By Rachel Wharton | New York Times
A major home renovation can be hard on a relationship. The process includes such classic argument starters as ever-expanding timelines and budgets, choosing from a vast assortment of colors and materials, agreeing on a general vision and aesthetic and the awkward dance of managing a team of strangers making a mess of your primary bathroom.
So we asked experts — interior designers and contractors, marriage counselors and therapists — for tips on how to protect a relationship during a renovation.
And don’t forget rule number one, said Alex Ushyarov, a partner in Gallery KBNY, a Manhattan design and build firm: If you are having serious marital problems, “you probably shouldn’t embark on a renovation. It’s not going to be good for anyone,” he said.
“The idea of a “prenup for paint colors” may sound cheeky but it’s smart. Clear agreements about budget, roles, timelines, and who gets final say aren’t unromantic. They’re protective actions for your relationship. Most resentment doesn’t explode overnight; it accumulates one ignored conversation at a time.’
‘Renovations are financial stress tests. Expanding scopes, surprise costs, and DIY delays don’t just impact your kitchen — they impact savings, debt, and long-term stability. That is where family law disputes are born. A remodel won’t fix a struggling marriage; it will expose it. “
-Rose Law Group family law attorney Kelsey Fischer provides the answer
