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Maria Killam

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Vancouver Colour Consultant: How to Choose a Safe Colour

8/28/2011

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Hi, I'm Maria

I’m the creator of the Killam Colour System® and pioneered virtual colour consulting in 2010, long before online design advice became an industry. After guiding more than 10,000 colour projects and training thousands of design professionals, I teach homeowners and designers how to choose colour, finishes and furnishings that work together beautifully.

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Friday afternoon I was told to step away from my computer and my partner took me on a ferry up to the Sunshine Coast where we had a fabulous dinner at the West Coast Wilderness Lodge last night.

This is the view from the restaurant. We had a lovely table on the deck.

See this little private island? One of the many stories floating around about this island was that it apparently sold for 4.5 million dollars and then the couple got divorced. However, neither would move off the island so now there are two homes there, one on either side, with two float planes. This may or may not be true, but that is what we were told at dinner.

Here are the picture windows from inside the restaurant. We had breakfast there the next morning.

We stayed nearby because a few friends had gathered for the weekend and we were invited. Our room was completely trimmed out in fir which suited the rustic environment; however what stuck out for me was the espresso brown 2” faux wood blinds.

Photos by Maria Killam

This is what happens when a trend colour is used so blindly. What’s interesting to me about the current trendy neutral is that this phenomenon happens where we think, “It’s so timeless, I can’t imagine that it’ll ever be out, out, out.” It’s certainly how I felt 17 years ago when I was married and our first purchase was a forest green leather sofa and loveseat.

So before you choose a colour for ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, ask yourself, “What does this colour relate to?” It might not necessarily be the best colour and there may be a better one, but if you are looking for SAFE, that’s the question to ask.

Hope you are enjoying our last official summer weekend! We were just up for one night because I’m working on my new website and I can’t take two days off—eeeeeek!

Related posts:

Are Your Colours Married?
Is Colour the Best Neutral? Yay or Nay
Nice Neutrals from Benjamin Moore

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  1. Deb's mind says:

    What a gorgeous place Maria!! I love your comment about the the green leather sofa….because I have found myself in that same place often. 🙂

  2. pve design says:

    When I first moved to NY after college, my parents came to visit and bought me a Black Coat. We went to lunch afterwards and I was so full of excitement and gratitude over my new coat. I told my Dad that I would wear it forever and my Dad said, "Until it goes out of style" – and I think that we think we will love it or live with it forever, but then we suddenly realize that time dictates a new color, a new cut or a new love.
    What a gorgeous spot to escape to – even if only for one night.
    Good luck with your timeless site!
    pve

  3. Jil Sonia McDonald - Interior Designer says:

    I just purchased two Eileen Gray type end tables and I'm hoping they'll stick around.
    I figure if they've been for what 80+ years, they would be a good choice. I hope!

  4. Donna Frasca ♋ says:

    Wow, what a beautiful getaway. That is my type of vaca over a day at the beach anytime!

    I'm confused. What color are your referring to that is trendy? The Expresso Brown blinds or the neutral wall? Neither is trendy and like you said, very typical of the rustic decor. You are however very brave for having bought that Forest Green leather sofa! Funny 🙂

  5. Ok. That green leather story was funny. I swear to you that was exactly how I rationalized our set 20 years ago when, being newly married, wanted to compromise with my man. I lived with it for 10 years and he still misses it. Of course, this man loves wood trim! That place you shared is gorgeous. Glad you took a getaway 🙂

  6. Maria Killam says:

    Hi Donna,
    The brown blinds are/were trendy. It would have looked way better with blinds in the same tone as the wood trim throughout the room. Or white. Don't even get me started on the colour of the room 🙂
    Maria

  7. Love Where You LIve says:

    Good for your partner. I find those photos very inspirational for color. But you're looking at a blue-green kind of girl. Love both colors and variations thereof. Continue to stop every once in a while and have fun!

  8. Anonymous says:

    The "orangey" fir trim on the white (not rustic) door really sticks out. Based upon coloring in photo it appears the fir trim AND door would be much better in the expresso as expresso seems to work much better with wall color as it appears in photo (may be different in person. Its the door and the trim combination that really screams to me…

  9. Velvet and Linen says:

    Other than the bad blind choice this place looks relaxing and beautiful!
    With a little help from you, the lodge would be perfection. I think they need to hire you for a color consultation!
    Hope you had a relaxing weekend.

    xo
    Brooke

  10. Donna says:

    Maria..it's a beautiful place! Being my usual color blind self I wouldn't have noticed, I'm afraid.

    I would say that, from a novice point of view, the blinds and the wall color don't 'go together'. The wall color is not in the same value range as the blinds. At least, that's how we quilters would describe it.

    I would put the wall color with other softer earth tones…or the blinds with bolder colors (like the picture on the sidebar with the green couch and the dog and all the bright color blocks. So much for my foray into 'your' world. LOL!

    xo
    Donna

  11. Donna says:

    PS. I wouldn't have noticed the problem with the blinds..not the place. It's breathtaking!

  12. Maxine Watkins says:

    I believe we at breakfast at this restaurant. Watched an eagle on the island fish for his/her breakfast too.

  13. Luciane at HomeBunch.com says:

    Maria,

    A designer will always be a designer… we see everything all the time. But I honestly wouldn't care about anything if I was there. I really miss BC and its mountains. WE have the ocean here and I love the colors of the Atlantic… it's a deep, deep blue. Something stunning. But I miss there… and seeing these pictures made me want to be there, w/or w/out the blinds! 🙂

    xo

    Luciane at HomeBunch.com

  14. Jeanne says:

    Wow I thought that looked familiar. We just drove from Vancouver to Whistler two weeks ago and what can I say…to die for gorgeous. I can't wait to visit there again.

Hi, I'm Maria

I’m the creator of the Killam Colour System® and pioneered virtual colour consulting in 2010, long before online design advice became an industry. After guiding more than 10,000 colour projects and training thousands of design professionals, I teach homeowners and designers how to choose colour, finishes and furnishings that work together beautifully.

eDesign

Timeless

Neutral Undertones

Colour Trends

Bathrooms

Kitchens

Decorating Advice

know what works
and why

Life’s too short to live in a home you don’t love, and it’s too expensive to start from scratch when you don’t have to.

 Let me help you make confident colour decisions for every project in your home.

About Maria

Maria Killam pioneered virtual colour consulting in 2010, long before the industry caught on. She's trained thousands of design professionals since, guided more than 10,000 virtual colour and design projects, and is the creator of The Killam Colour System® and the Understanding Undertones® Neutral Colour Wheel.

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