This weekend (really, starting Thursday as soon as they started pouring in) we, somehow, narrowed all 2648 of your bathrooms and kitchens you submitted for our Lowe's Spring makeover down to hundreds. And then 100. And then 48. And now, 10. And we can't possibly narrow it down anymore, so we've called on our dream team to help us get it down to 3. We wanted to thank everyone that told us their story and sent us their photos. There were 1581 kitchens and 1067 bathrooms coming in from all 50 states and D.C., too, and ALL of them are in need. Some more than others. It was humbling in a lot of ways and heart-breaking, too. We wish we could come visit all of you! We should have an announcement of where we're headed hopefully by the end of this week or early next week.
• In between peeking into your homes, Chris finished building the new shelving in the storage room, and Saturday morning, we tag-teamed the paint job. Originally, I envisioned the shelves darker than the floor, but as soon as they were in place, they felt BIG (hooray for actually being able to store things!), and I didn't want to weigh down the room with a heavier paint color, so we painted them the same color as the walls (Benjamin Moore, White Dove) and I love how the lighter, warmer floors (Ben Moore, Ice Breaker) ground the whole space. We're working on a full tutorial for the whole room for you soon!
• Last night, while I was reading to Greta before bed, Faye came down, climbed in her bunk and asked to sleep there--the moment we've been waiting for! As much as she loves to spend time in the bunk room, and play in the bunk room, and "pretend sleep" during the day down there, when it comes time for sleeping, she prefers her crib and we haven't been pushing it. But I thought, "maybe if I don't make a big deal about this, this will be the night!" So I tucked her in, and we turned off the lights and she lasted all of ten minutes before she was upstairs asking to sleep in her crib. Maybe next time...
• I'm still getting used to using Instagram stories myself, but I love seeing what pops up in everyone else's! @thriftydecorchick was at some home show, and shared this photo that I immediately screen grabbed. The prettiest ping pong table I ever did see. (I think you could DIY something similar!)
• Lastly, we really enjoyed reading everyone's comments and opinions on this mattress post. Chris recently bought an inversion table (this one!) that has been helping his back somewhat, but we've also decided to go ahead and start shopping for a new mattress. We recently partnered with Sleep Number, who is confident they have the mattress for us, and Chris and I thought it would be fun to do a Facebook Live in the store when we go try their options for the first time. We'll let you know when that's going to happen!
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WE'RE CHRIS + JULIA
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My husband had a bulging disk for years but it became unbearable - 24/7 pain. Lost 15 lbs and an inch in diameter and shuffled his feet like a 99 year old man. He still worked (sm. animal veterinarian), but could not sleep at all and basically started to loose it. After years of chiropractor, massage, inversion table, physical therapy, he was nearly hopeless. And he was totally against surgery. But when the foot went number over night and foot-drop was appearing, he was in surgery in four days...left the house and back again with a microdiskectomy (sp?) in 8 hours!!!! He woke up pain-free (of course, when anesthesia wore off, he had surgery pain and muscle pain to deal with and was very careful and obedient re: what he could/could not do for 6 weeks. His mantra has changed...."Surgery is the miracle of modern medicine!" Life-changing! The kids all thought his exoskeleton (staples) rocked and that he grew four inches during surgery. I hope surgery isn't needed, but since my husband's, we have met a dozen people who said they suffered for years as my husband did and it changed instantly with that surgery. Maybe it isn't what Chris needs??? Prayers!
Not too happy with our sleep number mattress. i8. Felt great in the store with their foundation--I returned to the store multiple times trying to solve our issues. The last time she had me lay there for a looong time while she worked with other customers. Still felt great. I think the problem is our wood framed queen size bed. The horizontal wood supports don't support the mattress properly. It took an independent mattress store owner to suggest that we support the mattress with 2 1x4s screwed together into a "T" shape to prevent bowing. He even had a print out to show how to make them. We went in his store to shop for other options.
Customer service didn't have an answer to all of our difficulties. We really want to keep our beautiful maple sleigh bed, but may eventually have to change to a platform or their base to improve the sleep experience. My last phone call was finally with a supervisor (yay, I thought). He was very abrupt with me and said we should try plywood. Really? Do you think a piece plywood would stay supportive over a 60 inch span? Our linen cabinet has 3 foot wide plywood shelves. They bow under the weight of towels. I wish they would have told us that their mattress doesn't work well with beds that have wood rails. At least then we would have known where we stood.
They do sell ping pong nets that just clip onto your regular dining table. I think I'd love to go this route since my family tends to go all in on new hobbies and then forgets about them when the honeymoon is over. I'd be so pissed to spend any really money on something like this just to have it gather dust. There are also portable (miniature) tabletop air hockey and pool tables that just sit right on your existing furniture. We own both of those. We've used them exactly one time.
My husband and I have a split top king Sleep Number bed and unfortunately we hate it… The split at the top is a huge gap that makes snuggling impossible. The gap is so bad that our sheets and mattress pad have ripped under the pressure! Sleep Number has replaced the mattress pad once already but it just keeps happening. It's like we are sleeping in two different beds! Anyway, if you are getting the bed for free or next to free then try it. I would not recommend getting the split top though. Just my two cents. :)
When we were transitioning our kid (who was 2.5 at the time) out of her crib, we left her crib up in her room and set up her "big girl bed" in her new room. She liked playing in the big girl bed and talking about it and would sometimes say that she wanted to sleep there, but two minutes after we put her down she'd ask to go back to her crib. We didn't have the option of waiting until she was ready (we were expecting her baby brother and didn't want to buy another crib), so one day we just took her crib apart. We told her it was broken and so she'd need to sleep in her big girl bed. She didn't bat an eye and has been sleeping perfectly in her big bed ever since (a year). So I don't see any reason why you'd need to push it, but if you get tired of doing the in-and-out dance and want to make the leap, you might be able to get away with simply removing the crib as an option. (YMMV, of course)
Seconding the John Sarno book. Cured my back pain, after lying on the couch unable to walk, going to PT for six months, etc. The mind is a powerful thing... It's not the answer to everything, but it could lessen the pain, essentially telling your mind to "shut up, stop hurting my back, stop putting stress there." It's mind-boggling how well it works.
