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True Colour Expert® Training with Maria Killam

You don’t need to go back to design school to make some damn good colour decisions.

Quickly learn a proven system for choosing colour and finishes that you can apply to all your client projects.

Do you find that choosing colour for your clients is a STILL consistent source of stress? Because, you are not alone.

Colour is the #1 pain point for design professionals.

Often followed by managing messy communication with clients who are second-guessing your recommendations.

Because if you don’t convey perfect confidence in your colour choices, your client will start to question everything.

Sound familiar?

This is not an effective way to manage projects.

I REALIZE THAT WHAT MY CLIENT WANTS WON’T WORK

But I struggle being able to explain why.

Hi, I’m Maria Killam!

I’ve spent more than 20 years colour consulting, which led me to invent a more practical and effective way to get colour right. It’s a colour system with step-by-step processes for choosing colour that works for every project.

It’s common for new designers (and even seasoned ones) to lose control of consultations and end up simply fulfilling clients’ wish lists. Even when all your expertise and instincts say it’s not the right choice. 

Through my years of consulting with clients, I’ve gathered valuable insights, now condensed into a two-day course to empower you in making better color decisions.

I’ll show you how to communicate so you can firmly and professionally guide your clients to the best outcome. Because if you can’t demonstrate the WHY, your clients will continue to spin with uncertainty.

We’ll also explore how choosing a timeless and classic style helps your clients make lasting and sustainable changes to their homes, adding considerable value to your services.

As seen in:

Most colour courses are missing the mark.

Because no one is showing you how to turn the not-so-great into something beautiful.

Make better colour decisions with the least amount of effort.

Most colour courses miss the mark by teaching outdated and impractical colour theory.

The Killam Colour System is different – it focuses on teaching you how colour really works, providing a practical and modern approach so you gain certainty without the overwhelm.

Gain valuable insights into communicating with clients.

I understand the challenges of trying to fulfill clients’ wish lists against your own design instincts.

Learn how to manage client objections with real examples you can use. Plus, we’ll cover how to work with existing finishes, choose timeless flooring, and create atmosphere through styling and decorating.

Develop a better eye for what’s wrong in a room and how to fix it.

Cross the bridge from, “I know this looks bad, but I’m not sure why,” to knowing EXACTLY what is wrong or missing.

Knowing the fundamentals of how colour behaves opens to the door to not only knowing what good design looks like, but also knowing what the wrong colour choices look like.

Remember, every selection you make for your project is a COLOUR choice first.

So, what you don’t know about colour is costing you more than you think.

Killam Colour System

Join me in-person for two days.

Chicago Area (Spring)  &  Dallas Area (Fall)

Earn 14 IDCEC Accredited CEUs for Interior Design
+ True Colour Expert Cerfication

What will I learn?

The training I received from you is right up their with what I learned to receive my Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design from an accredited university! You're a true trailblazer in this industry and your fight to be heard is contagious.... After almost two decades of being in this field as a professional interior designer, I can now CONFIDENTLY say that I am a TRUE COLOR EXPERT!

Kylie L.2023 Graduate
Understanding Colour
  • Why colour is more timeless than neutrals
  • Hands on exercises to learn my exclusive Comparative Colour Method™
  • The three most powerful and effective ways to compare and describe colour
  • How to navigate a fan deck (most colours in any fan deck are NOT useful)
  • Just enough colour theory to be useful
  • Colour made easy™ a simple process for choosing colour in real life situations
  • Which elements are most important to consider when choosing colour
  • How to coordinate the colour of anything from tile to soft furnishings
  • How and where to take the leap from neutrals to colour
  • Colour Balancing Method™ how much colour a room needs
  • The best place to start to create perfect colour palettes for decorating
  • Create perfect flow with colour from room to room throughout the house
  • Make the best of less than ideal situations with colour
  • Distract from mistakes with beautiful decorating and styling
Understanding Undertones
  • My effective language for the 9 most useful undertones of neutrals
  • Develop your ability to see undertones with my Comparative Colour Method™
  • Each trend cycle is defined by a specific range of neutrals
  • Why it’s important to be aware of the trends to create timeless spaces
  • Why getting neutral undertones right is more important than lighting
  • Create versatile backdrops to express yourself with decorating and styling
  • Learn how to limit the different undertones in a room
  • Determine which finishes matter when you have multiple undertones
  • Discover which neutral undertones work together and which don’t
  • How to transition neutral undertones from room to room
  • Which finishes need to be chosen first
  • Coordinate finishes for timeless bathrooms and kitchens
  • Why white doesn’t have to be complicated
  • The best whites organized into 4 most useful gradations from cool to warm
  • Why managing contrast is the key to great design
  • Solutions to a wide variety of real life decorating challenges

What My Graduates Are Saying

MK Testimonials

Don't just take my word for it...

Hear from design professionals using the Killam Colour System in their businesses.

100% happiness guarantee

Not only will you carve out a niche for yourself as the go-to expert in your area, but you’ll also easily transition your clients from consult-only clients to full-on design clients, dramatically increasing your bottom line. How much is that worth to you?

