I can hardly believe it’s been 10 years that I’ve been writing this blog. It was not at all planned that my first post would go live on Halloween, October 31, 2008. It’s an odd anniversary because it’s definitely not my favourite holiday, it just happened.
I wrote five posts that first weekend and never looked back.
For the first six years I posted four times a week and now I’m down to two posts a week. I decided quality was better than quantity and it works much better for my busy schedule!
In 10 years I have written just over 1500 posts, during that time, I stopped saying ‘cute’ too often, my grammar got slightly better (thanks to so many of your comments) and my photography is much improved, haha.
Some of my long-time readers will remember my very first header (above). I loved the colourful, whimsical feel of this header and when I switched from this blogspot blog to my own WordPress blog. I considered keeping it, until one of my readers sent an almost identical photo (without the ottoman and fan deck) she snapped on a decorative box at a home decor store in Texas.
I didn’t realize that I had not been given original art when I commissioned this header so I let it go.
Maria and Terreeia (pronounced Maria with a T)
I’m the face and writer, but my long-time partner and now wife Terreeia was the one (almost 20 years ago) who found the first colour workshop for me to attend when I decided I had to be creative or die.
She gave me the nudge that made it happen. She’s the one who initially educated me on what a blog was and helped me turn this blog from a hobby to the thriving education business that it is today.
She’s also been the constant support I need to keep it going, and I’m so grateful, to her and all of you who stop by to hang out with me here.
Terreeia was formerly an executive coach and consultant, she officially joined my business 3 years ago when we incorporated and hired a lawyer to get a Visa so I could lead my Specify Colour with Confidence workshops in the US.
If you attend one of my workshops, you’ll find her at the back of the room making sure everything runs smoothly. She’s amazing at this, people often comment how organized and well run they are.
In her corporate days, she also ran workshops so she has been instrumental in suggesting changes to the course that has turned many students into raving fans! And my course is never the same because colour trends are always changing, and we are constantly improving it.
For the first 5 years, she would not let me talk about her at all. She was sure I’d lose most of my readers if I introduced her as my partner. When I finally did here, you were so sweet and supportive.
When I started making money
I blogged for almost a year before I figured out how to consult with clients online. I started getting inquiries from readers all around the country asking if I would fly out to help with their new builds, exterior colour, colour consultations and decorating, so I started doing live consults on the phone.
However, working one-on-one makes it hard to help many people. I watched other designers create eDesign packages for their clients but they were wrapping up boxes with ribbons and mailing out samples, and since most of my clients are in the US and I’m in Canada, logistically it would have been more difficult to do it that way, so I resisted that model.
The eDesign department slowly morphed into the system we use now and it works really well and leaves my clients with a colour plan to either fix their colours, create a decorating plan or create a timeless bathroom, kitchen, new build or exterior!
Be True to Your True Self
When I originally started writing my blog I had no idea that I had so much to say. I also didn’t realize it at the time that I took a position that was polarizing.
I said some very unpopular things such as, skip the trendy accent tile, don’t mix clean and dirty colours, lighting is actually NOT the reason your colour looks wrong, and so on.
For my opinions, the critics came out en mass and if we’re honest, they are still around. But I’ve stood firm and true to what I’ve seen in thousands of homes I’ve been in. And in the endless real estate ads and builders’ brochures that are sadly not pretty (you never like the kitchen or bathroom in your next house unless it’s brand new and then it’s still only a maybe).
I’ve been a careful observer of design for many years, and it’s what I’ve witnessed that informs what I believe. Seeing so many people make mistakes in their homes that kept them up at night made me sad and I had to say something. So I created a system. Not a theory, but an applied and practical System for Specifying Colour® that would be way more useful than trying to understand colour theory (which, certainly never helped me choose a colour palette).
The System for Specifying Colour
Look, there are many approaches and yes, systems for choosing the right colour, and I believe there is room for everyone inside the tent of style and design.
My system is just one way that has proven helpful over the years of writing this blog, so any time a critic comes my way, I just look back at the ten years of your comments, testimonials, encouragement and feel proud that my posts have been of service.
If you’ve been around for awhile, you know that I am transparent. I’m open about the mistakes I make in life and in business because I never want someone to meet me in person and declare “She’s NOTHING like her blog” That to me, would be the worst. Because it’s happened to me when I’ve met someone and am disappointed that they are nothing like their online personality.
I still cringe when I think about an oversharing (keeping it real) post I wrote about my trip to Italy over 3 years ago that I had NOT read in a long time. However, this summer I linked back to it (WHY?) and one reader promptly emailed me and said “You have issues, I am unsubscribing”. I went back, re-read the post and deleted it immediately, I was so horrified.
As hard as I try to be amicable and approachable, I am still unfiltered and sometimes alienate people because I’m open and outspoken.
But unfiltered or not, I am committed to personal growth and always willing to share myself and what I’ve learned from giants I admire in this life. I say be true to your true self, because that is all we really have.
The created self won’t stand the sniff test so be who you are, warts and all and the world will show up and love you for it.
My Mom Hellen
Many of you know how much I love my mama. In the last year, we’ve taken her with us to New York at Christmastime, Palm Springs for the month of January and she joined us halfway on our trip to the Amalfi Coast this summer. I am so grateful to have a young Mom who is such a huge support to me as well as being my best friend.
My Mom Hellen and me in New York
The best thing about doing well financially is being able to share amazing experiences with the ones you love.
True Colour Expert Community
Specify Colour with Confidence in Boston 2017
Almost 1000 fabulous people have attended my Specify Colour with Confidence workshop since we launched it on the blog nine years ago.
Since then, the course has changed dramatically, on-line shopping and eDesign have become mainstream and now I spend half a day on that training on the third day. We buy almost everything online these days and almost every purchase involves making a colour decision, so it’s more important than ever to be colour savvy.
At every course, we always have two graduate volunteers at the back of the room assisting Terreeia and we always have a long list of True Colour Experts who want to be in the room to listen to the course again.
One of the best things I did was to create the private TCE Facebook page so graduates can all share their experiences, expertise and challenges in the world of colour and design. It is an incredibly supportive and caring community with amazing diversity of knowledge and expertise to share with each other. Each course brings new members to the forum with unique gifts to share. I have learned so much from this group and I am grateful to have this wonderful community in my life and business.
As I reflect on where I’ve been and how far I’ve come, I’m flooded with gratitude. It’s a marvel of fortune to realize that when I began my career years ago, making a living online via a sort of diary about my passion for colour and design did not even exist as a possibility. But what constantly emerges is intense gratitude for the people in my life who have made living my dream possible. Gratitude for all of you dear readers and friends old and new.
You have made this my best 10 years yet. My sincerest thanks to you all.
The other milestone I’ve hit this very same week that my blog turned 10 is I reached 10,000 followers on Instagram. The reason why this is a big deal is that I’ll be able to use the ‘swipe up’ feature on my Insta-stories, instead of just referring you to the link in my bio. That is a something worth celebrating too!
So to celebrate YOU, I am giving away 10 gifts!
One seat in one of my Specify Colour with Confidence events this Spring (Value $2,500)
One double set of my Large Paint Samples – Full Collection (Value $529)
4 How to Choose Paint Colours; It’s all in the Undertones eBooks(Value $27 each)
4 White is Complicated; A Decorators Guide to Choosing the Right White eBooks(Value $27 each)
Prizes may not be redeemed for cash.
To be eligible to win, please post a comment below and let me know what I still need to write and may not have covered in 10 years of blog posts!
To be entered a second time, follow me on Instagram too and I will add you in the draw again (or if you already follow me on Instagram make sure you note that in the comments). I will draw the winners on November 22, American Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much for everyone who voted for me earlier this week. I’ve been nominated as an influencer with Modenus. I thought I was listed as 53rd and as you all voted, I kept moving up and you let me know “Hey Maria, now you’re at 18, now you’re at 12” I didn’t realize I moved up as the votes came in, haha. Please vote for me (again)! You can vote every day until November 2 here!
I really love my readers, thank you so much for supporting me, posting comments, because of you, my world is so much more enriched!
xoxo
Congratulations on 10 years and 10,000 followers! I have been a fan since April, 2010. You did my kitchen in 2016, and will do my next one as well. I remember that Italy post, and am sorry you deleted it. We love you, and we wouldn’t even know you if you didn’t have that strong ENTJ personality with both its strengths and its weaknesses. Thank you for making a more beautiful, and more colourful (Canadian spelling, for you) world. As for what to do in the future? Just don’t quit, despite the financial security. We need your gift and your touch. Thank you, Maria.
I enjoy every post Maria, and I have gained so much from your brilliant system. Books, blogs and TCE training have all help me be a better designer, thanks!
Congratulations! I have a shocking memory when it comes to timeframes, but I know I’ve been following you for several years. I remember your Italy post too and liked that you don’t only post saccharine stuff but keep it real. Your true fans are still with you because we understand that no human is perfect. Those that left are the ones who carefully edit their lives on social media to make/fake them look perfect.
I’d really like to see more on how to successfully mix woods i.e. stained/varnished wooden furniture with a wooden floor, and best colours to use with them. I still haven’t got my head round that yet.
Hi Maria! Congratulations! I’ve been enjoying your blog for at least half of those 10 years. Here’s a question you may not have covered: When looking at potential homes to buy; are there any features (finishes, flooring, etc.) that we should look for if we are not trying to do a remodel right away?
Then you have to read this post: https://mariakillam.com/classichouse/ Thanks for following me! Maria
Love your blog. I am a retired esucator who lives in Saskatoon. We renovated our entire main floor in 2015. Loving it. So far, so good. Enlightened by your explanation of undertones. You made practical something I have always known but couldn’t put a finder on. Thank you!
Have you ever written a blog about trim? Baseboards, crown moulding, etc. dos and don’ts and which decorating style with which? In my opinion, trim is like jewellery.
Congratulations on your tenth anniversary. I look forward to reading your blog posts and hope to continue reading for years to come! Thank you!
Wow! I remember that header, but I thought there was another before it, with “Colour Me Happy” in blue writing. No matter, I’ve been a fan for years, I am continually referring you to friends who are worrying about paint colours. I’ve certainly benefited from your generosity, knowledge and talent over the years Maria, particularly when I moved house earlier this year. When house-hunting I kept looking for the white basics and wooden floors, because I knew I could change the rest easily. Some friends didn’t get this, but eight months later, I live so happily in my retirement home. You are why I sit on a coral coloured sofa, follow ‘trends’ only with throw-away items, and have more lamps now than ever before. I appreciated your courage when you introduced Terreeia, everyone has the right to love who they love. Meeting your Mum has been another privilege, you are surrounded by warm, loving people. I could go on…. You are an amazing role model for girls and young women. Congratulations on these two milestones – 10 years and 10,000 followers, from down here in Oz.
PS My wish for you presently is that at least 50% of these followers vote you into No. 1 position – checking back and voting each day.
Congratulations on all your success! What a truly amazing gift you have and thank you for sharing a bit of that talent with all of us. 🙂 You are helping to make our world a more beautiful place one home at a time! Congratulations again to your team, to your wife and yourself. You all deserve something decadent to celebrate 🙂
Something I would like to read about is my current dilemma in my new build. What fun and vibrant colors can you paint a toddler’s playroom while still making it flow nicely with a classically painted home?
Thanks so much!!!
Wow, I’ve been following you for about half your “blog life” and I’ve learned soooo much. Thank you.
Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary Maria! I am a relatively new subscriber and really enjoy your posts. I also have been sharing your blog stories on Houzz when I see a colour design dilemma where your advice fits. I’d be curious about a new blog that covers timeless design (are there projects you have done years ago that still look ‘fresh’ and current to you). I think that would be interesting to see and learn from. Thanks so much and now headed to Instagram to follow you!
Thrilled for you, congrats! Am a relatively new subscriber and IG follower. Love your structured approach to color and design. Would like to see more posts like one you did recently on how to remedy/work around wrong color choices (clean vs dirty) without having to replace hard surfaces (rip out floors, countertops and cabinets). Would also like to see a post on how to get out of one’s ‘color rut’—how to stop gravitating to the same color scheme time and time again. Wishing you continued success!!
Dear Maria,
I am a quiet behind-the-scenes admirer but looking forward to soon taking your renowned color workshop I hope! I honestly feel like they will change my life. So thank you in advance and thank you for your overwhelming generosity and much appreciated honesty- all truly gifts which continue to bless you and us.
XO,
Julie from Baltimore
Hi Maria. Congratulations on 10 years and 10,000 followers. I’m one on Instagram (not sure if I’m supposed to mention that here or there). I’m a recent follower, having bought (and live in) a true fixer upper in Dallas a little over a month ago. I wish I had the $ to attend your starting-today color workshop here, but I’m not a designer and no money because of all the unexpected issues (gutters, plumbing, electrical, insulation…the list goes on and on). I gave not yet gotten through all your posts and don’t know if this is something you’ve covered, so here goes: How do I match or coordinate the outside color of my house with the inside? I’m looking for steps, I.e., what comes first? Roof, exterior, shutters, front door, foyer rug? Your blog is the only decorating blog I follow because it’s true, succinct and practical. Thank you so very much! Still voting…
Enjoyed and followed you for years both on your blog and Instagram. I am a working abstract artist who adores colour but have always like you loved the envelope to be a neutral. I embrace my white walls in my light filled space but accents of colour pop in all my original art and accents, I value the influence you have had on me. Congrats on your successful ten years.
Happy 10 years. Thanks for all the great advice!
I love your blog! I’ve learned so much already!! I’ve read a couple of your ebooks and love them.
I love this post on the evolution of your blog life. You are very talented and I love your creative style. I really think that living your passion shows through. Many wishes for another successful ten years living your dream!!!!
I would love to see more post on before and after pictures and blogs where you photoshop solutions to problems readers are stumped on.
Congratulations on your ten year anniversary Maria. My business changed after attending your colour course in Tironti a few years ago. My confidence improved overnight specifying colours in my staging work. I sometimes work in homes with 4 or 5 different floors which made it difficult to pick paint colours to freshen up the homes when sellers couldnt change the floors. I recommend anyone who asks about your course to take it as it is life changing. You see the world with new eyes. Traveling becomes an education as you now “see” colour in a much different way. Thank you Maria. I will never forget what you have taught me. Keep on being you, it’s what makes you so different from everyone else.
Thank you, Maria, for being so authentic and honest. I’ve been following you for years – I remember that old header! Your blog is a fun read, and more importantly, I learn something every time! I don’t always follow trends, but I love when you write about your predictions for the fate of colors – what’s going to be and what’s out.
I just found your blog a few months ago. Already I have learned so much. We recently bought a second home where our kids live. We wanted to make a few updates but not spend a lot of time or money. With your help I selected white subway tile for the bathroom and white octagonal tile for the kitchen. Classic. And we won’t tire of them in a few years. The entire house was painted red inside. New colors? No problem. IThanks and best wishes for your continued success and happiness. PS i follow you on IG.
Happy ten year Anniversary! It was about eight years ago I found you…like finding my decorating soul mate. I patterned my new kitchen after yours and hired you to help me choose “the right white” for my cabinets. Please continue what you are doing. I realize how very busy you are, but what I would love to see are more frequent posts from you on any decorating/design topic. I get SO excited when you are in my inbox. Would also love to see a post on achieving a “collected look”. Thank YOU Maria for making my world more beautiful. PS. I follow you on Instagram as well.
Dear Maria,
I have not been following you for long since my interest in interiors only sparked once we bought our first apartment last winter, but now I am a regular reader and have been through tons of your posts, old and new. I am only commenting to express how much I love them, not just because of the helpful advice, but more because of how honest and down-to-earth and warm you are when you write, unlike so many bloggers out there who change completely as soon as they have “made it”. Please stay that way and I wish you many more decades of success in doing what you love!
I am a new follower and look forward to your new posts each week! The first post I read was on a peachy/tan bathroom and what piece in the bathroom didn’t relate. This was a whole new way to think about things for me! I am just getting my feet wet and I look forward to learning so much more from your blog. I would love to know your thoughts on what to do with those old dark wooden beams that run across an 8 foot ceiling in many 1970’s dens.
Thank you!
HI Maria, congratulations on your achievements!!! It has been so much fun to watch. I’ve been reading your blog since 2011 and have gotten the best compliments on my design choices, all due to your advice. Most recently, we sold our house that we built two years ago. I went back to bring a key and mentioned to the new owner that we had left paint in the basement in case they need to do touch ups, but if they were going to repaint I would be happy to take it as I would re-use it. She said (gushed really) that everything was absolutely perfect, she adored the colours and finishes I had chosen and she would not be changing anything!!! 🙂 That’s all to do with your advice/blog posts, please don’t stop writing.
This week you posted about painting an 80s kitchen and what to do with the wood valance above the window. I am about to undertake just such a reno and didn’t even realize I hadn’t thought about that part yet or even considered extending the cabinets to the ceiling!
I attended your course in Vancouver this fall, it was such a privilege, I feel so spoiled that I was able to do that. As much as I learned from your blog and the course, there will always be more to learn or re-learn.
Thank you!!! All the best for any future endeavors you undertake, I am sure they will be magically colourful
I used to repaint often never being happy with my color selection. Since following you I get it right the first time! Moved into this home and painted top to bottom seven years ago and still love my colors! I skipped the gray trend, thank goodness, now see it as bad as the brown trend. Can’t help loving this black, white and natural wood look. Easy to incorporate with my off whites and creams with a pop of color. I’m not a big user of instagram but follow you there too.
Hi Maria
Congratulations on your ten years of blogging! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading!
Wishing you and yours many years of good health and success!!
Robin
Ps…I’m not a commenter, but you deserve respect for working so hard.
Hi Maria!
Congratulations and best wishes on 10 Happy Years of Colour
having followed you also for most of those years. You have taught me so much and I have passed it along to family and friends. Again, congratulations, you deserve it!
Keep up the good work. Thank you for all you do!
Congrats on 10 Years! A friend told me about your blog and I have been reading it for about 2 years. I have learned so much. While my personal color choices lean more dirty than yours, I agree so much with your thinking about trends and designing for longevity. I hope to attend a color workshop soon, but need to wait until my 3 kids in college graduate. Wishing you many more happy and productive years❤️
What do you do if your client likes clean colors and their spouse/partner likes dirty colors? How do you make them both happy within the same house?
Great question, clean and dirty is relative, it depends. Steer them towards a conversation about creating a look and a feel. THAT’S what they BOTH want. We all want to love our home when we walk in the door and that’s why you are there, to help them create that! Maria
I really appreciate you, Maria! I love your heart to help and teach. You may have already covered these, but I’d like to know: what to do with the large blank walls that reach to the second story in a 2-story living room, more on the tipping point of black in a room (with pics of too little, too much, and just right), how to choose deck stain color, window coverings that move completely out of the way (to let in light & heat in the winter) but also filter light when too hot or too much sun. Please enter me in the drawing 2x — I recently followed you on Instagram. Thank you!!
Maria, First off, I have never EVER commented on a blog before. I read a couple religiously (yours being one of them) but have always just liked flying under the radar. So today is a first for me and it feels appropriate to comment in honor of your 10 year anniversary to blogging, as you have inspired me so much over the year and a half I have been reading your blog. I literally see undertones everywhere! I am constantly studying kitchens, dining rooms, & living rooms old and new. I can pinpoint the “Era” something was designed in now! I love being educated by you! My dad is a financial advisor and my mom is also an interior designer. I always grew up admiring what my mom did with color, but always needed a logical explanation for why “it just worked”. Love my Mom, but she could never explain to me the “why”. I would always tell people I am half analytical and half creative. Until I found your blog I had no idea what “I wanted to be when I grew up”. I now understand that color is creative and analytical. Your “system” helped me finally understand (or at least start to understand) the world of design and color in terms that “clicked” for me. I am a young mom with 3 little kiddos running around, I help friends and family with design work when I can. I love accesorizing and picking a paint colors that compliments hard surfaces. I dream of the day when I can officially have my own business in design (hopefully when my kids start going to school full time). I would love to get to one of your Specify Colour with Confidence workshops, however, with 3 little kids and husbands busy work and travel schedule, it will still be a few years until I can get to one. If you have ever had the idea of having an online training of your Specify Colour with Confidence workshop, I would be the first one to sign up! At my point in life and motherhood, I don’t have the luxury to be traveling away from my kids for more than a few hours. I bought both your e-books over a year ago and constantly reference them! I know they only scratch the surface and can’t wait for the day when I can learn more. Thank you for helping me finally merge my two strengths together! I am forever grateful! Cheers, Maggie
What a great idea. I would be the second to sign up! I’m certain an online version of your workshop would be a big success.
Best,
Maria G.
Love your blog so much and I’m about to meet you in Dallas this morning where I will tell you happy anniversary in person! I can’t imagine what you haven’t covered yet except perhaps maybe some of the secrets of your photography. I know you hire a professional often, but when you do it yourself what are your tricks? I am also an Insta follower and I love your Insta stories! Happy anniversary and thank you for being our color and design guru!
Ah! I forgot! Of course I follow you on instagram too! I love your “stories”! I think the hotel bathrooms where they tried to bring tuscan era into the gray era are my favorites!
I’ve have been a reader for years. When I bought my current house, everyone said it was “too plain and too white” – I knew from being your fan that I had found the proper canvas. I still adore my white cabinets and white tiles in the bathrooms.
I don’t remember seeing a post on designing spaces for people with disabilities. I would love that.
PS…the Italy post was not that bad. You had high expectations and were being honest and real.
Love your blog excited to read everyone of them and have learned so much. My daughter even calls me Maria because she thinks I know so much about decorating haha.
Haha that’s funny, thanks for your comment Rita! x Maria
Maria, congratulations on a wonderful and well deserved career. I love your blog, and have learned so much from it! One topic I would love to see is how to pick the best color for blinds or shades. I’m a TCE and looking forward to observing in Dallas today’
Congratulations Maria on your ten years anniversary. I wish I had found you sooner! You clarified the mysteries of color, which for those of us who are not trained designers yet still love design and decor, caused sleepless nights for me and many mistakes. You did an e-design for me on my home in Florida and even showed my before and after Kitchen and Master bath. When we went to sell that home a couple years later, it sold in three days! (2 houses of the same age, all were built in 1986, on either side of ours, were bought and torn down to be rebuilt, as they had never been updated) You are still the only designer who has given us the why, why we made mistakes in the past, and how to stop making them. I would love to continue to see more before and after views, with always the commentary that explains how you got there. I also am a follower on Instagram.
We just moved into a 1970’s ranch home and I am desperate for color inspiration!
Maria – as a long time reader and graduate of your course (the knowledge from which I use every…single….day in my business), the value you’ve added to my professional path is difficult to quantify but is most certainly monumental. Using your Specifying Color system and being reminded that we are all working hard to make our way through this world, flaws and all, (even the folks who seem perfect from the vantage point of our computer screens), are just two of the daily contributions you personally make to my life and work. I’m very grateful for the work you do. Thank you.
…oh and perhaps a deep dive post on one of the newer aspects of your course, for example, your tricks for online sourcing. I think you’ve done a post on this topic once (?) before but there’s so much ground that could be covered perhaps another one?
