She longed to luxuriate in a curvaceous claw-foot tub, surrounded by flickering candles. (Photo: Gunnar Knechtel; Dwell, September 2009)

She longed to luxuriate in a curvaceous claw-foot tub, surrounded by flickering candles.

(Photo: Gunnar Knechtel; Dwell, September 2009)

In their nuptial vows, they’d promised to never conceal anything, to remain completely open to one another. But the prison-style shower remodel wasn’t the anniversary gift she’d hoped for. (Photo: Prakash Patel; Dwell, February/March 2006)

In their nuptial vows, they’d promised to never conceal anything, to remain completely open to one another. But the prison-style shower remodel wasn’t the anniversary gift she’d hoped for.

(Photo: Prakash Patel; Dwell, February/March 2006)

One day, after a particularly dull afternoon, she would yank hard enough on the vertical drawer to wrench it off the track, sending everything crashing to the floor—and tell her husband it was an accident. But not today. (Photo: Jack Thompson; Dwell March 2008)

One day, after a particularly dull afternoon, she would yank hard enough on the vertical drawer to wrench it off the track, sending everything crashing to the floor—and tell her husband it was an accident. But not today.

(Photo: Jack Thompson; Dwell March 2008)

Silence had become their only weapon. (Photo: Unknown, Dwell)

Silence had become their only weapon.

(Photo: Unknown, Dwell)

Beyond all the inherent superficialities, there was the task of decoding profile subtext. She wondered why she’d ever considered online dating. (Photo: Dean Kaufman; Dwell, December/January 2007)

Beyond all the inherent superficialities, there was the task of decoding profile subtext. She wondered why she’d ever considered online dating.

(Photo: Dean Kaufman; Dwell, December/January 2007)

It was simply his way or the highway. (Photo: Jack Thompson; Dwell, October 2009)

It was simply his way or the highway.

(Photo: Jack Thompson; Dwell, October 2009)

He deeply resented her insistence that their wardrobes coordinate. (Photo: Stephen Oxenbury; Dwell, March 2009)

He deeply resented her insistence that their wardrobes coordinate.

(Photo: Stephen Oxenbury; Dwell, March 2009)

The flowers began to wither under the rigorous interrogation. (Photo: Unknown; Dwell, February 2010)

The flowers began to wither under the rigorous interrogation.

(Photo: Unknown; Dwell, February 2010)

The frequent window washing and dry mopping required to keep the room sufficiently spartan became more than she could bear. The bed suffered the consequences. (Photo: Gunnar Knechtel; Dwell, September 2006)

The frequent window washing and dry mopping required to keep the room sufficiently spartan became more than she could bear. The bed suffered the consequences.

(Photo: Gunnar Knechtel; Dwell, September 2006)

The bathroom had been the source of an acrid odor for months, but now emitted a strange, vaguely toxic glow. This didn’t bode well. (Photo: Todd Hido; Dwell, June 2006)

The bathroom had been the source of an acrid odor for months, but now emitted a strange, vaguely toxic glow. This didn’t bode well.

(Photo: Todd Hido; Dwell, June 2006)

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