Monday, January 30, 2006

colours


colours
Originally uploaded by chestofdrawers.
I love colour! When we moved into this house 7 years ago, the walls were all white and my husband loved it. Most Austrians I know have white walls and coming from Australia where there is colour all over the place, I was quite bored with my surroundings. I didn´t have the courage or the strength to get my ideas out there when we were decorating our house because I was preoccupied with 3 young children and my husband prefered to consult his parents about decorating. After we moved into the house, my husband went away for 3 months to work in Saudi Arabia against my wishes - there was no point in pulling my hair out about this so I painted one wall in the kitchen blue and another yellow. I loved it and when my husband got home he freaked. Then he decided to work for a company on the other side of Austria and only came home every 3 weeks...thus the 3 boys rooms are pistachio green, bright yellow and indigo blue! After a huge argument with my inlaw´s some time later, my way of handling my anger was to drive to the paint shop, buy paint in yellow and orange and go over the living room first with a roller and then a sponge -I sure felt a lot better afterwards!When I found out a few years later that my husband was having an affair, I took Feng Shui´s advice and painted my bedroom dark red in the hope that it would rekindle the passion in our marraige - but instead it drove him away for good!
When I think back to all those times when I was lonely, when I felt isolated without support, colour was my friend. How can you feel down when a sunny living room greets you each morning.
Putting colour on my walls was my way of screaming out to my husband "Look! Here I am, this is me, take it or leave it!" And I´m so grateful that he did leave it because now I have a partner who sees me and loves me for what I am.
When Erich walked into my house for the first time he said "wow, I love all the colour on the walls" and I knew my lonely days were over.

5 comments:

meghan said...

WOw, what a great story! I love thinking of you splashing great doses of colour all over your world - being brave and bold and wicked! And I am so glad that you are with someone who supports your need for colour and beauty! Your space and your partner are now nourishing. Fantastic! Have a marvellous day!

Frankie said...

This is phenomenal! I love the journey of your life reflected in your color choices. You're so brave to invite color into your world and I think it speaks volumes about who you are, clearly a bold, strong spirit. Thanks so much for sharing this! It brought a little light into my day!

Alex S said...

What a WONDERFUL post!!! I smiled my whole way down the screen. I think it wasn't until I saw my best friend's house transform over time through color that I came to be in love with how color can warm and enliven a home. I remember the first wall of my apartment I ever painted- a bright sweet yellow. Now I'm at a point where bare walls make me sigh. Not that white can't be beautiful too because absolutely they can, but once you've painted your walls colors you love, theres no turning back! I am so glad that you have a partner now who really gets you and whom you can share a space with that you both not only can agree on but love too! And how wonderful for your children to grow up with a mother not afraid to dare and be creative as she wishes to be! Again, this post made me heart smile. Thank you!

Jamie said...

How inspiring. Thank you for sharing how colour changed your life! I think that red must have reawoken passion as a new and wonderful love found his way into your life. I'm so happy for you. You are a woman of courage and strength!

Jorth said...

Your story has touched my heart. I'm so glad that real love came into your life. And hooray for colour!