It would not be an overstatement in the least to say that one of the absolute best decisions I made when moving into my new place was to get it painted professionally.
I had never booked professional painters before, and had fooled myself in the past into thinking it could be done easily enough on my own. The paint stroke marks on the ceiling and sloppy edging would suggest otherwise (plus a bunch of other blunders I won’t bother to list out!).
So as my move rapidly approached (and if you read my Substack Second Wave, you’d know that I had literally a matter of weeks to find a place, sign for a place and then move to this place), I was grappling with such a range of emotions. This move was going to be a huge turning point for me symbolically as a newly single mum, but it was also going to come with a lot of new practical, logistical challenges and experiences.
I knew this was one area of the move I wanted to confidently put in the hands of the pros.
Because one thing I really wanted to bring into this new chapter was agency over all aspects of my life, and to feel like I was giving myself full power to call the shots. So rather than live with stark white or, in this case, a property-management-mandated grey that felt deeply depressing, I decided from the jump that I wanted warmth, colour and comfort.
And I wanted it done beautifully.
Why I Hired Professional Painters
A quick Google search for professional painters in Vancouver brought me to CertaPro Painters, and from the jump, I was so impressed with them.
They were incredibly thorough in their pre-paint assessments, making sure we were aligned on the finish, colours and the game-day plan for painting. When I got the keys August 1, I could basically open my doors to them and know that over the course of the day, the apartment was going to transform entirely.
If you’re wondering whether hiring professional painters is actually worth it, this experience really changed my perspective. So much of what made it worthwhile wasn’t just the painting itself. It was everything that happened before a paintbrush even touched the wall.
What Professional Interior Painting Actually Includes
Whether you rent or own, you really don’t want to run the risk of damaging your space and being on the hook either to your landlord or for repairs down the road if you own.
Before they even picked up a paintbrush, the CertaPro team was prepping my entire place. They protected the floors and baseboards, removed outlet and light switch covers and carefully prepared everything that wasn’t being painted.
And then there was one thing I absolutely would never have done myself: smoothing out all the rough spots, patching the walls and creating a perfectly level canvas before beginning.
It sounds like such a small detail, but when you see the finished result, you realize how much that prep work matters.
Then, the magic begins.
The Painting Itself
Going from grey (see the befores above) to the creamy white we selected might not seem like the most dramatic change, but trust me, it is.
For the main living areas, we chose Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa, a warm, creamy white that completely changed the feeling of the apartment.
I had seen the space in the sunshine before and, sure, it was still airy. But as the rain gave way to some sunshine later that afternoon, you could immediately see how the new colour turned the space into this glowing, warm cocoon.
They began by edging, which is a technique that is so beyond impressive to watch in person and something I could simply never do myself. Literally freehand painting all the edges and creating these perfect, crisp lines.
Then came the roller painting. I was already ecstatic after one coat, but the second coat really brought everything to life and made the space feel complete.
My favourite time of day in the apartment now that I’m settled in there is actually late afternoon, when the light gets reflected from the windows of the building next door and the northern, eastern and southern light all bounce into the space. It literally feels like being inside a heavenly, sunset-lit cloud (a very specific comparison, but the best way I can describe it).
For Cal’s room, it was so important to me that it felt very him and completely unique.
I shared more in this Substack article about the literal panic and sleepless nights I had before his first day here, which, spoiler alert, he handled so beautifully. I wanted his room to feel incredibly special for him.
On the CertaPro team’s recommendation after I shared some general inspiration, we ended up going with Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt, and I’m so happy we did.
It works perfectly with his existing paintings, linens and even so much of the décor I already had for him, and this colour in particular really evolves throughout the day. It feels much cooler and almost minty in the daytime, then becomes this really cozy green tone in the evening when his lamps and nightlight are on.
He absolutely loves it, which honestly means everything to me.
By the end of the day, the team had wrapped the painting and I was already so thankful for everything they’d done, but they weren’t quite done themselves!
They wanted to make sure every last thing was picked up, every outlet and light switch cover was replaced and every fleck of dust was vacuumed from the floor.
Again, the end-to-end service was so amazing. I felt like they protected and prepared the space more thoroughly than I ever could have achieved on my own, without even factoring in the fact that the painting itself was done so completely, professionally and efficiently.
Paint colours used: Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa and Sea Salt
Would I Hire CertaPro Painters Again? (Rhetorical Question)
I mean, yes, obviously. Without question.
I’m so grateful to the CertaPro team and would recommend them for any residential or commercial painting project you have in mind. They were such a pleasure to book and work with, and I will use them again in a heartbeat for any future painting project.
And in case you’re wondering, they paint exteriors as well, so they can tackle far more than just an interior refresh.
A rushed move later, I’m still not sure how long we’ll be here or exactly what the future holds. It has all been such a whirlwind. But I do know that I want to stay in this oldie-but-goodie, but new-to-me, place for a little stretch. It was my safe place to land, and the first place I’ve called home in this new chapter.
I hope one day to invest in another home for Cal and I, and when that time comes, I will obviously be calling on my friends at CertaPro again. But knowing that from the jump, we got what might be the most transformative change you can make to a home done properly has started this chapter in the most beautiful way.
As one of you dubbed it on Instagram, it is now truly our seaside haven.
If you have a painting project on the horizon and are looking for professional painters in Vancouver, you can learn more about CertaPro and request an estimate here.
Finally, sharing these side-by-sides below…truly, the change is so tremendous to me. So happy! Thank you CertaPro for working with me to bring this to life.
Before and After
