Afraid of Choosing the Wrong Paint?
Virtual Colour & FINISH Consulting
Most people choose it first. That's where it goes wrong.
Most people choose it first. That's where it goes wrong.
watch this video
watch this video
Paint is the decision most people are afraid of getting wrong, so it's usually the first one they make. Then the flooring goes in, the countertop arrives, and the colour that looked perfect on the chip looks wrong in the room.
Paint should come last, chosen to relate to everything that's already fixed. The finishes that are hard to change carry far more risk than paint, and most people choose them one at a time with nobody looking at the whole house. Maria looks at your house as a whole and tells you what to decide first, before the money is spent and the finishes are installed.
Every finish is a colour decision.
Flooring, countertops, tile and cabinets each have an undertone. When those undertones don't relate, a room looks wrong no matter how much you spent on it. You rarely see it in the showroom or when looking at samples in isolation. You see it once it's installed.
Most homeowners, and plenty of designers, can't see undertones clearly. Maria has been identifying undertones from photos since 2010.
Before it's installed
Expert eyes on your selections, wherever you live
eDesign gives you Maria's direction on your selections before you order them. Whether you're renovating or building new, you'll know what to choose and why, with a plan your contractor and trades can follow.
Maria reviews every project and sets the direction herself.
Trends belong where they're easy and inexpensive to change, like paint and decor. Your countertops and flooring aren't. I keep your permanent finishes timeless so the rest of your house can change with you.
Timeless where it counts!
“You have knocked this out of the park! This is our first-ever new build and forever home. I was overwhelmed with all of the colour-related decisions I was facing. You captured my vision and gave me the perfect palette for the exterior. Thank you so much!”
01 / 05
a timeless
NEUTRAL Kitchen
Cabinets and countertops chosen to relate to each other, so the kitchen stays timeless and every future paint colour has something to work with.
02/ 05
a timeless
Backsplash
Tile and grout chosen for the countertop you already have, so the backsplash isn't what you want to rip out in five years.
03 / 05
the perfect
Wood Finish
A wood tone that relates to your floors and painted cabinets instead of fighting them.
04 / 05
the perfect
Colour Palette
A whole-house plan where wall colour relates to your fixed finishes and furniture, room to room.
Between Colour Expertise and a Design Firm?
eDesign gives you expert colour and finish direction that prevents expensive mistakes. Maria ties your renovation or new build together and gives you a clear plan you and your trades can execute. You stay in charge of the project, with Maria's eye on every decision that's hard to undo.
Without hiring a full-service design firm
What's the Difference
How it Works
The process is simple, but you’ll be involved every step of the way. Here’s how it works:
01
Upload Photos of Your Project
02
Share Your Goals and Style in a Short Questionnaire
03
Get Your Personalized eDesign Plan Delivered to Your Inbox
04
Order Your Finishes Knowing They Work Together
“You really "listened" even though we never spoke.”
“I could never have made any of these decisions on my own.”
“The efficiency of your e-design service was very impressive.”
why clients love edesign
“Exceptional. On time, easy and exactly what I was looking for.”
Is eDesign Right For You?
before you buy
eDesign is a great fit if…
You want to get it right the first time: You're about to spend real money on finishes you'll live with for years. Expert direction now costs far less than redoing it later.
Nobody is looking at the whole picture: Your contractor, showroom and designer each handle one piece. You want someone checking that all the pieces belong together.
You want my eye on your project: I review every project and set the direction myself. My team prepares your plan so it's clear and easy to follow.
You'll test samples in your own home: You'll receive 1 to 3 paint colour options with instructions for testing them next to your own finishes, the only place a colour can be judged.
eDesign may not be the best fit if…
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ONE-OFF SUGGESTIONS:
My eDesign packages are designed as complete solutions, not just single paint picks or isolated advice. A thoughtful plan leads to the best results!
YOU WANT A DESIGNER TO DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU:
eDesign is a collaboration. You’ll be hands-on in applying the ideas and making final decisions. If you prefer a full-service designer, this might not be the right option.
YOU NEED APPROVAL FOR YOUR EXISTING DECOR:
My eDesign service is for new recommendations, not reviewing or approving what you’ve already done. For feedback on your own designs, join my Dream Home Club!
