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Our Next Chapter: We’re Moving!

07/29/2022
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If you haven’t heard yet… we’re moving! And, I’m sharing photos of our new house HERE FIRST with all of you!  Our garden this summer Terreeia and I have been thinking about building for years but haven’t done much about it other than look for real estate.  And, we still haven’t been in a big…

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Ask Maria: How Do I Style my Dining Room Built-ins?

06/30/2022
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David Jiminez Today I thought we’d have a little styling lesson because when all else fails and you can’t paint because the beautifying-other-areas-of-your-house-list is long, accessories are what you need to distract the eye from colours you don’t like. Okay here’s the question from one of my stylish readers: “These built ins were in our…

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The Best Countertops with Black Appliances

06/27/2022
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Do you have black appliances? Did you know there are only two countertops you should consider for the best possible kitchen design? Oh, but there is an exception to this guideline so keep reading for the best colour advice for choosing the right countertops to go with black appliances. Architectural Digest So, let’s start with…

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The Best Sherwin-Williams Paint Colours (A New Collection)

06/22/2022
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At last, the Sherwin Williams Premier Collection is here! Discover the best Sherwin-Williams paint colours in my curated collection of large painted colour boards – now available for purchase! For years, I’ve been getting requests to create a collection of Sherwin-Williams boards in more saturated colours – just like the VIP Collection that I’ve had…

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Update the Brick Columns on your Exterior; Before & After

06/19/2022
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Sometimes small changes can make a big impact on your home’s exterior. Here’s an excellent design trick to make your brick accents and columns look timeless.  My client Deborah moved into this house with brick accents along with brick columns (below). She immediately dry brushed the siding paint colour on top of the brick to…

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The Best Way to Identify Undertones in Fabrics

06/13/2022
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There’s one important detail about using the colour wheel that you may have missed. So, I’d like to review it here. How you hold the wheel and your paint boards can make ALL the difference in identifying the correct undertone. This reader’s fabric photos are a perfect illustration of what I mean. How to find…

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Celebrating 55 Years with 55 Gifts for YOU!

06/06/2022
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To celebrate my 55th birthday, I am giving away 55 gifts to YOU including one ticket to my virtual Specify Colour with Confidence workshop this Fall! Stay tuned until the end of this post for all the details! 5 Colour Wheel Lessons So many of you still have questions about how to use the real-paint neutral…

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Two Best Ways to Decorate a Room With Grey Floors

05/30/2022
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Whether you love your grey hardwood floors or you’d rather make them disappear, I’m sharing two of the best ways to decorate around them. The trick is to add some warmth, and I can show you how. When you inherit your floors and paint colours My client Deborah and her family moved and happily, all…

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What Colour Works with Orange Wood?

05/23/2022
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So many of us tend to get caught up in the colour of wood – whether it’s hardwood floors, trims, cabinets, etc. And it often blinds our colour decision-making process. You may be asking what colour works with orange wood, but this isn’t the only question you need to ask. Johnson + McLeod Design Consultants…

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Shutters or Not: 10 Ways to Decide

05/16/2022
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Need help deciding if shutters work on your home? Here are some before and after photos of reader-submitted homes along with a few design guides to help you decide on shutters or not. Wow, I received a lot of photos when I made my request last week! Thank you so much for responding. My readers…

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