Today is the last day to vote in the 48-Hour Challenge. The timing of the challenge was a bit crazy (coinciding with my ninth month of pregnancy), but Brandon and I took it on and we’re so proud to have been a part of it. Thank you to Better Homes and Gardens for asking me to be a part of the challenge, and thank you to the other participants: The Cottage Nest, The Home Garden, The Wood Whisperer, and of course my friends over at This Young House. We were thrilled to be in such wonderful company, and the other four projects were all incredibly inspiring.
Here’s a look back at where we started…
And where we ended…
And during the process we went from a married couple to a family.
Thank you too, all of you, for your support throughout the whole process. There were times when I thought I was in a bit over my head (*ahem*, porch painting), but the end result and your thoughtful comments made it all worth it. And I truly appreciate those of you that took time to vote for us, whether it was once a day, once in a while, or just once. Thank you.
106 comments
Krysten
Love the family pic, super cute!
Jenni
congrats on winning the challenge!
joanne
so awesome! yay!
Haley
Congrats? When do they announce “the winner”??
Neal Jacoby
This is my first time posting on one of the blogs I follow – but I love your blog and haven’t “heard” from you for a few days. Hope all is well/
Ke Zhang
I’ve been voting and it seems like you’ve unofficially won so congrats! Your baby girl is so cute and I hope the whole family is doing well. Can’t wait to see the improvements you make with the funds.
Nicolette
You really have nothing to worry about. The house looks great, including the porch. I look forward in seeing more great works from you!
Nicolette
http://www.furnitureanddesignideas.com
k8
yay! i’m so happy you won the challenge. mainly because i am excited to see what you do with $5,000 and your darling home.
always an inspiration nicole, always.
Tracey
Congrats on a beautiful daughter & a beautiful winningpatio too!!!
Well done to you both!
Allyn
Congratulations on the challenge, and on your beautiful baby girl! I really enjoy your blog. I just bought my first home and in decorating it I often look to your site for pictures that inspire me to reach for some beautiful looks and ideas. thank you!
Blondie
Your family is so cute! Which is why I voted for you almost every single day! LOL Good Luck! I hope you guys win!
Lucesita
Wuuuuu Huuuuuu!!!! We won!!!! I mean you won but I’m soooooo happy for you guys….Much blessings…
Laurie
Wow, when will the winner be announced? Unofficial congratulations until then!
Brandie
Congrats on the win! You seriously deserved it!
amy purple
When will they let us officially congratulate you? Until then, unofficial congrats! Freaking awesome!
Sanity Fair
SO cute! You did a great job – good luck!
Rija
Congratulations! Well-deserved and now maybe some of your home improvement to-do list can be achieved :)
Mrs Limestone
Congrats!
Allison
Unofficial congratulations!
carol
I hope you won, I’ve been voting almost everyday for you :)
Denise
I just watched the trailer for the movie Away We Go. Hope it comes to a theater in my area!
mrs.lee
Congrats!!!!
http://pearlsandgreentea.blogspot.com/
Making it Lovely
I haven’t received any official word yet, but it certainly seems so!
Amanda
Ooh, I think you won! Yay!!! Congrats :)
Lucesita
Mmmm! I think you won!!!yu hu!!!i’m so happy for your family!!!blessings to all
Tommy Bahama Bedding
You did such a great job – the porch looks amazing :)
Ann-Kristin Iversen
Hey!
You guys did a great job! The transformation looks really good. I bet you’ll enjoy some long summer evenings on that porch;)
Thanks for sharing!
Greetings from Norway!
Amy
Voted again today! Are they going to announce it soon?…..
April-Living The Sweet Life
Congrats on your sweet new baby. I love the color pallet you chose. Pinks & lime greens are a prefect summery combination.
Emma
I am doing what Amy does and will keep voting until BHG changes the voting website!
Danielle
Have you won? I thought the contest ended June 12th. Let us know! I really hope you won!
amy purple
i’m still voting til it’s not letting me!
Diane
You can vote, but the totals haven’t changed since Friday night. So I think the votes are no longer being counted. So, you’ve won!! I’m convinced! Whoopee. I want to see the bathroom remodel (and E’s window, of course) Can I have both?