Congratulations on a decade of making our lives a little more colorful. Thank you for generously sharing your talents with us. I agree with Lynne’s suggestion. I would like to see a post on how to coordinate wood flooring with different types/stains of wood furniture. Also, when starting with a new home and endless possibilities, where do you begin? In which order do you select things? Thank you for your time and consideration.
Maria, I have learned more about colour through your blog than I did in college studying interior decor. I read and re-read many of your posts. The one thing that is a bit disappointing, being Canadian, your workshops are predominantly in the U.S. and not in Canada.
Congratulations, Maria.
You are an excellent example of a successful entrepreneur of the female gender.
Congratulations on your milestones! Since my birthday is on Nov. 2nd, I’m hoping my votes help you reach No 1!!! This is the only Blog I follow religiously! Because you are down to earth, funny, and wear your heart on your sleeve. You are human! Thank you for your beautiful pictures and colorful advice. I built my home before you started (2004) and sadly had to part with it when my husband’s health issues brought us to a halt. We’ve been renting for the past 3 years and have now decided to buy again. This time a 1954 brick ranch. The first time I saw it I thought of you and all you could do for it. I will be contacting you shortly for eDesign. I’m patiently waiting for the inspection. I read and reread your posts all the time. Thank you for everything you do. I’ve never had a chance to attend a workshop so that’s very generous of you for a chance to win one. Thank you!
Congrats! I have been following you for a number of years – both your blog and on Instagram. When I read your comments a while back about why some people can never find the right paint color, it was a lightbulb moment for me. And like another commenter today, you are the reason I am sitting on a turquoise sofa right now! Again, congratulations, and here is to 10 more years!
I LOVE to hear that you have a turquoise sofa!! Hooray for colour, it’s just happy!! Thanks for your comment! Maria
Congratulations to you and Terreeia in your creative journey by helping other creative individuals learn about color….the correct way. My best friend Cate Ormond (33 yrs.) is in Dallas today, attending your 3 day workshop. She is so excited to be there for so many reasons….and I’m thrilled she is following her desires. Cate introduced you to me and I have encouraged my creative friend to surround herself with the best of the best….what a wonderful experience for all who learn from you and others who attend. Live,love and laugh.
Congratulations on 10 Years! And THANK YOU for all you do! I know it’s made a difference in my business.
I have been reading your blog for just a few months. I have learned so much. Your way of teaching really helps me understand. What would I like to see in the future? How to make rooms flow over an entire house, do we need the rooms to flow ? , how to mix traditional with modern. When and should you paint antiques ?
Here’s a post about flow: https://mariakillam.com/tourmyhouse/ Paint antiques when they feel old to you and if you painted them you would feel like a brand new piece of furniture arrived in your house. Thanks for following me! Maria
Congratulations for 10 years of growth and success! Best wishes for the future. You are so lucky to be able to share your success with your Mom, Hellen!
Though I only discovered your blog this summer, I feel fortunate as I try to educate myself before I select paint colors and many furnishings for our 1898 Greek Revival renovation in South Georgia purchased 5 years ago as our eventual retirement home.
I was so excited when my husband agreed your Specify Color program in Charleston, SC would be work with our return to GA this fall. Unfortunately, my Mom’s home sale listing, decluttering, staging, sale and move this weekend have took over my summer and has delayed our return South. I hope you hold another event in the South next spring or fall or the Mid-Atlantic during the summer!
Thank you for your inspiration and keep it coming!
Wow! I remember your first header. I have had many email subscription and most have come and gone. I make sure I keep yours. One of my favorite things in reading your blogs were the pictures of your family and in particular your nephews. They both are so cute, but the youngest one looks so much like you. You probably won’t remember me, but I got a B Moore store to host you here in Atlanta. Your workshop and what I learned set my career on fire in the world of choosing paint colors for decor. I have followed you so long, I can say so much but I will just say Thank you for sharing you beautiful light. Wishing you continued success and great health.
Maria, I still remember that post from 3 years ago. I remember thinking “ Wow, she is a little high maintenance, but really committed to surrounding herself in good design, no matter where she is.” I appreciate your over sharing and travel posts and Instagram pics. It’s on my bucket list to take your course, it will happen. Would love to see more before/afters on your personal consults- although I know that is difficult, due to photo requirements, etc.
Keep doing what you are doing, ignore the haters and thanks for sharing your fabulous life with us here and on Instagram.
I would love to win any of these prizes! I look forward to your posts every time I see one in my in box. As a design enthusiast, I would love to know how to get started as a professional (classes to take or just a basic outline of steps to take). Congratulations on your accomplishments!
Stacey
Great question, here’s a post that describes my journey a little! https://mariakillam.com/how-i-became-a-true-expert/ Thanks for following me! Maria
Maria, I’ve been following you since finding you on a carpet company’s testimonials….at least 8 years and two houses ago. Since then we’ve designed and built our dream home and ALL your advice has been invaluable. Classic white kitchen, medium brown hardwood floors, exterior finishes and colours….the list goes on. Unfortunately your bossy fireplace advice was too late for me but at least I know why I’m not that thrilled with my ledgestone choice! Over the years I’ve subscribed, and unsubscribed to many design blogs…..but your remains the favourite! Congratulations on this anniversary and best wishes for your continued success and happiness!!
My Mother’s home has all white walls and ceilings. It is actually very elegant. Although I know most people would never do that, if one chose to go that direction, how would the white be chosen?
Hi Jana,
Look around at what the primary existing white is right now in your home. Is it a true white, like pure white tile? Is it off-white, or is it cream? I recently arrived at a consultation where a couple had painted their condo decorator white (which is basically a true white) that they hated because it was looking green with the outside foliage. However, they had very little white at all in their decorating, but they did have a large cream sectional, which means CREAM was the best colour for their walls, not art gallery white at all. My white ebook will also help you here: https://mariakillam.com/product/white-is-complicated/ Thanks for following me! xo
Congratulations! I have been a fan of your blog for a few years now, and more recently on Instagram! I would love to learn more about choosing colours depending on room orientation and the way the exterior foliage effects the colour in a room.
Thank you Maria
10 years! Congratulations! I’m excited every time I see one of your posts in my mailbox. I read and enjoy every one and love that you share yourself and your family as part of the package. Your blogs have enhanced my basic decorating abilities and have helped me decorate our home in BC and recently our temporary home here in Australia. Thank you!!
I also follow you in Instagram!
Happy 10th anniversary. I have been reading you for 8 of those years – my guess, At one time I went back to the first post to see what I could glean.
Not sure about what you should write about. Maybe how a color – wall, carpet, counter can change in different lighting and different surroundings.
Happy 10th anniversary, what a milestone in your highly competitive and changing business, congratulations!
My husband is a custom home builder, and I help a bit with color and design, but I am not even close to being a professional. Your resources have been such a godsend to me, our clients and all the friends I send your way! I own each of your books, as well as your online class series. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The whole concept of creating something that will have a timeless and classic look is what continues to draw me to your site, I only wish I had found you before we built our own home 12 years ago.
I always enjoy seeing how you update older trends/hard finishes (like we now have) with color, etc. it gives me hope and ideas, keep them coming!
Congratulations. You are amazing. You’ve helped me and so many people see the truth about colour. Thank you!
My lovely you are only getting started! Congratulations! ?
QMy only regret is that, seven years ago, I wish I had found you six months earlier BEFORE i bought my HUD house. I repainted every surface in safe, tail-end-of-the-Tuscan-brown colors. Then I discovered your blog and have been covering up yuck colors ever since. You speak your mind and stand behind your opinion clearly so that I (mostly) understand. Keep doing the posts showing examples of real houses and colors, typical mistakes and remedies, and color palettes that give us ideas. Never get enough of those!
I already follow you on Instagram! Cingrats on 10000 followers and here’s to another ten blogging years!
I have been following you for 5 years now. Your content and delivery of your knowledge is constantly evolving, which is a sign of growth to me. I thank you for sharing it so graciously. One day I hope to attend one of your courses and be able to use your services. Thank you again and congratulations on these wonderful accomplishments.
Congratulations on 10 years! Maria, I have been happily following you for 6 years and have gained a wealth of knowledge for my business while being entertained by your writing style and candor at the same time! I’d love to win a seat at a Specify Color with Confidence workshop, as I already own and use your color boards weekly with clients and have purchased and read your books as well. (If you are a designer and don’t own Maria’s paint boards, buy them today! They’ll forever change how you choose paint colors.) I’d like you to write about a typical day/week and how you manage your time between online shopping, meeting with clients, blog writing, doing on-line consults, having family time, etc. It’s a lot to manage/balance! PS. I also already follow you on Instagram.
Happy Anniversary to Colour Me Happy!
10 years is a huge chunk of time and major writing commitment. I regularly read your posts and gain knowledge …..every….single….time! I do hope to win a trip to your 2 day course as it’s been on my to do list for a few years!!
Topic I would love to read…..history of colour schemes re; pre mid century, 70s, 80s to present. I find it so interesting and cyclical.
Hi Maria. I’ve recently discovered you so I have lots of blog posts to catch up on! I’d love info on ceiling paint color and lots of info on all things exterior paint (trim, soffit, brick, things to avoid or be careful of), etc. I look forward to lots of reading. I would LOVE to attend your course or get the boards! Im working on launching my interior design business…should be going in early 2019.
And I also follow you on Instagram already. 😉
Hi Maria. I’ve been following you for years and I remember the old header. I don’t do professional design work, but I love color and design and work on my own home frequently. I’ve always had a good eye for color and design, but it’s been great to read about your system and know WHY something doesn’t look right. It helps me explain to friends and family, too.
I live in a hundred year old craftsman style house and would love a post about how to paint and style old homes without losing their original feel.
Lucky me I found you in 2008. Have shared your blog with many.
Congratulations on 10 years! Will follow on Instagram.
Have to tell you I was overjoyed when I found you because many of we share so many ideas about
timeless design. It was like this gal lives in my head. Hope that makes sense. Much happiness to you and your family.
Thank you Maria for all of the great information you’ve posted on your blog! I find myself using it over and over. I’m new to your blog, and I would love your insight about mixing painted furniture and wood tones in one space. Additionally, what’s the trend with mixing finish colors for light fixtures, lamps, picture frames, cabinet hardware etc. ? I’m in the middle of a remodel and find myself stuck trying to blend old and new. Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary!
Thank you!
Susan
Thanks Susan, I have written a few posts about painted furniture, just search ‘maria killam, painted furniture and the others will come up, here’s one https://mariakillam.com/the-best-reason-to-paint-old-furniture/
The trend with mixing finishes is that everyone’s doing it, and you should repeat it at least once to make it look intentional. So for example in my master bath which I will post shortly, the faucets and towel rods are chrome while my sconces and mirror including the framed artwork in my bathroom are gold. Hope that helps, thanks for following me! Maria
Congrats on 10 years! I read ur blog faithfully! I have zero decorator’s instincts , so ur system helps me so much!
Hi Maria,
Congratulations on your 10 years of blogging! Your posts are always filled with helpful advice. I have particularly learned so much about how bossy white is and how to have better room flow with my interior color choices. Thank you!
I would love to see a post about painting the exterior of the house (wood siding) when there is orangey/red brick trim on a wall and carried out on walkways etc. Not easy to repaint and eliminate. Also geographically speaking, in New England, it’s a common trim.
Familiar wherever you turn but people tend to use white or grey to coordinate with the brick.
Thanks again and keep up the good work!
Congratulations Maria! One thing I’d like covered is where and how do you find people to help you reach the vision you have of your home? For example, I want to re-work our fireplace and know it will take a trim carpenter but, where do I find them? After I find my, example trim carpenter of my dreams, how do I communicate my vision? I’m a visual person but drawing impaired. Are pins and other images enough? I want to be a good client. How do I do that?
Congratulations on 10 years! I have been a reader of your blog for just under two years – and like many others I suspect – I wish I found it earlier! Thankfully, you and your fabulous team were able to give me great advice about my kitchen and dining areas which saved the day! I look forward to partnering with you on my living room soon :-). Keep blogging – it’s literally the only email I actively look for every week!!
Maria, Happy Anniversary! What a pleasure it has been reading your blog for the past seven years. You have taught me so much about color, particularly undertones, and I have passed on what I’ve learned from you to others, as I’m sure many other readers have. No doubt your influence is much broader and deeper than anyone can imagine. I also admire your talent as a stylist. You are a magician at taking an average room and styling it into a knock-out without spending huge amounts of money or effort. The pictures you use to illustrate your blogs are always stunning and after reading, I find myself returning to study them. One of the most important lessons I have learned from you is to be mindful of the details. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Happy anniversary!
I’d love to see a post about how to update an 80s living room, piece by piece.
THANK YOU MARIA AND TERRIA for an amazing run!! I love reading your posts and have learned so much! Thank you so much for all you that you give to us in your posts and your incredible design seminars!!! And thank you for being so honest and transparent – you are both the best!!
Such a huge milestone, congratulations! I have a kitchen and bath showroom and have won awards for designs. When I happened upon you (not sure what I was searching for in a google search, but you popped up!), I had never even realized that I was constantly struggling with the undertones. I’ve dug into your blogs and books and have been forever changed. My projects are even better due to you, so thank you!
I hate that you ever had to worry about sharing your wife with the world! The world would be a better place if everyone could just love. I’m glad that you have had mostly support, she is a huge part of who you are 🙂
I couldn’t even begin to tell you what to blog about, but my struggle is always the right white with the right quartz product. Everyone still wants a white on white and when I explain the complexity of finding white cabinet color, white tile and white counter all with the same undertones, my clients still don’t get it most of the time!
I pray my budget will allow me to attend one of your classes soon! My husband has been my biggest advocate and was willing to front our life’s savings to allow me to open shop 5 years ago. I’ve done well enough that he was able to retire from a job he hated last year.
Stay strong in posting what you believe in and always remember that you have far more who love you and ignore the “hate” mail, I’m sure you get some and that has to be so difficult
Oops, forgot to add – and of course I follow you on Instagram!!!
Oh my; I’ve missed 10 years?? I just found you a few months ago, and you are a godsend. We’re doing a mid-century whole-house remodel, and all I knew for sure is that the go-to colors I’ve used in past Tudors wouldn’t work. I’ve always been good at seeing when colors don’t work together, but never had the foggiest idea why–and I’ve never been efficient at picking colors that do work well together; it’s often taken several tries. When I found you and started devouring your blogs, it all came clear. Bless you for that. Though this may be covered in past blogs I’ve yet to see, I’m craving more info on choosing exterior colors, deciding which outside features to highlight with colors different from the base and whether to paint or stain brick. I’d also love more on maintaining a whole-house sense of continuity when using different colors for rooms. Oh, and bless you for the color boards. They are crazy useful and everyone wants them!
Haha everyone sure does want those boards once they see them! I have written a bunch of exterior posts, just scroll down to my sidebar where you’ll see all my labels and click exterior colour! Thanks for following me! Maria
PS – Congratulations!!
Happy anniversary, Maria! Your blog has transformed the way I see everything—just ask my husband! “It’s all about the undertones…”. I am totally a layperson—not in the business at all, but my dream is to one day attend your seminar. I so appreciate that you have made color accessible and purposeful. Perhaps I’ve missed the blog in the 5 years I’ve been following, but I’d love to see one on dealing with rooms that have minimal natural light (our house faces east, has a front porch that blocks light and is in a neighborhood inundated by trees). I follow you on Instagram.
Congratulations Maria! An area I see a need for more focus is in brand new construction. How do you select a color pallet when you are building a new home? What do you select first and last? Each purchase affects the next ie; furniture, drapery, bedding. Flooring, walls, cabinets. How to design a home with color?
Keep up the great work and fingers crossed my name is drawn!
Great question, I addressed that in this post: https://mariakillam.com/10-steps-for-planning-your-new-build/
Thanks for following me! Maria
Happy 10 years and here’s to 10 more! I found you just 4 years ago while my house was nearing construction. I went back and read everything you had posted!
You saved me from a couple mistakes that I was able to correct at that stage of construction, but when we built 2 years later, I was able to take everything you taught me through your blogs and ebooks and incorporate it all!
Our newest house is fabulous and I know it will be for years to come!! Simple is classic!
Many thanks to you and Terreeia!
Congrats! I love your blog and instagram. I love that you sometimes over share. It makes you seem real and approachable. My favorite non-design stories are about you and your wife- you both seem so happy and it’s such a pleasure to hear about your life together! The design posts I’d like to see more about are the slow process of moving into a new space and adapting it over time (and with a strict budget). I’d love to hear more about what to address first, second, etc.
Thank you, Maria. As a staying at home self designer with no training, but someone who loves her home and decorating it, I appreciate the knowledge and insights you have passed on. I dont think I’ve found much information on how to decorate around existing flooring. We live in a 103 year old home with 1.5 inch original oak floors that HAVE to stay the way they are because they can’t be sanded down anymore. I heard a designer tell me, 10 years ago, that I needed cool colors to balance the floor color. What do you think? Thx!
Cool and warm are totally relative. You can always find a cooler colour and you can always find a warmer one! Focus on coordinating the paint colour to your decorating instead of the floor! Hope that helps, Maria
Maria,
Happy 10th and many more. For lots of us that have small homes – will you please do a post on how to decorate a small master bedroom. I would like my room to be noticeable but the footprint is small – so it looks like an ordinary bedroom. Thanks for all that you do.
Maria,
I am forever grateful for you and your fabulous course.
Happiest Anniversary !!!
Congrats Maria! I have followed your blog for many years and am fortunate enough to have taken your class. We just moved into our new home and could not be more pleased with how it turned out, thanks to you! If you have not taken the color class please put it on top of your list to do, you will not be disappointed! Classic and Timeless ❤️
Maria,
I am forever grateful for you and your fabulous course.
I remember very well “Colour Me Happy”….
Happiest Anniversary !!!
Thanks for all your posts. Please come to Denver.
I’m not on IG, but have 2 of your iBooks.
Congratulations on your ten year anniversary Maria!! You were the very first blog I found..9 years ago (YIKES- I can’t believe that it was so long ago!!) I spent the weekend going back and reading ALL of your old posts -I LOVED everyone!! I used to buy 3-4 samples of paint and spent weeks mixing them and trying them on the wall to find a color that I was happy with, I don’t have to do that anymore! I have all your books and my home is painted with Maria Killam chosen colors!!
Let me tell you what has happened to me from reading your blog. I found Kristy Barnett, The Decorologist (and others) from the list of blogs you liked–I discovered that I had a passion to help people with their homes so I went and took Kristy’s Home Staging class and I am now a home stager–and loving my creative life!! And I have you and your blog to thank for that!
I think your success is due to 3 things-your work ethic, your gift to educate, and your authentic voice. Don’t feel bad about anything you wrote -you are a real imperfect person (as we all are). One of the gifts of getting older is learning to accept your self. I am from Pittsburgh and this week (after the terrible shooting here) everyone is talking about Mr. Rogers(who lived here) and his wonderful message of acceptance. As Mr. Rogers would say …I like you just the way you are!
I really enjoy your highlighting real people and the problems they are having and would like to see more of that.
I’m looking forward to another 10 years of your inspiration!!
Congratulations, beautiful Maria and Teeria! So blessed to have witnessed the extraordinary growth in you and your calling to color our world since discovering and subscribing to your blog. I love following you on Instagram too. It’s been fun following you on your mission. I have even considered coming to one of your color classes here in Dallas as I continue to feel the nudge toward my more creative side. I’m not sure what new thing you can write about. You have shared a lot of goodness in the last 10 years. Thanks for all the great posts! Keep it up and I’ll keep following!
Victoria you were my very first subscriber, I can’t even believe it! Thanks for following me all these years!! xoxo
Maria, can we purchase your color wheel?
Thanks
It’s still in the prototype stage, but hopefully soon! Maria
Happy Anniversary. So glad I found your blog! I have learned so much and realized how much more I have to learn!
I am a kitchen designer; If you could write more about how to pull together a great (foolproof?) plan for colors and hard surfaces that I could share with my clients, that would be amazing.
Congratulations, Maria!
How about a post on stained concrete floors and how to tie in wall color thru house? Kemiko stains make popular black (which turns up grayish on most floors depending on what strength you go with) there are mahogany stains, brown etc.
*I follow you on Insta!!
Happy Hallo-versary!!
Hi Maria! I’m new to learning about you in the last month. Since then, I have so enjoyed your ebook and the insights you share in your blog posts. I’m just dreaming about attending your training weekend someday (but have to save up for that), owning your color cards, and reading more of your colorful insights!
Since I’m new, you have very likely covered one of these topics, but I’d be curious to learn more about combining wood finishes with paint (ex: yellowish oak trim) and what wood flooring finish is the simpliest to combine paint colors? Also, learning about color trends would be so fascinating! I would love to know where colors are going after all the gray and white.
Another idea is discussing color patterns and trends of the past (ex: 90’s) and how to update those paints in a home without always needing to repaint every single surface. Maybe there is no other option, but it seems overwhelming to find paints that coordinate well with ceilings and trim without the updated color looking terrible.
I’d so so love an online e-course, similar to your weekend color trainings, but possibly less cost ?
So appreciate all your doing to teach and train my eye to see colors as they actually are! Thank you!!!
Congratulations Maria! I am a new subscriber but am so glad that your name came up on my search for color advice. In just a few weeks my understanding of color has really expanded and I am beginning to develop an eye for undertones! It has helped me begin to think about ways that I can be braver with color and also helped me think about how to make the most of the miles of travertine we inherited with our current home. It has gotten me excited to expand outside my comfort zone and try to make our home more “us.” Thank you! I would love the opportunity to take your course some day. Regarding your blog, since I’m a new subscriber, I’m still making my way through the older posts. I thought that your post about designing an interior in Houston was really interesting, and would love to read your insights about working within various regional trends. For example, I can imagine that creating a kitchen in an area such as Santa Fe, with its earthy, organic architecture and “dirty” colors must present a very different set of challenges than working in a place like Charleston, with its clear pastels.
Congratulations! What an accomplishment! Your course is on my bucket list. Any plans for doing a post on commercial color selection?
Congrats, Maria. I’ve been following since the early days. I know you are busy, but I miss more regular blog posts, and I do follow on Instagram. Would love to win. Thanks for the opportunity.
Congratulations Maria! Yours is one of my favorite blogs. I’ve been a faithful reader for about 5 years and I follow you on Instagram. I love your house and especially your garden. I wish I had found you before we did our master bath renovation – while I like it I know I now know I would have preferred going all-white. I’m most interested in colors, and ideas for keeping a 30-year old house and garden current.
Congratulations, 10 years, WOW! I have been following you for about 5 or 6 years. Can’t believe how much I’ve learned about what I shouldn’t have done, my pre-Maria phase I call it! Your course is tops on my bucket list. I was able to use your exterior paint services for the commercial building my family owns. We just love driving up to work and seeing the color palette everyday and receive many compliments from the locals. If you haven’t done one, I would love to see a post about how to choose paint and decor for open floor plans. My entry, kitchen, living room and office are open to another. I find it very challenging so everything is shades of cream and beige for now. I’d love some color but not sure how to incorporate them all cohesively. Cheers to you and your talents!
