Jason Cameron is the carpenter on the DIY network show "Man Caves." He helps husbands who are henpecked when it comes to interior design carve out a room for their prized possessions - from deer heads to comic books - and give them a space where they can feel comfortable. But when it comes to decorating his own home, Cameron's wife rules the roost.
"When we bought our place, it was easier for me to agree and say, yes, dear. Typically that's what guys do," Cameron says. "Guys try to get their input in, but usually the ladies have the final say in how things should be decorated, and we have come to accept it."
The man cave has become a fixed part of our design lexicon and a phenomenon, but it seems like a throwback to another time. Presumably, if a couple decides to cohabitate they have a few things in common, but apparently those similarities generally don't extend to throw pillows, paint colors, or the placement of the flat-screen television. It may sound like an antiquated argument straight out of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," but women still dominate in home decor, and men are generally resigned to boxing up their sports memorabilia and neon beer signs.
"I've been in situations where both individuals have had very strong opinions about how their surroundings should look, and in some cases, they have a hard time meeting in the middle," says local interior decorator Leslie Fine. "Sometimes my job isn't just designer, it's therapist and marriage counselor."
This is precisely what happened when Joanne DeRose and her husband, Gary Griffith, moved into their new Malden condominium last fall. Griffith insisted that his prized 42-inch plasma TV should have a prominent place in the living room, and naturally, they needed surround sound speakers strategically placed around the room. DeRose put her stiletto down and refused to budge. Griffith already felt like he had compromised by selling his comfortable, if unwieldy, sectional before the move, and he refused to budge as well.
After a two-month stalemate and a bit of couples counseling, the TV is now in a spare bedroom. Score one for the ladies. But at the risk of falling into a Carrie Bradshaw-esque series of questions: Are we really that different? Do women decorate from Venus and men decorate from Mars?
"I think it depends on the couple," says decorator Rachel Reider. "But in most cases the wife is the point person I'm working with. It may sound stereotypical, but what men are most interested in is the placement of their electronics. As long as there's a place for them, that's their number one priority. If they feel like that's been dealt with, they're pretty accommodating to the other things."
Naturally there are exceptions. Both Reider and Fine say they have come across husbands who have an interest in decorating that extends beyond finding a place for their stereos in the den. Both attribute the increased interest in design to the rise of omnipresent TV design shows. But consider this, ladies: Perhaps the key to a happy marriage is to let your husband occasionally display that 10-year-old gold trophy on the mantle, or let him pick a paint color for the downstairs powder room that may not be your first choice. Even if you don't have the space - or the inclination - to set up a man cave, it couldn't hurt to have your mate feel more comfortable in his own surroundings.
Cameron says he has seen many happy couples after his team creates a man cave. The guy finally feels like he has a place where he doesn't have to worry about disturbing the throw pillows, and the woman doesn't need to worry that her spouse will one day come home and set up a dart board in the family room.
"There are things that I have that I would love to display, but I feel like I'm outvoted," Cameron says. "It's not an argument or a battle that we want to enter into with our wives. That's why I think a man cave can be beneficial. I think to some extent it even helps the marriage."
"Man Caves" shows new episodes Tuesday nights at 9.
Christopher Muther can be reached at muther@globe.com. 
