Ask Maria: I Can’t Find the Perfect Area Rug
04/26/2014This readers question is such a great example of a lesson we can all learn from because I think we can get a little too used to looking at our own stuff and stop seeing it objectively. The answer here is not an inexpensive fix, but if you want to move forward, start counting colours in your space. Sometimes,…
Which trim colour is right for my house? Getting your white trim colour right on the exterior and interior of your house is critical to the style of your home. If your exterior is blue or red, the trim colour you choose can mean the difference between your house looking nautical or heritage. White trim…
Remember when I told you about the room I designed for Elizabeth’s 40th Birthday present from her husband? Well it’s almost done and her party was this past weekend. So I’m going to show it to you. This is Elizabeth and her husband Bill Jacobs. The guy who understands that a Happy Wife is a…
We are going with Turquoise + Red My sister Elizabeth is turning 40 in July and for her birthday she wants the family room painted and re-decorated. Her kids are almost four and six, they have not bought any new furniture since they got married and had kids. The living room furniture currently has…
My Best Friend’s Living Room
05/19/2012My best friend Tami moved into our townhouse complex in December. It’s been so fabulous to have her living just across the garden from our living room windows. How often does your best friend move next door? So that’s the only sad part about moving out a whole 1 hour and 15 minutes away. My…
7 Ideas for Happy Colour
04/24/2012Last night IKEA had a media party to launch their brand new store in Richmond. They built one 3 times bigger right beside the old one which will apparently be torn down. EIVOR It’s always fun when colour trends arrive at big box stores and become totally affordable. This black and white throw will…
Dorothy emailed me back in November and asked if she could pay for one hour of my time to consult on her daughter’s home. It was to be her Christmas present. The den (below) was the biggest reason. Beth hated the colour so much she was starting to be convinced that it was time to…
A while ago I showed you a sneak peek of this living room I was working on and it’s finally done! Note these photos were taken by me! Photos by Maria Killam The existing panelled wall was oak and did not match the new hardwood floor so we first painted it the colour of the…
3 Ways to Update a Brand New House
04/21/2011Whenever I am with a client either on the phone virtually (like the following house in Omaha) or in person and I announce that the carpet, backsplash or sofa (for example) has a—gasp–pink undertone, my clients almost always react the same way—oh no, what do we do now!
ouse is brand new!”. I replied, ‘”Here’s how you know this kitchen is NOT current, you will never find it in a magazine from 2011”. That was all the confirmation Laura needed (and luckily her husband agreed). She set about painting all the oak woodwork including the kitchen white and here are the results!
What is the Colour of Fun?
11/15/2010flickr At the CMG conference in 2010 we had a presentation called C20 where 20 colour professionals had one minute to present ‘What’s Next’. My favourite was Mark Woodman’s question: A day at the beach (flickr) He said he noticed from just observing the world around him that the colour of fun is NEVER beige. And he…
Top Ten Throw Pillows
08/23/2010Lately I’ve been obsessed with toss cushions because I’m selecting fabrics for the pillows that will be on my new sofa and in the bedrooms. I never design a room for a client without them. Here are my favourites: Samantha Pynn 1. Love this big floral for the drama and the way it pulls together…
Which Colour Sofa Should You Buy?
06/20/2010Which colour sofa should you buy? It’s been a long time since I have picked out a new sofa. I bought my first one when I was 21 and it was black with white stripes. When I got married at 27 my husband and I bought a sofa and love seat in forest green leather, back…
How to Choose a Basement Colour
03/24/2010I can’t tell you the number of times I have been asked for a very pale colour for a basement room and the equally horrified looks from clients when I pull out a richer colour. If you are trying to decide on a colour for your basement, keep reading with an open mind 🙂 While…
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