Sarah
I was able to vote again today!! I hope you win, i love your awesome porch!!
Laurie
Voted again today! What the heck? Still in the lead though, WOOT!
msmezzo
June 14th, still voting. Can anyone say “hanging chads?”
Jolie
Who won?!?!?!?!?!?!
Sara
Quick, quick, quick! You can still vote today, the 13th! I just tried it!
Clara
I voted again 2day too!!
teresa
Just voted again! Hoping you win!!!!! That painted floor is just killer.
Brittany
So I went to the BHG website just now (6/13) and was still able to vote.
Lucitebox
Hi Nicole! I’ve been pulling for you (and voting for you) throughout the contest. I hope you win! I was just able to vote at 1:32 CST.
Diane
Actually, you are ahead by 1,112 votes. I am still voting out of fear that BHG is messing up and that other competitors will pull 1,000 voters out of thin air (as someone mentioned above.)
Alysia
I still voted today! (June 13th)…not sure if they closed the voting or not. But you were in the lead by 200 or so. Oh my! What a close race.
Shalini
Hi Nicole, I just checked to see if the results were declared on BHG.com but I don’t see the contest being closed and they still allow you to vote. Wonder why?
robin
congratulations!!! you did it :O)
danielle
i voted! keeping my fingers crossed for you guys…what paint did you use for the porch? i am wanting to paint ours, but am unsure what paint to get.
Denise
Nicole, since I noticed TYH congratulating you on Twitter I’m going to follow them in offering my Congrats! I’m a huge fan of TYH, too (John and Sherry are awesome), still your lovely porch had my vote from day one!
msmezzo
June 13 and I am still voting! fingers crossed
Emma
Me too, Susan! It makes me anxious that we can still vote – what if the Richmond couple suddenly pull a thousand people out of their sleeve? Go Nicole!
Melissa
Looks like you won the challenge! Yah!!! I can’t wait to see what other projects you come up with!
Denise
Ditto Susan, here! I’m a bit confused by BHG’s lack of detail with the contest at this point. Surely they will update their voting page (as in halt the vote counter) and announce a winner today! Glad to see Nicole still in the lead.
Susan - Jubilee Furniture Co.
Just checking in to see who won – before leaving for work – and linked to the BHG site and you could still vote – so I did (for you of course! I would imagine they will discount any votes after midnight), but by voting it showed the totals for each of the contestants – and you were in first place with 22,437 votes! Gosh, sure hope that’s true and if so congratulations!
French furniture crazy
I love your porch. It’s a nice place for you and your family to relax. Charming!
Jennifer Rea
Good luck! It looks like you are winning!
Jo
I’ve voted every day – all the best from Australia!
Mim
I voted for the last time today and there isn’t that much time left! Keeping my fingers crossed that you keep your lead :)
melissa copeland
i made my last vote today.. you were winning.. good luck!!
Katie
I put my last and final vote in! I hope you win! I think you deserve it the most. Good luck!!
btw – noticed your twitter update… I am glad you are ok and that everything is ok or is going to be ok… That’s a scary thing to hear.
C
I’m still in awe that you painted that porch while 9months pregnant! It brings to mind a very Morrocan or even Indian traditional ethnic style. Resort style- fabulous.
Abbe
I just got my vote in. I hope it puts you over the top!
Ash
I really like what you have done with your porch except for the green and white divider. I don’t see it’s purpose and find it takes away from everything else.
Just a comment not an attack.
Jpoo
You guys deserve to win!! Perhaps baby Eleanor will get that new window for her room after all…..
Jill
Hi from New Zealand (in mid-winter). I love what you have done with your porch, and your whole house. Keep up the great work, and thanks for sharing it with us.
mina
you deserve the win, I’ve been voting daily!
Jessibee
I have a terrible memory but somehow I have managed to remember to vote for you everyday! Good luck guys!
Anonymous
I second what Caitlin said. . . A married couple is a family. Many in the world make you feel otherwise, especially when you are childless not by choice.
Carolina Avellaneda
I voted everyday. It’s 3:30 pm…21341 votes…I think you should start celebrating!!!
