When budgeting for a home improvement project, hiring an experienced designer or trade will simply help you do it right the first time and save you so much money in the end. Here’s how we are trying to avoid being penny wise and pound foolish with my Mom’s sunroom project…. Continue Reading →
I have seen this mistake so many times with exteriors, that when Terreeia and I drove around the French countryside and saw the houses I had her screech to a halt while I jumped out and took a photo. Ok. I took more than one. It’s a fun thing that… Continue Reading →
In the 20 years I’ve been in this business as well as the more than 10 years I’ve spent blogging, I have seen a lot of staircases. In person, and in photos. Some good, many that are just plain bad. This trip to Paris is Terreeia’s first trip (my third)…. Continue Reading →
Updating your windows is an expensive upgrade, so you want to make sure you choose the right window colour. If you have a brick home, standard white windows can be too stark, so here’s what you need to consider to choose the best windows for your exterior. It’s finally spring!… Continue Reading →
Please, don’t install a new fireplace without reading this first. Many people choose a fireplace style that does not relate in any way to the style of their home. Here are my tips for how to choose a fireplace that suits your home and is classic and timeless. Okay, this… Continue Reading →
This week I thought I’d do a round-up of the most common mistakes new decorators make. The best and most common mistake is at the end of this post because it’s number one and I’m starting at number six: Installing your curtain rod too close to the window or not… Continue Reading →
Fashion Translated Most people shop for ANYTHING house related the way I shop for fashion. I was thinking about this the other day because I have been desperate to find a local stylist to help me with my clothes. Especially, when I have to come up with 12 different outfits… Continue Reading →
Are you building a new home? There’s a lot of decisions to be made and you may be wondering what you need to choose first. Here are 10 steps (and more importantly, the order of decisions) for planning your new build. {source} In January and February we’re unusually busy in… Continue Reading →
When trying to choose the best permanent colour for your deck or patio, there are a few things you should consider. Here’s how I helped my design client choose the best colour for her composite decking. source My lovely client Crystal whose interior you saw here, was about to have… Continue Reading →
Source The other day, my design assistant, Tricia, received an email from one of my readers: “We found a designer who charges $100 per hour. If Maria can match that rate, we will go with her.” My rates are a lot higher than that, with different price points for consulting work and… Continue Reading →
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately: why is it that so many of us don’t seek out professional advice until there’s an emergency on our doorsteps? Why do we so unquestioningly pay for certain services, like dentistry or health care, but then think we can do it ourselves when it comes to others, like home renovations?
When is the best time to hire a professional to save ourselves the most money?
Overheard at a birthday party with some of my designer friends last weekend: “When I work with builders I always tell them that WOMEN buy houses, not men.” Men want a large TV room {via pinterest} A Garage {via pinterest} Isn’t this amazing! Now this is an organized person! {source} And, No… Continue Reading →
“I’ve got this.” Do you suffer from unrealistic thoughts about renovation? Design help is here. Here’s what I’ve learned from thousands of interior design consultations. So, just in case you were wondering and losing sleep over this topic like I have, I’ve figured it out. The third week in my Renovate… Continue Reading →
Obviously this statement doesn’t apply to everyone, but I’ve heard it a few times lately from clients. And I’ve been thinking about why. And since that’s what I do best – figure out the answer to the question why – I’ve come up with a theory. Here it is: Since… Continue Reading →
If the first thing you notice is the colour of the roof when you drive up to your house, that’s a good indication that it may not be the right choice. Here are the 5 best ways to choose your roof colour. About a year before I started writing this… Continue Reading →
This is a post written by Irene Hill, my Design Associate: It’s been two years since I’ve started working with Maria and it’s been about the same amount of time since I had a paying client, but occasionally I get an emergency call from a friend. Just recently my phone… Continue Reading →
