You’ve asked how various projects and updates around the house have held up—everything from our Ardex concrete counters and the grout stain in our foyer to appliances, plants, and our scaled-back blogging schedule. We don’t always update as often as we should (we tend to bounce from one project to the next), so here’s a current rundown on what’s lasted, what’s changed, and what we still like.
Ardex concrete counters: Our concrete counters have been mostly excellent. The sealer we chose has kept them more durable than we expected. After more than two months of daily use we haven’t found noticeable scratches, divots, or marks. That may be because we don’t do heavy restaurant-style prep at home and we also keep two large wooden cutting boards on the counters for hot pots and most slicing tasks. If you go with darker stains on Ardex however, expect scratches to show up more than with a natural finish.
In terms of staining, most spills just sit on the surface and wipe away easily—water even beads on the sealer like it does on finished wood. A few spills that sat for a while (citrus or similar) have left subtle, darkened spots that soaked in and can’t be wiped off. They give the counters a bit of an industrial, lived-in look that doesn’t bother us. I did put piping-hot tea down once and a very faint haze ring appeared, nearly impossible to see unless you’re inches away at the right angle. Now we make a point to use cutting boards for hot items and haven’t seen additional issues.
Grout stain in the foyer: The grout stain we applied in early January still looks the same. Despite regular mopping, muddy shoes, pet paws, and heavy foot traffic, the stained grout is holding up well. We’ve also heard from people who used the same product years ago in showers and other high-traffic areas and are still happy with the results.
Fridge paint: The fridge we painted from bisque to white has held up well. Normal use hasn’t caused peeling or major wear, and Clara’s magnets don’t seem to scratch the finish. We did notice one scraped area along the right door edge, likely from carrying a large item like lumber and brushing it against the corner. So everyday use is fine, but avoid scraping heavy materials along door edges.
Washer and dryer: We love our new set. With a newborn in the house they’ve been used heavily and we’re very happy with them. The washer cleans well and spins clothes so they’re only damp going into the dryer, which reduces dryer time and makes line-drying an easier option. We also appreciate not having to crouch as much thanks to the top-loader design, which is surprisingly convenient when holding a baby.
Pantry re-organization: The pantry makeover has been a huge improvement. It’s not perfectly organized all the time, but it’s a massive upgrade over the previous dark, chaotic shelving. Tucking the microwave inside, using a door organizer, and hanging bread baskets have been the most helpful changes. Narrow storage that prevents items from getting lost in the back has been invaluable.
Game closet: Our toy “library” is messier than it used to be since we have a newborn, but the clutter is kept behind the closet door, which is lifesaving. Clara usually follows a one-out-one-back rule, so the mess doesn’t spread through the house. The closet does the job—even if it looks like a pit most days. (And yes, there’s a costume wig on the floor that Clara loves.)
Fiddle leaf figs: We’ve had many questions about these plants. They were on sale at Home Depot for $58, the red pot and the small wheeled cart are from Lowe’s. I water each about once a week with roughly 20 ounces of water and keep them in indirect light. One plant is doing well in the corner of the office. The other declined after I moved it to the dining room when we added shelves, so I moved it again to the kitchen corner and hope that helps—sometimes location changes can make a big difference even when light and watering stay consistent.
Organic mattress: Our mattress is about five years old and still comfortable and firm. We know some people have experienced body impressions over time, but ours hasn’t developed noticeable pitting and remains supportive, which suits our preference for a firmer sleep surface.
Target hooks: People asked whether we used the hooks beyond the picture hanger. I added several mismatched white hooks inside a closet to hang necklaces that used to be tangled in a drawer. They work great—now I actually wear my necklaces more—and they also make the dog oddly fascinated by dangling jewelry.
White and stained kitchen cabinets: The white-painted upper cabinets and stained lower cabinets have been holding up well after about six months. The white uppers are easy to keep clean with the occasional wipe, and the stained lowers hide spills and splatters better. Nothing has chipped or bubbled so far, but good prep—sanding, deglosser, primer, and quality paint—is essential if you plan to paint cabinets.
Homemade terrarium: The terrarium didn’t make it. Despite following care tips and using activated charcoal, this one failed. Sometimes a project just doesn’t work out—file that under our “black thumb” mistakes.
Expedit changing table: The changing table setup has been great and very practical. We keep diapers in a large basket with wipes handy on the top right of the pad. We sometimes walk upstairs to use the changing table because it’s more comfortable than the ottoman downstairs. We haven’t committed to cloth diapers yet—tried them but they felt a little loose—so for now disposables live in the basket. If we switch to cloth full-time we’ll likely store them in the same basket and use a wet-bag-lined pail nearby.
Upstairs hardwoods with Elastilon underlayment: The hardwood floors and Elastilon underlayment have worked well overall. The floors haven’t felt soft or dented despite heavy family use, and seams and boards haven’t shifted noticeably after more than a year or through temperature swings. Most areas feel solid and like nailed-down floors. However, one guest room spot feels a little bouncy, which we suspect is due to an uneven subfloor under the underlayment. It’s not visually obvious and most guests don’t notice, but it lacks the rock-solid feel of the rest of the floors. The takeaway: Elastilon can be great, but ensure the subfloor is level to avoid flexy spots.
Scaled-back blogging schedule: We’ve been very happy with slowing down. Fewer posts have led to lower traffic and income, which we expected, but the change has improved our quality of life. Over the past two months I’ve been a much more present parent, and I’m grateful not to have missed moments in pursuit of one more project or post.
Have you tried anything lately that you ended up loving or regretting? Share your favorites or your warnings—we’d love to hear what’s worked (or what hasn’t).
P.S. If you’re curious about projects that didn’t go as planned, we’ve written about a few mistakes and learning moments in past posts. Sometimes trial and error is the best teacher.
*This post contains affiliate links to things we have purchased and loved*