Today, the man behind RefreshRestyle.com tells all!
I Married A Creative – – – – -!
Little did he know what he was in for back in the 80’s!
It’s a fun day around the blogging world, where you will hear from the men behind these creative women! Be sure to visit all my friends and find out what their husbands/partners really think! Master minds Bliss Ranch and Primitive and Proper wanted the world to know what the real scoop was!
Now it’s time for Mr. Refresh (Barry) to answer a few questions:
1. What is your favorite project that Debbie has done, and why? Chocolate and mint dresser: love the color combination.
2. What is your least favorite, and why? Most of the projects that she demands requests. Debbie loves to make my part sound easy and then I have to figure out how to get it done. Once I get going and do my part, I actually enjoy them. I know that I’m in trouble when she says, Oh it will be easy, we can do this!
3. What is the one creative item or tool that Debbie cannot live without? Tough choice here but I will go with the orbital sander: it gets used a lot. But then again, the nail gun makes her feel like a powerhouse!
4. What is your biggest pet peeve about Debbie in the real world or the project and decorating realm? She tends to make my part sound easier than it ends up being. Of course, my being a perfectionist on projects does not help. She doesn’t pick up after herself, the garage and basement are full of these awesome junk projects! Do I need to say anymore!!
5. If you could take Debbie on a vacation anywhere, where would she want to go? A warm beach, maybe Hawaii.
6. Debbie finds $100. What does she do with it? Tries to figure out who it belongs to first: no one claims it, she spends it on yet another project!
7. What is YOUR favorite room in your house and why? The keeping room: close to the kitchen, restroom, fireplace, TV. We gather their daily. And she finally says it’s finished! Or as finished with something as she ever is!
8. Creativity is messy, but for the most part blogs show the pretty picture. Can you tell us how Debbie is a secret slob? She tends to leave shoes around everywhere as well as coffee cups and coke zero cans. Not to mention paint brushes, tools, you get the idea.
9. Name a project or decorating adventure that you thought would be a flop but was fabulous? She once painted a desk orange: I did not like the color. Of course, it sold fast.
10. Blogging takes a lot of time. Do you ever pass by Debbie while she is on the computer and secretly feel neglected? Not just secretly! I routinely ask her what she is working on when we are in the same room on our laptop computers.
11. Before, during, and after photos are an important part of blogging, do you remember to do that while working on projects for Debbie? I don’t do photography: I leave that up to Debbie. She never let’s us forget!!! Can I eat this, move this, sit in this…I know the routine!
12. How often do you read Debbie’s blog and do you have a favorite post? I catch up once a week, I have to make sure she’s really writing a blog, with all the time I see her on the computer! This will probably be my favorite, after all, you get to hear my side!
13. Before changing a piece of furniture, hanging new curtains, or planning a whole room redo, does Debbie consult you or do you come home and it’s done? Depends on the project. She knows her limits and gets me involved in many of them. I’m not sure any of our rooms are ever really complete!
14. Does Debbie discuss her blog with you, stories from other blogs or friendships with other bloggers? Occasionally she will mention them (i.e., I met this lady at one of the blogging conferences I attended). She feels like she really knows them, just from reading their blogs, I guess. She even rooms with strangers, goes thrifting with people she’s never met. I just shake my head sometimes. I guess you have to be a blogger to understand that connection.
15. Where do you think Debbie gets most of her creative inspiration; tv, magazines, online, you, or was she just born that way? I do think she was born with it. I often wonder how someone can sit around and come up with all the fun crazy stuff she does. She does read a lot of magazines and visits a lot of blogs.
16. Do you know what Pantone’s color of the year is and how do you feel about so called “girly” colors for your walls? I don’t have a clue?
17. If you could change one room or area of your home with no decorating advice from Debbie, what area would you choose and why? The only one I would dare to tackle without Debbie would be the garage. I know my limits!
18. Are you ever worried Debbie will share too much personal information or that blogging might invade your private life? I warn her all the time not to use me in the photos: I don’t want any celebrity status. I tell her all the time I already have a full time job!
19. Have you ever helped Debbie style photos for her blog or offer input on how you think a vignette should look? I leave that up to her.
20. There is a saying “If walls could talk…”, what would yours say about the decorating in your bedroom? Some things are better left unsaid?
Just want to let you know, it’s true: HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE!
You can see all her DIY projects here, even some I helped with!
I’m headed over to see what the others have to say about their DIY Divas!
Bliss at Home
The Space Between
Debbie this was so fun to read! Love the photo circa 1983. 😉
AW! I love how in this together you two are! And could this be any more true: “I guess you have to be a blogger to understand that connection.” ?!? YES!
These posts have been so much fun to read!
Oh I’am so glad I am not the only one who suckers my husband into projects. About midway through every project and I am pretty sure he will never sign up to help again!!
HAHA! I love it! I think it is so sweet that you two work together! I guess those of us reading don’t give handy husbands all the accolades they deserve, so bravo to the brawn as well!
Loving this series! My husband is the “brains” behind a lot of my projects too! He has asked me not to start any sentences with, “Honey, I’ve been thinking……..”
Loved it!….love the part where you have held the truck hostage for years!
I think I’m still filling that truck up! When I get a chance any way 😉
I had to come over to read Barry’s comments! Tell him I would worry about him if he knew the latest Pantone coloe! He and Leo would have a lot to talk about concerning grass cutting!
Thanks Jane! He loves driving tractors and zero turns!
“she even rooms with strangers” … ummmm, we were so not strangers!!! Love hearing his take, and nice to know that you never make him do anything hard. 🙂
Glad he said “room” and not sleep 😉
Hahaha! I especially loved #18! 🙂
I love that garage is the universal answer from all the men! It is the safest place they could touch…the rest they would get in trouble 🙂 xoxo
Awe you guys are really cute. I’m really enjoying answers to #14!!
HAHAHAHAH! I haven’t met a guy yet that knows the Pantone color.
hahahah great post Barry and Debbie!
I enjoyed reading and getting to know the man behind the blog.
gail
HI Barry! I have to say, I feel like I know Debbie, and I promise I’m not imaginary 🙂 OMG, I loved “Can I eat this, move this, sit in this… ” Too cute, and so smart!! We couldn’t do it without you helpful hubbies. At least I know I couldn’t and I know Debbie loves all your help!
Thanks Shannon, this was so much fun! I love reading what Jim thinks!!
How much fun! A great spin on our normal posts. Thanx for sharing Debbie!
Well now I have to Google flag day so I can get Barry a gift! And my family is the same way about the “can I eat this, move this, sit on that” thing …
🙂 Linda
SO fun! i loved reading barry’s comments and i have to say i think our garage and basements probably are twinsies. and clearly you do have to be a blogger to get the blogger connection. we are true friends. 🙂 and it’s nice to know there are people out there as crazy as we are.
Loved it, loved it, LOVED IT!!! Love Barry. Love the photos. Love all the funny comments I want to comment on but it would take me too long. TOO DARN FUNNY! (And I’m going to tell Brawn I was referred to as a mastermind just to see him roll his eyes).
I can totally see you “demanding” to get something done sporting those bobby socks from the 80’s. love it!
I kept trying to remember what those socks were called!!! Girl you know I’m demanding 😉
My husband doesn’t want me to use pictures of him either on the blog, especially not after a coworker googled something and a photo of hi showed up with horrible hair. Lets say he wasn’t that happy 😉
You guys are too cute.
Every time I use the camera and he’s around, he says – you didn’t get me in that did you?? I always say no 😉
Yay, Barry! Nice job!