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Is the Natural Brick Fireplace Back? Yay or Nay

08/11/2021
22 Comments

Are you noticing this too? Natural brick fireplaces seem to be on the trend again. But, what if you already painted your brick fireplace? Here’s my take on the return of a classic and how painted brick fireplaces can also be timeless. The other day I received this question from a reader: I’ve been pouring…

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Classic & Timeless Design Tips for a Home You’ll Love Forever

10/25/2020
53 Comments

Classic and timeless design is not just for decorating with neutrals. It’s about creating styled and colourful interiors – that coordinate with your existing finishes. Here are some of my best design tips for creating a classic and timeless home you’ll love forever. Classical Sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum What makes design classic and timeless?…

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Read This Before Your Stone Fireplace Makeover

07/05/2020
29 Comments

If you’ve inherited a stone fireplace you don’t love, or you are building a new house, read this before you start! You will forever be decorating around your fireplace, so this isn’t the time to jump in without a design plan for a classic fireplace you’ll love for years to come. Before You Begin Your…

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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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How Soon Will My Farmhouse Kitchen Design Look Dated?

01/29/2019
23 Comments

Everyone is currently obsessed with the farmhouse or modern farmhouse kitchen design style (thanks Joanna Gaines). If you are considering a farmhouse kitchen (or recently built/renovated a modern farmhouse kitchen), you might be asking yourself how soon will my farmhouse kitchen look dated? Can your farmhouse style be classic and timeless? Because creating a classic…

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The Easiest Way to Style a Fireplace Mantel

11/09/2017
25 Comments

If you agonize over styling your fireplace mantel, then I have a simple formula for you. Simply copy this look for the easiest way to style a fireplace mantel. In no time at all, it will look like a designer visited your home. #yourwelcome The room in my house where I switch up the vignettes…

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Should I Paint My Fireplace?

07/10/2016
63 Comments

This reader is getting ready to install a fresh white kitchen with an earthy stone fireplace in the adjacent room. Should she paint her stone fireplace? Keep reading to find out. Okay, so a while ago when I changed the “Ask Maria” questions to “Send me what’s bothering you” questions, ya’ll pretty much stopped sending…

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Which Stone Colour is Best for Your Fireplace Surround?

02/08/2012
28 Comments

This is the biggest mistake homeowners make when choosing stone colour for their fireplace. Take my advice, because if you choose wrong, it will dictate the overall colour scheme of your home forever.  The stacked stone trend for fireplaces and the exterior of homes is a big one. But that doesn’t mean it’s right for…

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How to Choose Colour around a Stone Fireplace

06/17/2010
45 Comments

When you have a large stone (it doesn’t matter what kind) fireplace, it will totally boss you around when it comes to decorating and choosing wall colour for your home. It’s rare that you can totally ignore it and unfortunately this is one of those times when I would NOT recommend painting it (brick you…

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