Frequently Asked Questions

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Everything you need to know about Online Color Consultations, packages, and what Kylie can (and can’t) help with, organized by topic so you can jump straight to what you need, or use the search below.

General FAQs Virtual Consultations Paint Color Advice Guides

General FAQs

Trust, experience, and who Kylie works with

This ain’t my first rodeo! Before starting Virtual Consulting, I spent many years doing in-home consulting in over 1,500 homes. These years and experiences taught me how different materials, lighting conditions, and exposures can affect how paint colors look – and how to spot the details that matter most.

Today, I have over 12,000 consultations under my belt. While all homes are unique in their finishes, furnishings, layouts, and other factors, I rarely encounter anything I haven’t seen or experienced before.

I also learned a lot about people (though 10 years of bartending probably helped, too). Working with homeowners and renters face-to-face helped me interpret what people mean, not just what they say – to read between the lines. All of this combined helps me create the perfect spaces for them and their families – both 2 and 4-legged.

With over 24 years of study and hands-on experience, Kylie is one of North America’s top experts in residential paint color advice.

  • Interior Designers, Real Estate Professionals, and Home Stagers regularly turn to Kylie when they’re faced with challenging – or everyday – color situations.
  • Over 12,000 homeowners and renters have trusted Kylie M. to help them choose the best paint colors for their homes
  • Kylie M. specializes in REAL homes with real-life challenges, including tricky or outdated finishes, tight budgets, and family members who disagree on what’s best (I’ve saved more than a few marriages).
  • Every recommendation is based on experience, color science, and thousands upon thousands of successfully completed projects.
  • Rather than focusing solely on trends, Kylie considered real-life considerations like lighting, exposure, finishes, architecture, size, and personal tastes to create beautiful, cohesive spaces without unnecessary and costly renovations.

Ooooh boy, where do we start? Let’s bullet-point this bad boy…

  • More than 24 years of experience, including 1500+ in-home consultations and 10,000+ virtual color consultations. From repaints and remodels to new home construction, I’ve helped thousands of homeowners make decisions on paint colors, countertops, fireplaces, trims, flooring, exterior finishes, and more. While my niche is PAINT COLORS, I’ve spent many years putting it all together on a very large scale.
  • I’m constantly immersed in the world of paint colors and Design – this isn’t just a job, it’s a hobby – it’s an obsession (thank you, OCD), current with what’s coming in and what’s going out. Through a combo of consulting, blogging (600+ articles), research, and study, I stay current on emerging trends, fading trends, and timeless colors and finishes that hold their appeal year after year.
  • My focus is on what YOU want for your home and what suits it best – whether you want a home that follows current trends, reflects your personal style, or has timeless appeal (or all 3), my goal is to help you create a space that feels like you.
  • I specialize in REAL homes – not rooms ready for magazine photoshoots. My considerations include your finishes and furnishings (whether they’re updated or outdated), lighting, exposure, and personal tastes.
  • Designers and Consultants have a reputation of being…well, let’s call it ‘intimidating’ (and expensive). My approach is straightforward, approachable (and a bit quirky), and honest. You’ll get professional advice, creative ideas, and a bit of personality along the way – without the Designer attitude.

Kylie M. specializes in Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Wiliams paints, and these are the colors she focuses her consultations on.

She’s dabbled in Farrow & Ball and Behr, and while her deepest knowledge lies with BM and SW, she’s happy to refer to these other brands on a case-by-case basis.

Oh, you bet she does! While the majority of her work is in North America, she’s done many consults overseas, including…

  • The UK (Scotland and England)
  • Russia
  • Paris
  • New Zealand
  • Australia
  • Africa

Absolutely, I work with Designers and homeowners who have hired Designers all the time.

Designers: We ALL have our niches and strengths. If color isn’t yours (as I know they don’t cover it NEARLY well enough in school), hand over the reins. I’m happy to help!
Also, if you send in after photos, I’m happy to link to your company when those images are added to my site – this is great exposure for you, as my site receives an average of 700,000 page views per month.

Homeowners: If you’ve hired a Designer and aren’t sure their color choices are right for you and your home, hand ‘em over. I’ll review them to make sure they make sense or suggest alternatives. You would still purchase the FULL Package, whether you’re choosing colors from scratch or reviewing them.

Personalized Virtual Consultations

What to expect

Signature consult: You’ll receive your consultation within 8-10* days of completing your questionnaire and sending in your photos.
*I can often do it sooner for an additional fee (so long as I have time in my schedule).

Quick consult: You’ll receive your consultation within 3 business days of completing your questionnaire and sending in your photos.

Learn the difference between these 2 consults below.

We’re a Mom and Pop business. This means that Tim (the hubby) hasn’t had a chance to send it! We commit to sending it within 24 hours, but he’s usually on it within 8 hours or sooner.

I consult from Real Estate photos all the time; however, they aren’t ideal.

Through editing and the ‘purpose’ of these photos, the colors are often tweaked or distorted. I’m more than happy to do my best, but having your own set of photos is ideal.

It depends on the package you choose.

  • The Signature Package offers you 3-6 specific, personalized paint color suggestions.
  • The Quick Consult: I suggest the color family (or 2) that has the best chance of success in your space – you choose the final color.

Signature package
This package is where Kylie dives deep in her lil’ Ginger brain, combining your home’s finishes, lighting (interior and exposure), architectural features, size, and your questionnaire answers with the colors most likely to succeed in your space.

