POULSBO — For the first time in its 20-year history in Little Norway, the Kvelstad Pavilion is getting a makeover.

One that the structure’s designer and builder Bill Austin hopes the community will get behind.

Austin recently started adding a colorful coat of paint to the pavilion in Waterfront Park. In all its years, the structure has always been a natural wood color but Austin said it was never meant to stay that way.

“Originally, I just gave it a coat of clear stain to protect it from the elements,” Austin recalled. “But I always figured it would be more colorful.”

With donated paint from Peninsula Paint Company (formerly Lovell Paint) in Poulsbo and a color scheme from Connie Lamont and Connie Wyland, Austin has set out to add a combination of greens, reds, browns and a couple of splashes of gold to the community gathering place. So far, Austin said the reaction to the change has been positive and he’s hoping that will continue.

“If it was really Nordic, it would be much more colorful but I didn’t want to go too far and scare the inhabitants of Poulsbo,” Austin commented. “I remember when I painted the senior citizens lounge downtown yellow, it was the first yellow building down there and it caused quite a commotion.”

The paint job may yet include the ceiling being painted a sky blue and some folk art embellishments being added on the posts.

Austin said he’s hoping to have the painting done before Viking Fest, which takes place May 14-16, but said he’ll need some helpers to accomplish that feat. He said he’s planning to paint most dry, sunny days and wants community members who can wield a paint brush to join him.

“The more people I get, the less time it’ll take to finish,” Austin commented.

Besides his work on the new coat of paint, Austin recently fixed rot that was starting to develop in the pavilion’s main posts. He said Poulsbo Public Works crews are planning to soon replace the structure’s roof and floor and he will be revamping its stairs, railings and newel posts.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help paint the Kvelstad Pavilion can contact Austin at (360) 779-3080.