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Colour Trends

Is the Built-in Makeup Vanity Dated? Yay or Nay

12/20/2020
64 Comments

My lovely reader needs advice on her new build project. She’s wondering if the design plan for her built-in makeup vanity is dated. This situation is really more of a good design vs. bad design. Here’s how to get it right if you are planning a new build. New build season is right around the…

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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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Complex Creams and Why You Need to Understand Them

10/07/2020
48 Comments

Thank you so much to The Washington Post for featuring my bathroom on their Timeless Paint Colours article, October 13, 2020 here. Everyone wants a fresher paint colour, but white isn’t always the answer. When you understand the world of complex creams, you’ll find they are a more versatile and softer alternative to white when…

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The Eclectic Bathroom Design vs. The Timeless One

09/07/2020
19 Comments

Whether you choose an eclectic bathroom design vs. a timeless one, your fixed finishes should relate or match. The eclectic or collected look is achieved with decor, art and accessories. Let me explain. The Eclectic Bathroom In all the 12 years I’ve been writing this blog, it never occurred to me to search online for…

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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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WWMD: Choosing a Classic and Timeless Hood Fan

06/15/2020
19 Comments

This reader asks how to choose the right hood fan for her kitchen – more specifically, a classic and timeless hood fan that relates to her kitchen design. Which range hoods are trendy and should be avoided? Here’s my advice. I am interested in knowing your position on vent hoods these days, and how one…

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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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How to Update 90s Granite (and Make it Disappear)

02/03/2020
47 Comments

Are you tired of looking at dated kitchen finishes you didn’t choose, but not quite ready for a gut renovation? Here are some easy ways to work with what you’ve got and make your dated 90s granite disappear.  Since the grey trend has been replaced with black/dark and moody kitchens (the pendulum has to swing…

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Maria Killam’s Trend Forecast for 2020

01/05/2020
52 Comments

The new colour for 2020 is BROWN It took 11 years for brown to be back in fashion. No one wanted to wear it, because everyone was busy trying to eliminate the Tuscan Brown trend from their homes. I do smile when I read articles declaring that ‘Earth tones are back’ just because people are…

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3 Tips for Adjusting to Your New Paint Colour

12/20/2019
34 Comments

Thinking of trying out a new wall colour? Tricia just painted her walls a lovely pale pink. And, she’s sharing helpful tips for dealing with new paint colour shock – you know, when the new colour is on the wall but you haven’t pulled the room together yet… and you wonder if it was the…

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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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The Brightest Trends for Lighting in 2020

11/04/2019
19 Comments

The biggest and brightest trends for lighting in 2020 are here! Changing out a lamp, pendant or chandelier can have a dramatic effect on the look and feel of any room so we’re coveting all the beautiful new trending shapes and materials in lighting. Just as we turn back the clocks and the days get…

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