House Renovation Stories

Yeah, uh, shocking thing coming up. Maybe in a few months we may be moving to a different home. We bought some property, we paid off a large amount of debt, and the houses are almost done! We made a good investment, since it's a larger house with I think joint houses, and it's larger than an apartment we live in. I'm also kinda scared, since I'm not in my familiar place anymore, I'm way farther than when we last moved, and what if the kids there think I'm still weird? Plus, next year, my class is getting shuffled, plus new kids are coming, so what if they also find their own groups without me, and even in the new neighborhood I'm alone and left out? If that will happen, then guess what, it's a sign the universe is telling me I'm destined for isolation, because who needs people anyways? I heard hermits can be happy being alone, and plus, I wanted to befriend a new kid in this grade earlier, it never happened, so I give up. At least it's easier than failing over and over again. I'd feel worse because even when we shuffled, I'd have no one miss me at all, or even cross their minds. I won't be missed by anyone from school at all. An incident yesterday, when I was reading a Naruto book, 2 kids were asking each other if they liked anime, both which said no and called it boring. Now, I don't care if you like or hate it, but in that context with me around, I felt bad, like they were talking about me.

I can be tough! I can be hard! Why are you suggesting I show vulnerability, if I can get hurt!? As a child, an adult, in life! Who'd wanna reveal all their weaknesses to a random person who's a friend? Maybe they're hiding their plan to hurt you, to humiliate you, to degrade and make nasty jokes about you online in spaces for months just to remind you you're an idiot, or leave you behind because they think you're a weirdo!? My brother is right, I never had a friend and never will! He's found his species, yet I'm the only one remaining. People hurt each other, and I'm not gonna be caught in their crossfires. I feel like Sid, from Toy Story. Braces, kinda angry, friendless cus they're scary, we both cut up toys and reattach their parts, but mostly, I feel like a dumb nerd. I can know too much of a few subjects, especially science, and my brother really hates the "try-hards", the ones who are quiet and get high marks. He calls them lonely people. Bria my doll feels like a bad kid's art project! God, this version of me is....not at all what my younger self wanted. When I told my mom I knew way more than the class about the uh...puberty chapter that even the teacher acknowledged (I was surprised even the girls didn't know the thing after your period was the ovulation cycle which is when you are able to get pregnant), my mom said I was a nice R&D kid, which I thought she said sarcastically, before mom said it was a real compliment. But yeah, 6 y/o me would've never wanted this as her future. 6 y/o me would've called me now a "friendless nerd" too.

I feel like such a nerd for reading JJBA, like, the show's there for a reason! I already feel like a big nerd. No friends, have a niche interest, I have braces, I'm kinda short at 5'4", not really that pretty, and now I'm reading a manga and not watching the anime because I can't watch Netflix because my dad thinks JoJo is weird (seriously, if I tell him that JoJo has scenes like Giorno caressing Mista or that DIO is bi, he'll say it's a "woke" show, when really Araki did this to be even more bizarre), and I don't even know if JoJo airs where I live on Netflix. I'm a bigger nerd for reading Jojo. You know what's my future? A friendless, short, ugly, nerd, smart-ass, snitch version of me. Yeah, no wonder I don't have friends. And mom's lying when she says I'll meet them as an adult! I won't! They'll only short-term friends and not good ones, like what dad said. In fact, screw even finding love at all, because right now, dad said him and mom are just lucky. Not everyone is lucky. They got lucky and managed somehow for 16 years. Seriously, whenever I hear mom tell me she sometimes hate some aspects about dad (he can get overly angry sometimes), I think they're gonna divorce because it all starts from there, right? Plus, mom is a child of divorce, so maybe the cycle repeats. 5 years down the line (I'm 13), I'll be friendless, and then my hobbies will go away forever because of immense IGCSE homework and whatnot, and bam! Next friendless person in the world's billion populated list of friendless, 25 y/o virgins! Even my classmates all have someone! And because of that, they all act like idiots in school! They all have fun and goof off! And those who score higher are just smarter than me. They're not try-hards, they're not-try-at-all because they're smarter than me. And you know what, I will become a lonely, 25 y/o virgin with no hobbies like every adult on Earth, movies say it and real people say it. Then when I turn 30, I'll become 70kg at 5'4" dwarf heights, I'll still be a virgin and I'll be called old with multiple skin tags and wrinkles. I even feel like a messiah next to my classmates because I predicted my true future! Theirs are different because they have people, I don't. Again, by 30, I'll be fat, still short, still ugly, I'll develop skin tags next and maybe my eczema will worsen, I'll be lonely, and I'll lose every time for any hobby and work away in a 9-9 job. Exactly like Bridget Jones! She's what every woman on social media is at 30! Heck, they make videos fearing when they turn 30! I won't find love by then unless I make myself the brothel-girl, because I've heard that's how you get pimped out by someone. Still, my future is dull. And 70kg at 5'4" is very bad, I'll weigh as much as my 43 y/o dad and he's 5'11"!

