Well I haven't actually done it yet but do plan to use Maria Killam in the future for a few things. Spend some time reading through her actual blog. She's done color consulting for a long time now and offers online ones (linked). She's also familiar with different countertop materials and colors. I would send her an email and inquire if you have any questions. YMMV but my perfectionist self feels comfortable spending my money here.

Maria Killam

more edesign info.

Someone on the Kitchen forum recently used Maria Killam and was very please with the results.

thanks for the advice. She's on my list.

I used one of the longtime posters from GardenWeb and here, Amy Woolf. Similar situation, open floorplan, concerns about how to photograph accurately .... She sent paint samples to me to photograph with my cabinets, tiles, floor etc and because she knows what the paint sample is supposed to look like, could tell from that whether my pics were skewing dark, light, gray, yellow or whatever. That created a reality base for her to work off in order to find colors for my house. It was a very successful (and fun!) process and I couldn't be happier with the results

Thanks so much DLM2000. Another poster wrote about her experience with MK-- sounded a bit too fast and furious for me, so glad to have another choice.

I have used both Maria Killam and Kylie M Interiors.

I was happier than expected with both. They must have a good eye for seeing really amateur photos on their monitors.

Maria Killam’s was a telephone consult. She works fast and specified colors for a bedroom, an office, a bathroom, master bath, kitchen, and basement all during one hour. She also told me I already had the right color for my living room which was a pleasant surprise… at least she doesn’t recommend change for the sake of change.

I love the colors she selected for the bedroom, office and bathrooms. I do not like the color selected for the kitchen and am ambivalent about the basement color (and so haven’t painted it yet).

I purchased an exterior consult from Kylie M and really love the way the color palette she selected turned out. The main reason I went with her was strictly based on price. Her consult is conducted over email based on a questionnaire and photos and she sends you her recommendations in writing. Based on that success, I purchased a $45 consult to select a kitchen color since I didn’t like the one I’d painted based on Maria Killam’s recommendation. I really like the colors she selected (she recommended three), but haven’t painted yet so can’t say how it looks on the walls.

Appreciate everyone's feedback.

Sheeisback-- thanks for the link -- it gave me a better understanding of how MK works. .

I know MK has many years experience and can cram a lot of work into an hour. But does she listen to you the client? I know she knows her stuff -- just don't know if I can click with her. I've dealt with some local designers who just didn't like what furniture I had -- I know what I have isn't ideal, but it is what it is.

DLM2000 -- I've exchanged an email or 2 with Amy Woolf-- we both have SRQ in our online names. Not a very scientific approach, but I liked our chat. will see.

Gracefullyaged-- sounds like you have a plan.

I'm still pulling things together so I can have a meaningful dialog with whoever I choose. I purchased MK's eBook about undertones, but it was a bit fuzzy for the first read. .

Will make new post when I decide what to do.

On this site, we also have funcolors, Lori Sawaya. A link to her home page and a link to her website are below.

https://www.houzz.com/pro/funcolors/lori-a-sawaya

http://thelandofcolor.com/get-color-help/

I used Amy Woolf, and was beyond happy with the results. I would not have ever considered Maria Killam because I don't like her taste-- but obviously that's a personal thing. What I really liked about Amy was that she has a very personal approach. She looks at what would be best for your situation, and is not caught up in always recommending the trendiest colors.

I was hesitant about using an online consultant at first, but after working with Amy on a number of rooms, I really don't see myself going it alone again. What I saved in not buying extraneous paint samples and not continually second guessing myself more than justified the cost.

My only hesitation in using an online color consultant is the question of light/lighting. How can they tell how much natural light you get, etc?

Our local Ben Moore store had a color consultant I used. I think it was around $150 and she came to the house. You might want to check with your local paint stores.

I told Amy about the amount of light we got, etc. What I liked about her approach was that she didn't just give me a single color and tell me to use it. She sent a variety of large samples in a particular color family and I got to play around with them in my room, with my light, matching them against my rug, etc. Once I got the samples it was pretty easy for me to tell the one or two that would work best. But if you need more help, she is there. I know the online thing can sound counterintuitive and a bit risky, but it really worked for me.

A friend recently used a color consultant from a paint store and I can't say she got better results from an in-person consult. I think much depends on the talent of the individual-- many of the online consultants have their portfolios on their web sites, so at least you can get a bit of insight into their taste levels, and whether you like what they have done.

Joanieponie -- No color consultants in local BM stores, but thanx.

sas95 --very helpful info-- I didn't know Amy sent variety of samples -- definitely a plus. I'm more of a collaborator-- don't like being "told" what to do.

WalnutCreekZone 7b/8a -- thanks for the links-- will check them out.

After digesting everyone's help, I'm more positive about the online consult. This conversation has been so helpful!! Using local color consultants, I never saw samples of her work or what I did see really didn't click but I didn't want to say no thanks. Now I just have to figure out my cellphone camera-- MK said "no flash"

thanks everyone!

I'm very intrigued and bookmarking these posts for future reference. We are debating whether to downsize in the next year or so. If we do, I'll definitely need color help in the new place. If we stay put, I definitely want to repaint the master bedroom and bath.

DLM2000 -- your experience adds a lot of substance to your recommendation. Now I also know to add info about where light comes in and how rooms flow. This has been a great conversation-- the best I've ever had online, Thanks everyone for your insights. Now I know to include direction for light --Inspires me.

DLM2000 - Just curious, what safe-but-not-safe color did you end up going with after your consult?

i was wondering that too msrose! :)

Sorry we just got internet back from the storms.

Background first because that's what informed this choice and you probably aren't working with the same situation. We just built a 'house on acreage, big windows everywhere with views pretty much 360. It's very green and rolling hills, huge trees and that's the visual focus so I wanted walls to support that not compete. That and we will be decorating s-l-o-w-l-y over time as we recover financially :-) so this has to work with whatever direction that decorating goes and be easy to live with. Walls are Ben Mo Natural Cream OC-14, trim is Mountain Peak White OC-121 and ceilings are Dove Wing OC-18. In previous houses I have ALWAYS used plain old ceiling white and occasionally added in some of the wall color to help marry them and trim was always a bright white, crisp and sharp. This is SO much more harmonious and the transitions are still crisp but much softer, more flowing. As all paint will, this morphs not only room to room but wall to wall within a room, depending on time of day and season. Sometimes it looks positively creamy, other times almost putty but it's always a neither here nor there look, not definitely warm or cool. Amy nailed it.