Congratulations on 10 years and on building such a successful business! I have followed you for years, designed a new kitchen from your blog and used your edesign service. When we sold our home, 10 years after the kitchen reno, it sold immediately…because of the white, timeless kitchen!
Congrats. Love your blog!
Happy Anniversary, Maria! Like the other commenters, I’m a huge fan. I have all of your eBooks, all of your color samples, and I recommend you to anyone who will listen. I’m not a professional, but an avid amateur. I would LOVE to attend your True Color Expert workshop – come to Memphis! Here’s my idea for a post: as we age, accessibility becomes more of an issue. How do we blend style with these (often institutional) aids?
Congratulations on 10 years and the way your hard work has paid off for you. I am thankful that I found your blog, that I’ve learned so much from you, and that you write honestly. I’m struggling to come up with something new for you to write about. I always enjoy the before and afters – the recent one of a front door and another one of an e-design consult – so keep doing those. Also enjoyed the recent post showing the stylish home of a True Color Expert, so maybe more of those. (still thinking…) We know colors are trendy – tuscan brown, gray, current examples – but aren’t furniture styles trendy, too? If we’re trying to keep timeless and classic with colors, should we keep timeless and classic with furniture? For example, it seems since Mad Men was on TV, mid century modern has become the style du jour. Is that just trendy? Whatever you write about, I’ll continue to read. Happy anniversary. And Happy Halloween. 😉
Hi Maria,
I have been following you since the beginning too. I have no problem imagining how to change a layout but like everyone else color choices are somewhat overwhelming. Your blog has helped me simplify the process. So many of your great tips have become second nature to me now. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I would like you to illustrate how different a warm color (and also a cool color )changes in different natural lights as well as in day light and night light. This is my most difficult challenge,
BTW I love your personal stories and remember well the day you introduced Terreeia. The loving support of your faithful readers was great!
Happy 10-year anniversary!
The value of your blogs is that they cover so much more than just color. I have been working with a “designer” for months now to design our next home. I recently learned that I should be working with an architect, an interior designer and the contractor. In actuality, I am working with only a former contractor who knows building code and construction. It has been up to me to fill in the gaps, and that has required a lot of research on my part.
“Will My Cabinets Look Dated Even If I Paint Them” was especially timely. I was planning on running my kitchen cabinets up to the ceiling. But my ceilings will be 10′ high, and I am wondering how safe it will be for me in my retirement years to climb up a ladder to access those really high cabinets. The pretty soffits you showed may be the answer.
“What Everyone Should Know About Joy” helped me to understand why my husband wants a curved driveway instead of a straight one. As I pick out design elements for our home, I will be looking for rounded features as opposed to squared off ones.
Thanks to “10 Steps to Create the Rest of the Room” I have already purchased my patterned duvet covers. From the covers I have determined the color of my sheets. And from the color of my sheets, I have determined the color I want to paint the tray ceiling in our master bedroom.
I can’t find it now, but I just loved the blog you shared about Claudia Ricciardone’s remodel. Her home looked so cohesive and beautiful – it was truly an inspiration.
Through your blog I have also learned about the blogs of other designers. While I am not following those blogs like I do yours, checking them out has also given me valuable new ideas for our new home.
I must confess that I lean towards “dirty” colors as opposed to the “clean” ones. I find them more calming, and at this stage of my life, I am looking for calm. And yet I have truly enjoyed all of the posts that you have shared of your own home. Your “clean” colors look bright and invigorating. And cheerful. And I just love your beautiful yard!
Thank you, Maria, for your wonderful posts. They have inspired and educated me more than I can express!
Congratulations! It’s so wonderful that you were and are able to turn your creative passion into a successful career. I am a newer follower in the scheme of things but am thankful for your blog’s 10-year (searchable) history. I would love to see a solution to what I believe is a common kitchen design issue. Many kitchens have windows over the sink. Unfortunately not all of those windows have scenic views. Is there a nice looking top-down bottom-up window treatment that would give light and privacy (while say washing dishes in my PJs) but also edure occasional splashes? Many thank yous for your practical and timeless design advice.
I’m Soo thankful for your blog! There is such a huge difference from how we redid our bathroom B.M. (Before Maria, haha), and our lovely white kitchen, A.M.
You still need to do many before and after school, because I love seeing the transformations.
I’m in Dallas now and about to attend day one of your Specifying Colour with Confidence course which is something I’ve been wanting to do for over five years! I just did a complete overhaul on my staircase and would have loved to have had a blog post to refer to about timeless and classic staircases. In any case, I believe that I made the right choices simply because I have been following your blog for several years and have read all of your e-books. Congratulations on 10 years! You are a rock star in my book! ⭐️
Maria and Terreeia – Happy twenty years and Happy Ten years !!!
I remember when I first Found your Blog.
I was like who
Is this lady ?
I had to sign up and couldn’t get enough and still can’t …
I have learned more from your blogs then I could ever dream possible …
Thank You Maria and Terreeia you both are great at what you do .
You have not only shared your knowledge of color and design with us .
You have shared your family
Your journeys
Your heart and your soul .
Wishing you both many more years of health , happiness and success !
Maria,
Ten years! Congratulations.
Your blogs are the first ones read. Something is gleaned from every single blog you write.
I attended your Washington DC TCE in 2016 and it was the best investment I ever made in myself. The TCE Facebook page is invaluable. The large color samples are indispensable.
Keep up the fantastic work.
I am a real estate broker in Chicago and just recently started following your blog. It has helped me tremendously in helping clients choose neutral paints to freshen up before listing. Thank you! How about a blog about ceiling color? I know ‘ceiling white’ isn’t always the best choice! Happy 10 yr anniversary!
Heres one I wrote! https://mariakillam.com/how-to-choose-ceiling-colours-dos-and-donts/ Thanks for following me! Maria
Congrats Maria! You have been a blessing to me….I am always looking forward to reading your post. Keep up the good work!
Hi, Maria…Do you have anything to say about art in closets? Does that sound silly? Does it look stupid? I find when any room or long hall or closet feels empty, I hang up some art.That ‘s one of the 1st things we did after placing the furniture in our, new to us, house, because it felt so lonely and so far away from home. . Decorating is like therapy, it makes me feel so good. I know there usually isn’t room for that sort of thing in closets, but my walls are tall and not full. Maybe this a good psychology question, involved with decorating.Maybe this can spark something for you. I couldn’t think of anything, you haven’t covered. I reread things that you write and always learn something else, that I missed or wasn’t in the right frame of mind for, at the time..And I did see my error, with taupe and NOT simply white. I think I’m just so obsessed with no cream! Love off white!You’ve got it all though!! I love it all! And I follow you on Instagram! Love you to pieces. Candy
Your blog is one of my favorites. I’ve enjoy seeing more posts on exterior issues – lots of them out there! Congratulations on all your success!
10 years and 10 thousand!
Congratulations to you and your team.
Your colour boards transformed my business, making it possible for me to quickly and accurately choose colours. More importantly, I’m able to show my clients ‘why’ the colour is the right choice. Thank you.
One of the reasons I follow your posts, here and Instagram, is because you keep it real. With humour.
Keep it coming!
Congratulations on 10 years! I only found your blog about 1.5 years ago but have learned so much about color and decorating to the point that my confidence has gained enough to actually try out some ideas on my own. I also love exploring and reading your old blogs.
I wish you continued success for another 10 years plus!
I am so grateful you started this blog 10 years ago! You’ve helped me learn so much about color in the two years I’ve been studying design. Though I know you’ve touched on this some in your blog, I think many people could use advice on how to update their builder-basic houses. I’ve been going through my own 18-year-old builder-basic home, making changes that work with what I’ve been given. For instance, I chose a medium brown wood-look tile with enough color variations to relate to my oak trim.
Also, I’d love to see advice on how much the light fixtures in your house should relate to one another.
Keep up the amazing work! I’d love to win any of those prizes!
I would appreciate an article with advice on painting woodwork, around doors, windows, archways. Many times I am afraid to paint woodwork in one room without continuing all throughout the house. I have stained woodwork, walnut/cherry color, and would like to brighten up some rooms with white woodwork, but don’t particularly want to do the whole house.
I am a real estate broker in Chicago and just recently started following your blog. It has helped me tremendously in helping clients choose neutral paints to freshen up before listing. Thank you! How about a blog about ceiling color? I know ‘ceiling white’ isn’t always the best choice! LOL Happy 10 yr anniversary!
Oops the ceiling post should be here https://mariakillam.com/how-to-choose-ceiling-colours-dos-and-donts/ Maria
Happy 10 Colorful Years from an Instagram follower! My thoughts on a topic I haven’t seen covered—Is there such a thing as “masculine” design? I am a lady who is more drawn to interiors designed for men but not sure why. I’m not referring to man caves, hunting or sports-themed decor, and other looks that focus on traditionally “male” interests. Aside from avoiding pink and frilly trims, what gives a room that look?
Happy Tenth Year Anniversary! I’ve been here from the beginning and have learned an amazing amount of valuable information from you! I even had a phone consult with you, and appreciated all the changes you told me to make. The transformation in my kitchen, and ultimately my home, didn’t happen exactly as you specified, but following your suggestions and principles, it looks beautiful! I never want to leave home!
Been reading you for 5 years. Bought your ebooks. Love your expertise, sense of style and personality. Even though I am not a design professional, I also like reading posts like this one that gives a peak into the business aspect of what you do … and also the family aspect of who you are. 🙂 Would love to know if you recommend white cabinets and backsplash in a north-facing, low-light kitchen – and if so, some posts on how to pull that off well?
Hi Rachel, I wrote a post about that here! https://mariakillam.com/can-you-have-white-kitchen-cabinets-in-a-dark-room/
Thanks for your comment! Maria
Congratulations Maria, I always look forward to reading your posts and find them very informative and eye-catching! It is great to find practical advice on how to make your surroundings beautiful. I especially appreciated the message about being be prudent in selecting finishes that will stand the test of time.
Happy happy anniversaries Maria. I am always so excited when I open my email to see a post from you.
I have been following you for about 7 months since taking an online color consultation course and the instructor referenced you multiple times. Since starting my business – although still in its infancy – I have purchased the color boards and your 2 ebooks. I feel so confident to use the boards to compare colors and have the knowledge to explain why I recommend one color over another. My goal for 2019 is to get more ahead financially and attend your workshop. Please accept my gratitude for doing what you do to make us all successful. Hugs
Wow, congratulations Maria, on these 2 huge milestones! I’ve been a loyal reader for many years now, have all your books, and took your Renovate With Confidence online course. I’m a design enthusiast, not a design professional, and the information I’ve gleaned from you over the years enabled me to design my dream bathroom earlier this year. Thanks so much for keeping it real here on the blog and sharing your color system with the world. <3
Congratulations Maria ! Happy10 year anniversary !
I have been following you for 7 years and have to say you have changed the way I see color. I have your e books, they have been so helpful over the years ,attending one of your classes is something I always wanted to do. So happy to have found “Color me Happy.” ?
Congratulations on this milestone in your creative life! I enjoy your posts: colour related and personal and hear myself asking “dirty or clean” when I see colours. I often suggest my friends check out your blog when they’re trying to choose colour palettes or updating their homes. I would enjoy a post on choosing carpet colour. Paint is easy to do again but carpet is a longtime investment and influences all further colour choices. Im following you on Instagram.
Maria, I’ve been faithfully reading your blog for over 8 years and have learned so much!!! I would love to win!!! When I started reading your blog, we were a cabinet painting company. With the confidence I gained by reading your blog, I began offering color consultations and now kitchen remodeling and design. I use your Large Paint Samples in my consultations but would LOVE to have the full set. It’s also a goal to take one of your Specify Color courses. I could kick myself for not taking the class when you were in Nashville. Please come back.
I would love to see you write about “not tiling above the 5″ inch countertop backsplash” that should always be removed when tiling the backsplash. In my opinion it is either/or. Not both. I go into soooooo many kitchens where they have bossy granite with a 5″bossy backsplash and then multi-color stone tiled backsplashes on top. Please help the kitchens of the world with this little detail. I’ll share it far and wide. Thanks!
Hi Maria,
I’ve been following you for a number of years now. I am not a decorator but have gained invaluable advice from you when I needed to pretend to be a professional…and when I did my best to make decisions like you have shown us how to do, I had excellent results! Your blog helped me create the most charming space in my little dream summer cottage in Michigan (if I may say so myself!). That project gave me the confidence to specify finishes for a small resort of tiny cottages that my husband and I are developing right now. I just keep repeating the mantra, “keep it timeless” or “what would Maria do?” Lol. All this to say: Thank you. I have enjoyed your blog, advice, writing style and personality immensely. Someday, I will take your Specify Color with Confidence course and I can’t wait! I am looking forward to working with you soon because my husband and I have arranged an on-line color consultation for the exterior of one of our hotels. Congrats on 10 years! (Oh, and I have followed you on instagram.) I don’t think you need help on blog topics…you always seem to hit all of the bases and feel relevant.
Maria: The history of how you birthed this blog is inspiring and a testament to your focus, perseverance and creativity. Sincere Congratulations! More importantly, your success is a tribute to the support you have had from both your mom and Terreeia. What wonderful people they must be and your accomplishments are wonderful gifts to them both!
I only recently (within the last 6 months) discovered your blog so I have no history about which to write but I am impressed at the number of Ah-Ha moments I have had while reading. I am in the process of moving from CA to NC and am leaving a small home behind that lived well in warm shades of beige (yes, with pink undertones). It was my first house to decorate and while I struggled with decisions on color, I now realize — thanks to your blog — why the choices were tough. I am visual and my husband suspected it was just me being picky. I am happy to know that is an inaccurate assessment!
What I would love to see — and if you have written about this already I’m still trying to find how to access old blogs from your site (is there a library link I am missing? ) — is how you stretch your color theory into accent pieces and artwork or perhaps how they complement each other. A room is always better for its “jewelry” and I would love to hear some creative thoughts on projects you’ve done. A little insight into an artist’s mind so to speak! Congratulations again on your inspiring blog! And having never won anything, I am hoping to win a set of those color boards which I was just planning to order! What a great way to start off in a new home!
Hi Kim, scroll down to the sidebar where you’ll see the archives section and you can select month by month! Thanks for your comment, Maria
Congrats. Love your blog. How about a post for the Mellinials, studio apartments?
Dear Maria, congratulations on your 10th year of colour me happy. I look forward to reading your blog and find them very educational and inspiring! As I am about to embark into my retirement years from working in public health I must admit the design world has and will always be my ultimate dream, while reading your blogs you have resonated the importance of following your passions, It is my hope that I can attend one of your workshops to kick start my own passion, till then keep up the great work and your awe inspiring blogs Maria!
Hi Maria,
I have only been following for about a year but I have learned a lot. You may have written about this in the ten years, but I would like to know more about layering of colours, patterns and objects in the room to achieve a depth of “tone” that is really pleasing to the eye. Would love to win one of your anniversary prizes. Congrats on ten years!
I think your blog provides great practical device. I think a key to your success is that you’ve mostly focused on an area – color and undertones and your system – which differentiates you from the many design bloggers which are usual more general. One of my favorite things you do is break it down for readers — example: this works if your house looks like this (insert photo of super high end professionally designed home with expensive everything and glorious view), but not when it looks like this (the average home the majority of us have). I would love to see more on coordinating wood tones, color flow through house, and choosing paint colors for furniture. I also would love a post discussing the use of darker or colored walls with white trim vs trim matching the walls (is this trendy?). I have a great case study 🙂 … mostly light home (Soft Chamois with off-white trim) but want to do go darker in my bedroom, but don’t want to paint the doors and trim, so not sure I’ll like the look as much as I do in the photos I see on social media.
Congratulations Maria! I discovered your blog seven years ago in 2011 when we were furnishing our rental from scratch after traveling full time for over eight years in a large RV. Your blog has helped me now with three different homes.
I ordered new furniture, rugs and art online for our current home, and I would love to see you post about getting the colors right. I did it by putting photos next to each other (and holding my breath until they were delivered), but there is probably a better way…a Maria way!
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to beauty through color.
Maria,
Out of all the blogs I have read over the years, yours is the ONLY one to make a permanent and REAL impact. I’ve been reading for several years, and my only wish is that I had found you sooner.
I’m not a design professional. I’m a mom of six from Alaska who happens to love home design. The other thing I love is when people give it to me straight and practical. That is why I love your blog. I can’t even count how many times I have quoted you over the years will helping others too.
I’ve never shared me new home build with you, but i will now to help you see what you have done for someone like me. I think you will see your influence all over it. Thanks, and please keep writing!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kH8KA4LI9fn3rnP93
When I read about your color system, I often think about the trend in the 80s/early 90s of having your “color” done (I was a fall!). Have you ever considered applying your color system to personal style? How many people where pink beige and yellow – aaagh!
Happy anniversary to a beautiful and amazing person!
I am a new fan from late 2017 and by reading your posts I’ve learned that I’m not crazy for always thinking in terms of “clean” or “true” colors vs “muddied” colors. I love the technical advice such as how to extend cabinets up to the ceiling and how you re-did your bathrooms.
You offer the complete package!
I would like to learn more about color flow throughout the house, especially in my 1920s (read older) home because I can’t be the only person not living in a loft or open concept space. How can we keep the charm which initially drew us to an older home in a lovely old neighborhood and still be relevant to today’s world???
In particular: how to camouflage a TV screen? Speakers? Store a/v equipment?
I would love to win one of your prizes but I love more your generosity and thoughtfulness. I don’t follow you on twitter but when you include relevant twitter posts at the end of posts I always click on them. Does that make me a follower? Lol!
Thank you for all of it!
Congratulations Maria! I have been a longtime blog follower – still remember your original banner. My favourite memory: when you shared about your partner Terreeia — that made my heart sing and I am so happy for both of you! I have learned SO much from your blog and am so grateful. Waking up to your instagram posts is now something I share with my hubby – imagine that!
The subject I would like to see you write about: how to successfully do upgrades in your renovations. I note that you have done this well in your new home. You don’t do everything at once, which most of us can’t afford to do. How to keep the flow, how to plan it out, etc. I know [from reading your blog] that if I upgrade one element … everything else will look dated and shabby. What to do? [I get overwhelmed and do nothing – not a good solution!] My sincere thanks for sharing your expertise with us!
Maria, not sure when I found your blog, probably in the first year or two, but remember the original header and loved the name, Color Me Happy. I had a design business, including a retail decorating store for window treatments, wallpaper, accessories, and retired a few years ago. I studied psychology of color in my early days, and that helped me a lot working with clients. I really miss working with color, it does make me happy!!
My favorite post was about not painting a dark room white to lighten it (just turns it gray). Used that many times! I really thought of taking your Dallas course (I’m in Oklahoma), but I just turned 70 and my husband doesn’t want me to work again. But maybe just color consulting? May join you yet! Anyway, congratulations on 10 fabulous years, your color wheel will be revolutionary, and I wish you only the best!!
I am not really a “color person” as I love white, black, gray & any neutral—but I have been following you for 2 yrs. & you make color interesting—but for me it is still from a distance—but you do it well! I did follow your advice regarding backsplash & counter tops w/floor choices. That was huge in making my home work. Thank you.
Maybe I will win your workshop visit & learn some more.
I love your blog, all your advice has been so helpful and totally changed the way I see color! I dream about being able to attend one of your workshops someday!
I also follow you on Instagram ?
Dear Maria, what a momentous post ! To celebrate the success of 10 years of making others’ lives so much more beautiful is truly an amazing accomplishment. And I especially LOVE that you thanked those closest to you, your supportive loving wife and your incredibly loving Mother. How lucky for you! I am especially grateful to you for all the years of lessons I’ve learned, but also the e-design for paint colors that you & your team helped me with, in choosing for my living room/dining and kitchen. I bit the bullet and did a navy blue in the living room, and WOW I could just hug my house when I come in each evening. I have an idea for a post that may seem out in left field, but am sure there are others who share my situation. My husband and I have three grown daughters, who live on their own. Before they all moved out, we fostered and adopted a little girl, she is now 10 years old. Our little girl has 2 small half-siblings (5 & 2 y/o), in another state who are now in foster care. We have been contacted by Children’s Services to move them to Florida and adopt them. Hence, my idea for a blog – when you reach 60 years old, and find your home needing to be transitioned to kid friendly again. As much as I love my new look, of less clutter, there seems to be a greater power telling us things will change and we will need ideas of how to make a 3/2 house work for three children and bigger family get togethers. In closing, congratulations of your milestone, I could not be prouder or more happy for you! PS: I remember the post from Italy that you referred to, personally I found it hysterical, because we’ve all been there when sheer frustration creates those moments of “omg ! I’m losing it!!” :hahaha : ) too bad the reader couldn’t appreciate your sincere sharing of a very trying situation – because we ALL have issues at some point in time. Exhale and move on! xo
Congratulations Maria, I would love to see a blog post on ‘how to hire a professional’ or “what questions to ask your professional before signing the dotted line”. Despite trying to follow your adage of ‘hiring a professional will save you money’ , sometimes it can be difficult to find a professional that knows color, even when you are willing to pay for the best (not all professionals have taken your class yet ;)) The two times that I was grateful for hiring a professional was when I hired you. Keep up the great work.
Happy 10th Anniversary Maria! I’ve been following your blog for a number of years and am always keen to read your newest blog posts. I’ve been avoiding going down the Instagram rabbit hole but maybe it’s time – I only follow a few decor blogs and I think I’m missing some great stuff from all of you! What I would like to see is something more on decorating small, ordinary townhouses; there’s a lot of those where I live. I see so many beautiful posts about homes (even small ones) that have lots of light, character and “rooms” you can work with but it’s a far cry from long, narrow homes with little natural light and a layout where you see everything with one look. I did find some from back in 2013 when you lived in a townhouse but not much otherwise. Cheers and here’s to many more years of Color Me Happy blogging!
Love your blog and how your personality come through. I enjoy seeing real houses with delimmas and how we can decorate to suppress ills that can not be changed. I would like to see an article on styling a glass block window. Here in the southern US, builders in neighborhoods often use glass block in bathroom windows. I’d like to see how to decorate it so the glass block is turned into something more attractive. Congratulations on your anniversary. May you have many more years of successfully coloring the world!
I really enjoy your blog! I would love to see a post addressing whether or not to mix metals in an open floor plan regarding cabinet hardware and light fixtures, etc. It would be great to see some photos of both mixed metals and matching metals, what not to mix, etc.
Happy 10 year anniversary, Maria! I’ve been following you from the beginning. You’ve helped me choose colors for the house I currently own as well as my previous home. I do remember a more personal post from years past that created a storm of comments. You know what? You may have alienated a few followers, but I’m sure it drew more people to you. I love watching your business evolve over the years. I am using your business as a model. I would love to hear more posts about how your business has evolved and what tools and strategies you found useful as you grew.
Congratulations on a successful 10 years! I’ve been a long time reader of your blog. Would love to attend one of your workshops!! Your blog has been an incredible source of decorating advice to me over the years, and most recently I remodeled my bathroom, using white subway and white hex tiles. Kept it all classic and I receive compliments from everyone who sees it! The installers even praised my choices saying they loved working on my bathroom, putting a period appropriate bathroom into a 1920’s home, since they are usually ripping these finishes out and replacing with modern finishes. So thank you Maria for all of the great advice over the years!
