Latest Blog posts

White to Green Exterior: Before & After

After: Green House

Have you ever wondered if a green house would blend too much into the landscape if you have lots of green around your house? This homeowner was brave enough to go for it! Before After: Body Colour, SW 6431 Trim: SW 6385 Green is the color of nature, fertility, life. Grass green is the most restful color. Green symbolizes self-respect… Continue reading

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Choose a Colour for your Front Door: Free Webinar with Maria Killam

Green front door

via pinterest When this post about front door colours went up on my blog, it went viral on Pinterest. In fact I think it's what suddenly made Pinterest the highest source of traffic to my site. So now I receive countless emails asking which colour YOUR front door should be. When we moved into this house last year, at the… Continue reading

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What Colour Should your Concrete Driveway be?

William

My sister Elizabeth with Markus & William When we started getting quotes for a new concrete driveway, the contractors were quick to tell us we could 'Choose a colour'. I assured them we would not be selecting anything different than the natural colour of concrete. Quick! Close your eyes and answer this question: What's the undertone of a sidewalk? via… Continue reading

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The Zen of One Day Decorating: Before & After

Shopping Day

One of my favourite ways to help my clients create a space that fills them with happiness when they walk in their door is the one day shopping service I offer. If you just need an end table or two, lighting, pillows, possibly a carpet and accessories, you have comfortable shoes and a large vehicle, we can transform many a… Continue reading

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8 Features Every Log Home Should Have (Incredible Kitchen too)

Features Every Log Home Should Have

1. An abandoned swallows nest on the kitchen window sill. 2. Incredible limestone tile throughout and including the countertops (chosen by Brooke & Steve Gianetti from Velvet & Linen during a trip to LA) Such a great way of working with all the ORANGE wood, providing a break from it as well as creating a balance of warm and cool.… Continue reading

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4 Ways to Work with Colour over Neutrals

How to work with Colour over Neutrals

When I give the participants in my colour training an in-class exercise, or homework (hey you get your money's worth with us) I notice that when they select colours to create a colour palette they take the undertone of whatever paint chip/s they have to work with and repeat it. So if I show a blue green, and they need… Continue reading

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Do you Act When You're Moved?

CDECA Meeting

This past Friday the Canadian Decorators Association – BC Chapter held our annual general meeting in North Vancouver on a fabulous, hot and sunny day! I have been a member for months but this is the first time I have been to an event–silly me–now that I live in the country it seems the monthly meeting date never works for… Continue reading

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Gifts my Mom would Love

Mother's Day

  When I thought about writing a post on gift ideas for Mother's Day, I thought it would be easier to write about everything my mom would love to receive.   My mom has a huge garden so this kind of gift (above) in any shape or size would be a big hit! My mom is a massage therapist and… Continue reading

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Ask Maria: Which Whites go Together?

White + Cream

First of all I'd like to thank you  and congratulate you on writing such an interesting ebook with lots of information and  advise about undertones. I have a question about whites, does off white belong to the white family of colors? What color is cream? And which color family is it from? I'm guessing yellow? Via Pinterest So to answer this question, yes… Continue reading

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The Two Kings of Muck Mountain on Elizabeth Avenue

William & Markus

When I told William & Markus (my nephews) that all the ugly concrete was coming out of our yard William (above) said: Even the driveway? Yes And the sidewalk? Yes Why? 'Because we can't take all the concrete out and leave the driveway and sidewalk, it's old and cracked.' I said. 'Well then ours is coming out too, it's all… Continue reading

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