Step one: seek professional help

Creating a coworking space is all about collaboration. Give a little, get a little, bounce ideas, trade knowledge for knowledge, skills for skills, baking for beer. I’m a writer, an idea junkie, and fan of terrible taxidermy – I don’t know squat about painting. Or squats for that matter. Even so, when I approached Resene for some expert advice, and a bit of a helping hand, they blew me away with their community spirit.

So, this is me screaming out a giant THANK YOU to Travis at the Resene Store in Victoria Ave, and Karen on the end of an email somewhere. Rockstars, the both of you. Resene are gifting the space with paint. And by god, that's going to take a lot of paint. 

Resene's 'Turn Lou into a painter' Starter Pack.

This ridiculously generous offer means I can paint in ANY colour I want. Not just the grey leftovers I can steal from boring office blocks.

Those orange pieces of tape on the buckets: Lou-proof instructions from Travis. 

They've also thrown in drop cloths, rollers, tape, brushes, a pair of sexy white overalls and hand cream to stop me painting myself. Love your work. 

The best bit: Resene is the paint the professionals use. And as I’m using it, I’m suddenly a paint professional. The tin tells me so. Get ready for the best advice on painting. Ever.