Is it Myrna-Approved?

Recently, Mark and I decided it’s time for a change in our bedroom: We painted the walls.

Of course, we decided the entire process had to be green, so we went to Home Depot (www.homedepot.com) and bought their FreshAir primer and paint and their eco painting starter kit. The cost is a little more than conventional paints and supplies, but it’s absolutely worth the investment.

As we went through check out, the cashier said, “The only complaint about this paint is it doesn’t have that paint smell. I know that’s the whole point, but there’s something about that smell.” I understood. The smell of paint has traditionally been part of the process . . . back before we all figured out paint fumes are actually toxic.

Anyway, Mark and I rushed back home and got to work. The no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint is just like ordinary paint, just without the strong odor. During the process, our precocious one-year-old Siamese, Myrna, snuck into our room. Myrna has allergies (side note: So does our dog. When I was growing up, I never heard of an animal having allergies; did you?) and she is highly sensitive to smells. She recoils from just about anything with a strong odor. I watched as she walked up to the open paint can, thinking she’d quickly back away, but she didn’t. She sniffed it for a while and then started attacking the brushes.

It’s official: FreshAir paint is Myrna approved.

Question of the blog: What’s your experience been with no-VOC paint?