Working With Your Spouse: The Comedy and Craft of Partnership in Renovation
One of the questions I get asked most often—right after “what color should I paint my cabinets?”—is: “How do you actually work with your husband without driving each other crazy?”
And honestly? It’s a fair question. Running a business with your spouse is not for the faint of heart. But when you find the right balance, it’s also one of the most rewarding (and occasionally hilarious) things you can do.
The Two Halves of Monaco
Our company has two very distinct halves, much like our marriage.
Denys: The Hands
My husband, Denys, is a craftsman through and through. He’s meticulous, particular, and has an eye for detail that borders on superhuman. He can walk into a room and instantly spot a tile that’s off by a millimeter. He’s the guy who will cut a piece three times just to make sure it’s perfect.
That kind of precision is exactly why our clients love him—and exactly why you will never find a crooked corner or sloppy finish in a Monaco renovation.
But… living with a perfectionist craftsman? Let’s just say that when I hang a picture frame at home, I don’t even look for the level anymore. It’s safer that way.
Me: The Mind
While Denys is busy with saws, tools, and grout lines, I live in an entirely different lane. I don’t work with my hands—I work with my head. My world is full of design boards, supplier calls, scheduling charts, and about 47 reminders on my phone at any given time.
I’m the planner, the organizer, the communicator. I like my schedules tight and my timelines efficient. There’s something deeply satisfying about checking off boxes and keeping things moving forward.
The Great Debate: Timelines vs. Craftsmanship
Here’s where our two worlds collide: my obsession with timelines versus Denys’s devotion to craftsmanship.
Picture this: it’s Monday morning, coffee in hand, and I stroll into the site, ready to fire off the week’s plan. My phone is open, the to-do list is glowing, and I announce:
“Okay, if we stay on track, we’ll have this wrapped by Thursday!”
Denys doesn’t even look up from his work. He’s carefully laying tile, each piece placed with surgical precision. Without missing a beat, he says in his calm, steady way:
“Craftsmanship takes time.”
And just like that, my perfect Thursday finish date dissolves into… let’s call it flexibility.
At first, this used to drive me crazy. I wanted everything neat, tidy, and on schedule. But over time, I realized something: he’s right. You can’t rush artistry. Perfection doesn’t have a shortcut. What he’s doing isn’t just “finishing a task”—it’s creating something that will outlast trends, weather, and years of family life.
So now, we compromise. I still push for efficiency (because otherwise we’d be on one project forever), and he pushes for perfection (because otherwise we’d have beautiful schedules but wobbly cabinets). And in that middle ground, our best work comes to life.
Why This Partnership Works
Working with your spouse is all about balance. Denys and I balance each other in ways that make Monaco what it is:
He’s the hands-on perfectionist. Nothing leaves his care unless it’s flawless.
I’m the big-picture planner. I keep projects moving forward, keep clients in the loop, and make sure the vision stays intact.
Together, we’re both equally picky. Just in completely different ways.
And while yes, we sometimes drive each other a little nuts, that tension actually makes the work stronger. Because the truth is: I’ve learned to slow down and appreciate the artistry of his process, and he’s learned to (occasionally) humor my calendar-loving brain.
What Clients Get Out of It
At the end of the day, our dynamic is about more than just surviving marriage and business ownership at the same time—it’s about delivering a renovation experience that feels complete:
Craftsmanship you can trust. Every corner, every line, every finish has Denys’s meticulous touch.
A process that makes sense. From design decisions to schedules, I keep everything moving with clarity.
Spaces with heart. Because we pour not just skill, but our relationship, our humor, and our partnership into every project.
In Closing
Working with your spouse isn’t always easy—it’s equal parts partnership, comedy show, and marriage therapy session. But it’s also the best thing we’ve ever done.
Because when you hire us, you don’t just get a contractor and a designer. You get two people who are equally passionate, equally particular, and (sometimes stubbornly) committed to making every space not just beautiful, but meaningful.
And if that means my carefully planned Thursday finish date gets bumped to Friday because Denys wants to shave a grout line by a hair? Well… that’s the price of perfection