YOU NEED HELP WITH DETAILED LAYOUTS OR CUSTOM BUILDS:
eDesign focuses on colour and style advice—not floor plans, custom cabinetry, or precise measurements.
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X
X
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Send us a few photos of your space through our Ask our eDesign Team page. Our team will look at what you're working with and tell you where to start.
We get some version of this inquiry all the time. Regardless of how much homework you have done in advance, we still have to consider and advise you on every element.
Let’s say you’ve made a bunch of selections that you love, but we discover they won’t necessarily work well together. It takes us much longer to parse through your selections to help you make it work.
Most people make design and decorating decisions on a need-to-have-basis, you know, choosing things in isolation as the specific need arises. And THIS is where I see the most colour mistakes happen.
For example, when you need a new sofa, you go shopping for a sofa right? You pick something “neutral” and plunk it in your living room. Only to find that that “neutral” grey or linen colour looks awful and dirty with your area rug, fireplace tile or drapes.
The truth is, it is precisely this making-selections-in-isolation approach to DIY renovation and decorating projects that is the single biggest cause of all the disappointing, less than pretty rooms in homes worldwide.
Here’s a post that explains this in more detail.
An experienced designer knows that every selection for your room is a colour selection first. And every choice needs to be balanced with and relate well to EVERY OTHER ELEMENT in the room for it to look right.
As we have experimented with our eDesign offerings, one lesson has become crystal clear, and that is that we can’t give you the right advice on any single element without properly taking ALL the rest of the pieces into consideration.
In other words, choosing one item for you leaves our hands tied to help you the rest of the way to real happiness. And your happiness is important to us.
For this reason, we only offer the more comprehensive packages that are designed to give you the best outcome.
Because getting the colour right is about being able to correctly distinguish the undertones, and that is what we do best!
Maria and her team have consulted with thousands of clients this way, helping them create beautiful and classic homes without the expense of full service design.
Once we’ve seen a few photos of any given room, taken according to our simple instructions, we can see which neutral undertones you are working with. And our simple colour testing process effectively verifies that the colours we recommend are right.
And don’t worry, if you are building a new home, you’ll send us elevations and preferences instead.
Consulting this way takes a bit of leg work but you will have the satisfaction of doing it yourself, creating your own personalized home, with reassuring guidance from an expert whose aesthetic you trust.
Yes—Maria reviews every project and provides the design direction herself. Her team helps put it all together, so you get expert advice that’s fast, clear, and affordable.
If the rooms are open to each other, our Open Layout Colour package would be the best fit for you.
If each room is more clearly defined or closed off, then the Two Rooms or More paint colour consultation would be best.
Yes! Maria can create a decorating mood board with links to help you decorate a room! It’s called the Get Me Started package.
Or, you can sign up for Maria’s Learn How to Create Mood Boards online course where she not only gives you expert advice on making the best decorating purchases online but also an introduction to her decorating principles!
Learn things like how to pick a starting point for your design or decorating project and how to make the right colour choices when shopping for decor online. This online course is available to stream and rewatch at your convenience.
We handle eDesign projects in the order they are received. To secure your spot, complete your purchase and submit your questionnaire and photos. Once we receive your complete information, our team will review your project and email you a specific, confirmed deadline for your deliverables.
Not at all. Our short questionnaire helps you explain what you like and what you’re hoping for. Maria will take it from there and create a plan that works with your home.
No. If you can send an email and share photos online, you're set.
Let’s Shop, Style, and Transform—Together!
Room still not coming together no matter what you try?
Apply now to be featured on Decorate or Renovate?!
looking for more than a paint colour?
That’s why I created Decorate OR Renovate?!. I’ve helped thousands of homeowners find their perfect look, and now I want to help you. You’ve seen me do it on YouTube—now it’s your turn.
About Maria
Maria Killam pioneered virtual colour consulting in 2010, long before the industry caught on. She's trained thousands of design professionals since, guided more than 10,000 virtual colour and design projects, and is the creator of The Killam Colour System® and the Understanding Undertones® Neutral Colour Wheel.