There’s a bit of a cycle around here: we write about projects and products, live with them for a while, then move on to new things and blog about those. That means updates on older topics sometimes get neglected, and people ask about them often. So here’s a long-overdue follow-up with the latest on several items we’ve covered before.
Cloth diapers: Believe it or not, we’re still using the same original set of 12 cloth diapers we bought in 2010 before Clara was born. We haven’t added any new diapers, replaced any, or added liners, and two years later they’re still performing well. Recently Clara started wetting through the cloth overnight, so we use a disposable for that single occasion, but otherwise the cloth diapers handle daily use just fine. We’ve lost a snap or two on a couple of diapers, but the multiple snaps on each side keep them secure. The fabric and color have held up remarkably well and they still look close to new. These are all-in-one diapers that turned out to be one-size-fits-most, which has saved us time and money.
Karl the sectional: We still love our sectional. After more than a year of regular use by adults, a toddler, and a dog, it remains comfortable and looks largely the same. We chose a dark, very durable fabric that hides stains and wear—so effective that we haven’t needed frequent washing. When we do wash the slipcovers, our home washer and dryer handle them fine and the covers go back on easily. One small annoyance is the velcro that’s meant to hold the chaise cushion in place; it doesn’t line up perfectly, so the cushion slowly drifts outward and needs occasional nudging back into position. That’s a minor fix if we ever feel like addressing it.
Ed the bed: Our bed from Ikea has also proven to be a solid choice. It’s sturdy and comfortable, and after late-night DIY sessions we’re happy to collapse into it. It still performs well and shows no signs of premature wear.
ORB’ed hardware: Many of you wanted an update on our oil-rubbed bronze hardware. It’s holding up nicely. We don’t use the front door very often, but the knobs and deadbolts on the more frequently used doors—like the sunroom slider—have shown excellent durability through daily use. Preparing hardware by sanding and finishing with a high-grit method seems to pay off, and so far we haven’t had any problems.
Kitchen stools: We’ve had our kitchen counter stools only a few months, but they get used multiple times a day—meals, work, reading, and general sitting—and at their price point they’ve been a fantastic purchase. They’re supportive and comfortable for typical day-to-day use: dining, reading, working on a laptop, or supervising a toddler while prepping food. The models with a flexible back are notably more comfortable; if you choose a backless version, expect some loss in comfort for longer sitting sessions.
Chair in Clara’s room: That thrift-store chair we found for the nursery has earned its keep. Between nursing sessions and bedtime stories, it has been a comforting and functional spot. The rounded shape supports the arms well, and keeping an ottoman or pouf nearby for feet makes it even more usable. While a rock-and-swivel chair is a beloved choice for many parents, this simpler chair ended up being a perfect fit for our needs.
White cabinets: People often ask whether white cabinets are difficult to maintain. From our experience, painted white cabinets can look clean and bright without being high-maintenance. The cabinet paint we used is scrubbable, durable, and easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth or sponge. We typically spend a minute or two a week wiping away occasional splatters, and overall they’ve stayed looking fresh with minimal effort. Shallow inset details don’t collect dust as readily as deeper profiles, so routine dusting has been infrequent.
White Corian countertops: Our Glacier White Corian has surprised us in a good way. We worried about stains and scratches, but so far it’s resisted both, even with everyday kitchen messes like fruit juice or pasta sauce. We avoid putting a red-hot pan directly on the surface—using trivets is a habit in our kitchen—but otherwise the counters are easy to clean and maintain. The seamless installation was an unexpected bonus: without visible seams, crumbs and liquids sweep into the sink more easily and cleaning feels more thorough.
Open shelves: We adore our open shelving. They suit our daily routine because the items we store there get used frequently, so dust rarely becomes an issue. Open shelves speed up simple kitchen tasks—loading the dishwasher, setting the table, or grabbing a bowl while holding a toddler—making them a practical and attractive choice for our family.
HP Photosmart C4780: This is one of the few items we’ve been disappointed by. It’s unreliable at wireless printing: sometimes it prints a page immediately and then takes an age or fails to print subsequent pages. It’s quirky enough that we’ve considered replacing it and may eventually return to a different brand that proved more dependable for our needs.
Nikon D3000: The DSLR was a worthwhile upgrade for family photos and blog images. We’re still learning the camera, but the image quality and flexibility have made a noticeable difference compared to a point-and-shoot. Adding a 50mm lens improved low-light performance for action shots of a toddler and a dog, though for wide interior shots we still rely on the kit lens.
That’s the roundup. We hope these updates help if you’re considering any of the same items for your home. What in your house has pleasantly surprised you or turned out to be a disappointment? We always enjoy hearing recommendations and warnings from other readers as we keep refining and evolving our space.