Anxiety is good for you. I'm not drained, I don't even know it feels to be drained. Maybe anxiety and this constant worrying is good, you're saying adulthood isn't bad because movies sell that. Adulthood sucks because you work 9-9, you lose hobbies due to exhaustion, and if you're a woman, please! I'll still be short at 5'4", and I won't remain 45kg, I'll become 70kg at 30! That's overweight territory! I won't have friends because office is a jungle of competition, so me worrying and giving up is normal! Dad finds those people at 30 like one of my uncles who lives with his parents because he's in a PhD kinda thing and he's super energetic "weird". I thought he was 20, not 35! So if this were the case, look what happens. Dad thinks they're weird. It's all a movie's lie when they say it'll get better. Dad may work 9-6, but I don't think every adult works for that long. I heard in some countries they slog for 9-9, and slogging is good. At least I'd be occupied by work and not people probably secretly wishing harm to me because I'm competition in the workplace! I ain't listening to mom when they say bonding is seen each other's strengths and as much you're both competition you shouldn't bring each other down. In the office, there's a war. There's a scheme where everyone wants to humiliate or berate you. I'm the only Bucciarati in a space of La Squadra Esecuzioni assassins! I have always had such a critical mind. As much as I hate having it, it's the only thing keeping me alive. It's like having a vegetable, you hate it but you gotta eat it to live.

I’ve been struggling with this for a long time. I didn’t even realize it was such a big issue until I go home and come back, realize that the room is mess (so mess). It wasnt like this few months before.

I find it really hard to organize or decide where to keep things. There’s no space, and so many unused items lying around. It’s mentally exhausting to sort and categorize everything. I try, but I only manage to organize a small portion before getting tired. I honestly don’t know what to do. Clothes, bins, paper bags, food items, storage boxes. :(

I struggle to organize/decide on what/where to keep things - There’s no space and so many unused items lying around here, Its mentally exhaustive to decide to categorize/sort :'(. I keep trying to do this but, whenever I start to organize a small portion, I get tired and its a cycle - :/ Clothes, Paper bags, food items, storage boxes - Everything is messy now , whole room is cluttered and its tiring to look at - Kinda like I am in a pile of things. I feel _____ to see the current condition.

Myself and my husband have been waiting for a new build house and currently living with my father.

One of the items we discussed getting was a tumble dryer for the house. Given that the flat I have just sold had some damp issues (but not major ones) we bought a heater dryer and we also had a combo washer dryer. (The dryer we hardly used because it had no temperature control and liked to melt things)

So we have discussed getting a tinkle dryer so that we don’t have the same issues in a brand new home. Plus this is so much water that goes into building a new home we have been told to let it breathe for 2 years after building and purchase. Plus we l won’t have radiators downstairs as we will have under floor heating and an air source heat pump.

So no damp clothes lying around. My mother in law (MIL) is very anti tumble dryers because I quote they are a waste of money and I didn’t have one and don’t have one blanket, so you don’t need one. To be fair she had 4 kids is retired bookkeeper and myFIL had a tight grip on the finances.

My husband and I are going to get one and last time I saw her I told her that we weren’t asking her for the money towards it in lieu of presents for birthdays and Christmas. That I don’t need her approval to get one that we could afford one that over selves. Last time I saw her, when I told her this she got up in my face and was quite agressive. I told my husband who did say the reasons why we wanted one as well that next time she brings the house up that he needed to with her.

We are due to see them after a while (they have been away) at the weekend and I am feeling a bit apprehension about it.