I believe it’s invaluable. That’s why investing in this two-day is more than reasonable for your design business. AND, you make this investment at no risk because you’re covered by my 100% happiness guarantee. If, by the end of the first day, you don’t think this is the best colour course you’ve ever taken, simply turn in your class materials and I’ll give you a full refund!

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I receive True Colour Expert™ certification?

Yes! This is the ONLY training where you’ll be certified as a True Colour Expert™ after two days. This also includes a digital badge for your website and social media accounts as well as a printable certificate.

I’m a brand new designer. Will I feel out of place at this training?

Definitely NOT! 🙌🏻

Your instincts are good, but your client still needs to know the “why.” And communicating this can be a challenge for both the new designer and the seasoned one.

In just two days, you’re going to know how to tell a client what’s missing or what’s wrong, and what they need to do to make it better. This is the confidence you need to communicate more directly with your clients – no matter where you are in your design career.

Let’s face it, a color consultation goes beyond choosing paint colors for a wall. Typically you’re also advising on the colors for furniture and decor in order to create a cohesive color scheme that flows throughout. You’ll learn how to harmonize both.

And when you apply my timeless design principles to your bathroom and kitchen designs, you’ll have more freedom to express yourself through decorating. Bonus: You’ll create a portfolio that’s truly everlasting.

But you may still be wondering if this investment really worth it?

I’ll walk you through the EXACT steps for making colour and design decisions from start to finish, for ANY project. Imagine what this kind of insight can do for your design business?

Need Interior Design CEUs?

You will earn 14 IDCEC Accredited CEUs (7 for each day)

💰 And, finally here’s how my two-day workshop pays for itself. 

First, it’s the cost of one mistake. That’s easy math. For most it has a dollar amount. You never forget what it cost to replace that _________. Believe me, I’ve been there. There’s also an emotional cost – delays, frustration, OVERTHINKING. Been there too.

Second, being able to decorate around a finish your client isn’t changing (that you’re not in love with). Often, you’ll get much more out of decorating and styling a room WELL than by fixing expensive colour mistakes. 

Did you get that? You’ll learn the best way to freshen up your client’s home when they can’t replace everything. You’ll learn to solve a variety of challenges with colours and finishes, so you can help them move forward – whether you’re working with a budget that’s basic or luxe. 

I’ve been helping clients pull together their spaces with both new and inherited finishes for over 20 years. I’ve seen it ALL. So, I know a thing or two about solving decorating challenges of all kinds. And, you’ll learn the exact same process I use in just two days.

Now’s the time to carve out a niche for yourself as the go-to COLOUR expert in your area. 

Soaring real estate costs make colour consulting a necessity. Because when people stop building, they start renovating. If they don’t have the budget to replace cabinets, they paint. 

Your colour expertise will be more in demand now than ever before!

This workshop is jam-packed with tangible takeaways and practical techniques that you can use right now in your own home or a client’s home.

I never miss a blog post. What else is there to learn?

If you’ve already consumed all of Maria Killam’s blog posts, books, and online courses, there’s still plenty to be gained. Most importantly, the energy you get from learning directly from Maria!

But also, critically, you’ll get all the teachings in the right order which allows you to gain a much deeper understanding of the content.

Attending Maria Killam’s live workshops either in person or via Zoom offers a unique and energizing learning experience. The content feels different, and the implementation and understanding are enhanced.

Maria has over 20 years of experience helping clients with their spaces, dealing with various finishes and decorating challenges. In just two days, you can learn the exact process she uses to make colour decisions, solve challenging colour situations, create a more styled and beautiful home, make decisions for new builds and renovations, as well as identify and fix issues in any room.

Enrolling in this workshop not only saves you money but also helps you stop overthinking every decision and follow a simple and organized process. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from Maria Killam directly and transform your home with the benefit of her timeless aesthetic, her years experience and her simple to use colour system.

What sets this training apart?

This is the ONLY colour and design training experience led by the world’s top colour expert, Maria Killam. Her real-time guidance will revolutionize how you SEE and USE colour.

Plus, most colour courses are missing the mark. Because no one is showing you how to turn the not-so-great into something beautiful.

Maria provides exclusive colour resources as well as hands-on exercises with real client examples to enhance your learning journey. She’s trained thousands of designers just like you. And she understands the unique challenges of communicating with clients on projects.

That’s because she invented a simple and organized system for choosing colors that works seamlessly for any project.

This isn’t colour theory. It’s a practical and applied system you can use over and over again to effortlessly harmonize colours or solve any design challenge that comes your way.

Should I make this investment if my business is struggling or just getting started?

You know, sometimes we all face challenges when it comes to our businesses, whether they’re struggling or just starting out. But guess what? There’s an amazing opportunity right in front of you, and I don’t want you to miss out on it.

By investing in this two-day training, you will acquire practical knowledge that will enable you to elevate your expertise and expand your service offerings in the realm of color and design. This will give your business a distinct advantage over your competitors, allowing you to carve out a unique niche in the market.

One of the key benefits of this training is the implementation of a reliable comparative color method, which will instill confidence in your abilities. With this newfound confidence, you will be able to attract a larger client base that specifically seeks out your expertise in color.

True Color Experts can attest to the tangible results they have achieved, such as commanding higher rates and working with ideal clients who highly value their advice.