You’ve asked about everything from how our concrete counters are holding up and how the refinished foyer grout is aging to whether our new, reduced blogging schedule is working for us. We aren’t always the best at posting follow-ups (blogging tends to follow an “on to the next thing” rhythm), so here’s a thorough update — the third installment in this series. If you’ve been wondering about any of these projects, this should answer most of your questions.
Our Ardex concrete counters: These have been great overall, and the sealer we chose has made them more durable than we expected. We anticipated scratches, divots, and marks, but after about two and a half months of regular use we haven’t found any. That could be because we cook relatively simply and don’t constantly use razor-sharp knives on the surface, and also because we keep two large wooden cutting boards on the counters for slicing and holding hot pots. One tip we’ve heard from others: darker stains on concrete may show scratches more readily; we left ours natural, which may help hide wear.
As for stains, most spills simply sit on the sealed surface and wipe away like they would on treated wood. We’ve noticed only a few small splatters — possibly citrus — that sat long enough to soak in slightly and leave faint dark spots. Those are subtle and fit the industrial look of the concrete, so they don’t bother us. I did once place piping hot tea directly on the counter and a very faint ring appeared; you have to be almost an inch away and at the perfect angle to see it. Since then we’ve been careful to use the cutting boards for hot items, and we haven’t seen any further issues.
The grout stain in the foyer: The grout still looks the same as the day I applied the stain back in early January. Despite semi-regular mopping, muddy shoes and paws, and heavy foot traffic, the grout has held up well. We’ve also heard from readers who used the same product years ago in high-moisture areas like showers and report that theirs is still holding up, too.
The appliance paint on our refrigerator: Our fridge — originally bisque and painted white — still looks good. It’s picked up a lot more magnets thanks to Clara, and those magnets haven’t scratched or peeled the paint. We did notice a scraped area along the right edge of the door, which we suspect happened when we carried a large item like lumber and it brushed against that corner. In short: everyday use, including frequent touching of the handles and lots of magnets, hasn’t harmed the finish. Just avoid scraping heavy, rough objects along the edges.
Our washer and dryer: We love them. With a newborn at home they’ve been working overtime, and they’ve met our expectations. The washer gets clothes very clean and extracts a lot of water so items go into the dryer only damp, which shortens drying time and makes line-drying more appealing. The top-loader design also means less crouching, which is a surprisingly useful convenience when holding a baby.
Our pantry reorganization: The pantry upgrade is still paying off. It’s not as perfectly arranged as on day one, but it’s a huge improvement over the old dark, disorderly shelving. Tucking the microwave inside the pantry, adding a door organizer, and installing hanging bread baskets have been the most valuable changes. We gained useful narrow storage that prevents items from getting lost in the back, and that has made daily life easier.
The game closet: Our toy library has gotten messier since the newborn arrived — I don’t always have time to help Clara put everything perfectly back — but having all that chaos contained behind a door is priceless. Clara largely follows a one-toy-out-at-a-time rule, so the mess doesn’t spread through the rest of the house. Even if it’s a bit of a pit right now, that closet has been a lifesaver.
Our fiddle leaf figs: A few notes for anyone who’s asked: we bought them on sale, the red pot and the wheeled plant caddy are store-bought, and we water deeply about once a week (roughly 20 ounces). They seem to prefer indirect light. One plant did decline after I moved it to a different room for a short time, so I relocated it again to a kitchen corner and am hoping it recovers. Moving placement can make a big difference even when lighting and watering routines stay the same.
Our organic mattress: This mattress is five years old and has held up well. Some people report dents where their bodies lie, but ours remains firm and supportive. We like a firmer feel and configured this mattress to our preference, which has kept it comfortable through regular use.
Our hooks from Target: Several readers asked whether we used any of our branded hooks beyond a featured hanger photo. I installed a few mismatched white hooks in my closet to hang necklaces that were previously tangled in a drawer, and that little change has made me wear my necklaces more. Small storage upgrades like these can have a big impact on daily routines.
Our painted upper and stained lower kitchen cabinets: After about six months, both the white-painted uppers and the stained lower cabinets are still looking good. The white uppers are easy to keep presentable with occasional spot wiping and dusting, and the darker stained lowers have been forgiving of dirt and splatters. No chipping or bubbling so far — a reliable primer, proper prep, and good paint make a huge difference for painted cabinetry.
Our homemade terrarium: Unfortunately, that project failed. Despite sunlight and activated charcoal, the terrarium didn’t survive. Consider this a lesson in what not to do — Black Thumb Petersik accepts responsibility.
The Expedit changing table: This has been working well as a changing station. We keep diapers in a large basket and wipes on the top right. We use the table frequently, sometimes choosing to change the baby upstairs because it’s more comfortable than our downstairs ottoman. We haven’t fully switched to cloth diapers yet, but when we do we plan to store them in the same basket and use a lined trash pail or wet bag for soiled items.
Our upstairs hardwood floors with Elastilon underlayment: The hardwoods and Elastilon underlayment have performed well. The floors don’t feel soft or easily dented, even with active kids and a dog. After a year, seams remain tight and the floors feel solid in most areas, indistinguishable from traditional nailed-down boards. One exception: a spot in the guest room where the underlayment wasn’t perfectly level feels slightly bouncy. It’s not obvious visually, and most guests don’t notice, but it lacks the solid nailed-down feeling of other areas. The takeaway: Elastilon is great when the subfloor is level; uneven subfloors can produce a flexy feeling.
Our scaled-back blogging schedule: Slowing down has been a positive change. As expected, fewer posts have meant lower traffic and reduced income, but the trade-off has been worth it for our family. I’ve been able to be much more present with my children over the past two months, and I’m thankful not to have missed those early moments for one more post or project.
Have you tried something you love or regret? Share your successes and warnings — we’d love to hear about them.
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