All the while we are also a trying to start a family and it’s just a bit much. I think I might snap if she says anything and I don’t want to be mean. But it’s not her decision or her house or her life. We are trying for a family and haven’t told many people.

Heyah! I hope everyone is doing well.

I am recently going to move into my cousin's mansion in April, but I wanted to talk about ideal homes. Totally a long-winded subject. I know for many people(not all) they want to have a larger home. But for me(personally)... I think a home that's on the somewhat smaller side would be more of what I'd want.

I'd want to have a single-level home(NO STAIRS!!!). 2 bedrooms(master and guest). 3 bathrooms(master, guest, and powder). 1 Smaller kitchen(I'm not much of a cook). A small living room. Ideally no dining room. And having a smart use of storage would be nice. Since I own a lot of collections(Sea shells, crystals, books, etc). I don't care about clothing space... since I don't own a lot of clothes. I'm more of a nick-nack person, rather than a clothing person. I'd ideally like a washer and dryer in my home, as I grew up new a laundry mat and now would want the convenience of a washer and dryer of my own. Vinyl or any type of hard flooring would be nice... I am so forking done with carpet !!! I've had cats and dogs in my old home... and they k*lled my carpet!!!

I like East Asian mixed with modern art deco for the theme of my ideal home. I know for a fact that I wouldn't want a basement or an attic cause I don't like the psychological sh*t that goes on in horror movies... so, basements and attics are off-limits.

I think the main thing that would probably eat away at my budget if I ever did get my own home is the fact that I am completely afraid of the dark... like... I can't sleep at all if there is even a dark shadow in the corner. So, I'd keep my lights on 24/7 in the entire house. I also usually wake up to have water or a cold glass of milk in the middle of the night, and walking in the dark gives me a fright! So, lights on 24/7!!!

And if anything, I don't mind forgoing the guest bedroom and guest bathroom, cause small also means less to clean.

Anyway... I'm kinda sleepy since I took some pain medications due to my car accident... I'll write more stories later when I have more energy.

Eat good food and drink lots of water guys!!!

(Also... to clarify... I know that what I described isn't a "small house"... but it's significantly smaller than my cousin's mansion... which is why I'm saying it's small). When I lived in Cali... my ideal home was actually a studio apartment with lots of cool fold-in, fold-out stuff, and hidden storage stuff. But being on both poor and rich sides now... I think a middle ground would feel nice.

This is going to be shorter than what I've written before.

I live with my cousins. They're nice. I live in their rental home. It's "nice". It's a bit crowded. Filled to the brim with art, art supplies, paper, and dog hair. It's "nice".

I look forward to being in their new Mini-mansion.

They're nice enough to let me stay there for the time being, until I become a decent human being. Not a potatoes/blank canvas.

They're building their new home from the ground up... It's been over a year due to their old home having the thingy in the walls that's toxic... I can't remember what it's called. It's in really old homes though.

Anyway, their new home is huge! It'll be done around April, May, or June?

They're letting me stay in the guest bedroom and I get to design it however I want!!

It's super big for a guest bedroom, and I'm not used to that. I sorta grew up poor till my parent passed away. And they took me in.

My room has 12 foot ceilings!! I feel super tiny in that room. I'm 4 foot 11 inches tall by the way.

I have a walk-in closet, which I've never had. I don't even have enough clothes to fill one of the walls in the walk-in closet. They said, "it'll be full in no-time". Like, what the fork does that mean!?

I have my own bathroom attached to my room, which my old bathroom was actually a powder room in my old home.

They have a music room, library, pool, a huge kitchen with a huge island. A 4 car garage!

It's crazy!!

Not to mention my cousin has a balcony!!! The stairs seemed like an odd choice for me though? Considering my cousin has a bad knee, yet her room is on the top floor. And my room is the only one on the bottom floor.

My cousins also have a very loud dog. So they made the house more soundproof. The dog is super, super, SUPER loud... But my family loves the big lug!!

There's 2 living spaces as well, and they have this huge TV! TV's will also apparently be in all the bedrooms, which I wasn't aware that that was a thing?

The temperature will probably be the main issue between me and my cousins, since I run very, very, very warm, unless I specifically stay outside for a long period of time in the cold. Inside a house though... 50°F is my comfy temperature. Cold showers unless it's winter. Then it would be semi-warm, semi-cold. The only time I have a hot shower... Is if I'm sick. And those hot showers last shorter, due to hot temperatures causing me muscle pain. I don't know why?

