My Interview with Maria Killam
What do you think you know about Maria Killam?
Maria Killam, top interior designer and the creative mind behind the popular blog ‘ Colour Me Happy,' agreed to sit down and answer a few questions inquiring minds want to know! She has a passion for colour and she is known for creating happy, warm, comfortable and inspired spaces for her clients.
Kelly:
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not blogging (or thinking about blogging, or looking for pictures, or shopping for blogging, etc.) ? : ) That is such a good question. I was having a conversation with a new friend the other day and she asked me if I'd seen 2 of the latest movies and I said no. I can't remember the last time I've been to the show. What I like to do when I'm not blogging is spend time with my family and see my nephews.
What was your most challenging design project?As a new designer I found the most challenging spaces to be the ones where there was no inspiration whatsoever and the client was not clear about what they wanted either. Now that I have a 'look' that I'm hired for, I find it much easier to pull a space together from scratch, based on the clients likes and preferences of course.
What was the best thing you've ever bought/done for a customer?
The best thing is when the accessories and lamps arrive and the house suddenly becomes cozy and filled with atmosphere. 
What was your favorite job ever?
Okay this might sound cheesy but I love each house I get to decorate from the beginning so I can't say one is better than the other. The space that is the most 'my look' were the last two homes that I decorated. The loft in Yaletown and the large home in White Rock.
Now that we know how to determine the undertones of beige, because of all your great posts teaching us, what color would you suggest to paint the walls if you wanted to downplay the pinky beige in a carpet?
The only colours you are left with (besides pink) is green, blue, purple, or grays with those undertones. Most people aren't going to paint the main areas of their house purple or blue so then you are left with green which makes the carpet look even more pink. So to downplay the pinky beige you need gray tones (still with green or even pink undertones but grayed down) like Natural Linen, Manchester Tan, Smoky Taupe, Revere Pewter or the other option would be to paint the walls a dark and dramatic colour (anything except yellow would work) and then because there is so much contrast the carpet starts to look neutral.
How do you help others see the difference between a pinky beige and a greenish beige?
By comparing one to another. The minute I show a client (or anyone), they see it immediately.
What's the number one piece of advice that you would give couples who are just starting to decorate on their own?
That is a tough one. Working with $5,000, I would suggest to them to find a designer that will be able to help them make IKEA furnishings look beautiful and fun.
What design project are you most proud of and why?
I loved the loft I did in Yaletown. It has such a great fresh look to it and the drapes really make the room (it was a rental so she didn't want to paint the whole thing, which is why we just did the green accent wall). It also made the cover of the September 2009 Issue of BC Home. I still have 20 copies of that magazine around here somewhere.
Would you like to share your goals with us for 'Colour Me Happy' in 2011?
My goals this year are many but a big one is to publish an ebook. The title is a secret.
