Maria Killam
What I teach you won't find anywhere else in the world of design.
I help homeowners, aspiring designers, and professionals see colour differently.
I’ve spent decades developing a system that makes colour simple—and I love teaching people how to use it to create beautiful, timeless homes with confidence.
Hi There! I'm
THE true colour expert
We all want designer results, right?
Because the homes we decorate are important to us. We want to love them for a long time, which means getting them right the first time. But that is very hard to do. It certainly doesn't happen by accident or by picking the things you love, closing your eyes and declaring it will all work out.
So. . . Then Why Do Some Homes Look Amazing and Others. . . Not So Much?
Some rooms feel effortless, while others just seem “off”—and it’s hard to pinpoint the reason.
More often than not, it comes down to colour and neutral undertones. Even with beautiful furniture and finishes, if the colours don’t relate, the room won’t work.
Curious what this looks like in real homes?
Head to the blog for inspiring examples, real-life fixes, and practical advice to start seeing your own space with new eyes.
That's Why I Created The Killam Colour System
The Killam Colour System helps you:
- See undertones in everything from paint to tile
- Understand why some combinations work and others clash
- Make confident colour choices that feel right the first time
Whether you are updating a single room or tackling a full renovation, this system gives you the foundation for timeless results so you won't have to start over in two years.
For more than
20 years
decorators, just like you, feel more confident choosing colour—and create
timeless results
I've helped
a look at how i got here
beautiful,
the beginning
colour consultations
the first blog header
Wrote my first post on Friday afternoon (Halloween) and wrote 4 more posts that weekend and never looked back.
Started the Colour Me Happy Blog
2008
I began teaching interior design students my system at a community college.
Started Teaching Colour
2007
To get there, I worked as a colour consultant at Benjamin Moore. In four years, I logged more than 2,000 hours of hands-on experience—and from that, my Understanding Undertones system was born.
Booked Hundreds of Consultations
2003
After receiving a call asking if I knew the difference between pink beige and yellow beige I booked a colour course in San Francisco. When I came back, I decided I would be an internationally known colour expert.
Attended a Colour Course
2001
This was the first logo on my very first website for my design business.
My First Logo
1999
I decided I had to be creative or die so I quit my job to start my one day design business.
Quit My Day Job
1997
before
We brought our True Colour Expert training into the US and traveled to 10 cities each Spring and Fall.
Got a Visa to Hold Courses in North America
2014
My students started asking for the boards so we started producing them in bulk to sell on the website.
Launched Large Painted Colour Boards
2013
Thanks to the blog and our growing business!
Purchased Our First Home
2012
How to Choose Paint colours
Published First eBook
2011
At this time, they were only offered in Vancouver and Toronto.
First True Colour Expert Training
2010
My first book!
While I had been featured as a colour expert in many magazines since starting my blog, this was my first time having my home featured on the cover.
First Shelter Magazine Cover
2009
after
When we launched the second edition of the wheel, we removed the primary colour wheel from the middle because it caused too much confusion. Neutrals need to match each other, not relate to the chromatic colours in any given situation.
Neutral Colour Wheel v2
2019
This is what our first neutral colour wheel looked like.
Neutral Colour Wheel v1
2017
FUN FACT: The first neutral colour wheel was actually inspired by the design team who was working on my website? They encouraged me to create a visual representation of my Understanding Undertones system.
Launched New Website
2016
Today we have a team of 6 colour designers in our eDesign department helping clients choose timeless colours and finishes all over the world.
Hired First eDesign Team Member
2015
White is Complicated: A decorators guide to choosing white
Published 2nd eBook
2014
Tricia!
This time, Style at Home featured my home. That is my dining room on the cover.
Another Shelter Magazine Cover
2014
the new site!
We launched a new website with improved navigation and a lot more colour!
Launched a new Website!
2025
So homeowners and designers could connect, share ideas, and get inspired-never feel stuck or alone again.
Launched True Colour Insider Membership
2024
Added a greenhouse and french country inspired boxwood gardens
Updated all the Landscaping
2023
We found our dream home still close to my Mom and Sisters in Yarrow, BC and started renovating.
Purchased Timeless Acres Farm
2022
We updated the wheel once more, enlarging the neutrals and improving its design so it’s easier to prop up and accurately identify each shade.
Neutral Colour Wheel v3
2022
Get Colour Mastery
After our live training events were cancelled in 2020, we pivoted to introduce virtual training events.
Introducing Create your Dream Home Virtual Training
2021
Our new home!
hit play!
I'm here for you
know what i'm up to
Long before Social Media, I shared all my colour and decorating advice through the blog Colour Me Happy. It's one of the top ten resources on Colour and gets almost 500K views a month.
I love helping my readers and followers find solutions to their most pressing decorating problems, which you can now find everywhere, thanks to technology!
