Santa's Bedroom Design and a Handy Husband!

Well, last year Santa gave us the task of working on his living room design. I think we did a great job. You can see the feed on our instagram from December 2015…

This year, we tackled his bedroom which was quite the challenge. It was full of random Christmas items from bygone years (thing #TBT). A bit of overkill if you please.

Santa & Mrs. Claus Master Bedroom BEFORE

Mrs. Claus was really concerned when we started.

“You know, Nicholas really likes to have Christmas all year round. He won’t be happy if you completely take it away.”

Then, guiding me out of the room by the elbow, she whispered softly, “But I am a little tired of all the hooplah, if you know what I mean.” She winked. “I wouldn’t mind a little more…glam.” A giggle escaped. She really was looking for a change.

Often, as a designer, I encounter times when husband and wife have different ideas about what they are looking for in design, function and budget. It’s like being a home therapist. We have to balance their desires, without making either feel that their opinion is worth less. It’s delicate. But can be, and is often, a part of what makes us successful.

So we got hard to work, and came up with a design they both loved.

Bed, Dresser, Nightstand: Universal through Monaco Interiors Lighting: Royal Lighting Sheepskin throw: CB2 Area Rug: Surya through Monaco Interiors Sheepskin toss cushion, Gum drop toss cushion: Crate & Barrel Wing Chair: Monaco Interiors Sheet set: Bed Bath & Beyond, Merry Christmas toss cushion, Deer toss cushion, Artwork: Wayfair

Meanwhile, a tidbit about my place…

I am so not going to be blogging for the next 2 Fridays. But a promise is a promise. And here is my best advice for if your husband is a handy guy and you are about to embark on a major renovation:

It’s a list…

Hire as many people as you can afford.
Be very clear about timelines and expectations.
Tell him that in no way at all are you taking any responsibility over anything because he is not a professional and you are not a designer and your life will be hell if you allow him to look at you sideways every time you accidentally forget to tell him that the gas guy is coming tomorrow to hook up the stove.
There are limits to how much a human can work. And although my husband seems to defy those limits, in reality, family time and basically having a life, is more important than saving a buck.
Most handy guys are going to insist on doing the bulk of the work. Yes, even if you are basically a contractor/designer and you have all the trades standing there willing to do it for you. Stand strong. Hold your ground. He will thank you one day.
A handy husband takes 6 months to change a lightbulb, but will work until 1am every night for a year if you threaten to hire someone to do what he insists he can do himself. They cannot imagine paying someone to do what they are perfectly capable of accomplishing.
A handy husband really is hot. You get it.
Be understanding that he is tired and grumpy. And if you don’t want him to be tired and grumpy, see notes #1 and #4 and #5.
Be organized. REALLY REALLY organized.
GOOD LUCK!!!!

We will be out of the office, and working only tiny bits from Dec. 24th to January 3rd. We open back up January 4th. So if you need to reach us, we’ll be up north with Santa and the Mrs., enjoying hot chocolate in the living room and sharing battle stories from the last year.

To all our wonderful clients, from all of us here at Monaco Interiors:

I have already told Santa how terrific you are.

and for those of you who celebrate Hanukkah…Hanukkah Harry, Adam Sandler and I are planning a night out to Sammy’s Romanian Steakhouse in the Lower East Side of NY. I do promise to let Harry know to deliver lots of shmultz and chocolate gelt over the next 8 Crazy nights for you.

And to all…