What is bothering you most about your home right now?
In just 2 days, you’ll learn how to solve those tricky decorating and styling issues for a beautiful and timeless home.
I'll show you how to work with difficult spaces, fix past mistakes and make great choices by understanding colour and how to use the very same system I do - The Killam Colour System.
”It's like my eyes have been opened to the secrets of how to make things look good and work together!
Irene H.
”Maria takes the stress out of colour and hard finish decisions. Her system works!
Joanne P.
Learn what other decorating courses won’t teach you.
The Right Way to Choose Colour
Colour should never be selected in isolation or without a clear plan. But that is how most people decorate a room when they don’t have a system. You will learn how to create rooms that are cohesive and beautiful using the Killam Colour System which is the best way to identify, classify, compare and contrast every colour choice.
Take the stress out of big, expensive decisions.
Learn what will stand the test of time.
Whatever design style you love and choose to decorate with, there are always timeless choices to be made. If you want to love your home for a long time, and preserve it’s value, then there are key elements you want to keep timeless. You’ll learn how to narrow those choices down, how to avoid domineering trends, and how to keep it simple. So, you love everything longer.
Learn how to work with what you’ve got.
Starting over isn’t the only way.
The truth is not every decorating and design mistake needs to be ripped out. Some do, but often, the solution to making it better could be easier and cheaper than you think. You’ll learn how to carefully evaluate a room, identify what’s wrong with it and understand which colour choice could save it and why. If you do need to renovate, you’ll know what stays and what goes.
Not only is this a great investment in your home project…
You can bring your spouse so you’re both on the same page.
In just two days, you'll both understand:
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I can save you from making costly mistakes
Hi, I'm Maria
After 20 years of colour consulting, I kept seeing so many people making expensive mistakes that were preventable – if only they’d had my system! I finally realized I could help more people enjoy their homes and feel good about their colour decisions, if they could learn my system too.
Because that’s my passion. To help homeowners, like you, love your home for a long time while saving money in the process.
Decorating your home can be challenging, and choosing colour is tricky – even for the pros! But with the Killam Colour System, you’ll know how to avoid costly mistakes and understand how to use colour the right way.
Once you see colour like I do, you can’t unsee it.
It’ll change the way you make every design decision.
Ready to create your dream home?
Looking for the in-person class for professionals and aspiring designers instead? Click here.
Still not sure if this course is right for you?
There’s a reason everyone loves this course!
100% happiness guarantee
How much is being able to sleep at night knowing that you’ve made the right decorating, renovation and new build choices worth to you? I believe it’s priceless. AND, you make this investment at no risk because you’re covered by my 100% happiness guarantee. If, by the end of the first day, you don’t think this is the best colour/design course you’ve ever taken, simply ask for your money back no questions asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if this course is for me?
Can you relate?
You have great taste. You know what you like when you see it, but still you’re not sure how to pull it all together. Or, even where to start sometimes?
Perhaps you’re really excited about your project, but at the same time, you’re stuck with worry that you might make choices you’ll later wish you hadn’t?
Or, maybe you’ve made mistakes you regretted in the past and THIS TIME you want to get it right without wasting more time and money?
If you find yourself nodding your head to ANY of these, this course is for YOU!
Home projects are an investment.
For most people, this is their one chance to create their forever home. And more than anything, I want you to enjoy the process and be happy with the outcome.
Colour mistakes cost money.
Learning how to avoid and FIX mistakes will save you money and time, repeatedly. In fact, fixing just one colour mistake could save you enough money to cover the cost of this course.
That’s good money you can spend on lamps and decor later! Just sayin’
And, if you have any other questions, please email [email protected].
I haven't started my renovation project or new build yet - should I wait to take this course?
Every person who takes this course BEFORE starting their renovation or new build project makes a point to tell me this, “I should’ve done this sooner. Now, I’ve got a much better vision for everything I’m doing, and I’m so glad I took this course first—whew!”
Every. Single. Time.
If you are scouring the web for all the answers and inspiration right now, then this is the RIGHT time to take this course – no matter when your new build or renovation is scheduled for in the future.
I would love to take Maria’s class but I’m located overseas. How would that work?
The cost of the course is in USD.
Maria has many students from Europe and Australia take her virtual course each season. They treat it as though they are catching a flight and get up early (or stay up late). Some students will even check in to a local hotel to take the course so as to not disturb their families.
We are always so happy when clients from overseas join Maria in her live training. The lunch break would be at approximately 12:30pm PST. There is a mid morning break around 10:00am PST and in the afternoon around 3:00pm PST. You can use this time zone converter to determine your time.
Note that overseas students will be required to pay for shipping of their course materials. **Also be sure that Benjamin Moore fan decks are available in your area.
Are the fan decks included with my registration?
No. You need to provide your own BM FAN DECKS: If you don’t already have the Benjamin Moore Colour Preview fan deck and the Collections fan deck you must obtain them prior to class. Visit your local store to order or borrow them, or order online.
Maria will reference both fan decks at multiple times during the presentation and ask you to suggest paint colours from the specified fan decks in the exercises.
Why Benjamin Moore fan decks? What if I already have the Sherwin-Williams fan decks, or I prefer Sherwin-Williams paint colours?
