Thank you so much to all of you who helped me choose the name of my makeover show on Youtube.
We’re calling it Decorate or Renovate!? The real magic is knowing the difference!
Since there are so many creative ways I can help, I love that this narrows it down to “I’m the one who can tell you whether you should renovate, or how much is necessary, which paint colour can fix the problem and when decorating is just better to create the feeling we all want when we walk in the door!
The name was created just in time for my childhood best friend Tamiko Charlton and her husband Ernie’s living/dining room makeover!
My family and I moved to Abbotsford when I was 12. My Dad had lost everything in a business deal gone bad and we moved from Victoria to Abbotsford and started at a new school. I met Tamiko and we were best friends until we graduated.
I also graduated one year early because Tamiko was my best friend. She was gifted, talented and smart and I decided well, if you’re doing it, I’m doing it too.
We were editors of our yearbook and this was our editors photo (below)!
Maria & Tamiko
Then, a few weeks ago when I posted on my personal Facebook page that I was doing one-day makeovers, Tamiko reached out and said “How about me!”.
This is Tamiko and Ernie Charlton. They moved to Cheam Stables in 1996 as newlyweds and raised their four children there.
Tamiko’s lifelong passion for horses naturally grew into a heart for helping children, especially those with special needs. Early on, she recognized the therapeutic connection between kids and horses, and she earned certification in Equine Assisted Learning. This became the foundation for Discovery Equine — a program built on the model of “one child, one mentor, one horse,” designed to support kids navigating life’s challenges.
Ernie, a longtime pilot with a deep commitment to faith and family, supports the ministry’s operations, maintenance, and day-to-day needs. In 2024 Discovery Equine officially became a registered charity so the wider community could help fund and grow the ministry. Their mission is to create a place where Christian equestrians can lead, serve, and offer relational horsemanship to children and families who need hope. Please help if you can, this is a wonderful charity.
When you watch this story you might cry like I did. When Tamiko told me everything she had experienced that led her to where she is today, it made me feel so privileged to be able to help such a wonderful couple create a home they absolutely love when they walk in the door!
You won’t want to miss this transformation!
And here we are today:
If you live in the Fraser Valley or surrounding areas, apply here to be featured on my channel.
And if you’d like to learn how to find and hang artwork like me, along with the right throw pillows and lamps check out my styling school modules here.
Related posts:
Why we Believe Art Must Have Meaning
That was a wonderful makeover with so much heart. How nice to re connect in a special was with such a good friend. Great job Maria!
I love the name you chose for the YouTube channel! Great makeover for Tamiko and Ernie!
Great job on that living room, Maria!
Do you stick to a particular brand of LED lightbulbs? Struggling to find some that feel just right. Would love a post on just LED lightbulbs.
I have a lot of orange wood tones in my home.Can you share the green wall color? So good?
Maria answered this question in the YouTube comments. It’s Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage HC-114
That was my guess. I would not have thought of it as a whole house colour. It looks beautiful!
I buy all my LED bulbs at Lowe’s for a great price but only go for warm light. The bright is too harsh in my opinion. I like a warm cozy look.
Yes, it looks like Maria used the cool “Daylight” bulbs and it’s very jarring to me. It’s my only criticism. I could not stand that light in my house. It’s also not good for your Circadian rhythm according to lighting experts. Spending the evening under Daylight bulbs will compromise your sleep quality.
Haha, cool white? That is a hard no. . . 2600 Kelvin is warm and that’s what I always use. Maria
Maria, I like the new name for the series and how fantastic to start it off with your bestie from high school who totally deserves a home she loves. Kudos to her for her charity work! My favourite part of course, is the living room (…and entry). It’s so reflective of the lives and passions of the couple as well as having that cosy, restful feel that pulls you in to relax and explore. Great job!
This is a wonderful makeover and great organization. I have only one comment about the horseshoe hung upside down. I always learned that when the opening is at the bottom all the luck falls out. But otherwise, these rooms are giving me a lot of inspiration.
Can you tell us why you put the one piece of art behind the TV? I have noticed this in other videos also.
That is a great question, It makes the room look layered and more interesting, I wrote a post about layering things in front of art here: https://mariakillam.com/can-you-layer-lamps-in-front-of-your-artwork/
Love the green walls. I am not a fan of white or cream walls. Color is so much more emotional and personal. I also love the abundance of artwork. It gives the walls life!
The thing that I love the most is how you are so excited and happy doing what God created you for Maria!
Wow, what a difference! It is personal, and so warm and inviting. Wonderful that you were able to make that happen for her, and her husband. So deserving! And it clearly brought you a lot of joy to do it! Thanks for sharing
Ahhhhh so homey, warm and comfortable! Matches them perfectly. You’re so talented.
I love the green color for the walls! Can you share which color it is?
It’s Saybrook Sage. Maria
So pretty!
Looks wonderful, much warmer, green looks much better. Winner
Beautiful transformation Maria! What a special friend you have in Tamiko! She is so deserving of this makeover.
I love your new video series name!
Thank you, Tamiko and her husband are an amazing couple yes! Maria
This series gets better and better with each episode!
Thanks Rachel! Maria
The Irish know that horseshoes should only be attached to the wall upright, in a “U” shape. For lucky. Upside down is unlucky.
We talked about that when I was hanging it and Tamiko says she’s not superstitious so that’s why it got hung that way. Maria
Simply wow!
Holy moly, so lovely for such a lovely couple. My first thought was—Maria is going to add a bucket-load of lamps! Everything is so soothing and complementary now. What a great finished look.
10 is how many we added which includes the chandelier which behaves like a lamp because of all the shades.
Can you tell us why you put the one piece of art behind the TV? I have noticed this in other videos also.
Love the double small floor lamps. Are they available??
Great job… very cozy.
Karen Sparks
they were from HomeSense, like most of the decorating items we have access to in Canada. Maria
Everything is so well balanced: the art, accessories, furniture. Beautifully put together!
I love the whole look, and especially the green walls with the orangish woods-that is such a calming color. Thanks for all the great inspiration!
Love the colour, gallery wall is perfect. One can not have too many lamps.
Definitely not. . . there was 10 in the end including the chandelier! Thanks for your comment! Maria
Such a huge improvement! Well done!!
Great job! Love the green walls! Totally different space, love it! Keep up the great work.
Looks amazing, Maria!
I love what you did. The way you layer makes the whole room warm and beautiful! Love it. My eye was drawn to the horse shoe though! 😂
Great changes. I hope the family enjoys the new space.
I love her green wals. What a transformation Maria! Always surprises me how cozy the dining rooms look when you take out a couple chairs. I am learning more about lamps. So they dont t have to be a matching pair. Wow! Admire your creativity Maria.
Oh Maria! I’m DELIGHTED for you about this show and the “showcase” it will afford you to help the world with your redesign talent. I’ve been a follower since the very early days (20 followers on Instagram days) and took your course in DC many moons ago.
So here you are now spreading the word and doing what you love. I’m delighted for you.
Love your style and how you made this so personalized. The color really solves the kitchen wood’s color problem … you might highlight your talent for problem-solving with color a bit more in the future. Would have loved a shot of how the den spoke to the kitchen after you finished. Only wonderment is why that one pic in the vignette is hung so low behind the TV. Otherwise, perfection.
This one is probably my favorite! Where is the double floor lamp with green shades by the TV from?
Love the transformation. Ty