A couple’s way of brightening their days during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a new appreciation for their home.

Maureen, who is active on TikTok as @moreangrim, and her husband decided to give their house a makeover as a way to rejuvenate themselves during the long days of lockdown.

“It was May of 2020, and like everyone, we were bored, and we wanted a project—something to make us feel happy. We decided to paint the house,” Maureen says in an interview.

Opting against conventional palettes, the two “wanted something fun and bright,” she says.

https://www.tiktok.com/@moreangrim/photo/7518117226583444750

“We were debating between pink or purple, but we ended up going with purple,” she told me.

Choosing to do the home remodel themselves proved to be “really cute,” Maureen recalls, as people from the neighborhood took note.

“We were outside painting it every day for about a week. People would walk by and yell encouraging, fun things. I actually remember this couple riding their bikes and they were chanting, ‘Go lavender, go purple,’ the whole time they rode by,” Maureen recalls. “A lot of people stopped and talked to us and said that it really brightened their day and that they were excited to walk by to see how far we were in painting.”

Months later, Maureen found a special gift and a note from one of her neighbors, Chris, on her front porch.

“A while ago I was walking by your house when you were painting. It reminded me of one of my favorite books from childhood that celebrates individuality. I could not remember the exact name but after some searching I was able to find it. I hope you enjoy the story. Hopefully you won’t mind that it’s well-read. Wishing you peace and joy throughout the season,” he wrote, gifting them a well-loved copy of Mr. Pine’s Purple House.

The 1965 children’s book, written by Leonard Kessler, describes Mr. Pine’s efforts to make his house, one of 50 white houses on Pine St., stand out.

Maureen, who had never heard of the book before, “immediately started crying” when she received the considerate present.

“The book is adorable, and the letter really brought me to tears. It’s just so nice,” she says.

“I had wanted to get a tattoo of our house for a long time. Since we were little, my sisters and I have said, ‘I want to go home.’ It’s our little joke, so I knew I wanted to include those two elements. “This year, I just decided to do it,” she explains.

Maureen discovered that her longtime tattoo artist was one of several neighbors who admired her brilliantly colored home.

“It was funny because my tattoo artist, who had done a couple of my tattoos, had no idea that the purple house was mine.” She lives in the neighborhood, and she was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I’ve been by that home so many times, taking photographs of it and such.” I love it so much.”

Sharing it on TikTok has made the event much more memorable, says Maureen.

“Everyone’s comments have been so sweet,” she tells me. “It remade me appreciate and think about this experience all over again.”