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Decorating Advice

Two Bedrooms, Two Makeovers: A Teen Dream Revamp

04/14/2025
3 Comments

I love transforming spaces – this time for two of my nephews. They are growing up fast! And they needed their bedrooms to reflect their changing interests and hobbies. My nephew Markus messaged me a few weeks ago: Hi Maria! Recently I’ve been thinking about my room and I think I want to minimalize it…

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An Apartment Styling Makeover for White Walls

04/03/2025
5 Comments

This one-day styling makeover transforms a rental apartment with strategic furniture placement, essential accessories, and the magic of well-placed lamps to create a warm, inviting space despite white walls. Nobody asked, but I’ve decided to rename my Colour Rescue One-Day Makeovers to One-Day STYLING Makeovers because that’s what it actually is. You have to have…

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Help! My New Sofa is Wrong

12/16/2024
24 Comments

We’ve all done it, purchased a piece of furniture and panicked when we got home and it looked wrong. Read on, because chances are high that making it work and look right as rain is easier than you think! A dear reader sent me an image of her brand new sofa with a note.  Dear…

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Read This before you Buy Mid Century Modern

12/05/2024
7 Comments

Mid Century Modern furniture has been hugely popular for well over a decade. And for good reason, the shapes are sculptural, the colours are fun and they are full of nostalgia and personality. You can find it everywhere.  And if you love the style, mixing some into your decor can be a great move. However,…

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Maria Killam’s Black Friday Gift Guide

11/26/2024
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Transform your home with expert color guidance this Black Friday during the biggest sale ever! Whether you’re a homeowner seeking the perfect paint colour or guidance on your finishes -OR- a designer looking to elevate your skills, you’ll save up to 50% OFF these premium tools, courses and design services! It’s here–my annual Black Friday…

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2025 Colours of the Year: A Colour Expert’s Guide

11/05/2024
16 Comments

Major paint and colour brands have begun announcing their anticipated colour trends for 2025. As a colour expert, I find the annual Color of the Year (COTY) announcements fascinating, as they offer insight into upcoming design directions. And, it’s always a fun game to see if you agree with their predictions. So let’s take a…

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Buy THIS not THAT at HomeSense or HomeGoods

10/03/2024
5 Comments

When we taped this video at HomeSense last week I walked out thinking, ‘Did I say anything good?’ because styling is the air that I breathe, so I was so happy when my Digital Content Manager sent me the video for approval because I realized there were so many good tips! Do not miss this…

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Where Do You Find Your People?

09/17/2024
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The best way to learn anything is with a mentor. Whether you’re starting out or trying to push through to the next level, there’s nothing like having the benefit of your mentor’s expertise. If you’re following me, it’s probably because my advice resonates with you. You might find yourself nodding your head in solidarity. And…

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What Inspired Me to Create a Community for You

09/12/2024
10 Comments

As many of you know, my journey in the world of colour and design has been a deeply personal one. From the early days of launching my business to starting my blog in 2008 and growing an online audience, this journey has been filled with both incredible highs and valuable lessons along the way. But,…

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5 Styling Hacks for Small Spaces

08/22/2024
4 Comments

One year ago, my nephew Luukas moved to an apartment that was half the size of his last one. When my sister Anita (his Mom) was there helping him move she was so sad at how crammed everything looked when she left to go home. It took a while but I finally booked a flight…

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5 Design Elements for a Timeless Home

08/01/2024
11 Comments

Contrary to popular belief, TIMELESS design does not mean decorating with all neutrals. It DOES mean creating a versatile backdrop for decorating with COLOUR!  Here are my 5 best design tips for creating a timeless home you’ll love forever. Classical Sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum What makes design classic and timeless? Here’s what it isn’t. …

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A Magic Formula for Creating the Perfect Gallery Wall

05/03/2024
4 Comments

Today I’m sharing a magic formula for creating a stunning gallery wall in your home with expert tips and styling insights to make your art arrangement look polished and pretty.  This is the fifth and last suite I decorated for Wilma’s Transition Society. It was such an amazing privilege to contribute to this project and…

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Help! I Hate my Bathroom Floors!

04/25/2024
9 Comments

Colour Rescue has become a popular series here on my channel and in this weeks episode, we’re talking about three bathrooms. The theme is, can we keep the tile floors? As I’ve said many times before, if you don’t know what changes to make in your dated bathrooms, you start thinking brand new is probably…

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13 Easy Styling Ideas (You Can Use Right Now)

04/18/2024
31 Comments

There is no better way to share my best decorating tricks than to show you how easy it is to transform a space with what’s already there. Even if you’re working with pieces that might not be your favourite, you can mix a little resourceful creativity along with tried and true styling tips. And I…

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8 Ideas for Adding Colour to Boring White Bathrooms!

04/11/2024
6 Comments

You’ve probably heard me say that boring now is timeless later. It’s my First Rule of Design. Whenever I get a negative feedback on this statement, I know they haven’t read any further. Because I’m definitely not saying any room should be bland and boring. I’m saying don’t get creative and trendy with the glued-down,…

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