Interview With the Grunt Labor

For months, I’ve been meaning to share this post because for once, I had Robert trade his power tools for my laptop for a day.  He’s hilarious yet down-to-earth and loud and thoughtful and sweet and a total maniac and my best friend, and y’all hardly ever get to see much of that.

Last week, I asked you guys to pass along some questions for the good ol’ grunt labor around our house. (There were quite a bit, so we chose 12.)  Even though I talk about him in pretty much every post, my husband has never really had a voice on this blog.  So if you ever wanted to know about the guy who makes my (sometimes unrealistic) DIY dreams come true, here we go…

(These answers are all verbatim from Robert.)

1. What has been your favorite project on the blog so far?

My favorite so far has been the fireplace.  It was huge and fun!  It came together even better than we envisioned, and it helped me build my confidence in my skills.  My second favorite is my office since it helps me keep so many good memories alive- trinkets from my dad, pieces from my military days, things like that.

2. Which project has been the toughest?

The hallway board and batten!  It took so long to complete because it took forever to caulk all of the boards plus paint all of those details.

The concrete countertop was a major headache too.  It felt like a sandstorm for an entire week in our house. But I’m really happy with the outcome for both of them.

3. If you could change one thing in your house, what would it be?

I really want a covered patio and a small extension of the concrete so we have more shaded space in the backyard for cookouts.  South Carolina gets very hot in the summertime.

4. What is the best way your wife motivates you to do projects for her? (This was a popular question from y’all.)

Lauren makes lists of ideas for projects and asks my input about which ones I like best.  She makes me very much a part of the decision making process in our house.  She’s never demanding about any project, and she understands and encourages me to embrace my own personal hobbies outside of the DIYs.  After we finish a big project, she takes time with Olivia so I can go play a round of golf or go do some MMA (mixed martial arts) at my gym.  

5.  What are the tools you think every guy needs that helps like you?

Hammer, level, circular saw, drill, a set of wrenches, pliers, a good set of paint brushes- there are plenty of other things that are good to have, but most of our projects involve those 7 tools.

6. Do you think there will come a day when you will feel comfortable letting Lauren handle the power tools?

Absolutely!  I’d hand her the power tools today, but the real question is will there ever come a day when Lauren feels comfortable letting me handle the camera? I’m not really the best photographer.  She uses the power tools some, but she usually has to be the one documenting with the camera as we work.

7. Do you have any input into the projects or are they all her design?

It’s definitely a shared effort.  Lauren comes up with the initial design and then I give my input for changes.  I mostly designed the office on my own and Lauren listened to what I wanted to carry it out.  I came up with the new layout design in our living room to move our TV.  Since we’ve been working together, I’m starting to see and understand how to design too.   

8. Would you call yourself a “skilled” craftsman or a “novice”?

I still have a lot to learn but I grew up in a very old house with a dad who is very handy.  I paid attention and have transferred those skills into our own house.  I’m no master but I’ve learned a lot.  

9.  If you had to pick one favorite moment from your relationship with Lauren, what would it be?

I love the way we met (she was my waitress) and our first official date.  I had her smell my truck’s toolbox.  I told her over our dinner date that my toolbox in my truck smelled like stinky cows from working on a cattle ranch in Texas and when we walked to my truck in the restaurant parking lot, she actually smelled it.  She wasn’t afraid to look ridiculous. I thought, “Dang! This girl’s legit.”  

10. What would you say your style is and how does it differ from Lauren’s?

I don’t even know what styles are out there really.  I know I like antiques and I like super rustic, primitive type stuff.  I’d live in a log cabin in the woods, if I could.  Lauren’s style isn’t as rough and rugged. 

11. What’s one thing about Lauren that would surprise people?

She can devour an entire bowl of ice cream in the same amount of time it takes for me to drink a small glass of milk.  My wife really really loves ice cream.  Brain freeze has no power over her.

12. What’s the most rewarding thing that’s come from your blog?

Lauren and I have had a lot of growth in our marriage from the blog.  We work side by side, and it’s never easy, and every project has a point that stresses us out, but we’ve been able to see how we can still overcome the conflicts and challenges.  And we try to find the most economically-friendly way to tackle a project, not just for the blog, but for our own personal finances.  

Lauren again:

Robert and I so much fun and we laughed so hard as I asked him some of these questions.   (I totally forgot I sniffed his truck toolbox on our first date. Who does that?) Maybe I should let him give this blogging thing a go more often.  Hope you enjoyed this as much as we did!

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