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Maria’s Happy Living & Dining Room

By 04/01/2012February 15th, 201728 Comments

Well, you all saw it decorated for the holidays already, but now that I’m moving I wanted it photographed without the Christmas decor, so here are some new photos:

mariadrapes

Photography by Jennifer Houghton

I can hardly wait to move to our new house, Jennifer  said lighting my space for the camera was just the same as if she were shooting in the middle of the night! Don’t EVER move into a north facing townhouse!! Unless you’re never home. We’ve really suffered having no direct sunlight in the living room

The other thing that I will love about the new house is that my yellow sofa will be up against the walls and window so it will be much prettier to photograph. It’s hard to get a good picture of it in this living room because there is so much going on behind it.

I found this basket from Pier 1 a few months ago to store the toys my nephews play with when they come over.

My dining room

When I painted the living room yellow BEFORE my yellow sofa arrived and then freaked out and painted it again, this is all that’s left of the old colour. I left it just for fun, it’s not something I would ever think of specifying for anyone. You can see the pinky beige that starts in the unpainted hallway right next to it.

I love my Jonathan Adler squirrel. Art by Anita Lindblom

This ottoman is covered in a fabric by Eileen Kathryn Boyd for Duralee. I’m a big fan of her work.

William & Markus

We’ll be in Vegas next weekend with my nephews (above) and Elizabeth and Bill to get some sun! It rains steadily in Vancouver all through Spring so we need to get away from it!!  We will be travelling via Westjet and William and Markus will be in their new Child-Free Kargo Kids Program, check it out.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Related posts:

Before Photos of my New House

Why I’m in Vegas this Weekend

Maria’s Kitchen Breakfast Nook: Before & After

To get your colours right, download my eBook, It’s All in the Undertones.

If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me.

To make sure the undertones in your home are right, get some large samples!

If you would like to learn to how choose the right colours for your home or for your clients, become a True Colour Expert.

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28 Comments

  • Marlo says:

    Awww, it feels like we are saying goodbye to your home and I will miss it.

    It’s a beautiful space and I look forward to seeing how it will look in your new home under different lighting. We are always learning something new here. 🙂

  • Bye Bye town house. Fond memories but bigger and betters one lie just ahead. Good luck with the move and have a great time in Vegas!!

  • Love yellow! So this living room is heaven to me! And I like the view out of the window!

  • Everything looks gorgeous! Adore the bookcases with the yellow accents 🙂

  • Ivy Lane says:

    Your home is so vibrant and inviting! Your nephews are adorable! Enjoy your time with them!

    PS.. I LOVE your barcelona chair!

  • teresa says:

    Everything looks so beautiful, one would never guess there’s no natural light. I’m loving the differnt pillow arrangement…I don’t remember seeing the huge green geometric ones. I’m also fancying the waisted ottoman; is that Ralph Lauren? The greeny table next to the B chair is also rad…where did you ever find it? There are always a million beautiful details in your rooms, especially the ones in your own space.
    I can’t wait to see how you arrange it all in your new home.
    CTD

    • Maria Killam says:

      Hi Teresa,
      I bought the ottoman from HomeSense for $99 and had it recovered.
      The yellow round table next to the barcelona chair was also found from HomeSense. All we have in Canada is that store for discount goods so they carry lots of great finds.
      The toss pillows are new yes!
      Thanks for your comment,
      Maria

  • Dianne Tant says:

    Love-love all the yellow….love the art

  • Thanks for that AWESOME video. My oldest daughter thought it was really cool and she wished she could do that on her flight :)…. and have fun in Vegas. I missed you by only 1 week. We took the kids to see the Secret Garden (tigers and dolphins) and went to Circus Circus a bit, and M&M world and Coke world. Dined at the Wicked Spoon.

  • Marlo says:

    P.S. The Kargo Kids had me going until the very end. Loved it!