Hi Maria! Happy for you to be the success you knew you could be! Being creative is your air! Would love to hear more on lighting and how it can change color. High spots, lamps, pendants! I’m trying to get it right… happy tenth!
Congrats! I love your blog and also follow you on instagram. One of my dilemmas I have been having in our current house is the transition from our pine hardwood floors to the tile in our bathroom. Right now our bathroom is separated into 2 rooms. The vanity room and the toilet and shower room. The hardwood is throughout every single part of the house except tile in the shower areas. I like the flow of the wood into the vanity area from our bedroom but want to open up the bathroom and make it one room instead of 2. Im having trouble picking out the color of the tile because I really don’t want to take out the wood but I still want to the bathroom to flow. I know you always recommend white tile but I feel it will still give me a 2 room look with such a drastic color difference. Should I try and match the wood a little more, add white tiles in more of an artsy way, or just rip out the wood and tile the whole bathroom? Thanks for your advice.
Hi Maria, Congratulations on all your success and achievements! (I follow you on intagram.)
I wanted to say that I especially appreciate the “happy” aspect of COLOUR ME HAPPY.” Colour makes me so happy…I have never been a grey person. Have your books and really enjoy your blog. We collect original art and our floors are pecan oak. I would appreciate hearing from you on choosing the frame material and colour when framing art.
Maria, I absolutely look forward to your emails telling me there has been a new blog posted! I would love to see something on creating an inviting basement – one that people would love to spend time in. What colours work best in spaces with very little natural light? What kind of lighting is best in basements?
Hi Maria,
I am a home owner who often seeks your advice via your blog for anything I do in my house, and figuring out how to put it all together. It’s not perfect, but you helped me ‘deal’ with my bossy (and very large) pink sandstone fireplace. I probably would have just ignored it without you. You know that would have been a huge mistake! Every post you write I learn from, and I will continue to do so with each new one. I find I mentally file away the subject, then search for it when I need it. Sometimes I manage to actually get them pinned!
Congratulations and Happy Blog-aversary, Maria! I’ve learned so much from reading your blog top to bottom. I love that you introduce us to your family. And you talk about juicing, saunas and Tony Robbins. I take the path less traveled too, and appreciate you sharing YOU. Would love to see more about fabric choices in the future. Again congrats for 10k at ten years!
Congratulations, Maria! I find your journey very inspiring (I’d like to do the same and put my own thoughts & theories “out there”. Not colour-related, BTW.). I’m a long-time subscriber. I find your ability to pick the perfect neutral just astounding, and am so grateful you’ve shared your system with the world. Here’s a topic, and I don’t know whether you’d consider it at all: occasionally I see a great interior that mixes clean and dirty, and yet works just great. I know you’ve written about this before, but not very much (I recall just one post). Why do these sometimes work? Are there rules – albeit more complicated ones? And another topic (a bonus!): the role of contrast (in light and dark) in creating a great interior. Thank you for sharing your talents and ideas with all of us for the last 10 years.
It works because the styling is fabulous! Look again and you’ll see that I’m right. Like I say in my live colour workshops, if all else fails and you’ve made a mistake, start styling! It distracts from lots of colour mistakes! Hope that helps, Maria
I, too, have followed you for several years. I enjoy your blog because you are real, enthusiast, knowledgeable, and creative. I have learned a lot about how to consider points of decorating.
I congratulate you and wish you many more years of happy colors….ah, colours!
Have you ever considered a directory of those who have trained in your workshops?
Everything good for you and your family,
Fran
Maria, I’m a homeowner who loves your blog so much and uses the information to make sense out of my home decorating decisions. Have you considered the topic choosing art ( pictures) based on color? Pictures can make a room and using color theory I’ll bet you have some great ideas for us about choosing art to make our rooms “sing”. Happy 10th Anniversary!
Congratulation Maria! I love to see great things happen to great people. Wishing you and Terreeia continued success! I’d like to see a post on when to paint room a color versus when it’s better to use a neutral.
Thank you, Maria for being an innovator in the field of color and adding some new dimensions in using color as a tool in design. I have been following you for at least nine years and appreciate you own unique viewpoints and comments!
I’m already following you on Instagram. LOVE your posts. LOVE your blogs.
Just reading your blogs, and a couple of your eBooks has made me realize and learn so much about design. And, trust me, I’m NOT inclined to design! Just a simple homeowner trying to make it look like I know what I’m doing! LOL
I devour your blogs on whites and blues cause they are my favs. Never get tired of blogs on white and blue. Oh wait, did I say that already? White, blue. White, blue.
I am so grateful you have so many posts archived! I just bumped into your blog a month ago. I can’t recall how I found it, but I am so glad I did. I have been binge reading, sometimes thru the night. I can’t wait to see where the links at the bottom of your post will lead me next. There is still so much to discover. I have to tell you I think I have just as much to learn from Terreeia and Helen, as I do from you. ? I would love to meet all 3 of you.
Do you have a post that includes a quiz, to see, if I can see what you see regarding color? I sometimes wonder if I can learn what you are teaching, to be a “color myself happy” diy or I if I just need a Color Me Happy budget. Any tips/posts on making timely decisions? I seem to want to keep looking for more options. When actually I should be taking action.
Thank you.
This is a good question and something I talked about just yesterday in the 2nd day of my Specify Colour with Confidence event going on right now here in Dallas. The reason why a non design professional keeps looking is because you really DON’T KNOW all the possible options, what kinds of finishes are new or current that could actually save you a lot of money. For example, laminate countertops have come a long way, maybe you don’t need stone in your laundry room and you could install a new marble-look laminate and save some money, the list goes on and on. What if you have a modern aesthetic and your home is traditional and what you are about to install is just wrong. Like a linear fireplace in a traditional space? Only an experienced design professional can help you navigate those decisions and make you feel confident that you are moving in the right direction. So I recommend either our eDesign department or find a designer whose aesthetic you like! Thanks for your thoughtful comment! Maria
Congratulations! Your blog is extremely helpful. I would like to know how to find resources for furniture, and decor. We have fewer furniture stores, and not many for decor.
And I would like to know if I should change my fireplace tile when I remodel my kitchen. Both are visible from the same room.
Keep up the terrific blog- it makes me smile when i see it in my inbox!
Yes your kitchen and fireplace should look like they are married and about to run off together 🙂 Hope that helps, Maria
Congratulations! On my five year goals you are top 10 to attend your course! Just following your blog and reading your books has been invaluable for me! I can only imagine how great it would be if I actually attended the course!! Fingers (and toes!) crossed for good luck! I also follow you on instagram!
Hi Maria and congratulations on your milestones! You’ve helped me so much and I refer to your ebook still. I hope to purchase your color wheel if you will tell me how to do that. I can’t find it on your shopping page.
Congrats again!
Congratulations! I’d love to see a blog about making a builder grade home look more unique or interesting.
I have been following you for ages! Maybe not the full 10 years but pretty darn close! Congratulations on achieving 10 years and providing the masses with all your valuable knowledge and insight. It has gone a long way in my own home decorating and I will be forever grateful for you and your blog. It seems to me that you cover it all — in fact just in the last day or so, you talked about the space above kitchen cupboards and what to do about it. That had been a question I had for a while. When I finally paint my natural maple cabinets, I know know what to do first! I hate climbing up there to clean anyway, so why not fill it in!!! I have a pretty firm grasp on how to renovate my master bathroom (thanks to you), even though we are still waiting to see what you did with yours (no pressure!)… I love your posts on styling and how to personalize a space also. I also love the snippets of your personal life and I don’t mind that you are blunt and honest. I don’t really come away thinking that you have major issues — but nobody is perfect, we are all a work in progress. As long as you blog, I will continue to read. And some day, I will make it to one of your workshops! Thank you so much!!!
Happy 10 years Maria! I’ve followed your blog most of that time and have been helped to avoid mistakes (as well as been educated and entertained!). It’s also helped me help my girls as they worked on their homes too. Here’s to the next 10 years!
Congratulations on your anniversary, Maria. You’ve made me look at everything differently, and it’s now hard to stay in hotels with horrible color combinations and to see people fawning over another designer’s work where there are multiple undertones going and it looks just terrible, ha. Thank you for continuing to put yourself out there!
Lighting is a subject that I still struggle with and would be “happy” to see more of!
Blessings.
Hi Maria, I have learned so much from your blog and very much appreciate your advice! I always debate on a new build what color hardware such as door knobs and cabinet hardware. Which goes best with various paint colors? I am mainly choosing for a commercial type building (assisted living) and I really want the look to be as timeless as possible. Your large Essential Collection colour boards have been invaluable in choosing paint colors. I follow your instagram of course! I am not a decorator but enjoy learning about color and decor. I would love, love, love to take your course! I could use the help!
Congrats on the success of your business~
Maria,
Incredible this journey we have all been on together. I have enjoyed your insight into colour and design.
Your quirks and personal stories keeps your blog friendly, I feel like you are talking with me energetically in a cafe over a cup of tea. You invite us in, and we love you for it.
I have been with you 8 years. I had recently moved and was looking for inspiration on how to make my new home my own. I have bossy granite which I can’t afford to replace and on your advice I painted it white, and when I say white I mean cream?. I still love it 8 years later. I also installed a pale grey subway not because it was trendy but because it was in my granite and calmed the beast! Thank you!
Topics I would love to see is how to use colour to distract and trick the eye. How to use colour to give scale to furniture. How to create scale when you simply can’t afford to rebuy everything.
Rules for lighting. Are their any? Everyone is mixing metals and repeating it, I get that. But I love all metals and traditional to bohemian how does one know when to stop mixing?
How to successfully create an accent colour.
I loved your article with the gorgeous green handrail. And how you played back and forth throughout the house with green and blue to create flow. Some of us still need help with flow!
Happy Anniversary, to you both your success is a joint venture!
Congratulations on 10 years of inspiring others Maria. You share your 10-year blogging anniversary with another gold award-winner health blogger that I admire – Angela Lidden of ohsheglows.com. I have learned so much from you both.
Best wishes for many more successful years! I am a newer reader and wish I would have found you sooner! I have learned so much already and been able to fix colors, elements in my home that I was unable to identify the problem with before, I just knew they felt “off”. I am not a designer, but I LOVE designing and changing up things in my home. I would like to see more before and after pics. These are especially helpful when you show how to work with existing ( sometimes dated) finishes to freshen and pull together things until a remodel or renovation is possible. I love all the posts though and look forward to each one! Thank You and Teerria for your had work and making the world a more beautiful place!
Congratulations on your tenth year anniversary of blogging. I discovered you several years ago and I admire your candour. I have a friend is a lot more unfiltered than you and it makes me laugh.
I love to work with colour in quilts and traditional rug hooking. However, when it comes to walls and furniture, I’m a little reticent. Analysis paralysis.
Congratulations again and all the best to you and Terreeia.
Congratulations on ten years of teaching so many of us how to achieve better results with our color choices. I am a university professor by employment (in a field that has nothing to do with design), but paint color has long been a hobby for me. Thanks to you I now do a much better job choosing colors and I understand my mistakes in the past (like not realizing huge leafy green trees outside the window would make the paint inside appear green). I look forward to each post and joined Instagram so I could follow you there. Here’s to another decade of Colour Me Happy!
Hi Maria, Congratulations – 10 years – wow! I;ve followed you all these years. I’ve learned a lot. I;m not a designer but just very interested in colours. I’ve always lived in an apt. so any future advice about colours in a small apt would be helpful. Thanks for all that you do. Beth
Congratulations Maria! I have been following your blog for a couple years now and have appreciated your help on interior and exterior color consultations. We just bought a new mountain home with light wood floors, black windows, and yep, all white walls just like in all of the magazines right now. Trying to add color but I fear I will be consulting you in 10 years asking how to “update” this look! I hope you come to Denver soon, and I love following you on Instagram as well.
Wahoo! Time flies when your having fun!! I can’t personally thank you enough for your blog and course! As a homeowner, I have always felt “unqualified” to choose my own colors and decorate but always had the desire to do so! Your blog gave me the confidence I needed to help revamp 2 of the last homes we have lived in and approach it from the perspective of choosing finishes that will last and not have to ripped out time and time again- creating waste.
I still feel unsure about decorating because I hate clutter and am more of a minimalist. (Comes from growing up with a hoarder parent). And I hate buying items that to me are just “junk” to fill a space. Could you speak more to decorating/ styling using minimal?
Congratulations again! Keep blogging because I love your authenticity!
Congratulations on 10 years, Maria. Your path to success is inspiring. Your visionary system and tools helped me make a heavy Tuscan-trend home we bought feel fresher and like our own. I’m so thankful for your guidance. One topic I’d love to see you cover is using the landscape/view from your windows as a starting point for color selections. I once read an interview with Barbara Streisand where she talked about coordinating her landscaping to the decor of her rooms. For those with a commanding view, windows function as a giant piece of art.
Hi Maria,
I have learned so much from your blog about clean and dirty colors. Not sure if I missed a blog on this topic but here goes…..there is a major difference in color choices in different parts of the country. For example, when we lived in Chicago I used dirtier colors and when we moved to CA….they didn’t work at all! The light is completely different here and we had to change everything because alll the furnishings looked too…..dirty!
Thank you for your wisdom, Maria!
Hi Maria,
You have been a lifesaver for our new build! I have purchased two of your webinars, and they now have me on the “boring” mindset. THANKS!!!
I am a recent subscriber… rather than suggest what you might need to add….I am still reading to catch up on your helpful and needed design guidance.
Blog post suggestion…how does the homeowner know when their decision making is complete? How do they give themselves the grace to accept their choices?
Wow Maria – Congratulations!! I don’t remember how I found your blog but have followed it since you started Colour Me Happy!
As a designer I thought of your blog as a mix of inspiration and education. I started by purchasing your e-books and applied
your theory to 2 of my own homes with great success. The best thing I EVER did for my business was sign up for your
colour course in Toronto. I really had my eyes opened and came away with such clarity. I couldn’t wait to receive
your paint boards.
Its been 3 years since then and no longer do I find my nerves getting the better of me when I head out on paint consults.
My clients truly are amazed and enjoy the education that comes with comparing and understanding undertones!!!
When I see posts from people asking where to obtain ‘colour’ help or whether your course is worth the
time and money, I respond that its the best investment!!
I have enjoyed watching you grow and still remain authetic!
Cheers to another 10 years!
Debra
Congratulations!
I have learned more from you than any other decor blog. I love how you help readers improve their space working with what they have—not all of us can afford a complete rip out and redo. I read and reread your posts. I recently purchased your undertones ebook but haven’t had time to delve into it yet. I also appreciate your use of color. I’m so tired of seeing white or beige sofas. I love your yellow choice—vibrant like its owner. Mine will be green—reupholstered. I read your warning about recovering an old sofa—that it would still look dated. Do you have ideas on modifications? I’m going to eliminate the skirt, adding wooden legs. I hope that will be enough. But then I’m old and dated myself.
In summary, I love what you do. Thank-you.
Haha, if your sofa is a classic style then by all means, get it recovered, but what a lot of people don’t realize is it often costs the same as buying a new sofa. Once you buy the fabric and pay for the labour, it’s the same price. So you should only recover your sofa if you really love the style, or if it was really expensive to begin with, meaning that the quality is really good. Hope that helps, Maria
Thank you for the education about color and design you have so beautifully shared on your blog. My suggestion as a topic relates to updating color without changing the entire color scheme. I think the issue is that I want to make a slight move toward cleaner and I know that, using your definitions, that mixing dirty and clean colors is extremely dicey. My situation is that the living area is presently painted a neutral to dirty yellow (about a 3 on the value scale). My furniture and accessories relate in shades of mustard, rusty rose, mossy to grassy green, dirty turquoise with medium to dark woods. It all looks good now, but I need to repaint and would like to update a bit. It is possible to go lighter and cleaner with the yellow (or another color) without making all the furniture and accessories look unrelated? Of course, I want to achieve an updated look. (P.S. My floors are natural oak and I have several oriental rugs that have to stay.)
Hi Sandra-Kay, I would love to help but it is impossible for me to give accurate advice without photos, if you need a new wall colour you can purchase just that in my eDesign department here: https://mariakillam.com/product/interior-paint-colour-consultation/
Thanks for your comment! Maria
Congrats on 10 years of posts! I have learned SO much from you over the past few years….both online and in your class. Could you do a post on shutters? i.e. choosing the best shutter style for a home, wood vs. vinyl, when it’s a better look to remove them completely.
I also follow you on Instagram and would love to win the large paint samples. 🙂
I began following your blog 3-4 years ago and have read and re-read your e-books and every post multiple times! I was so glad I purchased them before we began building our new home three years ago. I knew I wanted classic and timeless fixed features but did not know how to explain it to my husband who was so set on choosing a granite that was so busy it gave me nightmares! He thought black was so boring. Thankfully I could show him example after example of how I wanted my kitchen to look and feel from pictures on your blog. It also helped me convince him to let me paint the knotty alder kitchen and railing in my previous home which made it feel so fresh and bright! I would love to attend a color training workshop!
PS also follow on Instagram PSS We compromised by using a black granite which looks absolutely gorgeous and we both love it!
Hooray, love that story! Thanks for your comment! Maria
Inexpensive creative art for walls to relate to the colors in the room. Framed shower curtain piece, greeting cards, calendar pages, empty painted frames, plates (you’ve done plates), collages of all those inspiration pictures, fabrics…
I’m sure in 10 years of blogging you have touched on almost every topic, but one topic that I still struggle with is how to deal with colours in adjoining rooms and even worse – where to stop and start painting. For example, I’ve done my dining room in a soft gray green, but don’t know how to deal with the walls beside the stairs that leave from the dining room (so they are still in the old mushroom brown). I do love all the advice you have provided on your blog and regularly look up topics on what whites to choose and how to deal with rooms that receive little natural light (not white as that needs a well-lit room, I’ve learnt). Thanks for providing such a rich resource for us to use. I’ve been a follower since near the beginning (probably 2011 or so). I’m also a follower on instagram.
Wow – phenomenal post, truly awesome blog and what a stunning 10 yr’s!!
I like that u “keep it real” — so many bloggers etc make it ‘appear’ as if everything is amazing, effortlessly — and u give ur followers a taste of the real amount of work & what is needed to be successful (& happy!)
Is there anything u haven’t covered in this blog?! ? I SO agree w u on the timeless / classic thing – I’ve been looking at real estate listings 4 eventual downsizing & whether reno’d or new, I only like the finishings maybe 10% of the time.
I’m really disliking the trendy ‘muted’ wood-look cabinets in kitchens & baths right now. Touted as modern but terribly drab & reminiscent of the 70s. I would be interested in your thoughts around those kind of trends – ie do they all really last 10 yr’s? And are we better off buying something a bit older that needs a cosmetic update so we can finish it the way we want?
I have ur eBooks & would love to be in ur Vanc class ??
Congratulations on your success! My daughter is a faithful reader of your blog, and has done an amazing job of picking paint colors for her home–even blues–which are so tricky. She couldn’t have down it without using your guidelines.
She thanks you!
Congratulations Maria, we love you! Thank you for your personal transparency, humor, and upbeat writing over the years. I have probably read every one of your blogs, some multiple times. When I have a color, paint, or design question, one of the first things I do is google the word plus your name, as in “lamps Maria Killam”. I trust your advice because you are classic, and classic always works! I attended your course in Houston, and purchased your samples, and use them constantly. Don’t have the new updated ones. I would love to see more posts on how to take a mostly neutral room come alive with the right accent colors.
Congratulations on the 10 year Anniversary. Your ebooks and blog were so helpful when we built our house 4 years ago.
I love your honesty and convictions – they helped me stand my ground when the flooring/tile people tried pushing Tuscan trends on me in 2015.
I think a good future topic would be how to encorporate garish NHL/NFL/College football team colors into a cohesive design. We are planning our basement design. I’m trying to find something to unitfy Navy/white (Penn State) and Black/Gold (all Pittsburgh teams) and am so frustrated. I look at the traffic cone orange in Edmonton or the Mustard/Blue of Nashville and wonder how anyone can create a sports themed room that doesn’t hurt the eyes.
Happy Blogaversary!
Question to consider?? I wonder if your system can be applied to choosing the BEST tones to wear? According to my skin undertones, I’m an autumn…I wonder if there’s any correlation?
I already follow you on insta…
oops…ps…I’m not a pro, rather an enthusiast! I have been following you for 8 years, have been lucky enough to have had 2 “over the phone” color consults, taken your course and own 2 sets of boards. Thank you for your humor and knowledge…making the world a beautifully, colorful place!
Congratulations Maria! Thanks almost entirely to your blog, paint samples and e-books, which I have studied for nearly 10 years, my husband and I chose timeless, beautiful hard finishes and paint for our new build, our dream home. Today our navy blue sofa and other living room furniture will arrive. So happy you encourage a sofa in a true color! I can’t think you enough for sharing. You are an amazing talent.
Congratulations Maria! I’ve been following your blog since the beginning and never miss reading it. My question is how whites appear different with the light in different parts of the country. For example the soft rain-forest light of Vancouver and the bright golden-wheat blue sky light of Calgary. Your recommendations on how to choose whites in these cities would be most welcome! Ps I also follow you on Instagram.
Happy 10th! I would like to see more before and after pictures.
I also follow you on Instagram.
Congratulations on 10 years! What an amazing accomplishment. I am both lucky and fortune to be a Chicago 2018 TCE graduate. The class was amazing and it was a privilege to meet you and Terreeia. I also had the privilege to talk to Tricia on the phone; she helped me with SW colors. For the future, I hope you continue to build your brand based on honesty, professionalism and the MK colour style! What I would like to see in 2019, would be MK building a relationship with SW. I live in Cleveland and SW is headquartered here. I would also like to see more before and after color styling transformations, including a new eBook, to teach how to color style a room (hard and soft finishes). In addition to the MK Colour wheel, I would like to see printed color charts (or chips from the company) to teach the undertones. Your books and class are amazing; however, it’s tough to learn color without having color samples to compare. Yes, your boards are amazing but not everyone can afford them and fan decks are a challenge to compare colors. I think printed color charts would be great! Wishing you and your team continued success!
Hi Maria (and Terreeia!), I look forward to your posts as I’m a Realtor often asked for advice from clients. You’ve been very helpful! One post I’ve looked for and haven’t found is how to properly update colors and finishes in baths with travertine tile. I follow you on Instagram!
Congratulations on your blog anniversary and your 10,000 Instagram followers! Your down-to-earth style, humbleness, and willingness to share information about color and design is a key to your success. Terreria is another – you two make a great team!
I would love to hear your thoughts on exterior trim colors with different brick colors as we have so many brick houses here in Michigan. Thanks again for all of your informative blog posts and your Specify Color with Confidence workshops!
I’m not sure how long I’ve been reading your blog, Maria, but it’s been a long time! You’re on the short list of my favorite blogs that consistently delivers something worthwhile. BTW, I actually love bloggers who blog fewer times per week. Readers are pressed for time too and I’d rather have two great posts than five mediocre ones.
I’m also glad we proved Terreeia wrong. She may be behind the scenes, but I love hearing about all the things she does. What a force of nature she is.
