We've spent years renovating homes—intermittently across different properties—and the cumulative effort has profoundly shaped our lives and marriage. As seasoned DIY enthusiasts, my husband Frank and I have transformed spaces together, proving that renovations can be the ultimate relationship test. Some couples thrive on shared projects; others face strain. We've mostly succeeded—until a minor hiccup yesterday.
Table of contents
Frank and I have a strong track record collaborating on renovations—until yesterday's small disagreement, our first in years. It wasn't major, but it caught me off guard. We'll circle back to that. First, here's a rundown of our joint projects, drawn from real experience.
Just as our old house neared completion, we relocated. Not by choice initially—we'd earned our motorcycle licenses and bought Harleys for adventure. But Frank spotted our dream home (where we'd walked the dog for years) for sale 1.5 years ago. It's a solidly built, spacious property with a large garden—perfect, if outdated. Renovations began anew.
We moved in as-is and renovate while living there, allowing us to adapt thoughtfully.
Key projects so far:
Now, we're tackling the kitchen, dining, and living areas—outdated with granol walls, dark wood ceilings, wood paneling, high sockets, a dated fireplace, and ugly flooring. We're installing a new concrete-look floor (after debating herringbone or painting the paneling) and removing the paneling entirely. Floor selection was challenging!
This is our second major indoor project here. We've demolished walls (with friend assistance), installed two steel beams, lowered sockets, added wiring and heating pipes (front heating wasn't connected; pipes now in-wall). Yesterday, I demolished pantry tiles with a hammer drill—exhausting work.
That tile job followed tension over our new ceiling extractor hood installation, replacing the old fireplace (new industrial kitchen pending budget). We've never done this before; miscommunication left me confused and Frank irritated—our first spat in 17 years together. We pushed through, sore but resilient.
For us, DIY rarely strains our bond, but our friend (who helped demolish) and many others struggle. How about you? Do joint projects unite or frustrate?
We're nearly past the demolition phase: wiring's almost done, hood next, then plasterboard ceiling (pro job), steel doors, painting, floor leveling, and new flooring. Plasterer soon! We're excited—aiming for completion before summer to enjoy the garden.
Our renovations foster pride and joy in the results. Stay tuned!
