabinet rail straight because we reused the original framing.
- By the end of the holiday break we’d reached a great milestone. There are still toe kicks to add, hardware to mount, and smaller items like appliances, countertops, and backsplashes to finish. But reaching this stage lets us template the counters and schedule appliance installation.
We’re Digging
- We used the same extra-long white waffle shower curtains here that worked well in the beach house; they suit 8 ft ceilings and there are longer versions available for 9 ft ceilings. We pair them with the appropriate liners depending on ceiling height.
- I also bought three 10% off Lowe’s coupons for $3 total and saved more than $50 on curtain rods and ring clips — a small trick that added up.
- And lastly, Headbanz has become our family’s new favorite game for all ages.
If you’re searching for something we mentioned in a past episode but don’t remember which show notes to open, here’s a master list of everything we’ve covered in previous “We’re Digging” posts. You can also see all the books we’ve recommended on our Book Club page.
Finally, a big thank you to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. Sign up at YNAB.com/YHL to get your first three months free.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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