July 22, 2021

This week’s “From the Tap” KBB podcast topic – the Couple Conundrum – covered what it’s like to work with significant others with different approaches and opinions. We spoke with John Colaneri, one of the well-known “Cousins” on the hit show(s) on HGTV. He has completed projects on a variety of TV shows, and he also owns his own high-end residential design and custom spec home firm Lilyshea Development LLC serving the New Jersey area. So he has had a lot of experience working with various couples during renovations over the years.

We talked about all sorts of pairs – from those who have been together for years and those who are newlyweds. And although he says there is typically one person in the duo who is more involved in the project, he starts out by speaking to them as a team to address their major concerns and wish list items. In our interview, Colaneri speaks to why this is an important step in his process and one that he always includes.

In terms of issues he has had with various couples during renovations, those always seem to center around things like different tastes, styles and budgets. If one person is not up front about their opinions, they will surely have them later in the project; worst-case scenario it comes up at the end when it is much harder to make changes. In our interview, the designer shares his methods for making both parties happy and getting them both engaged.

There are also certain spaces Colaneri has worked on that are specifically geared to one person or another – be it something like a yoga studio or a master bath renovation one of them has always wanted. Some couples also have multigenerational requests because of older parents moving into the house, welcoming children into the mix or someone who is a widow or widower. He shares his tips for things like tackling an in-law suite with multiple parties involved.

Last but certainly not least, Colaneri shares why he sometimes overcommunicates with his clients and how that can actually be helpful. A lot of great advice for fellow design professionals for sure!

Watch this and our other videos on our YouTube page, and listen to our podcasts on such channels as Spotify and Google Podcasts.