Spray paint chic

As Americans tighten our belts in the current economic downturn, big ticket items like new furniture are often out of the question. It certainly was for 82-year-old Spokane resident Marge Holcomb, who lives on a fixed income. When her once-white sofa grew dingy and discolored, going out and buying a new one wasn’t an option. Neither was the $150 estimate she received for having it professionally cleaned. So Holcomb came up with an innovative solution of her own. For about $12 she transformed her “ugly white” sofa into a vibrant green couch. How? “Four cans of spray paint I bought at Wal-Mart,” she says. “I was excited that turned out so well.” This daring DIY maneuver was just the beginning. Armed with her two favorite Krylon hues, Pistachio and Gumdrop, Holcomb created a colorful oasis in her downtown condo. Everything from chairs to picture frames to lampshades got fresh coats of paint— no brushes, pans or rollers needed. “I like color,” she said. “If I had a dog I would have spray-painted the dog!” She says guests often worry that the paint will come off on their clothes. It won’t. “The secret is a light coat of spray, not a heavy coat of paint.” Holcomb hasn’t limited her artistic flair with a can of spray to household items — her leather sandals now sport a snappy coat of Gumdrop. When the ladies in her building saw her shoes, several asked, “When are you going to do mine?” She also painted her leather Keds, but found canvas shoes aren’t good candidates for spray paints. “They just soak up the paint,” she says. Holcomb also has used spray paint to add color to lace doilies, tablecloths, a laundry hamper and a vase purchased at a yard sale. She says the paint cost less than $3 a can. Her knack may come from her father who once owned a painting and paper hanging business. She vividly remembers her first project. “It was in the 1930s — I was a teenager and I painted our family’s outhouse,” she said. “I’ve always liked decorating. I had a little dress store in California and I loved to decorate the windows.” Having lived through the Great Depression gives this savvy senior an advantage when it comes to making do with less. She routinely shops at yard sales and thrift stores. “There’s nothing I paid more than $100 for in this room,” as she gestures toward her living room. Her balcony is furnished with yard sale finds. A wicker rocking chair, she paid $50 for, sways gently in the morning breeze. Nestled nearby is comfy rattan chair and matching table, all with a coat of Pistachio paint. Even the wrought-iron balcony railing received a touch of the lilac-hued Gumdrop spray. She wants younger generations to realize they can make their homes look fabulous without spending a fortune. Currently, Holcomb has a new concern. “I’ve run out of things to paint,” she says with a sigh. “I’m awfully tempted to paint my carpet, but I don’t know what color I’d choose.” For now, she delights in showing guests the wonders that can be wrought with a little ingenuity and a lot of creativity. She’s worried that Wal-Mart might run out of her favorite colors, since she bought so many cans, but is looking forward to other projects. With a twinkle in her eye she says, “I think I broke all the rules when it comes to spray paint.”