Maria will teach the class referencing only Benjamin Moore as it would be too complicated and confusing to move back and forth between both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams.
Maria’s system was first developed with Benjamin Moore paint colours. She knows that some attendees will prefer Sherwin-Williams over Benjamin Moore. That’s why she will provide you with a cross-reference colour matching guide for paint colours in Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams.
This exclusive cheat sheet of BM/SW equivalents for the colours in her system will be delivered via email before class begins.
Maria will reference both Benjamin Moore fan decks at multiple times during the presentation and ask you to suggest paint colours from the specified fan decks in the exercises. So please make sure you purchase or borrow these two fan decks prior to class.
Are the Colour Boards included with my registration?
The large painted Colour Boards are not included with your registration as it would make the course that much more expensive. Plus many students already have them prior to taking the class.
Maria does offer her best prices on Colour Boards to the students of her live training so if you were interested in a set (or two), in class is the absolute best time to invest in some.
How does this live virtual training work?
This is not a pre-recorded event. THIS IS A FULLY-IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE. Maria will lead the course live from her studio office and you can expect her to be just as high energy on your computer screen as she is in person 😉
You will be invited to a private Zoom meeting and will receive a link for the two-day online course. All you need to join is desktop or laptop computer with reliable internet access, a webcam, and speakers with good volume. The interactive experience just isn’t the same via a cell phone.
Maria loves to connect personally with her students and that means she needs to see your lovely face – so we ask that you turn on your camera during the virtual workshop. There will also be time to interact with your fellow classmates during some of the exercises. We promise this makes it more fun!
The training does not work with my schedule, so I'm not sure I can be present the entire time. Are there recordings available?
The value in the training is to attend it live and be in-person with Maria. The magic happens when you are able to interact with Maria and participate in the hands on exercises. This would be completely lost on a recording.
Maria will provide cheat sheets and resources during the two-day workshop to help you practice what you’ve learned after class, including a two-hour video review of the Killam Colour System that you can watch on your own. However, a full recording of both days is not provided.
I’m a designer. Can I still take the virtual class?
Yes! Maria will teach the same fundamentals in the virtual class as she does in the in-person classes.
The major differences are that you will not get a True Colour Expert certification and the class will be tailored more to a homeowner than a professional working with clients.
If you are looking to learn Maria’s system and are not available for in-person classes, the virtual course is a good alternative.
Will I receive True Colour Expert™ certification?
No, this training does not provide certification as a True Colour Expert™. While designer professionals are welcome to attend this event, it is designed for homeowners. Maria offers certification in her True Colour Expert training instead. Click here for details.
How is the virtual course different from the in-person one?
Maria adapted her True Color Expert training for homeowners, and it’s only being offered virtually. To keep the costs down, you will need to bring your own Benjamin Moore Colour Preview fan deck and the Collections fan deck (or borrow them from your local store) prior to class.
You will, however, still receive an envelope with course materials for the in-class exercises.
I never miss a blog post. What else is there to learn?
If you’ve already read everything from Maria Killam – her blogs, books, and online courses – there’s still more to gain. The biggest advantage is the energy you get from learning directly from Maria!
Plus, the live workshops, whether in person or on Zoom, provide a unique and exciting learning experience. The content feels different, and you’ll grasp it better because it’s presented in the right order.
Maria, with over 20 years of experience in helping clients with their spaces, covers various finishes and decorating challenges. In just two days, you’ll learn her exact process for making colour decisions, solving tricky color situations, styling your home, deciding for new builds or renovations, and fixing issues in any room.
Enrolling in this workshop not only saves you money but also helps you stop overthinking decisions. Follow Maria’s simple and organized process to transform your home with her timeless aesthetic, years of experience, and an easy-to-use colour system. Don’t miss this chance to learn directly from Maria Killam!
I don't have the same decorating style as Maria... (or my home is modern/traditional/farmhouse, etc.) will this class still work for me?
Yes! Maria has been in over 20,000 homes in person and virtually over her 25 year career and seen it all. She will cover many styles of homes during the course, but you’ll also learn step-by-step how to make the best decisions for YOUR home.
She is the best person to learn from so you don’t end up making the most common mistakes in renovations, mixing old with the new in addition to mixing modern with traditional, as well as other styles of homes.
What sets this training apart?
This is the ONLY colour and design training experience led by the world’s top colour expert, Maria Killam. Her real-time guidance will revolutionize how you SEE and USE colour.
Maria provides exclusive colour resources as well as hands-on exercises with real client examples to enhance your learning journey. She’s trained thousands of homeowners and designers just like you.
That’s because she invented a simple and organized system for choosing colours that works seamlessly for any project.
This isn’t colour theory. It’s a practical and applied system you can use over and over again to effortlessly harmonize colours or solve any design challenge that comes your way.
What if I have to cancel?
If for any reason you need to cancel your registration for Create Your Dream Home virtual live training, we will issue you a refund less a $125 non-refundable processing fee up to 30 days prior to the course start date.
Cancellations less than 30 days prior to the course start date are not eligible for a refund.
If you need to cancel less than 30 days prior to the course start date, your registration is eligible to be transferred to a future Create Your Dream Home training workshop held within the next 12 calendar months. A $500 non-refundable transfer fee will apply.