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Advice for Homeowners

The Conversation You NEED to Have with Your Client

11/23/2015
10 Comments

Trying to get your spouse or client on board with your design project? Set yourself up for success by knowing when you need to have THIS conversation.  Vanessa Francis Stuck in the Middle This is something I see all of the time. Your husband, your wife, or your client are reacting in a negative way…

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Best Countertop for Stained Wood Cabinets

11/05/2015
35 Comments

Updating a kitchen or bathroom with stained wood cabinets? Here’s the best countertop colour to work with your stained wood cabinets for a fresh look. When I received this Ask Maria question asked slightly different two times recently, I thought it deserved a stand-alone post even though my regular readers will have already ready my…

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How to Choose the Perfect Lampshade

10/29/2015
18 Comments

via pinterest The other day I was on the phone with my friend Penelope. She is a very busy woman. In addition to running her business, she also home schools her two boys. Whenever I get her on the phone (which is not often), I always try to be as interesting as possible so that she’ll stay on the phone…

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The Timeless Flooring Everywhere in Italy

10/14/2015
46 Comments

It’s hard to take pictures for a blog on a trip because I never know what I’m going to talk about until I start gathering photos for a post. Then I start thinking “Darn, I wish I had taken more pictures of floors.” But it wasn’t until the end of the trip that I noticed…

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Bad Design Advice: Fall in Love with All Your Finishes

10/01/2015
14 Comments

  Statement tile, Herringbone Carrara {House Beautiful} Pattern quota done. Keep your countertop solid or almost solid. {Source} I had an interesting conversation with one of my readers while I was consulting on her kitchen renovation. She had already installed tile floors in her kitchen and couldn’t decide on a countertop. She had some options selected, but she…

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The Best Paint Colours for Your Oak and Maple Cabinetry

09/01/2015
29 Comments

Do you have oak or maple cabinetry? DO NOT pick a paint colour to coordinate without reading this guest post from Kelly Bernier, a True Colour Expert from beautiful Rhode Island. She’s sharing a lesson directly from my Specify Colour with Confidence course (which is $200 off right now, with the special offer code at the end of this post).

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7 Ways to Make the Most of What You Already Have | Before & After

07/26/2015
125 Comments

Crystal called me to help her pull together her new house. This was her request:

“I used to have a colourful condo. Oranges and yellows have always been a favourite of mine, and in the last 5 years, I’ve loved pinks. I hired a designer about 6 years ago, and I guess she was successful at convincing me that colour was kids’ stuff and neutrals were sophisticated.

So out with all my stuff and in with the new. Cream, chocolate browns, and greens. I found it bland and lifeless, although yes, very nice and sophisticated. So I started adding pink with Designers Guild bedding, decorative pillows, etc. I also bought some whimsical paintings with colour punches (I’ve attached photos of them).”

I was very impressed by your colourful portfolio and would love your help.”

See the before and afters here. . .

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How (and when) to Buy Appliances for Your New Kitchen

07/10/2015
72 Comments

Planning a kitchen renovation or building a new house? Your design depends on which kitchen appliances you have purchased. Here’s a guide to help you know how and when to buy appliances for your new kitchen.  source Did you know that until you have chosen and purchased your appliances, you can’t begin designing your kitchen?…

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My Sister’s New Kitchen: Surprise! It’s NOT Subway Tile!

07/05/2015
87 Comments

When my sister Lea and her partner were getting ready to move into the Eco Village in our town, I helped Lea choose finishes, colours, and lighting.

Greg wanted wood-stained cabinets (not white) and Lea really didn’t mind either way, so I specified a light maple, along with medium brown engineered wood flooring.

She did NOT want subway tile because she thinks it’s boring (clearly not brainwashed enough by reading my blog, sigh), but agreed that we would stay away from accent tile and keep it off-white to coordinate with the quartz. We settled on this moroccan pattern.

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