Michael Payne's design services are free, but couples pay for materials and labor. Women want softer, more feminine things and enjoy floral patterns. Men think those are sissy. Women want a place that's homey, cozy and inviting. Women want what they want, whatever the cost.
Men are often more patient and sympathetic to delays.
A man might want to try a concrete counter top, while his wife wants something more traditional, such as Corian or granite. Women can always find a place to put something new. All decorating experts advise us to design our homes to reflect the people who live in them. Jaclyn C. Hirschhaut, spokeswoman for the American Furniture Manufacturers Association, says Mars and Venus can make their planets align. Here are the association's suggestions on what to do when you want to trash the items your partner considers a treasure.