As far as you having issues, well, don’t we all? The difference is that you admitted you wanted to work on yours. Since when do we have to be perfect to have an audience? As far as critics, I understand there are other systems. But as you said, there is room for all. And you really offer more than a system in this blog as far as other knowledge that you make freely available.
CONGRATULATIONS on ten years!!!
Congratulations on your 10th! You must be feeling like it’s your birthday without the aging part! ? I’ve been reading your blog for almost as long, and way before I knew what “subscribe” meant (but I did know how to “bookmark”!). Its about time I said thank-you for sharing your expertise and so many enjoyable posts and wonderful eye-candy. Many happy returns!
Almost forgot! How about a 10-best series? 10 best tips, 10 best posts, etc? I would love to have a refresher!
I do that every year in January, you can read them all here: https://mariakillam.com/category/top-10-posts/
Thanks for your comment! Maria
Maria, There are thousands of us who look around their homes, inside and out and are eternally GRATEFUL that we see beauty. You have given us tools, the examples and the the courage to figure out what works and why. We just painted the exterior of our 35 year old home and everyone says it looks brand new because of the colors I chose after reading your blog and your ebooks and doing the paint samples. We are all so glad to give back to you a little of what you have freely shared with us! VOTE for Maria!
Maria! Congratulations on your Blog Anniversary! I receive a lot of emails each morning from different blogs that I subscribe to daily but YOURS is the only one that I read EVERY SINGLE POST! Some of the blogs I review daily, I can tell from the subject line that they are talking about something that I have no interest in so I just hit “delete” …..but YOURS… When I see in my email list “MARIA KILLAM”…I get so excited and I open it every single time and read it several times to truly engulf the message you are trying to share. I always knew I looked at color differently from others. (I never understood why builders put certain kitchen backsplashes with certain granite…I never thought they looked “married”. Then I found your web site, blog, and your class. You were speaking the language I had in my head but couldn’t come up with on my own. Your class changed the way I think about everything!!! I follow you on Instagram already, obviously but just wanted to congratulate you and tell you Thank you! Lori
Pink beige, green beige windows for the interior is the style currently trending here in southern California. Please do a blog on how to handle this type of color, both in the interior and at the exterior for siding, stucco and walls. Also, can’t wait to purchase your new color wheel!!!
It is? Please send me photos! Thanks for your comment! Maria
Hi Maria. I am an architect in California and New Jersey and I LOVE your writing and style. However, I am also a mother of two boys and can’t quite figure out how to have an all-white-anything without constantly cleaning and yelling. A white bathroom floor shows every piece of hair that lands on it. So, I would love to see a blog about how to have a timeless, clean look that works for a working mom of two boys who can’t clean it every day. Are there textures/materials that are better suited for that? Patterns that are still timeless but more forgiving? Etc. Thanks!
What about my recent bathroom renovation with the black and white floor? That doesn’t show everything? But the black and white palette of my bathroom still gives lots of flexibility. https://mariakillam.com/classic-black-white-bathroom-reveal/
Hope that helps, Maria
Congratulations Maria! I am so grateful to my friend who recommended your blog! I have learned oodles from your blogs and Pinterest boards. I am hoping to get to a TCE course one of these days when finances allow. I have your ebooks, took an online class, and I have the SW boards and am adding to them, making my own, again thanks to you!
I love your stay true to yourself advice and I now love white subway tile!
Is there anymore advice you can give about shopping with clients?
Congratulations! I found your blog four years ago when I was remodeling a bathroom. I was frustrated, and in tears, because I could not get the paint color right. I was searching online for help when I found your website. I read all your posts, bought your e-book and finally realized what was wrong. Sadly, I had made several mistakes, and knew I wasn’t going to get the look I wanted, but was able to make it livable. I’ve since used your system to make changes to every room. I also did a consult on my master bath, which I absolutely LOVE! Thank you!
I’ve read and learned so much from your blog over the years. I sure hope you continue for many years to come!
I just wanted to let you know thst I keep voting for you daily on Modenus, and I already follow you on both facebook and instagram ♥️
I’d love a chance to win! Thank you so much!
I would love more ideas on exterior house colors, especially how to choose a front door colo r. Those are some of my favorite posts.
Hi Maria. I am new to your blog and am in the process of reading and rereading many past and current posts and have learned SO much. I am a homeowner, not a designer, and am in the process of replacing my kitchen cabinets, appliances, countertop, backsplash, and floor and am going white except for the wall color. You recently updated your kitchen after five years but kept your countertop (which I really like). Because of the neutrality white kitchens provide, how long would you keep the same countertop if it remains in good shape and have not grown tired of it?
Well that’s the beauty of a black or white countertop, you can change the colours without being dictated to by the existing finishes. I don’t see myself changing the countertop until my entire kitchen needed to be ripped out. That’s why classic and timeless design is so great! Thanks for your comment, Maria
I am commenting even though I may not win a prize. And maybe every post doesn’t apply to me, but I do enjoy your posts and will usually research all of them for interest sake just in case I might wan to chose a paint, chose a sofa, and chose a style. It’s is great that I found you. Thanks.
Maria, Many thanks for your educational posts on color and decorating. I’ve learned so much and you are a major asset when convincing my husband of the changes needed in our home. More importantly, you are a breath of fresh air amid our current U.S. political climate. I’ve always loved my Canadian friends and I count you among them! Congrats on your 10th anniversary!
I recently discovered your blog and read it with great joy! And now I find out that you have been writing it for 10 years! Where were you and the blog all that time? Last year I had a master bath renovated–sadly without the benefit of your expertise and sensible advice. And now I sit here looking at the travertine backsplash in my kitchen that I added after living in my house for almost a decade (the Tuscan period that I am erasing room by room!). It sits atop the 4″granite backsplash that is part of the granite countertop. Little did I know! I like your terms “clean” and “dirty” for separating colors. I have always used the terms “grayed” and “bright” in my bumbling effort to differentiate colors that don’t look right together. Love color, love your blog! And want to win something, anything!
Congratulations on celebrating your 10th year of blogging! I found you about a year ago and wish I had been reading your blog since the beginning. It’ like you’ve given me permission to use color freely. I always loved when I would see colorful rooms online but never had the courage to do it myself. In my previous home my kids used to ask why our rooms were all brown! Really, they weren’t all brown but they sure were a mix of earth tones! I now live in a century home with turquoise painted cabinets and colorful pillows and I am beginning to paint furniture and doors using your color system. I would like to see more posts on adding fun, colorful elements or unexpected surprises to a classic home, like lighting and artwork, and painted thrifted furniture pieces. I am excited every time I see your new blog post come into my inbox!
Dear Maria, I’ve been reading your blog for two years and just wish I had found it sooner. I’ve been an interior designer for ten years and a muralist for the ten years before that. I know color and color theory but you hit it on the head when you write that color theory won’t help you pick the right neutral or bright happy color for a room. Since reading your blog I’ve no longer try to “EDUCATE” my clients (in the old sense of the word), instead we talk about the dirty and clean options, the warm and cool undertones. The clients now feel like a partner in the color selections and I find the color consultations so much easier!
Thank you so much for your blog – don’t stop!
Happy Anniversary,
Hi, Maria,
Happy 10th Anniversary! I am relatively new to your blog, but I have read, enjoyed, and learned from many of your posts from as far back as years one and two.
I appreciate your humor and candor, but especially, your consistency. You report the trends but you do not tweak your color system to conform to them. Your system is applied to the trends and is proven, each time, to be correct. Thankyou for that from a newbie who makes every decorating choice as if it were the last decision she will ever make on this earth!
Something that is probably minor in the scheme of things is how to put print fabrics together. It would be helpful if you could give some advice and example photos, like you did for creating tablescapes.
Wishing you many more joyful, productive, and colorful years ahead,
Mary I.
Hi Maria!
Just a quick note to congratulate you on all you’ve accomplished in 10 years.
I attended your Specify Color with Confidence course, November 2017.
I own your e-books and color boards (loved and used often!)
I follow you on IG, and devour your blogs (they keep getting better and better…)
Please DO NOT enter me in your contest.
Why???
Because I feel like a winner EVERY DAY when I walk into my newly decorated living room.
My sofa is TURQUOISE!!!!
Enough said…
You have Colored ME Happy, and I thank you for that.
Congratulations on your anniversary Marie!
As a long time blog subscriber and also an Instagram follower, I always look forward to your posts and photos. While I was working in the cabinet design industry I recommended your blog to many clients, and I continue to recommend it to friends. There are so many helpful examples on your site that it should be recommended reading before anyone takes on a new build or a renovation.
Thank you for all the great tips and ideas, and best wishes to you for the next 10 years of your colouful life!
I’ve been reading your blog for years and I am so thrilled you are here, doing what you love and making a creative difference to everyone. Congratulations on a job so well done!!
One thing that really warmed my heart was the introduction of your partner and your willingness to just be who you are, no apology. I remember reading the announcement about you and your wife and thought “Well, damn, that is one amazing woman, open, strong, yet really vulnerable.”
I look forward to your posts and pictures and you continue to inspire me and encourage me to create with colour.
Blessings to you and your lovely wife!
Hi Maria,
I’m a big fan, and have purchased some of your paint samples and e-books, which have been very helpful. I would like to see two posts; one on using dark colors, and one on the order in which furnishings are chosen for a space, and why.
Thanks, and I hope I’m a winner!
I forgot to mention that I follow you on Instagram as well!
Congrats Maria…well deserved!
Oh…and…can you mix metals in a bathroom? ie. use gold or copper accents if your hardware is silver?
Yes as long as you repeat them both. . . Maria
Hi Maria! I have learned so much from you, and would love to attend a workshop one day. In the meantime, I faithfully research each design question in your articles and forward them to friends and family often. Your classicism resonates with my own color observations, and I love the fact that you’re not afraid of using color/not every room looks the same. Love to see more how tos, whether it’s adding color or practice with undertones. Thank you!
Congratulations, Maria on your ten years of blogging. I have enjoyed your posts and your books very much. There is no doubt that I now see the world with different eyes.
Some ideas for the future:
Take that swatch and make a colour story: select a swatch of fabric and create a colour story (walls, furnishings and art idea) with inspiration photos.
More seasonal decorating and styling with ideas about using what you already might have on hand.
Sharing more of your design work if and when you are able. It is so lovely to see in all come together.
Thanks,
Michelle from Hamilton, Ontario
Oh! I want to enter the giveaway! I pour over your blog posts and have studied your e-books and the online remodeling course. Everything has been so helpful!
But one thing I haven’t found yet in your materials is a guide to window treatments from the exterior view. For example: our mountain comminity HOA requires earth tones (and nothing over a LRV of 60) on the exterior. They do make an exception for blinding white vinyl windows, which I will eventually replace to relate to the rest of my beige house. I have fresher colors and white trim inside and love the clean architectural lines plantation shutters add to boring cheap windows. So my question is, before I invest thousands of dollars in shutters, do the window treatments seen from the exterior need to relate to the rest of the exterior? Will the white not work from outside even though the interior dictates white?
Thanks! And here’s to another ten years!
What is more timeless? Painted or wood kitchen cabinets.
I would love to see a color specifying example- like you usually do with pics- and along the way insert your “Undertone Wheel” pointing out your thoughts and the “whys” to your final choices….. that is just one more “proof is in the pudding” examples of your “Understanding Undertones” and why it is so fantastic!
I follow you on Instagram. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary!
Congratulations Maria! I’ve followed you for years and have really enjoyed your informative blog posts. Your lovely colourful rooms are a great inspiration for me. I have considered coming to one of your Vancouver seminars but just haven’t had the opportunity yet. Keep doing what you are doing. You are making the world a nicer place, one room at a time.
Maria you’ve helped make our house look so much better. The e-design was the best money we’ve spent on home improvement in years.
As for things you may not have covered, maybe you could talk about roof colour choices for homes where the roof is very prominent (eg. mansards). The usual contrast and straight black you like don’t apply automatically here but I’m not sure where you go after that – do you still want some contrast, but not too much or do you go for minimal contrast in order to not have the roof overpower or make the house look stubby? Also, what about the very shaded shingles available now? Should these be avoided …. roofing is not an easy question in these circumstances!
Just a thought (and a very current dilema),
Thanks for all the help your colour system gave us during our renovation!
I’ve enjoyed your site and the clarity you bring to color decisions which I’m finding surprisingly difficult and complex. I’d like more on working with wood as we have some beautiful wood cabinets and furniture that will be staying.
Hello Maria,
Congratulation on your 10 years and your 10 000 followers on Instagram??(I’m already following you there 😉
One thing I would appreciate is your thaughts on how to decorate or create a home when you move for work every 3-4 years and you can’t renovate or change furniture all the time…
Thank you for all the eye opening advice, books, posts etc your amazing!!
Congrats, Dear Maria! What I love about you, in addition to all your amazing skill and knowledge is your generosity. You give and give and give to your readers. How refreshing! You have earned my undying loyalty. Also TRUST. I appreciate your authenticity and approachability, too. Your knowledge enabled me to make our house renovation a total winner; I am forever grateful. It has been a great and inspiring joy to watch you grow over the years. Thank you for sharing your process with us; I’m sure we’ve all grown with you.
I love hearing about how you started to write your blog, on the very day I am starting to write my blog on SVAyurveda, organic herbal preparations and lifestyle for health and happiness. It’s been so life enhancing for me that I’d like to share it- I plan to emulate your tradition of giving, giving and giving knowledge away. You’re inspiring me once again! It’s interesting to see your original blog name again after all these years, and see that you’ve changed it since then. Makes me feel better that I haven’t decided on mine yet!
I am celebrating with you, Terria and Hellen from afar!
Thanks Gail, I haven’t changed the name of the blog I just didn’t put it back in my header with my new website design 2 years ago. Maybe I should put it back! Thanks for your lovely comment! xo
Hi Maria Conratulations on 10 years of success educating the world on color and design! I just love reading your blogs and have learned so much from you! I too am a color enthusiast and have been intrigued with color my whole life! I get so much joy just decorating and creating and helping my friends out and bringing a little joy into their life! I am also a professional organizer and I love maing a client’s home a happier place to come home to! I recently moved into a 1970’s little house and am on a tight budget. Currently, there are black appliances in the kitchen with the old oak cabibets. Budget wise I would like to keep the black appliances and will be totally redoing cabinets with paint and bringing the cabinet look the rest of the way to 8 ft. Ceiling. I would love to see a couple more blogs on ideas for kitchens keeping the existing appliances.
Congratulations to you for lighting the world with your colorful talents! I completely enjoyed attending your first Dallas 2018 Specify Colour with Confidence, and thank you to both you and Terreeia, because I learned a lot more than I expected! Plus, I love your Good Morning greetings on Instagram! In addition, I appreciate the continuing education on the FB page. Halloween was my mom’s favorite holiday, so, Happy Halloween!…it’s a fun day to celebrate just about everything!
Congratulations! I enjoy and appreciate the instruction on working with existing finishes. Loved the Palm Springs rental post. I credit your blog advice on the successful update of my almond bathroom; I got a fresh and updated look without the dreaded “old and new”. Please keep those posts coming, and consider doing more posts on flooring, especially carpet. Would love to attend a workshop someday!
Again congratulations Maria as I posted on Instagram! Yes we all love you and because of your transparency and how approachable you are makes you unique! Both you and Tereeia make a wonderful team. Thank you for all the insight that you have given us! I vote for you each day and you certainly deserve to win the Grand Prize! Blessings to you and your whole team!
Hi Maria, I don’t recall how I stumbled onto your online blog/ info, several years ago, but am so glad I did. Design is definitely my interest, but more definitely, not my strength. I love the teaching element of everything you put out there for us. I’ve wanted to attend one of your events in Vancouver for a long time. Maybe it will still happen. Thank you for what you offer to us, the public. Ruth
Hi Maria and Terreeia! Congratulations on your two milestones! I also follow you on Instagram. And I would follow you anywhere I can afford to follow in your color world!! 🙂 I love your aesthetic, your color system, and your design talent. Here’s to another 10 glorious color years!
I would love to see another post on front door colors to explain more about when you can use a lovely accent color and maybe only repeat it in flower pots and pillows versus when you need to choose a color that relates to the other permanent exterior elements on the house. Also, what is best…paint just the door and leave the trim the trim color or paint the entire door and frame around it? 🙂 . Best to you, Norma
Maria, your blog has made an enormous difference to me and to a host of readers. Through your readers, your teaching filters out to countless other people. Just a couple of days ago my niece and her husband dropped by to see the finish on our hardwood floor (Rubio Monocoat, a European hard oil finish). She happened to mention that they liked a grayed finish, so I told them about the gray trend (which is still going strong in our area) and the likelihood that their floor would seem dated down the road. So they will choose a natural finish instead. You influence far more people than you can imagine.
Congrats on 10 years of amazing accomplishments! You have been a constant inspiration with every decorating challenge I have encompassed. I recently purchased your Large Paint Samples (basic) and now wished I could have expanded it to the full set. Being on a fixed budget, hiring an interior decorator to help me choose colors for my home has not been something I could even think of entertaining. However, armed with your resources, I now have a fighting chance to create a beautiful and cohesive home. Thank you and best of luck for your next 10 years!
Congrats Maria! Love everything you teach us, it has made a huge difference in how I decorate as well as pick color for other clients. Also follow you on Instagram and love all your beautiful pictures. My question- Painted trim and millwork other than white? Timeless? Trendy? Obviously correct undertones matter as well. Maybe you have already addressed this, thanks for all your time with us!
Hi Maria,
Congrats on all your accomplishments over the past ten years… can’t wait to learn from your next ten…
Please DO NOT enter me in the contest, I’ve done your course, I own your books, and your color boards (much used & loved ?) & follow you on IG
I feel like a winner, EVERY DAY, each and every time I walk into my newly furnished & decorated living room,
Because my sofa is TURQUOISE ???
And that, my friend, says it all….
Oh how absolutely wonderful, 10 years whoooo hoooo!!!
Such hard work and dedication from both you and Terreeia
I’d love to have you write a little more about how to select a front door – or I could write it for you!
I’m selecting 6 new doors for different new build clients and I’ve learned a lot!
Hugs and here’s to 10 more years of fabulous advice!
Love, Jil
PS Following you on IG too!
Maria, I deeply appreciate your blog, and your eDesign services. I love your business ethics and how you treat people. I found you after Googling a color question two years ago, and after following for nine months, I bought your books, and then a kitchen package. In two years I will redo two bathrooms, a master, and replace carpet. Until then, I will keep on following!
I am always interested in how to style objects without creating clutter, especially meaningful objects collected over time that might not be on trend. Thank you
Congratulations on your milestones and on being true to your true self! I have been a reader for many years and have learned so much along the way. I feel like you have helped change my frame of mind from trendy to timeless and it helps me when making decisions within my personal environment – thank you!
One question I have is about stairs. I know we will be changing our stairs from carpet to hardwood in the coming year or two and I have been collecting a lot of images along the way. What I am trying to figure out is, what does a classic and timeless staircase really look like? I know there are very contemporary railings that make some modern but I am seeing slender iron railings and don’t know if I love them because they are classic and timeless or if if it is because they are just new and different. (example here: https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2018/1/26/riverbottoms-entryway) I know what we have currently is awful but I am not sure how to best transform them into something timeless. I also wonder if solid wood stairs are better or whether wood tread and white risers are more classic (or whether both are equally timeless). Thanks for your consideration! And congratulations again!
Congratulations, Marie and Terreeia, for persisting in the face of the critics and the many demands, large and small, that owning and running a business such as yours always entails; we can only imagine! After more than 20 years of working in various fields — writing, editing, desktop publishing and graphic design, promotion of various artists and therapists, owning and running a small but glamorous vintage clothing store, and finally residential real estate (I thought I was a Jill of All Trades until my best friend renamed me “Renaissance Woman” 🙂 — I realized that what I really had to do was Interior Design, so in my 40s I went back to school full time. I’ve been practicing now for almost 20 years, and only wish I’d known myself better, sooner.
I have (amongst all my many flaws) three great strengths: caring for and therefore being able to read my clients; space planning; and colour sense and memory. (A friend, a tremendous artist whose work sells in the 10s of $1000s, braced me once during his first visit to our home: “You know something about colour that I don’t. What is it?!” Best compliment I’ve ever had 🙂 My only answer to that has always been that I belong to colour: I didn’t choose it, it chose me. Lucky me! But I had never explored the idea of clean vs. dirty colours, and you’ve opened my eyes to a new understanding of why colours work together — and don’t! I am so very grateful. And how prescient you have been, Maria, in seeing through the kaleidoscope we live in and divining this great truth.
I only discovered your work about a year ago :(, so I have missed many, many of your blog pieces; forgive me if this suggestion is therefore redundant. And frankly, I don’t know how you’d go about sharing it with others, but I’m guessing you do! I’m thinking about the difference local light has on how we read colours. Years ago someone pointed out to me that the reason so many Torontonians fall in love with San Francisco (myself included) is that the quality of light in both cities is almost identical! It’s true. (How that can be, when these two cities are subject to such different terrain, winds, meteorological effects, I have no idea.) So the colours that I use in Florida, for instance, are very different from those I recommend to clients here in southeastern Québec, my home now for 20 years. Even the colours I specify in Montréal, only an hour and a quarter away, but nestled on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, vary slightly. Using colour swatches — or ideally, large colour boards, of course! — seals the deal…but I wonder if it might be useful to talk about regional geographical differences, perhaps especially for those individuals who think, “Oh, I have loved this colour in my ______ room; I’ll use it again when I move!” Or who want to take their new or old beloved curtains/upholstered pieces/bedding with them, without realizing that they’re likely to have to pull another colour or tone out of their fabric to dress the walls in their new location.
Looking forward, as ever, to more! With warmest regards ~ Kris
Hi Kris, this would be a great suggestion if I actually travelled from city to city doing this, however, we travel around the country in our eDesign department! Thanks for following me! Maria
Hi Maria and Terreeia:
I’ve been studying your posts for years. Not always fully understanding it, however always re-reading to get a better grasp. Your theory on timeless white kitchens had been a dream of mine for many years. My dear husband “loved” the oak cabinets and was not ready to paint. However by this summer we had no choice, and get our house ready for sale. He agreed. Not only did we flip each cabinet door but bought hidden hinges and he scrubbed, sanded, and painted each cabinet lovingly. The results were magical. The kitchen sparkled and we didn’t even change the backsplash or the counters.
Our house sold in one hour and we are downsizing and moving to an apartment in December.
Your continued messages and photos finally got to him. I kept reading and showing my dearest the difference a little paint can make.
The buyers said they bought the house for 3 reasons: the kitchen, the pool and my beautiful garden( something I could no longer keep up, due to illness).
Thanks for solid and helpful advice throughout the many years I have followed you.
I do follow you on Instagram.
Susan
Happy Anniversary, Maria!! I’ve been reading your blog and following you on Instagram for years. Since I have three bathrooms to remodel, I would like to see more posts about choosing floor tile to coordinate with hardwood in the hallway.
