What Painting Really Does
Admittedly, I started out with visions of beautifully, perfectly painted walls in my head. What I ended up with weren’t so much perfect as they were precious.
I thought painting would be simply be one of many steps on the way toward a home that felt like my own. I chose colors with my spouse based on our mutual likes and dislikes, and I tried to suit them to our decor as best as possible. (Limiting, when you’re working with concrete paint, let me tell you!) I imagined our white linen bedding and comfy beige couch against the bold wall colors and fell in love with the idea of what the space was going to look like when we finished.
As we started on day one of painting, our new housemate and longtime dear friend, Kirill, took up one of the rollers. He helped us get far more done than I thought possible that night, and we left feeling accomplished, supported, and excited. The next day, we were joined by two more close friends, Jen and Wella. Everyone painted different parts of the two spaces (the kitchen and living area) and we chatted happily, just as we had the day before. Without any of our belongings in place, the space was becoming a container for connection, play, and teamwork. I looked at my loved ones applying paint to the trim of my kitchen, thinking of how Wella will be moving away at the end of the month, and how I’ll always be able to look at my walls and remember them showing up for us. How Jen insisted on writing secret love notes in paint underneath the primer coat, like a true home and hearth witch. How Cee, my spouse, high fives me with vigor every single day, telling me how proud they are of us. How Kirill knew exactly the right way to paint the kitchen floor and how we became a synchronized team of paint rollers and precision. (He certainly took up more of the precision than I did, to be honest)
From left: Wella, Jen (and Peach!), Andres
Painting a space yourself, with loved ones, is imbuing the walls (and the floor, in our case) with love and care. It’s spending quality time with your home. Introducing yourself to the walls which will hold you on your best and worst days.
If my new walls could speak, they might tell you that my home holds friendship and laughter, deep connection and silliness. They are warmed with love and cooled by perpetually open windows. Their earth tones reflect the in-ground nature of our little daylight basement studio, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It is literally grounding.
Tucked away in those walls, I will forever hold my dear friends and the love and support they’ve poured into my space. I’m so fortunate to have the chance to make this space my own, but I am so much more fortunate to have friends like I do.