I shared my progress with friends and we all agreed that reno is the root of home quarrel. All have more or less the same story. Amazingly, all come to a conclusion, delegate responsibility. Wife handles the kitchen, man takes care of everything except kitchen.

Give her the free hand to how she WANTS her kitchen to be. That way, you reduce the unnecessary friction and argument. And that also will not mean you will have the peace of mind.

I, myself have had a fare bit of grumble and unhappy the things go. The reno taken up so much of my time and I do have my own biz to run too. Trouble with Indon contractors, house design, old and worn off parts that could not find replacement and etc. My legs were sour for standing long hours to supervise contractors. My wife does not care much and I told her off that I will make all decisions pertaining to all building material, color, furniture and fittings. Boy! What is a waste of time. I got to take her to decide on building materials. Double work.

And my wife did not bother to research ID. Working women want maintenance free things. Best if all furniture and fittings do not require care. Plastic!

So, she wanted blind instead curtain. My anger shoot over the roof that she does not take the initiative getting the curtain. Talk about today working woman!

The price of the blind for whole house came up to RM3k, roller blind. I thought it does not present good value. Blind as good as it may be, it is plasticky. So, I went shop for curtain. O man! A man shopping for curtain. That is odd, isn't it? I chat with the curtain boss, she told me that nowadays more men shopping for curtain. Man! It fueled further. What today women want? Zero responsibility.

I do not like sitting on things. Ok! I went on to decide on type and fabric for the curtain and waiting for a fight! Anyway my fashion taste is better than hers because she only visit the house less than 3 times. The last time she visit was the house is 95% finished. She did not say a word but showed a satisfied facial expression.

So, I wonder if others have similar encounter.

This post has been edited by limch: May 13 2011, 10:21 PM

I'm rather surprise that some women came to this forum to seek recommendations and advice. My wife will leave everything to me even the kitchen layout, utensil and etc and later complain. She would at least try a bit to lighten my burden, but I did not see it coming.

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Added on May 14, 2011, 8:17 pmHands on, you learn and you be strong. You stop learning, you will be dependent on others. I'm not in construction but I refused to sit there and doing nothing. That's me.

This post has been edited by limch: May 14 2011, 08:17 PM

Now, my wife a got big kitchen but it remained as show piece. This is dry area [attachmentid=2214106]. This is wet area.

Careful when you use black tile on your kitchen area, it will look small. You want a timeless design, wouldn't you.

This post has been edited by limch: May 14 2011, 08:36 PM


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Exactly what I have encountered with my wife. Clueless! I took the troubles to research and seeking advice, go ahead with the design. White is safe.

You get frustrated sometimes. That why when guys chatting on reno, the guys stood up and could not agree more. They have had a similar experience shifting new house. They told me let the wife choose color and kitchen related things or not, her lips will be forever sealed.

"nowadays more guys are doing the shopping for the house instead of the gals...." that what the curtain owner told me too. They have not idea how much load is reno.

My wife takes things for granted and I see some others the same too.

To those whose wife have given the power to choose and select, most will end up in a quarrel after reno is done. 99% guaranteed.

Could you believe it that my wife still expect me to do house work in the weekend after a long day at the reno site?

I thought it will be fair that I do the structural and electrical appliances and she manages the furnishings. Guess what! I got to do the furnishing too.
Budget overrun and now she wanted me to bring back those cartons that I packed to unpacked at the new house and bring home so that she could use! NOW, WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT! :-(

The right solution is to get more cartons.

This post has been edited by limch: May 16 2011, 07:03 PM