September 06, 2006

Design for the Sexes

I'm addicted to HGTV, and I have dragged Lucas into my addiction (with minimal kicking and screaming). One of our favorite shows is "Freestyle" where they completely redecorate a room in one day using all their own stuff ( no paint or anything). It basically consists of moving furniture and rehanging artwork, but it's really cool. This concept is very appealing to student couples with no money living in housing where there is limited space and no painting allowed. So we decided that we would take the Labor Day weekend and "freestyle" our apartment (they only need one day, but we're not professionals so we figured we'd need a little more time). We decided that, while we were at it, we should clean and organize the apartment...and our storage space. Now, there is another show on HGTV called "Design for the Sexes" where they work with a couple trying to create a design that they both like. In general, I don't enjoy this show at all, but I learned the value of compromise this weekend. It turns out that when we talked about this weekend as being one of cleaning, organizing, and decorating Lucas heard: CLEANING, ORGANIZING, and decorating, while I heard: cleaning, organizing, and DECORATING. I couldn't figure out why he would get frustrated when I would jump ahead to which pictures we wanted to frame, or where to move the lamp I hate. He couldn't figure out why I got frustrated when we were in day 3 and we'd only made it through the storage unit, the closets, and the bedroom and done NO decorating. The good news is that we managed to survive the "freestyle." Our apartment is much cleaner, we got rid of a ton of junk, and we changed the furniture and art around enough so that I am happy...I mean WE are happy!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have been having Dad watch these shows with me too and get very excited about the decorating ideas and organizing not so much the cleaning part which I am afraid is probably what he figures is the only thing that needs to be done and the rest will be ok. So during commercials I am going off and saying I have been thinking about this and we could do this and so on and he sits there with this look, like yah right, but never says much. I quess after 26 year and some months of marriage he figures this too will pass. Only I think he is starting to get the fever. Especially when I talk about helping to sale the house some day. I too like the idea of using what you have and just rearranging to make a better differance. Dad seems to put furniture and want it to stay put for ever. I think the shows are helping change this attitude a little. Hope you enjoy your changes. mom in Ne.

Anonymous said...

oh man! now I am gonna have to come back and see what has changed! lol = ) did you guys put up the candle wall things we bought from Illumination?

Also... KIM DON'T HATE ME (becuase I LOVE YOU and GO HUSKERS) but Lucas might be proud of me... I'm rooting for MI this time around in football. my website is even sporting MI colors

Anonymous said...

Hi Kim and Lucas, Wow! I'm VERY impressed that Lucas hung in for 3 days. This morning I asked Grandpa to help clean the patio room. I moved things out and he vacumned while I dusted and put things back. He was doing a great job and we were making super progress. Then I sat down and was going through some of my stuff in a magazine rack and he said 'looks like it's just your stuff to do' and he was gone! I should have just set that aside and kept him moving! And I LOVE all those decorating shows and 'sell this house' and 'buying a new house'. I'm at the stage that I just like to look and it doesn't stir up any ambition to do anything. Grandpa was VERY happy when he could count on the bed or sofa always being in the same spot!! Life is good! G & G in NE

ldmiller said...

Stina!

Go Maize and Blue!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for taking care of my husband tonight! I'm sorry i can't be with you all but can't wait to hear stories of the awesome deals you'll find!

Anonymous said...

I want to move into a different house so the concept of cleaning and rearranging is just Not there. I think dad would get into all of this, he is always fixing something around here or downstairs cleaning out. GO MICHIGAN!! GO CORNHUSKERS!! But most of all GO PISTONS!!!!! you two are always up to something fun! thanks for sharing your special cleaning and decorating days. Luv MOM in MI

Anonymous said...

If you can call me a fan at all I am afraid you can't live In Nebraska without being a fan at least a little. so Go Huskers!
Ne. mom

Anonymous said...

what? no pictures of the final result?? so sad!

Lucas you are amazing for getting Stina to Boston to surprise Kim. :o)

And I'm sad for you that your neighbors have moved... (they were wonderful!) but I am sure that God will bless you with both as you make new friends.

Lots of love.

Anonymous said...

Imitating home improvement shows is OK for the faint-of-heart, but for a more adventurous time I highly recommend finding people who have genuinely never cooked before and having them imitate cooking shows. My brother Mike set the kitchen on fire a few years back when he threw a package of frozen smokey link sausages into a pan of boiling oil. Great times! I've also been thinking about shopping a show concept to the networks where sorority girls have to perform work on their boyfriend's car, while the guy has to watch on closed-circut television and can't intervene. Now there's a reality show that even I would watch!

Anonymous said...

lucath, i alwayth knew you had a thertain... flair for interior dethign. i am glad you have finally found a creative outlet to expreth yourthelf!

ldmiller said...

Ah, can we say lisp?

Anonymous said...

Um, 20 days without an update. Weak, people, weak.