Thanks :-). The only other place I've encountered the concept of a live-in builder was in Linda Smith's surreal radio series A Brief History of Timewasting, and that certainly wasn't played for romance...

ETA: And talking about terrifying summaries, #133:

When they see a red chair at an antique shop that would make a perfect prop for their sexy scenarios, Suzanne can't resist splurging on it

Eww.