Congratulations on 10 years and 10,000 followers!! I have just recently started following you but was instantly drawn to your color, paint and design recommendations because you identified the issue with making color decisions…and yes, white is complicated!! I just recently purchased your new build package and am going through a remodel as we speak. It has certainly taken away the stress of making color decisions. Since following you, I immediately trusted everything you said because you are honest and transparent and well, everything is just beautifully classic. I would love to see more posts on how to take a mostly neutral room come alive with the right accent colors. I think someone else mentioned this and I’m guilty of not buying color because I’m afraid of getting tired of it. Congratulations again, and I’m so happy for you and Terreeia.
Maria, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and passion. I have learned so much and in the process made changes in my home that are lovely, comforting, and beautiful. I’ve learned about myself and my choices and continue to grow. Bless you and may you have many more years of sharing your passions.
Congratulations Maria. I would love to see case studies of how you deal with colour schemes that are not working and how they can be improved.
Congratulations! Love, love your blog!
Congratulations Maria on your 10 year Blogaversary! I recently was introduced to your web site through taking a home staging course and can not say enough of how much I have learned in the past couple months from your blog posts and web site! I am very grateful that someone who had attended one your workshops shared their experience with me. Your knowledge and advice on color have inspired me to consider making color consultations a part of my business plan. I know color can make one of the biggest impacts and greatly help in the staging of a home. Of course my next step would be to continue pursuing education and attend a Specify with Colour with Confidence workshop! You truly are a gift to the world of color and all that you share with those who seek your knowledge. I always look forward to reading your blogs! I will also follow you on Instagram!
Since I am new to your reading your blog, I was wondering if you have covered anything like how to “marry” something like feminine and masculine design and color? Or when two people like opposite design or color preferences how to incorporate all these elements together?
Thank you Maria for your talent, time and dedication to sharing not only your color expertise, but yourself! Best wishes for many more years of color happiness!
Your blog has been an amazing resources as we work on plans for our under-construction house.
I’d love to see a blog post (or several!) about how to create whole house color schemes so that everything looks cohesive without looking the same in every room – advice on how to make sure things flow and shift and then relate back to other spaces.
Congratulations! I would love to see you dive into photographing beautiful rooms – you’ve touched on lighting and vignettes, especially tablescaping and I’ve used those tips (thank-you), but sometimes you have to take the big room picture. They’re hard!
Congratulations on 10 years Maria! You’ve contributed so much to making life easier for those like me who are deeply curious and want to keep learning. (by the way, I started following your Instagram last week. Thanks)
Maria – Wow! Congrats on 10! I have been following you for 5 years. I wish I had discovered you sooner. My sisters and I follow you on IG and we even have a group chat called “team Killam.” We adore you! Even though I didn’t find you before my first renovation, I discovered you in the knick of time for my next colour changeout. You gave me the language and basic knowledge from your blog posts so I could hire the right professional that understood how to look at colour. It saved me so much time and money! I have purchased your e-books and someday I hope to attend your workshop. My suggestions? I wish you could step into my closet. Could you write a post on when and how you can mix clean and dirty colours in your wardrobe?! I’d love a post on decorating around exposed brick (I live in an old factory converted to a condo) And how about accessories in the home? Specifically, selecting the right towels for a bathroom – to complement the colours in the fixed elements — would be great addition to your blog! Keep on writing, Maria!
Happy 10th anniversary Maria! Everyone has issues, a few people are brave enough to put their eccentricities on public view. Those are the people we celebrate and remember. Bravo for a life well lived.
Congratulations on 10 years and 10,000 followers! I already follow on Insta. I would love to see more posts about specific single colors. Like a featured color per article. (I especially loved your post a couple of months ago featuring the Tuscan to green transformation.)
Congrats on the blog’s 10th anniversary, Maria! I discovered your blog a few years after you began it, and I loved it so much I went back and started at the very beginning to read each and every post that I had missed! I continue to learn so many new things about color and design with each and every post that you add to the blog and from your ebooks. Thank you for being “real” about your opinions, likes, dislikes. It makes you all the more credible since you are open about your own life and thoughts. I have no ideas about what else you should write about… but I eagerly await each new idea that YOU have. Thanks for the fabulous prize giveaway!
Congratulations on 10 years, Maria! I just found your blog a few months ago and love it. I refer friends to it often. Since I am a new reader I’m not sure if you have covered this before but I am wondering about fireplaces. I have a fireplace with tile surround and a separate shelf mantle I need to redo since we replaced the tile floor that matched the tile surround with wood floors. And it was the dreaded pink beige so I would like to change it. I’m trying to decide on stone or tile and keep thinking of your awesome term – “bossy”. Lol. I don’t want whatever we choose to be too bossy. We seldom use the fireplace as we are in Southern California but as it faces the front door it’s a definite focal point and I love having a mantle.
Hi Maria! I am a recent subscriber to your blog, and as a professional home stager, I LOVE reading all of your blogs on color as it is really informative and helps me in my industry. Since I haven’t read 10 years worth of your blogs I’m sure you’ve pretty much covered it all, but I always like reading about the newest paint trends or maybe a blog on the colors of the year… specifically Sherwin Williams since that’s who I recommend to my clients 🙂
I’m so excited to be a part of this drawing! And yes, I already follow you on Instagram!!!!!
Kind Regards,
~ Laura
Congratulations Maria! I have learned so much from your blog and have read so many of your blog posts. I hope to someday be able to attend a Specify Colour with Confidence. I would love to see more everyday reader problems and perhaps some tips on how to obtain a look and feel throughout your home – especially in some of the newer builds. One challenge I face is that I think I have a plan, but feel paralyzed on how to execute it. Maybe that is due to perfectionism, or perhaps I need to book a consultation! Thank you again!
Hi, Maria! I have always enjoyed learning from you. I would love to see some posts showing how to mix wood stains. I know you always teach the medium stain is the blue jeans of wood floors, but there are so many options available right now. I would also love more posts about mixing creams and whites and mixing different metal finishes.
Please continue what you’re doing, but consider more options for those of us with older houses that do not want to go all in with ” clean” colours. Congrats on your milestone… I still miss your old header. That was a shame as it really captured your personality! I also appreciate just two posts a week as it let’s me focus on what you’re saying rather than just skimming.
The only reason clean colours have been the primary topic on my blog is because they are trendy, but the grey/fresh trend is almost over, so we’ll be seeing more cream and beige now! Thanks for your comment Maria
P.S. What colour is your bedroom?
BM Palladian blue! xo
Maria: I’m a homeowner who likes to decorate, not a professional decorator. I love your blog and have recommended it to my friends. Your blog posts about bathrooms (and going ‘non-trendy’) helped me chose white tiles (floor and walls) for my bathroom, and it looks great. You also replied to me when I submitted an ‘Ask Maria’ question about the type of paint to use on another project (flat, vs, satin).
My suggestion for a future blog post would be how to make a home ‘accessible’ AND beautiful. It took me a long time to find ADA-approved grab rails for my bathroom that didn’t look like they belonged in a Nursing Home!
I’m a insta follower!
I love your blog, maria. It’s one of the few (maybe the only one) that I click over to read every time. Thank you for all the time you spend creating quality content.
Hi Maria, congratulations on this milestone! As a lover of muddy, moody, unnameable colors, I’d like to read about timeless and classic decor using these colors. In particular, what is the best base neutral to use with these colors? I think that white isn’t quite right, so must it be cream? Thank you!
Congrats, Maria! You deserve your success! As another person posted…your blog is the only one I always click on and read. I will admit I don’t have the time to watch all your instagram stories! You asked what we would like to see you write about, and I would be interested in creating art for your home. How to create something for your walls yourself–that looks professional. Any ideas?
@Kathy: For DIY artwork you might wish to do a You Tube web search. Search: Artwork on canvas using acrylics. i.e.: New Technique Loaded Paper Towel Swipe Acrylic Pour (Megan Dawson) or Acrylic Pour – Flip & Drag (Gina DeLuca)
*Be sure to check the side bar for similar techniques. As for other artwork mediums (water colour / pastel etc.,) You Tube again has an abundant of tutorials however in most cases these required to be famed. Hopefully this helps. -Brenda-
ooops …. correction as should have read – ‘these require to be framed”. -Brenda-
Wow 1500 posts..!
Here’s something I’ve observed in relation to the clean vs dirty dichotomy. Doesn’t texture and sheen affect our perception of clean and dirty..? It’s like a glassy shine in any color will play nicely with clean colors..? Or, course wool seems dirtier than satin in an identical color..? I’ve not seen this discussed. However, I do confess… I’ve not read them all yet. Keep writing..!!
Maria, I have learned so much from your blog and materials while enjoying myself at the same time! I am always happy to see when another post is ready. Thank you for sharing so much about this beautiful world with us.
I would love to know if you have any principles/guidelines when it comes to mixing metals.
Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary!
Congratulations Maria! Your passion comes through on each and every one of your posts!
Congratulations Maria! I am thrilled to have recently found out about you. I love your blog!!
If you haven’t already written about this in the past 10 years, my request would be to talk about artwork. My husband and I have purchased a lot of original art over the years. We recently purchased & completely renovated a home which has a totally different feel than our previous home. Guess what? A lot of the art feels like it doesn’t belong and I think it’s because of the paint colour we chose for the walls, baseboards, cabinetry, trim, etc. Our previous home had fairly dark warm coloured walls and this home has light cool coloured walls. I’ve noticed that the rooms you decorate have artwork with colours that match the colours in the room. I’ve been told one shouldn’t purchase artwork to match a room, but I must say it looks beautiful, and much of it is NOT expensive!
Do you have any suggestions on how we can make some of our original art work in our new home?
I am having this exact same issue. I know true art isn’t chosen as “décor” but my pieces really can’t find a home in my new home….some of the wall sizes are wrong, some of the themes and colors are wrong….
Wow
Congratulations
Maria I became a fan several years ago and have to stop myself becoming obsessed ?
Not every post interests me but I’d say I study around 90%
I’ve worked on my home since I bought it bearing in mind the pink/ yellow beige issue and now I’m looking at things from clean/dirty angle. I know there’s a lot of truth in things that you can grow with.
I’d love to know more about ideas for decorating in the desert. I feel we have such challenges such as extreme light, square angular /flat rooved buildings lots of travertine and lots of beige. Because the yard is such a challenge it means we need the inside to be more interesting but a lot of colors just can’t live here!
I think a series of posts focused on different regions would be interesting and plus you countdown a lot of traveling to research.
Thanks for all your multifaceted posts and goodies.
Jill
Thanks for all the advice you GIVE to us! It has made a world of difference for me. I can make decisions now, whereas I used to be paralyzed with what-if-I-hate-it-itis.
What else would I like to see? Boy, I don’t know. I get excited over each subject as the new posts come in. I’ve really appreciated the recent reader questions with accompanying pictures. It’s been SUPER practical.
Maybe something on how to choose a gray without straying into the current trendy neutral zone that will date the decor? I naturally lean toward gray choices, but with it being trendy, I find myself going too far to avoid it entirely! Is that good? Nuts? Is there a simple rule for this?
Would LOVE to come to one of your seminars! Always enjoy your blog!
Congratulations Maria (and Terreeia, too)! I only found your blog within the past couple years, but it’s been a great resource for teaching myself about color and design! Before your blog, I didn’t really believe in “design” and thought it kind of wasteful (I tend towards minimalism). However, in one of your posts you showed a lovely dark green living room, decorated with dark and wood accents and I LOVED it…and then you promptly wrote “You wouldn’t like this room if it wasn’t decorated”…I re-evaluated the room and literally gasped…you were of course, deadly correct! Now you’ve changed my entire outlook on design!
One thing I would love to see you talk about is exterior color and how it relates to the “unchangeable” conditions. For example, does “blue” read the same way in the rainy Pacific Northwest as it does in sunny Florida? If your property is highly shaded with trees, how does that effect your color decisions? What if it’s shaded in the morning, and sunny in the afternoon? And so on!
I can’t believe I’ve known you for 10 years now! I’ve learned so much & still have so much more to learn. I spite of that I think my home has truly been transformed from what it was before I discovered your blog.
One thing I would like to see a post about is one pertaining to how to get a layered look. Without everything being matchy or contrived. Is there a right way to mix clean & dirty? I love the “undecorated” look. But it can easily become a hot mess if not done correctly.
Congratulations on 10 years! I wish all your readers & your family could get together to toast you!
And of course I already follow you on IG. ?
Hi Maria. Like everyone else, I love your blog. So often people ask me about the current trends. “Is gray still in?” Living in South Florida, I would rather guide them to timelesss, classsic design with accent colors that they love. What are your thoughts? How do you handle these questions? Thanks for being honest and transparent. Kathy
I’m an Insta follower too (from Minnesota). Love your informative posts.
Always enjoy your blog and yours is the first instagram story I open. Yay for the “swipe up” feature you’ve just earned. I’ve learned so much from you about color and undertones and loved your FB question and answer when you had it. I’ve had a phone consultation with you also. But I am a “see it” on paper or in person, can’t picture it in my head person. What I’d like covered are the apps or software (free software is plus) you recommend that work well with BM or SW paint and that the homeowner can play around with. Furniture layout options would be a bonus too. I would love to be included to win in your current giveaway. Thanks!
Congratulations on your 10 years! Thank you for educating us and making sense of the color world. I see my surrounding in a different way now … for the better. I enjoy and learn so much when you show pictures of existing rooms as they are and photoshop them to show what they would look like with different colors. It is a great visual!
I would love to attend a seminar & just recently got on Instagram (I know, I’m behind, just not a huge fan of social media) so I will be sure to follow you over there. I too think blogging about art is a great idea!
Maria–Happy Halloween and congratulations to you and Terreeia on this fabulous milestone of your blog and Instagram!
I’m hardly on any social media, but I FOLLOW YOU ON INSTAGRAM! (It’s in caps so you’ll catch that, and I’ll qualify for two entries into your drawings ; ) .) I agree with others–your blog is truly the only one I religiously read. It’s that good, and your advice is always spot-on. Thank you. Someday, I want to take your Specify Colour with Confidence workshops, and I hope to include my college-age daughter who is in an art and design school. I think it would be great for her to learn your system at an early age.
I enjoy reading and learning from your new and old posts. Hmmm…what else to teach us? I know you comment a lot on wood flooring (medium brown tones are best) and keeping tile flooring fairly simple, but how about sharing comments on wall-to-wall carpeting? Best tones and textural patterns that keep your classic style in mind? It seems carpeting is either gray, beige, tan, or khaki-colored. I’ll soon be picking new flooring for bedrooms with adjacent tile bath (white hexagonal) and maybe the hallway, too. I’d love hardwood, but it may not be in the budget for the years we have left in the house.
That’s my vote: talk about carpeting (tones, texture, and types, please). FYI: I’ve posted before under YaleMichMom and have purchased your ebooks and am about to spring for the colour boards.
Yes I have realized lately that a carpet post is sorely missing on my blog! I will writ about that! Thanks for your comment! Maria
Hi Maria, I hope you continue to write and share whatever you feel like sharing. Let the haters fall away. I very much appreciate your work and you’ve helped me choose colors that go together well.
I’ve been reading this blog for about 9 years now, certainly long enough to remember the old logo, the trip to Italy, and of course your introduction to the wonderful Teirreia. (I, too, loved that logo). I think the post that led me to you was about convincing husbands to painting oak cabinets. It worked 😉
In those 9 years I can say without a doubt that I’ve truly learned – and successfully applied – the Maria Killam system of colour. So thank you for the energy you’ve put into teaching all of us for all of these years.
For your dedicated long-time readers, I think a post about Finding Your True Style would be helpful. For those of us who have grasped the concept of your undertones system, can pick a front door colour, have drape measurements down to a science, and know that finishes need to be timeless, this is the next step. I would like to hear your thoughts on honing in on your own style. It’s something you reference often (that people hire you because of your specific style and aesthetic), and any recommendations you have are welcome. It’s easy to be stylish or in-trend, but how do you do this while still being ‘you’?
Thanks again for all the great reads, I’d love to attend a Specify Colour with Confidence workshop to take my knowledge even further!
P.s. – I also follow you on Instagram!
Congratulations Maria! You have written so many great posts that have covered so many areas it is hard to think of anything you haven’t covered! But in my own home, which we decorated and moved into 5 years ago, I am ready to make some changes. I can’t do it all at once so I would like a post as to how to change a decorating style over a period of time.
And I follow you on Instagram!
Congratulations on 10 years, Maria! That is a huge accomplishment and, in addition to that, I hope you feel accomplished knowing you have helped more than a few of us on our journeys – a testament to this is that you are now number two on the Modendus nominated list! Good luck! I very much appreciate the fact that you are real – in person and online. I loved your course for many reasons, but that was one of the biggies. I will look forward to reading your blog for years to come and wish you & Terreeia continued success. You make a great team!
Happy Anniversary Maria and congratulations on keeping your blog so popular for so long. It really is timeless. I first found you a few years ago when we were planning a new build, selling a house and remodeling a temporary house. I bought your ebooks and I learned great advice, that really seemed like it should be common sense! I wish I had found you sooner. I enjoy hearing about your real life, and I’m a little shocked that someone threatened to unfollow you for the Italy post. It seems like you’ve covered everything, but my Achilles heel is styling or accessorizing, so more of that would be great.
Oh and I do follow you on Instagram!
I’m not a designer, just an interested homeowner who enjoys reading your blog. Whenever I think about changing something whether it’s paint lighting pillows rugs…..whatever, I think to myself what would Maria say? At least I now stop and think a bit before doing an impulse buy. Thank you, congrats on 10 years, here’s to 10 more!
Thank you so much for blogging the last ten years and keeping so many posts available for us to read. I am a new subscriber/binge reader. I would love to meet you, Terreeia and Helen. I think I have lots to learn from all three of you.
I am going to sign up and follow you on Instagram right now.
Thank you
Happy 10th Anniversary!!! I’ve loved your blog for years….since the days of the old logo!
Here’s what I’d like to know….your usually specify hardwood floors for you design projects. What if you like carpeting? Is textured carpet a more current option? What’s a classic/timeless choice for carpeting? We just prefer the coziness of carpet so I’d really appreciate your thoughts and direction.
I’m also an Instagram follower….loved your Italy pics!
Congrats! I do believe I’ve been following you for almost nine years of those ten and it’s been a huge help in the still-ongoing reno of our home bought eight plus years ago! Thank you!
How about a post about lighting? Not natural/exterior, but artificial/interior, and what it does to colors of walls, fixtures and furnishings. Can lighting enhance or destroy a carefully composed color scheme? Are there rules of thumb for lighting warm vs cool colors and muddy vs clear? Are rosy bulbs or rose tinted shades ever a good idea? Incandescent vs halogen vs LED vs thankfully diminishing CFC’s? A lampshade may be the right color neutral for a room (eg creamy vs. oatmeal vs flax vs white white vs blue white etc) but what about when light shines through it? And what about opaque/darker shades– are there situations that they’re ideal or awful for?
I think you’ve mentioned lighting often but perhaps not a full post.
Hi Maria, I have just recently found your blog and already I feel I have learned so much from it. I enjoy reading about your relationship with your mom too. I can tell how much you both love each other. You are so lucky to still have your mom in your life. Your blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I am excited to start following you on Instagram.
I really like posts about buying timeless pieces or timeless decorating as I have made so many mistakes in the past in this regard. Keep up the good work.
Maria –
Congratulations! (Or in a nod to your recent Italy trip – Congratulazioni!) I’ve followed you for quite awhile, and also follow you on Instagram.
Ideas for the next ten years of your blog? How about continuing to layer your message about undertones with ever-changing trends? I never tire of this topic, especially when accompanied by good and bad examples of undertone combos. Another idea – how to take a room with new furniture to the finish line by accessorizing?
Best wishes, and eat that gorgeous cake!
Maria, congratulations and thanks for many years of advice, opinions, and predictions. In addition to generously sharing what you know, I like how you connect your readers to other experts and bloggers (e.g., Claire Jefford, Côte de Texas). Receiving your regular posts is a real treat.
We’ve renovated by following lots of your advice. I have learned so much about color and balance. I guess I’d like to know how best to decorate inexpensively. I’m an instahpgtam follower.
Hi Maria, congrats on the anniversary! I am so glad I found your blog before we started remodeling our forever home. Your eDesign service saved us from some very expensive color and material choice mistakes! I don’t think you’ve talked about radiator colors before. I painted ours the same as the trim color in satin finish. Not sure if those deserve their own post, but maybe!? ~Miranda
P.S. I am an IG follower! @hannahshill.blog ?
Maria, congratulations and many thanks for years of advice, opinions, and predictions. I also love how you connect your readers to other experts and bloggers (e.g., Claire Jefford, Côte de Texas). Getting your regular posts in my inbox is a real treat.
I find your blog inspiring!
How does one go from “dirty” colors to “clean’ colors without changing everything??? And can they be mixed in one home? Just the thought of changing out stuff makes me think it is easier to live with it as is….bad I know:)
Great question, you need to think of the rooms you are updating like you’re ‘moving forward’ and you simply have to ignore the parts of the house that are not updated yet. We have to start somewhere, most of us can’t just start all over again all at once! Hope that helps, Maria
Hello Maria,
I don’t know what to suggest for you to add except to please keep doing what you are doing. Just yesterday, I pulled up your “Will my cabinets look dated even if I paint them” to show a client the transformation of a hood over the range. It may not have been what your intended audience would have gained from the article but it most certainly helped me give my client a visual. You never know what one will get out of your blogs.
I also already follow you on Instagram.
Hi Maria! Congratulations on all of your achievements….both professional and personal! I am a “wannabe artist” and your information on color has transferred into my paintings….very interesting! What I would like to learn is how you approach an update of a home that is twenty years old…like where do you start and in what order should the updates be done….especially if one does not have unlimited resources! Best wishes for continued success!
Ohh, so exciting – a giveaway. A new thing to blog about… hmm. How about how to make a kitchen interested / unique / not boring without doing something trendy that will go out of style in 7-10 years. I have a client who is struggling with this right now.
And I follow on Instagram too.
Congrats, Maria, on ten years in a medium that didn’t even exist until a few years ago! I think you are brilliant in so many ways…not the least being your ability to see color and to help others to truly see it, too. I have learned so much from you and I am grateful. Keep on doing what you do best…enlightening the rest of us!
Congrats on 10 great years…and counting! I have learned so much from you, and I’m thankful for how generously you share your expertise with the world on your blog. You’ve written a bit about what to expect from an experienced designer. I’d like to support new designers too, but I’m worried about their lack of experience and confidence. I’d love to read your thoughts about hiring and supporting new, inexperienced designers. Thanks for all you do! I hope to take your class someday.
I LOVE my e-design you have created for my updated kitchen. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you!
Congrats, Maria! I’ve been following your blog for at least five of the ten years…I remember when you introduced Terreia to us. I’d like to see more on accessorizing and layering, I think. And I can never get enough of clean vs. dirty colors! I would be thrilled to win a seat in your seminar. Thanks for the chance!
P.S. You look stunning in that pic with the breadsticks!
I already follow you on Instagram. Have a great night!
I love your blog! I read everyone of them. I savor them and thoroughly read (and often reread each one). I especially like the before and after pictures. And when you link to products.
I have learned so much from your blog and the ebooks I’ve purchased. Would love to attend one of your color seminars. I do follow you on instagram. Here’s to many more years!