I love the storage room! What made you choose White Dove over some of the other white paints you've used in your home? If you ever wanted to do a post on how you choose white paints that would be awesome. Because that struggle is real!
2648 entries?! Phew! That is one major feat, we had fun working on our entry!
Good luck on the mattress front. We feel something like the princess and the pea after getting rid of our Casper and still not being thrilled with our new mattress. My fiance Neil has been trying an acupressure mat and yoga for his back which kind of helps but his issues aren't as severe as Chris'.
Well I've had a sleep number for 6 years now. Last year the spot I sleep in started to sag.........it still felt ok at that point, but when you made the bed you could see immediately where I slept. Called the company, and they had a one time offer for me. I chose a foam topper that was free with free shipping, and that helped for sure. The bed felt great again....for a while. Now I'm back to seeing the dip in the made bed. Those beds cost too much for this to be an issue :( I still sleep well, but the sag in the mattress bothers me.
For what it's worth, my SIL was helped tremendously by the book Foundation by Eric Goodman, all about how we move, strengthening the posterior chain of muscles (rather than all the focus being on abs), etc.
And Healing Back Pain by John Sarno cured my sister's pain. It's the idea of mind-body connection, almost 1500 reviews on Amazon averaging 4.5 stars.
Thanks for a great, really fun site. So happy about your success, you deserve it :)
Mary
(Pick Mimi ????????????????????❤)
Seriously, I echo Julie M, "kudos for reading all those submissions". It's pretty cool that so many people are tinkering with their homes :)
I'm a huge fan of white dove. For the past year I've been using on everything from walls to trim to shelves.
We have a sleep number bed and really like it except for one major problem: we got the split king size adjustable and the split at the head end really makes snuggling difficult! We never even thought of that when we were trying it out in the store (because who snuggles in a store bed!). But we do like the bed itself.
It's from the Indianapolis Home Show :)
I don't have any clue what Chris' back problems entail so please disregard this comment if it's dumb or not applicable. My mom used to run a MedX healthy back clinic at a sports club. It uses specific back strengthening and stretching excercies to help back pain. Apparently after injury our bodies compensate and start using other muscles and don't strengthen the injured ones specifically. Even if you are in shape and active this happens. They were able to help the majority of their clients avoid back surgery. Just wanted to share in case it helps!
He had back surgery 2 years ago this month. He ruptured a disc in his lower back and, unfortunately, surgery was the only answer. He was able to avoid rods or anything like that. But, it's this ongoing thing STILL that he has to be mindful of. His doctor described it as, "a crusted over tube of toothpaste. If he pushes too hard, or isn't careful, it will burst again." So he stays active, and can't lift anything too, too heavy. Goes to a chiropractor regularly. Just started the inversion table. But still hurts in the mornings when he gets up. :/
Well that sounds kinda crappy. But I guess it could be worse right? Sorry he has to deal with this!
My husband ruptured and slipped a disk a year ago so we know your guys pain. Has Chris tried Pilates? Great for creating space between the disks. Hope he finds some relief.
He hasn't tried pilates, but he does Yoga regularly. He likes to call it "bro-ga"
Hi Julia-I had the same surgery in 2008 when I was only 29 years old and it definitely took a few YEARS to get to a point when I wasn't constantly in some sort of pain or discomfort, and I know I'm not doing as much as I could to further improve my back condition. Ive heard great things about the inversion table. Hopefully that will make him feel better sooner than I did. Swimming helps too. You are welcome to pick our project and come to FL and use our pool! Just kidding-hope he gets well soon so you guys can continue doing all the awesome work you do!
Kuddos to you guys for reading all those submissions!
That ping pong table is awesome! I'm inspired to build a regular table, at ping pong size, that can also convert to a fun zone with a detachable net.
Your storage space is looking so fresh and so clean. The white is great!
Your storage room turned out great! Now onto the fun part of restocking it. :)
http://dahliasanddimes.com/2017/01/27/choosing-quartz-countertops-review-options/
I need to go read your mattress post but just want to throw in my 2 cents. We are currently test driving an online foam mattress and feeling pretty meh about it. What we're replacing is our sleep number mattress that we've had for 20 years. It was an awesome mattress and we're pretty convinced we need to just go back to that. Good luck and hope you find something wonderful!
You go mom and dad on waiting until the kid is ready.... so much easier in my opinion.
Love our sleep number bed we have had it 12 years! I'm soft and hubby likes his side hard for his bad back! We recommend it all the time!!
I am impressed with all you accomplished in one weekend! That pool table is stunning. So with you on letting kids do things when they are ready. Been re-learning that lesson at our house as our kiddo is suddenly taking leaps in independence that she just wasn't ready for before.
Another vote for a Sleep Number here. I prefer a softer mattress, hubby likes firm for his bad back. We've had ours for 5 years and still enjoy getting in bed every night. Good luck in your search!
Has he tried acupuncture? That's the only thing that has helped my back tremendously. Usually doctors don't have as much training in it as actual acupuncturists. So I would say find someone that just does acupuncture! It's amazing!
I cannot wait to hear about your choice! We are still crossing our fingers and praying you choose our sunny kitchen!
We got a sleep number bed last summer and both my husband and I really like it! It feels like a regular mattress but we love being able to individually adjust how firm/soft we need it. I hope you find one that works for you!