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What would You Do? Advice for Designers/Consultants

02/09/2011
35 Comments

It took 10 years of experience before I could answer this question with confidence. In addition to an entire year of blogging–posting only images that I loved–before I could tell you exactly what ‘my look’ was.  As a new designer, I would say “I can do anything, any style, I take your look and make…

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In Praise of (Latte) Pink Beige

02/06/2011
50 Comments

source Anyone who regularly reads my blog knows how I feel about pink beige (and now the 17 True Colour Experts from my class these past 3 days can see it a mile away as well) you’ll never find it in any of my interiors. And it’s because it’s the most limiting undertone to work with….

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Photo Shoot for my new Website (including the bloopers)

01/31/2011
97 Comments

This week I completely re-arranged my living room for a photo shoot.  My Web Designer/Brand Manager recommended that I get more ‘lifestyle’ feeling photos that say more about me than just a ‘head shot’ for my new website. So since my dining room is not yet finished, I couldn’t be photographed sitting on my sofa…

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Sunflower Yellow; Where are yoooooooooou?

01/28/2011
49 Comments

The reason you have not seen the corner bookshelves in my living room yet is because I had lights installed on two sets of shelves going across all 5 of them and in between is a glass shelf. This means I can’t stick books on these shelves (except on the bottom shelf) or the light…

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The Difference Between an Expert and a Master

01/26/2011
29 Comments

Penelope Trunk sent me an email this month after she received my newsletter ‘Colour Advice from a True Expert’:   “Unsolicited advice. I don’t think it should say “true expert” in the headline. I mean, only people who think people don’t trust their expertise would say that. When you just say “colour advice” it already…

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Why are some Homes harder to Decorate than others?

01/24/2011
36 Comments

I have had lots of conversations with clients who have said “I have decorated many homes with great success over the years but this house has me stumped.”  They call me because they need an objective opinion to get past something they can’t see on their own. Image via Inspired Room Here is a great…

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True Colour Expert Jennifer Duchene Interviews Me

01/22/2011
12 Comments

The other day when Kelly from Restyling Home posted this interview with me, one of my readers emailed me and said ‘Maria it could have been loooooonger’. So here’s another one. Jennifer Duchene is one of the talented designers that attended my last True Colour Expert Workshop in September, her blog and business is called…

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What Colour should a Workshop be Painted?

01/20/2011
15 Comments

I know, you’ve been waiting with bated breath to know the answer to this question (not 🙂 but ever since I walked into this furniture makers workshop and saw the back wall painted this colour, I wanted to show it to you because it’s so great. BM 802 or CC-846 A basically unfinished room with…

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10 Interesting Posts and a Linky Party

01/15/2011
60 Comments

I’m always posting interesting articles or blog posts I come across on my Twitter and Facebook Fan page for my followers so I thought I’d include a few of my favourites here today.  If your post is not here and it’s great, it’s just because I haven’t read it or because I had to end…

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What makes a Design Blog Interesting?

01/14/2011
58 Comments

I have mixed feelings on whether yesterday’s post should ever have been written. There was lots of lively debate in the comments and even a few cranky ones mixed in to the long list I received (I also lost a reader according to her comment).  Also, two emails arrived saying “Wow your sisters must be…

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Decorating for Family; How Much is too Much?

01/13/2011
134 Comments

My youngest sister, her husband and two small children are moving even further into the country than they already are, Abbotsford to Yarrow. This is happening in February. And when they move they will need help decorating their house. The last time my sister moved (about 7 years ago) we spent many weekends over the…

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