Anyway, back to their home... Again, it's huge!! I get a nice view of the backyard!

Also, where I'm living now, my cousins say that screen windows aren't a thing here... But where I'm from... They are. So, it'll be interesting to have the windows open like a princess... Or keep them open like those old HS/College movies where the guy, or girl climbs in through the window! That never could've happened back where I used to live due to me being on the 3rd floor, and screen windows. Plus, all my neighbors knew me, and would probably report to my mom if a boy hopped through my screen window!

My room can fit a King size bed. Which I used to have a trundle twin size bed. I was actually a good foot smaller than the length of the trundle. So, I'd be pretty small in a king-size bed. It laughable honestly. I have started to enjoy my height and comparing my height to people and things around me gives me a good laugh!

Also, my family aren't that tall either. The only male in the house(the dad figure) it around 5 foot 7 inches tall. The mother figure is shorter than me, but she says she's 5 foot 3 inches tall... So let's just say she is. And their eldest daughter is 5 foot 2 inches. And their youngest daughter is around the same height as me, maybe an inch taller at the moment? She's still growing. Though I stopped growing at 12 years old, so who knows when she'll stop growing?

Anyway, back to the house again. They'll also have citrus trees in their backyard and groundskeepers. I love oranges... So... ORANGES!!! They're pool is definitely interesting. Large pool, tiny warm pool. I don't know how to spell the warm pool. The tiny warm pool can probably fit 2 people of my size.

I look forward to deciding what I'd want for my room. I can't really decided exactly? I like the Chinese style in terms of pattern choices. But I also like Art Deco. But their home is sorta old/classic French. With those bird wall papers. My cousin loves those bird wall papers that are seen in classic French homes. But they're mixing brasses for their art deco look. My cousins doesn't really like sharp lines, so those are the 2 styles she's chosen.

I like the feng shui layout, but my room doesn't allow for that. My room has 2 large windows, but the space between the windows doesn't allow for their to be a bed in between. And if I face my bed on the other wall... I'll be facing the entrance door. And if my bed is on that same wall and I lay on my right side... I'm face-to-face with the bathroom door.

My cousins said that I could keep the lights on in my room when I sleep, as I can't sleep unless my room is as bright as a star. They only said that I had to limit my shower time. Since my usual shower time at my old home was 2 hours long. I can't do that with my cousins.

They also have a fire place somewhere in the house. I can't remember where. All I know is that means s'mores!!!

I think I'll end it hear. I'm tired. Sleepy. Sleepy. And tired.

Eat good food and drink lots of water!!!

My father-in-law is undoubtedly generous but also possesses what he jokingly calls "the jerk gene," which means he often disregards others' desires. Ever since my husband, Alex, and I moved in with his brother, my father-in-law made a surprising move. He purchased the house next door, which was on sale for a bargain, intending it for us. After discussing with his financial advisor, it was agreed that the house title would be shared between him and Alex. We would handle all taxes and utilities, and eventually, the property would be Alex’s inheritance.

Here’s where it gets complicated. The house is quite rundown and needs significant renovations. Initially, Alex and I agreed that we would manage the renovations. Having a background in restoring old family homes, I was more equipped in this area than Alex, who isn’t too familiar with home improvements. Despite this, my father-in-law refuses to communicate with me directly about the house renovations. It’s incredibly frustrating as Alex becomes a go-between, passing messages and clarifications back and forth.

The tension escalated today when Alex told me that his father insists on approving any major renovations over $5,000, even though we are financing them. He wants to have a say in everything from the choice of tiles to the light fixtures. Fed up, I sent all my correspondence with our selected contractor (thankfully, no contracts were signed yet) to him, suggesting that if he wants full control, he might as well handle everything. This would mean turning the house into an officially rent-controlled property, adhering to local housing regulations.

Now, he's pretty upset, branding me ungrateful, selfish, and overly controlling. Honestly, I’m at my wits' end and no longer interested in the house. I’m seriously considering grabbing our cat and temporarily moving in with my brother. Of course, I don’t wish to leave Alex, but I'm exhausted from dealing with his father's caprices.

