My observation over the years of the interaction between husbands and wives in our design store is that their relationship is much like the one between congress and the president. The wives usually do all the legwork, homework, and research, while the husbands are mostly uninvolved but reserve the right to veto. They’ll spend whatever it takes for a flatscreen or the latest in golf technology, but balk at the cost of custom window treatments.
The other day, Elizabeth and I were at one of our favorite clients homes, enjoying a glass of wine and having fun talking about future projects around the house. Even though they have used our services for much of their home, the wife still likes to shop and was a little embarrassed to tell me she was about to buy a nice vanity for their powder room at a buying club. It was too good of a deal to pass up, she explained, and she had spent all that money to join. Just about then, Elizabeth came out of the powder room, tape measure in hand, and said “you havent ordered it yet, have you? It wont fit!” Sure enough, had it been installed the guests would have had to sit side saddle to use the facilities.
The husband smiled and said, “honey, will you just pay them (us) what it takes to do this right?”
Finally! No veto! And she didn’t have to pay four grand to join us…