  • Loribeth says:

    I love the bright yellow sofa! I would love to do a bright colored sofa in our house… here’s the but… But it’s such an expensive investment. We can’t afford a new sofa every time the color trends change. Still…I’d love to do something like that. I guess it’s just getting past that fear. And convincing my husband not to be practical for once!!!

    • Maria Killam says:

      Hi Loribeth,
      I think it’s best to buy your favourite colour. I have always loved yellow and if you start looking at yellow sofas, there is a couple high end designers that use that colour in very traditional living rooms and it’s been there for years. Buying a gray sofa will date immediately when the trend changes.
      Thanks for your comment!
      Maria

      • Loribeth says:

        Hmmmm….. my favorite color is pink. I know Jim will never go for that, and actually that wouldn’t work in our living room as a major feature anyway. What I’d like is a chartreuse / apple green color. My thought is to see about getting a slipcover made in that color for the black leather sofa we have now (it’s a bachelor sofa Jim had before we met)–eventually, it’s going to be replaced. Green is a color we both love, so I think that might be the way to go to see how we like living with a strong color. Thanks!!

  • I love how happy and bright your room is. You certainly know what you are doing in design! You have a fabulous mix of busy and quiet in your room. Great job and thanks for sharing. Don’t get a sunburn in Vegas!

  • Yellow and green combination looks awesome and Eco friendly

  • Paula Van Hoogen says:

    Well, having lived in the most difficult to light and cheer space–you have learned how to help others with similar predicaments!! That’s one way to see it–of course you did say that the photographer had to light it as if it were night! You did the BEST possible job with what you had. BRAVO, Maria.
    I second Diana’s caution to usee lots of sunscreen.
    Have fun! Those boys are so precious….

  • Lesli says:

    Maria, your home is gorgeous, what color is your new dining/living room going to be? I happen to be a huge fan of toy baskets…great move!!!…regarding the comment about the yellow sofa investment…I think you have said this before Maria – it is a great idea to get a sofa in your favorite color – despite the trends, that way, you love it as the trends change, well, I guess unless you favorite color changes. I know personally, one day I WILL have a PINK sofa! A chesterfield sofa in pink velvet or linen!

  • Your living room is so happy!!!! I can’t imagine being sad or depressed being surrounded by such lively colours. I love the artwork – it goes so well with the other colours and just adds to the happy feeling. North facing, dark? I don’t think so.
    Have fun in Vegas. Never been. But am going with sisters in November.

  • You could stage your room and move the things behind the yellow sofa , even push the sofa back some, if you don’t like the business showing behind it.

  • Carol Ann says:

    your pictures are coming out weird, might want to check whats wrong, the decor was amazing
    oh I love westjet… best airline (and thats coming from an air canada brat)

  • Anita Junttila says:

    The West Jet video is hilarious !! I love it

  • Vegas, the Disney World for grown-ups. 🙂 Love the place! (I agree with Anita, the West Jet spoof was hilarious.)

    Oh that yellow sofa of yours is tempting. Love its ‘happy’ colour and ‘graceful’ lines.

    Have fun in the desert!
    -Brenda-

  • Maureen says:

    Looks so pretty and fresh. Looking forward to you settling into your new home and the design reveals. Congratulations and Happy Easter!
    Maureen

  • I am still so in love with that sofa. I’m looking forward to seeing how it morphs in the new house 🙂
    You must smile at home a lot in that happy decor.

  • Amy says:

    I know I’m joining the conversation very late (in November!) but just wanted to say how much I love the art and the combination of colors in your living room at your old place. And I was just wondering what color was on your living room walls? It looks lovely with all the bright colors. Thank you! And thank you for answeiring my email last weekend, too! I think I’ve settled on a clean, pale yellow for my living room walls to go with my bright colored fabrics and art.
    Amy

  • Buttercup Helton says:

    I adore the sofa can you tell me where to buy it

  • Stephanie says:

    What is the fabric on your yellow sofa?

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