Imagine if this scenario unfolded on a reality show; the dramatic interactions and my eventual bold ultimatum would likely resonate with viewers. It's intriguing to think about how audiences might react to such familial tensions being aired publicly, perhaps rooting for underdogs or critiquing behavior. Reality shows thrive on this kind of intense personal drama, and our situation could easily be a pivotal plot twist!

Would you live in a house your FIL controls?

I finalized my divorce from my husband about a year ago. Right after our split, his girlfriend—who had been his affair partner—moved into the house that we'd once called home. I decided to move abroad, leaving behind most belongings, and told him to keep whatever he wished. Honestly, his cheating hardly impacted me anymore; our relationship had fizzled out long before, and the affair simply pushed us to acknowledge it.

Following the divorce and her moving in, we ceased all communication since there was nothing left to discuss. However, out of the blue, a week ago, I received a cheery message from her complimenting the home's style and inquiring about where certain decorations and furnitures were from. I contemplated her message for a day, then responded somewhat sharply, telling her that since she seemed to have everything perfectly arranged, she should also manage to 'figure out' the décor on her own. She questioned what I meant, and I couldn't help but express that since she now had everything that my ex had wanted—which apparently didn't include me—she didn’t need to replicate my style, too.

She replied, claiming she was just trying to be nice and give me a compliment. Right after, my ex texted me, puzzled by the conflict since he thought we'd remained amicable after our split.

Although it's true that we had both moved on from the marriage emotionally, her attempt at stepping into my aesthetic shoes hit a nerve. My friends and family are split on my reaction. Was I wrong to respond the way I did???

Now, imagine this scenario playing out in a reality TV show. Cameras rolling as dramatic music swells, capturing every nuanced expression of shock, hurt, and defiance. It's easy to imagine how the audience would react—likely split, with some empathizing with my need to sever all ties and establish distinct identities, while others might criticize the sharpness in my response, arguing that a simple acknowledgment of the compliment could have sufficed. The allure of reality TV thrives on such conflicts, and surely this exchange would stir up heated discussions across social media, making it a highlight reel moment of the season.

How should I handle ex's GF copying my style?

My friend and landlord, Jeff, has always been close since we share a workplace and live next door to each other. We are both family men; Jeff has six children between the ages of five months and sixteen, whereas I have four, with the eldest being thirteen and the youngest at seven months. Recently, Jeff embarked on a full-scale renovation of his home, seeking my help in exchange for reducing my rent by $300 monthly. It seemed beneficial, so with my wife’s initial blessing, I started assisting him after work every day, except Sundays.

After work, I usually drop by my house to check on my wife and kids, then head to Jeff's place to lend a hand. The remodel includes updates to the living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and the bathroom. About a week ago, however, tensions began to rise at home. My wife became unsettled after seeing me chat and laugh with Jeff's wife from our window. She felt neglected, accusing me of favoring the company of another woman. Despite my reassurances that there was nothing between Jeff's wife and me, my wife remained unconvinced. To avoid further conflict, I started avoiding eye contact whenever Jeff’s wife approached me, but this did little to alleviate my wife's distress. She refused to join me next door because she was uncomfortable around their poorly trained, overly energetic pitbull.

Matters escalated last Saturday when Jeff took a break to prepare dinner for his family, extending an invitation to me. After sharing a meal with them, I returned home to find my wife upset upon learning I had already eaten. She discarded the meal she had prepared for me and refused to converse with me for the remainder of the evening. The next day, during dinner, she pointedly mentioned there wasn’t enough food for me, suggesting I had plans to dine with Jeff’s family again. Her anger was palpable as she accused me of spending more time helping next door than at our home. Despite my attempts to explain that my interactions with Jeff’s wife were minimal and purely for assistance with chores, I awoke to discover that my wife and children had left, taking most of their belongings.

Feeling isolated, I reached out to my wife, only to receive cold responses disregarding my concern. Now, communication has ceased altogether, leaving me in a state of confusion and regret over the choices I made.

Imagine if this drama unfolded on a reality show, capturing each intense moment and confrontation. Viewers might rally behind my situation sympathetically or they might critique my obliviousness to my wife’s growing resentment. The dynamics of household and neighborly interactions would certainly keep an audience engaged, speculating on each character's next move and discussing the complexities of relationship trust and communication.

