[Ian walks over to knock on the window frames and the walls surrounding them. The idea of a project is very appealing.]

Bet I can help with that. I've never done metal plating exactly, but Monica used to tear the house apart and then we'd have to put it back together.

[There's nothing self-pitying about the comment, just a statement of fact that he's decent at home improvement. He quirks an eyebrow. ]

How bout you show me the upstairs.