Hi Maria,
Congrats on 10 yrs & 10,000 followers! I always look forward to your postings & stories. I enjoyed following your recent trip to Italy & felt so bad when the luggage never arrived. I now think twice about packing my carryon. Thanks for being so real! Keep up the great work. I need more tips on updating my outdated Tuscan home. The before/after pictures are always so helpful.
Hi Maria! I’m loving what I just found! I’m taking Interior Design classes and the instructor suggested we check out your blog, I’m so glad he did! Im loving your thoughts on muddy color, can’t wait to learn more – and I would love to win ANY of your giveaways, you have so much knowledge! Following you on instagram now too!
Congratulations Maria on your blog’s 10 yr anniversary! As a recent True Color Expert graduate, I can proudly say that I’ve come full circle. From finding one of your blog posts about white paint several years ago to finally taking your TCE course in Vancouver B.C. this past September. Your blog posts are always so helpful and informative. Thank you!
Congratulations on your 10th Anniversary Maria. I found out about you just a year or more and am so happy that I have. I learn from each article you write (the emails I get). I feel you speak from your heart. I like your openness, truthfulness and sharing your life with Terreeia. Thank you.
I hope you enjoyed Tony Robbins. I’ve seen him on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday and a few YouTubes. He seems dynamic.
I love reading the emails about your trips. I’m so happy for you. I was financially in a better place, but I’m not right now.
Enjoy every blessing that comes your way.
Hugs and love, Sylvia
Maria,
Congratulations on 10 years! I just found you a few months ago, and your blog has been so helpful as we renovate. All my email subscriptions go to a dedicated newsletter inbox, so that they don’t clutter my work email – EXCEPT YOURS. Your emails have such valuable information that I have them come to my work email! What I’d love to see you write about on your blog: diagnosing what’s wrong in a room that doesn’t feel “right”. You’ve done so many posts and quizzes about undertone issues, but I’d love more of those, plus more of the posts where you identify the issue with colors not being repeated and similar. And, I do follow you on Instagram – I love your posts!
Hi Ellen, those are great suggestions, however a post criticizing someone else’s decorating is hard to write without permission, that’s why you haven’t seen much of those! I will think about whether that could be the topic of an ‘ask maria’ post with reader photos. Thanks! Maria
Hi, Maria!
I get excited when I see there’s an Email from you. Love your stories and the success you’ve had. Someday I will take your class♥️
Congratulations on your two BIG milestones! I’ve been following both your blog and your Instagram accounts- both a great resource and entertaining too!
Laundry rooms — how to choose a floor color that does not show dirt and still looks good.
Congratulations Maria! A well deserved and earned milestone. Thank you for your honesty and integrity. I think that these qualities make your posts so accessible and realistic.
I loved your course!
I have been following your blog for a couple of years. All of my daughters know your name already because when they find me glued to the screen, I am reading, guess who!
The one topic that I would ask for that I don’t think you have covered is art. I would want to hear about art conceptually and in relation to paint colors.
I am with a client now who has a sizable budget for me to go out and buy art.
Thank you again, and don’t stop! Here is to another decade!
Hi Temima, Thanks for your lovely comment! I have talked about art. . . just click the label ‘art and beauty’ on my sidebar. In terms of how to buy real art, that is better left to someone who knows about art (I really don’t). That’s why you haven’t seen that post! x Maria
Maria,
One of my best friends suggested your blog a year ago when I mentioned we were beginning a slow remodel of our early 90’s home. She of course has exceptional taste! Now I’m hooked! I am so inspired every time I see one of your posts hit my email! I have your course on selecting colors and have reread it several times. So helpful and I have used the tools in our remodel. Woild love to attend one of your courses but alas I am an accountant, not a designer.
Each blog post leads to more of the concepts “sinking in”. Please keep them coming. Best thing that comes through my email.
Congratulations on a successful and colorful 10 years! I’ve been a faithful reader for the last four of those years. Your blog has helped me choose classic hard surfaces for our beautiful kitchen remodel and accessorize our living area with pillows and a throw to minimize the Tuscan brown look. Having purchased one of your e-courses and a bathroom remodel consultation, I have learned even more about your classic design principles.
I agree with your readers who have said they would benefit from more before and afters of solutions to real-life reader design dilemmas. Also, like others, I would love more tips on creating flow between rooms. How much must colors be repeated from one room to the next, for example? Should one color be repeated throughout the home? Should the color palette used coordinate from room to room? Or should the palette ideally be all fresh or all muted? Another blog suggestion–what types of wall decor do you recommend besides framed art? And finally, please write a blog showing specific examples of rooms that create a “look and feel,” describing what the feel of the look is? I’d like you to describe the process of creating a look and feel — why did you choose the furniture, accessories, and color?
Thank you for sharing your design advice and for being vulnerable with your readers. Both are gifts.
Maria
Wow!!!! Congratulations!!! 10 years!
I especially enjoy your blogs on creating a “ timeless” look. Maybe some of your input on using vintage, antique and heirlooms to help create a timeless look?
I also follow you on Instagram.??
You are very generous… would love to win one of them?
Happy 10th Anniversary Maria! I’ve followed you for many years – maybe all ten years. And I only follow 3 blogs. I would love to win one of your prizes!
Congrats on your first decade! Your blog and ebooks have been very helpful during our renovations this past year. I am now struggling to find curtain panels and feel at a loss for inspiration. So many pictures and off the rack options are white or neutral. I’m craving more color but don’t know where to turn. Maybe a future post could help?
Congratulations! I found you recently and think I’ve read all that you’ve blogged about. I just received en ebook – just in time because I’m choosing an interior paint color. Choosing it now is against everything you write, but my builder needs it by tomorrow! No furniture yet. Still – I’ve learned a lot. I follow you on instagram.
I follow your Instagram account. Open it every morning over a cuppa.
Congratulations on your 10 years of blogging. I love colour as well. Thanks for sharing your passion for color online.
Hi Maria,
I have enjoyed your newsletters for a while now. I want to thank you for your infoformative and beautifuly designed newsletter. Your photos are also stunning.
Here are some ideas for additional blogs:
The effect of color on mood and wellbeing The therapeutic use of color in interiors and art.
Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui; color design for the individual Constituten of a person.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope to come to one of your Trainings in the future.
Elke
Happy anniversary! I did follow you on instagram.
Love love love your blog! Mostly I love your advice & your outfits! And you keeping it real! God I hope I win…??❤️
I think I’ve posted twice? Sooooooorrrrrrry ?
I wish you would write about how often I should expect to repaint a room if my goal is fresh rather than trendy. From-my-life example: We painted the foyer/stairwell/upstairs hall in our 100+ yr. old American Foursquare at least fifteen years ago with good quality paint. It has held up well with occasional touch-ups, but it is time to paint again. Our now-adult kids and my husband want us to paint it the same color because it’s their favorite, which is fine with me, but when I wondered aloud if it is dated, my daughter replied, “I think it was “in” when you painted it, went out, and now is back in again!” We used a color very similar to Sherwin Williams SW 9133 Jasper Stone: https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW9133-jasper-stone#/9133/?s=details&p=PS0
We have white wood trim around doors and windows and stair spindles/trim and chestnut floors/stairs.
I would say go lighter which will make it feel fresh for you if you want a change. There’s nothing wrong with that green, colour is way more timeless than trendy neutrals. Hope that helps, Maria
Maria, your blog is always well written. I enjoy reading and learning more about color. One area I would like to see receive more emphasis is how to apply your color theory from the perspective of cream. Just as white speaks to your esthetic, cream speaks to me. Please consider setting the pace for educating us in this area.
Congratulations on celebrating this milestone in blogging!
Hi Karen,
When I say white, I mean off white and cream at the same time, it’s just hard to say all 3 constantly. AND basically white replaced cream after the tuscan trend, we’ll be seeing more cream now that they grey trend is nearing it’s end. Maria
Wow Maria! What a wonderful blog. I feel like part of your family. I started reading your blogs about 3 years ago (I’m an interior decorator and a REALTOR ) and loved, loved that you are from Canada ( you make me so proud on so many levels!) I moved to GA 7 years ago with my husband ( the one who now wears brighter shirts LOL) from Toronto and I feel like you are my link to home.
I still have about 800 of your blogs to catch up on – sometimes I go down the rabbit hole of design and read 5 or 6 at a time. I always learn something useful! Thank you for your unfiltered ( I love it!) approach and fabulous content! I hope you keep it up. xo
Congratulations Maria and Terreeia, above all, I appreciate your willingness to be real. Too many people strive for excellence to the degree that they will not admit mistakes. Your continued sharing of experiences allows me to make mistakes and to correct them without giving up. If even the BEST makes a mistake every now and then there is still hope for me :). As far as future posts, I’d love to read about decorating from a standpoint of how much is enough and how much is too much. I love your blog and follow you on Instagram. Thank you for leading and encouraging us to have peaceful, beautiful homes.
Maria, Like someone else said, I always open your blog over others in my inbox. I think it’s because of your warm, honest, unabashed personality that is so genuine. I find myself looking at colors from your “eye” everywhere I go! I had my mom sign up for your blog a few years ago and she loves you just as much. I would love to see more ideas on blending/coodinating/toning down/fixing all the honey colored woods we all have in our houses.
Congratulations Maria! Ten years already? Where does the time go as may have been following you since the beginning (or shortly thereafter at least). That said; wishing you continued success of course and extending good luck to those who are entering your generous giveaway. Fondly -Brenda-
P.S.: Also voted for you.
Hi Maria! I love your blog and instagram, I actually only discovered you a couple of months ago and I’m so glad I did! I haven’t been through all of the blog yet, obviously, but I work in kitchen design and always appreciate your insight in that area!
Thanks!
Maria and Terreeia,
Congratulations on 10 years! Yes, to both of you as it always takes a team!
Would love to hear your comments on the interaction of color and textures.
Carpe Diem!
Deb
Congrats and Happy 10 years!! Love your blog and your good sense!
I would love more blogs focusing on Tudor and craftsman style homes that have charming stained woodwork, and the best whites for the walls.
Congratulations again – love what you do!
Congratulations Maria! Wish I had found you years before, but so grateful to have had your advice these past years. I have recommended you to others who have the same design insecurities as I, and they rave about you too! I’m not an Instagram person, but now I will become one! Thanks
Congrats, and thanks for being the go-to source for inspiration! I second the idea of more posts about choosing rugs! Thank you.
Hi Maria!
I just remembered the “what I would like to see more of” thing: how to hang pictures/art work! Surely you must have a friend or colleague who knows how to do this if you don’t want to jump in. And if they need an example of a difficult grouping I have just the one for them.
Karen
Maria, I so appreciate your inspiration and ideas- and I love that you include so many photos in your explanations- that is super helpful!
Looking forward to meeting you and Terreeia in Vancouver in just a few weeks!
I already follow you on Instagram.
Congratulations on your blogiversary! I found you in 2010 in the middle of the night while trying to decide on stain color for my hardwood. Since then I have used your mantras many times! Love to see posts with houses that an average person can relate to with some elevation to aspire to as well!
My favorite post has to be “ It’s never coming back” wood kitchen. Having said that, love to see some thoughts about the return of wood cabinets like your sister’s.
PS. I used the same shower tile as you in my family bathroom renovation! Love it!
PPS I already follow you on instagram
Hi Maria, Happy Blogiversary! I still need to dig through your past posts to see what you should write about. I’m renovating a big house in Florida, an area and climate where I’ve never before. It’s a much bigger project than I anticipated, but I’m learning to let go of my unrealistic timeline since we’re doing a lot of the work ourselves. I’ve book-marked and pinned all of your posts about classic finishes, and I’ve purchased your renovate with confidence class (so helpful!). Have you addressed window coverings? That’s next on my todo list after all the painting. But now that I want curtains I probably should have gotten them first.
Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge. I follow you on Instagram and really enjoy seeing all of your amazing travels.
WOW! Congratulations on 10 years!! Your advice and teaching have changed the way I look at and SEE everything! You certainly deserve to be up there with the top “Influencers” of design and colour.. Good luck with the Modenus contest! I also follow you on Instagram. Barbara
I love your blog and have followed you for years. I also follow you on instagram. I would love to see a blog post on hardware and metals in the kitchen and around the house. There are so many choices out there and would love to know your opinion on what is timeless and what you think about mixing them. Your color course is on my lifetime bucket list! Congratulations on 10 years!
Congratulations on 10 yrs of writing your blog & your 10,000 Insta followers! You know that I always enjoy your posts & Insta stories.
You have been such a generous friend not only to me but to all your followers and TCE! You and Terreeia are such a great team – it’s not a surprise that you have reached such success with your business.
I’m always inspired by your design projects and the advice you give to your edesign clients.
Here’s to 10+ many more years of success and good design.
Congratulations Maria … I’m so thankful I found your blog just as I am embarking on a full house remodel. What has fascinated me the most is your book on White is Complicated! So true! I have been told I have good color sense but honestly I have only been successful through a lot of trial and error, and I’m still making mistakes! Through studying your books and blogs, I am hoping to avoid costly mistakes and am considering an e-consult. There are also so many detailed observations about design and style which you share that just make me go “ah-hah”! Thank you and keep writing, snapping, and being true to yourself.
Your blog gets better every year, I’m glad I decided to become a TCE and it’s funny how it continues to be something I use (even though I don’t do it for a living). Thank you!! And yep, I follow you on instagram too!
Congratulations Maria! I can’t believe it’s been that long. Something I really appreciate about you is your realness and that your advice is so practical. I love it that you don’t have to have a $$$ house and $$$ budget to have a beautiful and timeless home. You’ve given us so much more confidence in making decisions for our own home and helping our clients spend their renovating budgets wisely.
For me, knowing the ‘why’ behind the decisions is super helpful, so more of that please 🙂
Happy Anniversary
I am a more recent follower so this is my struggle which you could blog about. I am building an open concept modest and modern beach house. I like the “driftwood” “sand” and “blue” colours but I also like the bright blues, greens mustard … how do you go about narrowing down and choosing a look or theme that works for the space
Maria, Congratulations on all your incredible success. I am not even certain on how I luckily stumbled across your blog a few years ago, but it has become an invaluable resource for me. A wannabe designer with a corporate job, we were building a beach house and I was determined to get it right the first time – creating a fabulous, timeless environment. With a million decisions and not a lot of guidance, your blog really helped us hone in on how to really consider all the elements and how they would go together. I owe you a lot – the incredible compliments I get on both the exterior and interior from accomplished designers makes me blush with pride. And using your remote design assistance on tackling our primary home for an exterior upgrade was terrific. Phase 1 done and it looks spectacular. I can’t wait to take one of your design classes and really be ready to take my passion to the next level, and maybe even reinvent the next phase of my life doing something I love. Follow you on Instagram. Thank you. Thank you.
Hello Maria,
I love the main bathroom make over.
Good suggestion about the faucets not
being higher than the back splash…details
details, details!!!
Patty
Congrats. I would like to see more content on bungalow style colors.
I love reading your blog – its one of the only ones I read religiously. Topic to cover: How/should Exterior Paint Colors coordinate with Interior Paint Colors?
Wait.. forgot to say I’m already an Insta follower!
Congratulations , Maria..
I will always remember our time together renovating our home…
We sold 2 years ago..living in a condo still in Edgemont..had it completely remodeled..was 26 years old..loving it..
I remembered many of your design ideas,,
Continued good luck!
Thank you for sharing your personal story.
Hi Maria! I only found you last year and have spent months reading years worth of your blogs. The first post I read was about dumb “designers” putting horrible busy floor tile with counter-tops of a different color undertone AND equally busy pattern. I’m jumping up and down yelling “that’s it, that’s it, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you” as my hubs looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. Then HE read the post, looked at the tile samples we had and said, “ooohhhh”. I just couldn’t explain what was wrong, but your blog post made the lights come on for me. So, for our renovation, guess who is getting hardwood floors, white cabinets and plain white subway tile??? Why yes, the reader who did listen to Maria:-) Hahaha, in all things color and pattern…What Would Maria Do? Seriously, I love the ebooks I bought. Choose Colors and White is Complicated. Totally simplified by paint sample buying and testing for the master suite. Picking paint has gotten way easier. One day, I would love to come to one of your seminars and meet you and your wonderful mate Terreeia and family! Until then, as a suggestion for a blog, what about how to segue paint colors AND fabric into different areas in an open concept home? Do you stick to one drapery fabric or coordinate? How does having different paint colors work when you can see everything but the bedrooms? Congratulations again on your 10-year anniversary. Keep on “keeping it real”!!
Congratulations Maria ! I have been following you for years and I also refer back to your archives to refresh my memory and learn more. What new to write you ask – I leave it to you and your awesome insight and the other readers who ask questions. Love ya !
Congratulations Maria, I took your course many moons ago and follow your blog and Instagram religiously. I have seen all the changes over the years, just keeps getting better and better. What I would like to see you blog about is your skin care regimen. I must say you are looking fantastic, and have not aged a day. I cheer you on, keep going, your doing lots of things right.
How sweet of you to say, I have no special regimen but I try to drink lots of water and I am a vegetarian, not sure if that helps 🙂 Thanks for following me! xoxo
Hello Maria,
I’ve been a reader since the very beginning and OMG, I can not begin to tell you how much your blog has helped make our home absolutely beautiful . . . from my white kitchen, darker paint in dark rooms, lighter ones in bright rooms to repainting our master bath away from BM Silver Satin to BM Proposal (remember the grey background made me look very old). Our home is all about color. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
Could you please address the following issue which I think most homeowners will face at some point in their lives? Specifically, our home looks best in the fall. The autumn foliage is the perfect backdrop when looking out the windows as we sit on a hill and our more formal dining, living, walnut library, and sun rooms are terra cotta, shades of yellow. Though realtors mostly say to list a home in late winter/early spring. Should one list a home when it looks best or is there a way to make autumnal colors shine when the leaves are bursting with green? I presume one can list it in the fall and then re-list it again in the spring but wondering how to address this issue . . . most homes have a particular time of year when they look best and it may not be in the springtime.
Thank you again for the past 10 years! Wishing you and your loved ones the best of health & happiness and continued success in all your future endeavors? – KNJ
As a daily real estate listing junkie, you MUST have ‘current’ season photos on your listing. No photos with holiday decor if it’s after December, no fall, dead grass or snow photos if it’s spring/summer, etc… Make your realtor take updated pictures if your listing currently has “stale” photos. Otherwise people will think “why has this house been on the market so long, what’s wrong with it” instead of “hurry, we need to see it today”.
Congratulations on 10 years! I’ve been a steadfast follower since the beginning. I wonder whether you would consider doing some posts on modern spaces, as it applies to colour and finishes. For instance, in mid-century modern, the application of feature walls, orange wood colour against grey walls (as one example), the bathroom finishes, lighting. Similarly, for minimalistic modern, or all white and no clutter modern spaces. There are many more examples to offer in modern spaces, ie i’ve only given a few as examples. This could move into design issues that vary between modern design versus older style homes. I could go on…Whatever you choose to do, I’ll be reading. Karen
Hello Maria! I started reading your blog 3.5 years ago and at that time / I read old posts back several years. You have covered so much! My parents re did their home and I kept saying for them to check you out and utilize you for edesign. I honestly am not sure what you should cover. Your posts these last few years have seemed so timely and relevant personally and to a wide group. I know you wrote about this recently, but I have a bit of a hard time with wood tones. I just cannot seem to completely ignore my solid oak table that is stained a golden blonde – and the only piece of furniture like this. It screams an incongruent colour to my eyes. Kids rooms you have also covered and I know there is room to “ignore” or have fun with elements and I want to do this but am stuck with determining how to potentially make coral pinks, purple and teal (or whatever desired colour(s) my daughter is most enthusiastic about) “dirty” to go with our excessive amounts of taupe hard fixed elements. Maybe I need to approach it differently? Also, where might we look for mid range pillows, not necessarily through a designer and not overused / seen too frequently? I know in posts regarding clients re doing a living space, custom pillows are often featured and make the room. And I know pillows are quite specific / personal too. I really want to buy a colored couch as well! Thank you so much for sharing all your talent with us! I know it has already helped me.
Yes on pillow advice. I need to redo pillows. I am sure you have posted on this before but please post again.
Congratulations Maria to you and your staff! I always appreciate when you share your personal experiences and journeys and hope that you will continue to do so! I am an interior designer and I would love to continue to see how as a designer, you approach your clients and their issues without always succumbing to what is most popular or what is most accepted in our industry with trends etc. Thank you for all you do!
I’ve been reading your blog for about a year and find that it is consistently lovely, helpful, and joyful and as well the posts are just the right length. Your system for organizing neutrals is brilliant. It’s so nice to find people who really love color and understand its impact! I suspect you have written about everything color related over the years, but perhaps you could do a post or two more on color trends, why every paint manufacturer on earth creates them, when the trends are worth following to some degree and when you can feel confident to avoid them…and also more on when color can make offensive hard finishes less so and when color alone will *not* help. Signed up to follow you on Instagram – you are the first person I’ve ever followed in that brave new world!
Please talk more about new builds. Thank you, congratulations – and I’m also an Instagram follower.
Congratulations Maria! I only recently discovered you this past spring and have learned multiple tips from your blogs. I love that you have lots of images to showcase what you are writing about. I was wondering if the penny round style backsplash tile would be considered as timeless as the subway? Do you feel the penny round is better suited for more traditional designs? I just opened an Instagram account and have literally just started following you.
Yes it’s more traditional and really any shaped tile as long as it’s white or cream is more timeless than a tile that bosses around the colour scheme forever! Hope that helps, thanks for following me! Maria
Congratulations on your blogiversary! As I’m in the UK, I’d love a post on the best Farrow & Ball whites.
Maria,
I enjoy your blog so much! What I appreciate is your honesty, warts and all. What good is learning from someone who cannot be honest about themselves or the work they do. I don’t always love your projects and color choices, but I always gain new insights and knowledge about design and color! Oh also, I agree about white kitchens and bathrooms, using neutral tile/marble, etc!
Thank you!
I forgot to mention I follow you on instagram.
Happy anniversary! I’d like to see more Pins on Pinterest. Also, some of the blog links to Pinterest no longer work, I think bathrooms, drawers knobs…. I love seeing what you like pop up on my Pinterest notifications
I follow you on Instagram-I love the Insta-stories.
What’s your office look like? What other design expos have you attended?
You refer to the US as The States, that’s different than what I call it here in Texas. Charming.
Congratulations! I have enjoyed your blog for years and the large paint samples were a game changer with guiding clients in the right direction. Your accomplishments are so admirable and you have done it all with style and vibrancy.
I would love to see more blogs about construction choices and challenges!
Best wishes for continued success!
I tried to vote for you but the site was confusing and I couldnt… maybe it was closed already? hmmmmmmmm
Oh yes PLEASE “One seat in one of my Specify Colour with Confidence events this Spring (Value $2,500)” but, I would be SO thankful to win anything from your series on Thanksgiving! 🙂
and I already follow you on instagram.
Thank you for a wonderful blog and for being so responsive to your readers.