Jen
i’ve been voting everyday. i really hope you guys get it! :)
Cindy
Good luck!! I’ve been voting for you!
robin
good luck! can’t wait to hear you’re the winner :O)
puck
i’m sure we have all been voting! i know i have.
good luck!!!!
Tracy
Good luck, guys. I voted too today and I hope you guys win the prize, you deserve it. Your work is excellent!
Elena
Nicole, I love your porch, your site and the way you have conducted yourself during this whole process. You truly deserve to be the winner (even though I do love TYH site as well). Therefore, have voted daily! Cant wait to see what you do with the winnings!
amy purple
I hope you guys win, you’re almost 1,000 votes in the lead. I’ve been remembering to vote!
pj
count me in as a fan! love the porch and admire your sense of style. good luck!
:::Lyzz:::
I voted everyday and glad to contribute to your current lead. Good luck and hope you guys win!
christy
Good luck! I just voted. I hope you win!
jo
i voted for you almost every day (i’ll admit i forgot a couple of times.) you deserve it!
meredith k
good luck, nicole! i have been voting for you almost everyday for the last few weeks… the painted rug is my favorite parts of your challenge entry ;)
KatieO
you’re my idol. I’ve put my vote in, for you, every chance possible! So excited to see the voting results!
Aunt Jane
What a lovely story you have given us. Life really is a project, isn’t it? Congratulations to all three of you! Little Eleanor will learn about the love, creativity and perseverance of her parents.
lb
I’ve been voting every day for you guys! Your porch really is lovely and you did such a great job. I can’t imagine painting a floor nine months pregnant! You and Eleanor have many years of girlie decorating fun ahead of you!
Alyssa
I love your porch. I liked Sherry and John’s too, but your transformation was just incredible. You even inspired me to paint a jute rug in a similiar pattern, which made my own home a little lovelier. So – I felt like I owed you a few votes! Fingers crossed for you…
Alysia
Hi! My husband and I have been voting for your space!! Good luck! I am nervous about the results. Best of luck.
Kristina
Hi Nicole, long time reader, first time poster. I voted every day. You did an amazing job–on the porch and Eleanor. ;) Good luck!!!
Danielle
Good luck to you! I just love the painted rug you did!
Diane
Having been recently pregnant for the first time myself, all I can say is you have my undying respect forevermore for tackling that in your 9 month, and I’ve been voting accordingly. Good luck!
kristen_verity
Been voting! Pleased to see you’re in the lead! Fingers crossed for you!
Susan - Jubilee Furniture Co.
Just voted – as I have done every day. I not only appreciate your wonderful design sense and incredible spunk (tackling this project in your 9th month of pregnancy!), but love your grace and kindness too. You are one classy lady.
Eva
I have voting every day since two weeks ago…. YUPIIIII!!! You’re winning!!! I hope this will end up with…. ejem… congratulations for your wonderfull child, your lovely porch and…. tomorrow more!!!!
Best whishes from Spain! Eva.
Dave
Your porch turned out very nicely and I know with the new baby you can make good use of the prize! Congratulations on both accounts! Thank you for the link. :)
Dave
Emma
I have been anxiously voting every morning while waking up over my cup of tea. Tomorrow I hope to be able to read the news instead of voting, and to be able to rejoice in your victory! :)
Laurie
I’ve been voting most days, I think you have the best overall design, its the most personal and really reflects you :) GOOD LUCK! I can’t believe the lead you have now, rightfully so :)
Bonnie
Good Luck! I tried to vote as many days as possible and just put my last one in today. Looking forward to the results!!!!
Leah
I’ve been voting every day! I love the transformation you’ve made. You have been inspiring me all spring to make the outside of my house a more lovely place!! Good luck!
Denise
It’s been a pleasure to read your blog and vote daily during the 43 days of the 48-Hr Challenge. Your distinctive porch design is uniquely “You”, and just keeps getting better and better! Thanks for sharing this special time in your life with all of us.
RisaJ
I’ve been trying to vote everyday….this is so exciting. I can’t wait to see the end results.
Caitlin
I’ve been voting!
Good luck, though I agree with the poster above, the true winner is your porch, as it’s lovely now!
A married couple IS a family; growing the family just adds to the love.
Reese
I just voted and have been voting for the past month when I first discovered your blog. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Thanks, —-Reese
Comments are closed.