The Crucible of Home Decoration.

Is there a greater test for  a relationship than a trip to IKEA or painting your apartment?

G.D.

G.D.

Gene "G.D." Demby is the founder and editor of PostBourgie. In his day job, he blogs and reports on race and ethnicity for NPR's Code Switch team.
G.D.
  • Molly

    No! When one of you is sitting on the floor, in tears and cursing malm, while the other is trying to use a glorified hairpin to put together a piece a butcher block–that is the ultimate trial by fire.

  • LOL @ ‘cursing malm.’

  • Grump

    I have never shopped at IKEA….is my status now going to be put under review or suspension pending a hearing?

  • Grump: One day, you and your S.O. will go there. You will have conversations that cause you to grit your teeth, and her to wonder why you’re so dumb.

    You will glance at another couple in line with you.

    They will wear expressions that say I want very much for this to be over before I set something on fire. You won’t be able to discern whether they mean the shopping trip or their relationship.

    (Must be something in the meatballs.)

  • Molly

    Ah, OMG, don’t EVER eat the meatballs…

  • Ikea? Painting? Pfffft, that’s baby stuff.

    International travel, preferably of long duration and without any particular goal or arrangements made ahead of time.

    Having a kid.

    Raising a kid.

    Moving.

    And the #1 relationship-buster, I swear to god, is BUYING A HOUSE. (We close in 11 days.)

  • sorry, Dr. B. I’m not old yet. 😛

  • What’s the quotation? Old age isn’t for sissies?

  • Lemu

    Well, unless you live with your woman, arguing over what furniture YOU will be putting into YOUR house is a loss. Although I respect all opinions and suggestions, the receipt from IKEA will say “swiped from Lemu’s credit card” and that one line gives makes my opinion > than anyone elses.

    If you do live with your woman, its the compromise game. Let her have the armoire, you take the couch. She’ll have the bathroom, you have the den. I’ll fight for what I want, but lord knows I don’t want no trouble with the woman I share a bed with. I keep my mouth shut, because I like cooked food. lol.

  • Aisha

    So I sent my SO a link to a bed. He thinks its ugly and I think it’s manly and stylish. So we didn’t even make it to the store. I’m not running anything by him anymore.