Hi Maria,
I’ve enjoyed learning by reading your blog posts on beiges and taupes as we re-paint and re-decorate around taupe tiles. Following on insta as well. Love to read your travel adventures as well… Italy was put on the list this year after reading your posts and showing my family the pictures. It’s good to be open about your likes and dislikes… it helps others to know if *they* will like something or not.
Congratulations! Ten years is a long time, and it’s wonderful to see how successful you’ve become with it. Offhand, I can’t think of anything you’ve missed or haven’t covered. You’re doing a wonderful job! BTW, I already follow you on Instagram and on Pinterest. (I know you didn’t mention Pinterest. Just wanted you to know.)
What an amazing accomplishment! I enjoy reading about mixing color so much that I look forward to your newsletter in my email. Please keep sharing stories about clean and dirty colors. I’ve learned so much and am watching joe when a class is coming near me in Richmond, VA so I can take a class. I just signed up to follow you on Instagram. I did not realize I wasn’t a follower.
Maria,
I’m not sure how long I’ve been following your blog, not long enough to prevent me from making some costly remodeling mistakes in my kitchen! I wish I would have found the post about putting expensive stone counter tops on old original cabinet boxes ( doors and drawer fronts had been replaced). I should have picked a nice laminate and a classic backsplash and saved myself thousands of dollars. I’m not in “the business” but a color enthusiast and a woman that wants to love her home every time I walk through the door. We are embarking on a new build of our forever home on a piece of lake property we purchased early this year. I don’t want to make any costly mistakes on color and design so after years of looking at your course schedules I finally hit the sign up button in spring of 2018. We are still in the ‘dreaming’ phase but I will rely on what I learned in your course, your blog posts and the invaluable information posted by my follow TCE’s on the private Facebook site. Thank you, you are genuine and giving of your advise on your blog and in person and I appreciate that you really are the person we have come to know through your social presence. Congratulations on your ten year anniversary!
Congratulations Maria! I haven’t been with you from the beginning but almost! I have had two color consultations with you for 2 different homes and wow, they were both really great. Here’s to another 10 years.
Maria and Teeria, Thank you for teaching what you know in order to make the world a more beautifully designed place! I’m wondering if you’ve ever teamed up to do a TedTalk? I wonder what would be the most salient points of color and design from you’re lifetime of experience?
Thank you for inspiring me with usable, accessible insights. I would say that is a huge legacy, making “coloring beautiful” unencumbered by ones socioeconomic status.
I love your blogs! You have made me realize that color affects every aspect of our lives. Would like to see more about lighting in new builds. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about color.
Haven’t followed you for 10 years but I have a breezeway that needs some life. It’s brick with an exposed opening (sort of like a window but runs entire length) to the outside, narrow, concrete floor.
Congratulations Maria! I too never understood why some of my rooms didn’t work. After finding your blog, it made perfect sense. There are undertones which I’m now trying to correct. Stay true to yourself. You shine!
I can’t remember if I actually entered, so will try again just to be sure. Please delete this IF it is a repeat—old age & failing memory are best friends!
I LOVE your glasses!
I squeal every time I see that you posted a new entry ! I have learned so much from your e courses ! Thankyou Maria!!!!!!
Maria,, your blog is wonderful, so full of information and I enjoy each of them. I always follow you on instagram.
Love your blog Maria! I originally found it when I was renovating my kitchen a few years ago and it confirmed where I felt I needed to go with it and not listen to others when they said I NEEDED accent tile in my white kitchen! Have your ebook How to Chose Colors, but have to say I am still having trouble with getting the kitchen wall color right. So maybe do a post on choosing wall color in a north facing room with large windows where the walls get so many shadows during the day and everything turns green or dull, and don’t want a dark room, but slightly warm and light to go with the marble backsplash, quartz counters, and oak cabinets painted Mountain Peak White (which I love!), and medium brown cork floors (which I also love!). Guess I need a seat in your color class! Congratulations on your 10 year blogging anniversary!
Hi Maria! I am a raving fan. I didn’t discover you until after we redid our bathrooms. I didn’t screw them up too much but they do violate some Maria rules. I have become a raving fan during a massive kitchen remodel. Based on closely reading blog posts, buying the white course and also the paint sample sheets … I picked out everything myself. Two mistakes happened… my white subway tile wasn’t available and I had to substitute in one that had slightly wrong undertones with my marble countertop (boo). No one noticed but me (and you would). And my husband would not compromise on wood stained cabinets. Walnut of all things! He said I can paint them white after he is gone. I said don’t tempt me. He dug in hard and it is half his money too. So I gave in. I’ll send you a pic if you want. Most recently I purchased your exterior advice package and painted everything to the t that you specified. I had to fight the painter who begged me to let him paint the trim dark. I said very confidently “this trim is cheap and ugly and not a feature— paint it white.” Ha! I was totally right! So this long love letter is a thank you for the influence you have had all over my house. I get a lot of compliments. I hired a designer to help me with furniture decor choices after the kitchen remodel which in truth touched every aspect of our fifties mid century modern because it became an “open concept.” She walked in and looked around and said “you picked all this out” meaning the finishes. I proudly said “I did”. And she said “nice job.” Thank you Maria!!!!
Love your comment so much, thanks! Maria
Congratulations on 10 years! I have learned so much from your blogs, ebooks, and online courses the past few years. I hope to attend your live course someday (please come to Colorado!). Paying for your online eDesign for my main level renovation last year was the BEST decision I ever made–I LOVE the colors you specified. In terms of topics to cover, I’d love to see more posts about accessorizing/styling with color/pattern/texture, and more examples of how to both choose accent colors to go with main neutrals and how to incorporate it in styling, including big/medium/small doses. Also, more examples of what you mean by “classic” and “timeless” because there is a “classic” in traditional, transitional, modern, etc. I also loved seeing the recent post about adding mouldings to make a kitchen look more custom. Maybe more posts about how to do that with other elements in the home, for example, transforming puny window mouldings into something more classic (something I want to do). I’ve also wanted to see a post on designing a classic staircase for awhile! I did that this last year and used your “timeless and classic” principles…I need to send you my pics with my new wall colors! Anyways, thanks for being such a help and inspiration as I try to make my home classic, timeless, and a place where I love to welcome friends and family.
Congratulations on 10 years Maria! I have been following you for many years. Thank you for your interesting and informative blog, FB & IG. Your redo on your bedroom and ensuite are beautiful!
Love the blog and your enthusiasm. I look forward to meeting you in Vancouver at the end of this month! Yay!
Happy 10th Anniversary! You have brightened my world.
I’m newer to your blog, but I keep coming back to it as so much of the content and your opinion resonates with me. I’d love to hear more about…anything you have to say. Please continue to post about timeless decorating, classic renovating, and maybe even budget looks for rooms you’ve completed. Thanks!
Could you cover choosing materials/colors for a screened in porch? Love your posts! I also follow on Instagram.
Hi Maria! Happy blogoversary and congratulations on all your accomplishments! I’m completing the finishing touches on our living and dining rooms that you helped us on during your amazing in-home consultation when you were in Florida. We just got the arm chairs delivered and I’m now finalizing that big wall of big art that we talked about in your phone consultation. I’ll be sure to send room photos when it’s all finally done :-). It’s been a long time that I’ve been following your blog and your Instagram, and I can’t tell you how much invaluable information I’ve learned and continue to learn–I love it! You also have an amazing talent for styling such beautiful spaces. Thank you for being a constant source of color inspiration and information (I love my teal sofa and yellow chair!).
Dear Maria,
10 years is a long time and absolutely worth celebrating. I have only just started following you a couple of months ago. I am taking an online Interior Design course with the New York Institute of Art and Design. In one of the videos, one of the mentors recommends your blog along with 5 others. On that list you are one of 3 blogs still in existence and my absolute favourite.
As I am doing the course I have colour theory fresh in my mind and I concur that though it is a wonderful basis it lacks a lot of what you teach.
I live in France and although I would love to attend one of your seminars I am very far away. I have been reading your posts avidly and I have to say that I absolutely love the bathroom cabinets that you made for your client Crystal in Chilliwack. So much so that I have added it to my inspiration scrapbook.
Most importantly I have purchased your Renovate With Confidence online course and the BM Fan decks. I am waiting for a delivery of the colour chips from a friend in the UK and should be able to start this coming week.
Ideas for a new post maybe – How to make mustard work when you have no other choice? ( E.G. Spicy Mustard 2154-20). A lot of people live in rentals some for a year or two, some longer. For the short-term rental person who cannot afford to change a key large area mustard feature – e.g bathroom counter top, floor, doors – how can they style a room to incorporate it?
Thank you for being such an inspiration and wishing you plenty of success.
Jane
Many, many of my best wishes for another ten years. I think I’ve read every post you’ve written, back to the days of Landmark and the green sofa. I read/skimmed all 448 comments to this blog post also. They are as good as the content, but never better than your content. I’m an Instagram follower also. If you’re looking for new ideas, here is my offering. I’m calling it, “My first good piece.” Let’s say you buy a lovely rug or a lovely sofa, meant to go with you to your next few places because you’re in your late 20s or early 30s. If you could show how to switch up the wall color, accent pieces, and accessories until one is in one’s 40s with a healthy decorating budget–that would help me as I launch my last daughter.
Congrats on 10 years! I think my favorite post that I use with clients a lot… is when I am questioned about my pricing for ‘choosing paint colors.’ They balk and say that only took you 15min…. I tell them what I am charging them for is the HOURS and HOURS I have put in choosing colors and studying undertones, etc.
You gave me the confidence to charge what my skills are worth! Thank you! I have been a loyal follower for 6-7 years!
Maria,
I have been following you for almost two years thanks to one of my instructors as NYIAD. I have learned so much from you regarding undertones and the like. Finding your blog reminded me that I am not the only one who loves to use color.
I love the fact you are so transparent and real, you always show the world how real and accessible you really are.
Thanks for the education you provides us with every week.
By the way, your mom is so adorable. You three ladies are so lucky to have each other!
Hi Maria,
Congratulations on your anniversary!
A great topic to cover would be outlets, switches, and plate covers. These have always been an eyesore and overlooked during the design process. I think screwless plate covers and pop-out outlets would be a grand addition to a timeless kitchen or bath. I’ve used the Legrand adorne collection during a kitchen and bath renovation and would never go back to the standard. I wish more people were familiar with these products. They are attractive, seamless, and classic. Most times it’s the smaller details that make a difference… I think this subject would be very beneficial.
Best,
Maria G.
I started reading your blog after the Washington Post recommended it. I can’t remember the year. I am also an Instagram follower. I would like to see more advice for people in rental apartments. Thanks.
Congratulations! I love your blog and have been reading and learning from it (and your books) for six years. To say I have learned a ton is an understatement! We painted our house and added a planter this summer. I love my house much more now because of your advice and get so many compliments. Landscape companies kept recommending we build our planter out of stone. I just couldn’t add another undertone to our exterior. I stuck to my gut and your advice. I found the company who still makes the brick on our home and a mason. It cost more to do brick, but I don’t have competing undertones, and the house looks much more polished. I also hired a landscape designer to specify the plants (more of your advice). I love the result! We are moving on to the inside now and it would be so helpful to learn more about coordinating carpet with the rest of the fixed elements. Thanks!
Hi, I have followed you for years, have even talked to you a couple of times, have bought a lot of your materials and am dying to attend a class I can’t seem to justify (except that I so want to be good at this.) I have no natural eye (sad face) and 5 adopted teenagers. I have been the middle of a remodel for 2.5 years (another sad face) 🙂 All that to say I am still waiting for a color to propose to me! How do I get past that. I really like clean, white (and blue) that is all. My husband refuses to bend to the white kitchen cabinets and I CANNOT pick another I like, thus, a lot of the hold-up. I need help but I do not call or hire because I feel sooo directionless.
So, the question again: How do you get past needing the color to propose? Thanks so much. Brenda Boone
Such a good question Brenda, the only way is to get some help from a professional you like. When you are not a design professional, you just don’t know where the ‘you are here’ mark is, so you spin and spin. You don’t know what all your material and hard finish options are (new products come out all the time) which is why a professional can save you so much money and really show you how to spend all your precious budget in the right place. You might think it’s important to spend $1000 on a fireplace insert when really, it’s the colour that’s more important saving you $500 (like one of my clients). A non-professional just doesn’t know all of the options and can’t picture the end result so you end up throwing good money after bad (after you’ve made mistakes you’re unhappy with and now need to fix). Hope that helps, this is a good blog post topic probably, you are the second person in this thread of comments who has posted a similar question! x Maria
Hello Maria and congratulations on your 10 year anniversary ! Your blog has helped so many projects that I have been involved witg since I discovered your world 7 years ago. I was also blessed to have been able to take your color workshop and to continue to share your color expertise with others. I am have a number of house plants and I noticed that you have a Beefsteak Begonia in your updated ensuite. I love the strong green colors that plants bring and I was wondering if you would be able to write a post on the colors of plants, the color of the pots and their scale when adding plants to decor. I have this dilemma right now with my Beefsteak Begonia and how to work this plant and pot into my decor. Thank you again to you and Teereeia and the team for all your efforts to educate us on color !
Congratulations!
Congrats Maria! I have referenced back to your post about the best paint colors for rental homes numerous times, and created a style guide for all of my rental renovations that revolves around your excellent advice! I even install knobs and pulls in the kitchens. Thank you for making the world a much more beautiful place!
Congrats on 10 years! I’d love to see more before & after’s on the blog.
Maria,
It’s hard to think of what remains for you to blog about, since you’ve covered so much over the years. But I suppose the change in trends and materials over time provides topics. I really like the education you provide. How about covering when to add moulding and woodwork to a blank box that has none or very little.Thanks for your help in selecting the right blue for my ceiling earlier this year.
I forgot to say: I also follow you on Instagram.
Thank you for sharing the story of your career and business and the crucial role your wife Teeria has played in it.
I recently discovered your blog serendipitously. A great find – I have always been interested in colour and undertones. I am recently retired from a career as a midwife and fantasizing about taking your course.
At the least, I like being on your email list and reading the blog.
Thanks again,
Trish
Congratulations on 10 years, Maria! I love your blog and look forward to each new post. I also enjoyed your workshop and am so happy I’ve had the opportunity to get to know you and Terreeia! Wishing you continued success. Here’s to the next 10!
A colorful congrats to both you and Tereeia. 10 years of spreading hope and inspiration to so many trying to turn a house into a home. That was me in 2013. The guy I was dating owned a sad mid century ranch style house. The life had left many years before. When I walked thru the door the first time, my heart sank. Did I have what it took to renovate this place and bring back peace and harmony. That was when I found your blog. Your classic style resonated with me. I read every post you had written at that time. I then ran to the closest Benjamin Moore paint store and brought back all of the paint chips you referred too. Next, I painted my poster boards with the paint samples I purchased. That Christmas I received your painted large colour boards. That was the best present ever. Through hard work and tears, the life did come back to the house. Peace and harmony now fills the air and a house is now a home! I continue to read your blog and have purchased your books and on line courses. It is on my bucket list to attend your workshop. Thank you for being so transparent and spreading so much colorful happiness to so many. I would enjoy reading more about exceptions to the rules.
I LOVE your blog and can’t wait to take your class. Your case examples of what is wrong and how to fix are very helpful. Please come to Houston in January!
Your contribution to home to color design is unparalleled. It has helped me make better decisions worth 10x what I paid for them – and has accidentally made me a valuable resource to friends. This blog is a true resource, the color wheel is eye opening and though I disagree with some choices, my enjoyment of my home and life in general has changed thoroughly. Who knew being aware of color could turn your brain on? Here’s to more and more years of inspiration.
Oh, and P.S. – my 5 year olds are quite possibly the only 5 year olds who have a grasp of “undertones” haha!!!!
Congratulations!! Your perspective is really unique and so valuable.
Keep blogging, Maria! Congratulations on your 10 years!
Congratulations! I wish I’d found your blog earlier so I could have followed along as you grew into yourself, because I always enjoy your posts.
If there’s something you haven’t covered in this blog, I’m not sure I would think of it; you’ve already covered so many things I hadn’t thought about until I read your post about it. I live in an apartment where I cannot change the wall color, flooring, kitchen, bath, built-in light fixtures…but I can still use your information in choosing accessories, furniture, and soft goods. And in arranging vignettes around the rooms to balance the colors I’m stuck with and the colors I love. Maybe that would be a good post, about how useful your info is even when you have little ability to change things?
And now I’m off to follow you on Instagram and…there, that’s done!
Are primary colors a trend?
Yes, dramatic colour is definitely back! Maria
Maria, I’ve been reading your blog for a few years now, and it has been such a blessing in my life. I have redone two kitchens in the last three years and your wonderful advice kept me from making a huge mess of them. Some of the advice you have given that made all the difference for me was: timeless means keep it simple (especially with your kitchen backsplash!), white paint won’t do what you think it’s going to do in a dark room, it’s okay to have a white kitchen, ugly costs the same as pretty (sometimes more!) so do it right the first time around, redoing things in small increments is allowed because you are moving forward. Such good, sound advice for so many of us who don’t know what questions to ask, don’t have an artistic background, and just generally don’t know what we are doing. You gave me the confidence to pick out paint colours (I have your White is Complicated book), paint over old cabinets that still have life in them, and stain my wood flooring a timeless colour. We recently bought a foreclosure home that had seen some hard days. Everything had to be fixed, ripped out, replaced, sterilized and/or dunked in paint. We are about halfway done and are on track to be finished by the end of this coming summer. When my husband says, Are you sure about this paint colour, floor colour, light fixture, cabinet style, countertop quartz instead of granite? etc., I have the confidence to say, Yes. When my neighbor walks by as we are getting ready to paint the pink-beige brick Benjamin Moore dove white, and says, Do you know what you are doing?, I have the confidence to say, Yes! So Maria, thank you so much for helping me create my forever home. It makes me happy every time I drive up to it, every time I walk into it, and all day long while I am in it! I know you will be blessed for so willingly sharing your talents with all of us.
Someday we will add a dining room onto our kitchen and will make some major changes. I love black and white kitchens and am thinking of going that direction. Are black and white kitchens trendy or timeless? Or both? I know, from reading your blog, that I am definitely influenced by the trends. The first house we built, over 20 years ago, had maple cabinets, lots of carpet, and brass fixtures. And this was in the days before computers and internet! And we lived in the country. And I was still unknowingly influenced by the trends! So I would love it if you did a post on black and white kitchens.
Love your commitment Maria. What to cover? Would love to see your inspiring ideas on decorating a travel trailer. The small space limits our sight lines and all accessories must withstand the bumping that comes when we drive.
I know that you work on actual houses but my family spends part of the year in the trailer it would be fun to jazz it up. I spent the last two summers in the trailer and got tired of the brown interior.
Congratulations on 10 years!! I can’t believe it has been that long! You helped me with colors in our house about that long ago ? My kids aren’t little anymore and I’m itching to change things up 😉
Maria –
Congratulations on this exciting milestone! I love learning from you! Whatever new topic you cover, I want to “get it” and be able to bring that knowledge to my clients (I’m a stager) and thus truly help them pick colors that will work and help their homes sell faster! I’m a sponge – have bought all your ebooks and online courses. My dream would be to attend your Specify With Confidence Workshop! AND I FOLLOW YOU ON INSTAGRAM!!
OK, I actually have 2 blogpost ideas. First, I am understanding the neutrals, but when EVERYTHING is already neutral (say in a kitchen – and not a beautiful white, but boring beige), isn’t it a good idea to paint the walls a color? My question is how do you know what color to choose? In your blogpost “Best Backsplash Color for Stained Wood Cabinets,” you said that since the countertops were pinky/taupe that blue would be a good choice for wall color. How did you know that? Is there a blogpost where you help us to know what COLOR goes well with different neutrals?
Second question – Hardwood floors. I know you love them (I do too) . . . BUT have you ever written a blogpost where you address some of the drawbacks of hardwood floors (and maybe solutions)? When you pick up a rug and see that the wood outside the rug has changed color . . . when dishwasher overflows and the entire wood floor has to be replaced . . . when you want to change the color of an engineered hardwood floor, but can’t because the “wood” part is too thin . . . when you have dimples where someone wore high heels. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Congratulations on your wonderful success. Your posts are informative and encouraging. Your love of your family is reflected in the beautiful homes you inspire and create. I appreciate you being authentic as you share your journey with us. We all have issues…lol! I have learned innumerable lessons from you and want to say Thank you!!!
I found your web site about 10 months ago while researching for something in color theory. What I noticed was several bloggers on color were your graduates! I took a staging class and she covered color in 30 minutes, and kept saying to trust her system (which was yours) and did not explain what the system was! I was so excited to find your website. I love your blogs, and I truley love your honesty and your ability to say NO to clients. Hi I bought a couple of your e books, but I’m struggling in combining colors. I really need to take your course! (homeowner not a decorator)
Have you done any posts on wood trims, that are not painted, in creating a light and bright room that has contrast to the trim. Struggling with Natural Alder wood trim.
thanks for your comment, maybe this post will help? https://mariakillam.com/ask-maria-which-colours-dont-work-with-honey-oak-trim/
Maria
One other blog post idea – Have you ever written a post about LRV and is it important in terms of picking paint colors?
That’s a good question, I may have written an article about it that’s not on my blog, thanks for the suggestion! Maria
Congratulations on your blog Maria! I am still fairly new to it and eagerly look forward to your new posts as well as reading the older ones and several of your guidebooks. Oh how I wish I had known about you when we renovated our ensuite a few years ago! Would have saved me all kinds of grief trying to find a paint colour to tie in with all the hard finishes (that I probably shouldn’t have chosen in the first place). Perhaps one suggestion for a future blog would be how to find a complimenting paint colour from tiles with several different undertones….I would even be willing to volunteer my ensuite as a case study?. Hoping I win something! ?
Forgot to mention that I follow you on Instagram too.
Maria
Congratulations!! How about writing about trends in paint again, going forward into 2019 an beyond? I am widowed and just got a house. Tired of light grey walls and white trim…..
Want to do something earthy.
Blessings,
Karen
I enjoyed you sharing something so personal about yourself in this post. I applaud your bravery and your being true to yourself in spike of what people may or may not think, there is just no other way to be. I’m in my fifties, and I’m so glad to see that people in general have been opening their minds as well as their hearts when it comes to alternative lifestyles.
I’ve been reading your blog for close to a year now, and I really look forward to your posts. Thank you so much for all your hard work and keep blogging!!!
Congrats to you and your whole team for 10 years and 10k followers. Your explanations of undertones and clear vs. dirty has given me an understanding, vocabulary and methodology to approaching color choices.
One topic I would love to see more of in the future is renovating and decorating period homes with your classic/timeless approach in a way that celebrates the original style of the home, ie. a mid mod that doesn’t get greywashed, or an Art Deco that celebrates its original finishes.
I love it when designers and homeowners have the vision to honor the heritage and design of older homes regardless of whatever is trendy now, and I think you’ve done that well in the past and would love to see more.
Thank you for never spamming my inbox with junk offers and endless affiliate links and most especially for being a consistent source of inspiration. I have no doubt I’ll still be following you 10 years from now.
Edit/Update:
1. I couldn’t find where to vote on that link.
2. I went to Instagram thinking I was supposed to comment there but realized it was here on the blog that we’re supposed to mention it. I am one of your 39.8k followers!