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My New Custom Area Rug from Stanton: Before & After

07/09/2025
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A custom-sized wool rug completely transformed my oversized living room—bringing softness, warmth, and a perfectly tailored fit. In this post, I’m sharing the full process of choosing the right rug pattern and colour, working with Stanton’s team, and why this high-quality carpet was worth the upgrade. My New Custom Area Rug Nothing completes a room…

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Don’t Make These 5 Mistakes with Your Garden

07/03/2025
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Want to create a stunning, cohesive garden? Today I’m going to share five essential landscaping tips—from choosing the right colour palette to shaping your space with plants and pathways—that will transform your yard and boost your curb appeal. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, these expert secrets will help you design a beautiful,…

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5 Must-Know Tips for Trending Viola Marble Countertops

06/30/2025
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If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you know I’m not afraid to call out a trend when it needs a caution sign.  But first 🇨🇦 HAPPY CANADA DAY!! 🇨🇦 to all my Canadian friends! Dramatic Calacatta Viola Marble I’m talking about the highly trending calacatta viola marble of course. It’s decadent and exciting…

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Using the Neutral Colour Wheel Part 2: Planning a New Build

06/27/2025
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Discover how the Understanding Undertones neutral colour wheel can simplify your search for the perfect neutral by helping you quickly identify and match undertones in any space. And, learn why limiting and repeating neutral undertones is the key to creating a harmonious, timeless look in your home. But first! ☀️ Flash Summer eDesign Sale! ☀️…

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A Shortcut to Perfect Paint Colours

06/25/2025
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SALE ANNOUNCEMENT: This Weekend Only! 📣Paint. Roof. Front Door. COLOUR THAT’S PERFECT — the easy way! You’ve been staring at the wall again, haven’t you? Is it too yellow? Too gray? Or just… off in a way you can’t quite describe? You’re not alone. Most renovations begin not because we crave the latest trends, but because…

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Using the Neutral Colour Wheel Part 1: Decorate a Room

06/23/2025
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Discover how the Understanding Undertones neutral colour wheel can simplify your search for the perfect neutral by helping you quickly identify and match undertones in any space. And, learn why choosing the neutral that belongs makes your room feel amazing! If you haven’t purchased my Understanding Undertones neutral colour wheel yet, let me just say…

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Easy Tips for a Pretty Patio This Summer

06/19/2025
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It’s sale time for outdoor furniture so I thought I’d walk you through HomeSense/HomeGoods to give you some tips and tricks to create a pretty patio for the rest of the summer! Here’s Lucy and I on my birthday (June 7). I get so much joy out of my happy yellow and white striped patio!…

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A Charming eDesign Exterior Before & After

06/17/2025
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Today I’m sharing a couple of before and after exteriors. The first is a charming character house transformed with an eDesign consultation from plain to fabulous. The second is a reader’s DIY before and after where she’s asking for help with some of the finishing details. From blah to bold an exterior makeover My eDesign…

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Ask Maria: Choosing Timeless Bathroom Tile

06/12/2025
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Today I’m answering a reader’s request to give her a “grade” on her plans to update her bathroom to a Maria approved timeless look. She got it all right but this one critical thing! ⭐️ Hi Maria, I need your design superpowers! A few years ago, my designer installed 12×24 grey tile throughout our primary…

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Inspiration vs. Reality: 5 Reasons Your Reno Falls Flat

06/09/2025
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Whenever one of my family members embarks on a renovation—big or small—I’m reminded just how quickly those dreamy inspiration photos can collide with reality. Take my sister Anita, for example. When we started mood-boarding her bathroom, we were in pure fantasy mode. I found a gorgeous mirror and two perfect sconce lights. Pretty, pretty, pretty!…

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5 Steps to Starting a Bathroom Renovation

06/05/2025
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Today I’m thrilled to hand the blog over to my sister Anita, whose sense of humour and eye for design always make for a great story. If you’ve ever felt stuck with a space you can’t stand, Anita’s journey will feel all too familiar. She’s sharing the real-life ups and downs of living with a…

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Richer Wood Tones: Yay or Nay?

06/02/2025
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When we bought our new house, I reluctantly decided to refinish the hardwood floors. They were white oak but the stain had a too warm violet/red tone and they were too dark. I wanted them to be a timeless, medium brown. More golden brown than red. They turned out beautifully and I’m so glad we…

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Help! My Walls are Beige and my Sofa is Taupe

05/29/2025
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In today’s post I’m sharing a question a reader sent in. Using my Neutral Colour Wheel, she distinguished that the reason why her paint colour didn’t match the sofa is because her walls were pink beige and the rest of her furnishings her designer chose was taupe. Now she’s looking at repainting her open layout…

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What our Dream House Looks like in 2025

05/26/2025
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I’m so excited to share all the before and after’s of the progress we have made on our home in the past 2 1/2 years: Our Dream Home Befores & Afters When I was at High Point this Spring, I struggled to find a picture of my new house on Instagram to show to someone….

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3 Ways to Brighten a Small Dark Room

05/22/2025
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Join me in Toronto for a another one-day guest room makeover, where a bold green paint choice transformed this homeowners windowless room into a fresh, versatile retreat. It’s another colour rescue!! On Instagram, I announced we would be in Toronto in April. And I was open to doing a One Day Styling Makeover in the…

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