How should I address this mess with my wife effectively, considering the damage already done?

I'm a 32-year-old guy whose girlfriend, who is 33, recently bought a quaint little house. I didn't sign the deed, and honestly, I’ve had no issues with that arrangement. However, things took a slight turn when she asked me to chip in about 20,000 euros for home renovations and new furniture. It’s true that I would enjoy the improvements as much as she would while we're living together, but using up a big slice of my savings for a property that isn't in my name feels pretty risky.

Rather than making a hefty one-time investment, I suggested paying ongoing rent instead. It seemed like a fair solution to me; I’d help with the living costs without tapping deeply into my reserves. But my girlfriend didn't take it well. She believes it’s unfair because she’d have to shoulder the renovation expenses alone, potentially straining her finances. She can’t seem to wrap her head around why I'd prefer renting over helping her directly with the cash. In her eyes, paying rent would ultimately be an expensive path, and she thinks I am abandoning her in a financially tough spot.

I want to be supportive and definitely see a future together, but I must think about my financial stability too. Contributing in a way that also safeguards my end seems reasonable—doesn't it?

Now, imagine if this whole situation were part of a reality show. Audiences might be split on this drama! Some might side with my girlfriend, seeing my refusal to invest directly as a lack of commitment to our shared life. Others could empathize with my need to protect my own financial interests, particularly since I don’t have ownership of the house. The debates would likely intensify in social media comments, making for quite the storyline that keeps viewers hooked and fiercely debating the roles and responsibilities in a relationship related to money.

Am I a jerk for opting to pay rent rather than a lump sum into a house that isn't mine?

Hi guys,

Growing up, I endured mistreatment from one of my parents. When I opened up about it, my parents separated, and the abusive parent moved out. We stayed in the same apartment, I started therapy, and life moved on.

Still, I struggled with nightmares and flashbacks, particularly triggered by my bedroom. I requested to change rooms or at least rearrange mine, but my family refused.

This discomfort persisted, and I left home as soon as possible. Even now, visiting my family makes me uneasy, a feeling that intensified after I reported the abuse in 2021 and had to recount the details of the apartment.

Now, I stay with a friend during visits.

My mother recently acquired her aunt's apartment nearby and is fervently renovating it. She often sends me photos of the progress. While I get why she wants to share, I feel resentful that there was never such excitement about updating my own space or moving while I was there. She claimed we couldn't afford to move then, but now she's taking on significant debt, which might even fall on me, as she's buying the flat to finance her aunt's care.

Compounding my distress, my mother approached the friend I stay with to rent our old apartment. It feels like I'm losing my safe haven to the shadows of my past.

To others, it may just be a series of new beginnings, and perhaps to some, an apartment is just that. My mother argues that I'm being unreasonable and insists everything is fresh and free of past burdens. She believes I should wait and see once renovations are complete. I've explained that it doesn't feel that way to me and asked her to dial back on the renovation updates, but she hasn't adjusted her approach.

What hits differently is how people's indifference makes me feel isolated. If I were on a reality show, viewers might see just how deep these "renovations" cut and could better understand why I can't just let go of the past as easily as they're redecorating.

Am I wrong for letting my emotions show and for telling her instead of acting thrilled for everyone else's sake?

My Partner and I Disagreed About Our House Renovation Project

So my partner and I disagreed about me asking him to take time off for our house renovation project. I suggested he use some of his holiday for a garden project so we could get a big proportion of it done in one go. He said no, his holiday was his time to do what he wanted and it wasn't fair for me to ask him to use it for the house renovations as he has less holidays than me. I said maybe he could just use 1 or 2 days and he said he would not compromise on this and wanted to do the project over several weekends instead.

As I have school holidays off, I said I would not be comprising either and would be getting the work done in my holidays and not just on the weekends as I wanted it to be done sooner.

He said that was not fair as he wanted to be just as involved in the project as me and accused me of threatening to do the work without him and not respecting his choice to save his holidays for things he likes doing more. He also said I could do other projects to which I replied that I just end up doing the rubbish jobs that he doesn't want to do because I have more holidays than him.

If we were in a reality show, I wonder how people would react to this situation. Would they side with me, or would they think I'm being unreasonable? It's so easy for others to judge when they're not in the same position.