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Colour lesson

WWMD: Help! My Whites Don’t Match

05/05/2021
26 Comments

Lately, the questions I’m getting are so good, and cover content I’ve never published before, so we’re getting a stream of reader dilemmas handled! Here’s another one: We just renovated our bathroom and added a navy blue vanity.  We went with a creamy quartz countertop, soft grey tile on the bottom half of the room,…

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Ever Made a Colour Mistake with an Online Purchase?

03/28/2021
95 Comments

Online shopping Shopping online has come a LOOOONG way from where it was in the past. In the beginning, we bought books online and that was pretty much it. And since the pandemic, we’ve had to become experts at ordering everything from groceries to Q-tips to comfortable lounge wear. It only took me until the…

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Top Kitchen Colour Trends from the Last 50 Years

01/31/2021
22 Comments

Do you ever feel like there’s a rat race to install the next newest trend in kitchen design? Maybe you inherited a kitchen where the former homeowner installed the trendiest finishes from another decade? Well, you are not alone. Here’s my best advice for taking your dated kitchen from yesterday (whenever that was) to today. And, I’m…

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What’s the Style of YOUR New Build?

01/20/2021
77 Comments

While the obsession with the modern farmhouse continues, I’d love to know what style of new home you are building (or planning to build in the future)? And, here’s my advice on which new build details can fall totally flat in your design if you aren’t careful.  Modern farmhouse Your Modern Farmhouse home will make…

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Is Brass Out? How to Mix Metals like a Pro

10/14/2020
50 Comments

I often get asked how to combine metal finishes in lighting and hardware. The look of matching all your finishes is long gone (even when working with brass). Here are a few guidelines to help you mix metals like a pro. Thank you to the Washington Post for including my bathroom in a recent article…

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How to Choose the Right Colour Vinyl Decking

07/25/2020
Choose Vinyl Decking Colour
49 Comments

While helping my mom choose the right colour for her vinyl deck flooring in her sunroom, I took one look at the brochure and was so disappointed with the colour choices! And, I pretty much had to check my colour expert ego at the door. Here’s my advice if you, too, are considering sheet vinyl…

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What Countertop Looks Good with Carrara Marble?

07/13/2020
20 Comments

If you’re planning to use Carrara Marble tile in your kitchen or bathroom, you need to be mindful of the undertone and choose your countertop and wall colour accordingly. Here’s what countertop looks good with Carrara Marble.  Beautiful silver bowl in the entry filled with found objects from the beach and two votives carved from…

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Third Rule of Design: Expensive Does Not Equal Timeless

04/27/2020
39 Comments

It’s really hard to pull off a trendy kitchen design that actually outlasts the trend. Your kitchen cabinets may be good quality and expensive, but that doesn’t equal timeless. Here’s my advice for a reader who wants a fresher kitchen, without a costly major renovation.  My dated cherry kitchen cabinets were expensive! Must I still…

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Ask Maria: Help! My Light Grey Walls Look Baby Blue!

03/14/2020
29 Comments

Update to this post: Hey ya’ll, the reason why Courtney’s walls are blue is because she chose a blue. That’s the reason why choosing paint colours is not as easy as you think. I’m getting emails and comments saying ‘Hey, I had this problem too, my walls turned blue as well’. Your walls are blue…

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Now Available: Masterclass on Exterior Colour Selection

03/03/2020
26 Comments

Learn how to choose exterior house colours for your existing home or new build. I’ve packaged all my exterior design advice and answers to your questions about home exterior colour in my new Masterclass Exterior Colour Selection online training! After over 4 months of development during the Spring and Summer of 2019, plus more than…

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Ask Maria: Can I Paint My Trim Greige?

02/27/2020
22 Comments

Should you paint your trim a colour other than white? Painting your trim a greige could be lovely, but there are a few details you need to consider first. I’m sharing more about greige paint colours and how to get the look right. I have just completed your book How to Choose a Paint Color…

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Can You Layer Lamps in Front of Your Artwork?

01/15/2020
50 Comments

Can you layer lamps in front of your artwork? The answer is YES! Let me show you some examples and tell you why layering happens all the time in the world of interior design. Last week when I showcased the new botanical artwork in my dining room, many of you were bothered that my lamps…

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Ask Maria: Should I Buy a Black Sofa?

11/20/2019
42 Comments

It’s no secret that dark colours are quickly becoming the new neutral, and this may be tempting you to buy a black sofa. But, here are a few decorating tips you should consider before you introduce the darkest colour in the largest piece of furniture in your room. If black is the new “it” neutral,…

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