  • A personalized assessment of your home, its needs vs. your needs, and what I consider when coming up with your paint colors. You get to choose how deep I dive, as your questionnaire includes a question re: ‘how much do you really want to know?’. Some just want the colors – no muss or fuss; others want a glass of wine and a good chat (virtually, of course)!
  • 3-6 specific color suggestions (3 is the norm) as well as a coordinated white trim color (if needed).
  • Detailed instructions for sampling your suggested paint colors properly.
  • Tips on taking photos of your samples so I can assess them properly on my end (if you decide to use your follow-up email).
  • Recommendations on the best paint finishes for any surface.
  • Support via a follow-up email. This could be for confirmation or for adjusting (if needed).

This type of consult gives you EXACT color recommendations – no color groups or families – you get the exact colors that you should sample, along with support via a follow-up email.
The Signature Package helps you choose specific paint colors. The Quick Consult helps you choose from the right color family – no follow-up email is included.

Quick consults
Think of these as my starter packages. I help you narrow down the options within a particular color family – you choose the final color.

Instead of receiving specific color recommendations, you’ll receive 1-2 (rarely 3) curated Color Bundle recommendations based on your home’s finishes, lighting, architectural details, and size.

A Color Bundle includes 6-8 similar colors within a specific color family and depth, giving you a focused group of colors to sample and compare. While these Color Bundles are pre-created, I carefully and thoughtfully choose the ones I believe have the highest chance of success in your space.

Your Quick Consult includes…

  • 1 or 2 Curated Color Bundle recommendations
  • A brief explanation as to why I think they’re the best fit for your home
  • Detailed instructions for sampling your suggested paint colors properly.
  • Recommendations on the best paint finishes for any surface.

Quick Consults include a brief, 4-question questionnaire (no room for personal tastes/wants/dilemmas – it’s very basic). It does not include a follow-up email or alternative suggestions at this price point.

If what you need isn’t listed as a package, I likely don’t offer it right now. However, I cover a lot of bases with my packages.

Single room package
This is for projects that involve a single room with 1 function. If your room is an open-concept space (e.g., kitchen/family room or living/dining), you need the Open Concept package.

Available add-ons
Cabinet, bathroom vanity, island, accent wall, and interior of front door.

Open concept/whole home package
This is for projects that involve…

  • Open-concept rooms (a space that has 2+ functions in 1, such as a living/dining or kitchen/family).
  • These are spaces NOT divided by doors – the walls all connect.

Or

  • Multiple single rooms that you want painted the SAME COLOR. If you want rooms with different colors, you need a Single Room package for each. This can range from 2 rooms painted the same color to your WHOLE HOME painted the same color.


Available add-ons:
Cabinet, bathroom vanity, island, accent wall, and interior of front door.

Cabinet/vanity package
This package is for painting your kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanity, or built-ins (office/living room/etc).

  • If you have kitchen cabinets AND built-ins and want them the same color, this package covers that.
  • If you have kitchen cabinets AND built-ins and want them in different colors, you need 2 packages, so I can coordinate your palette for you!

Front door package
This package is for your front door only – inside and/or outside.

This can’t be used for trim only. If your home is ALL BRICK OR STONE and you need a trim color, it’s considered the ‘main house color’ on homes like these – I don’t have a ‘trim only’ package.

Exterior package
For most homes, this covers…

  • The MAIN COLOR on the front (and sides/back) of your home.
  • From there, you can add-on trim, front door, shutters, and garage door. 2 of these are often painted the same color (not every home can handle a huge color palette).


If the front of your home is ALL STONE OR BRICK and you need a trim color for the TRIM ONLY, this is considered the ‘main house color’ and is covered by this package.

If the front of your home is ALL STONE OR BRICK and you need trim color, as well as a color for the siding/stucco the sides/back of your home, please order this package with the TRIM add-on, as well as the front door/shutters/garage door (as needed).

Paint Color Advice

What can Kylie M. help with?

If you can paint it, you bet I’ve got some ideas for it!

Interiors
Walls, cabinets, trims

Extra details:
I’m happy to advise on paintable details like stair railings (paint colors, not stain), fireplace mantels, non-white ceilings, accent furniture, etc.

If you have any extra details you’d like covered, please purchase the ‘accent wall’ add-on to cover the cost (1 add-on per item).

At this time, I don’t advise on stains due to variations in wood species and stain brands. However, I’m happy to point you in the right direction with some visual support from Pinterest.

Exteriors
Siding or stucco, colors to paint over brick or stone, trim, front door, garage door, shutters.

At this time, I don’t advise on stains due to variations in wood species and stain brands. However, I’m happy to point you in the right direction with some visual support from Pinterest.

Yes, I’m happy to advise on interior or exterior colors for commercial projects. This includes counseling, therapy, and doctors’ offices, gyms, restaurants, and more.

At this time, Kylie M. specializes in paint colors only.

If you have a row of samples in a photo (e.g., 3 wood flooring samples) and would like Kylie’s opinion, she’s happy to share it. However, she will not source or select finishes.

Absolutely. Because I have ADHD, OCD, and anxiety (it’s a lovely trifecta of magic and wonder), I’m especially sensitive to how our surroundings can affect the way we think, feel, relax, focus, and function on a daily basis.

Whether it’s for your bedroom, living space, office, or a working space like a counseling or therapy office, I’m happy to help and understand what you want or need in your space.

While there’s never a ‘one-color-suits-all’ situation, I’m here to help you choose colors that suit your needs while humoring your home’s finishes, lighting, etc., but your needs come above all else most of the time. I want to help you create a space that feels beautiful, comfortable, balanced, and supportive of your daily needs.

Heck yes, that’s my wheelhouse!

While I’ve completed thousands of consults for new construction, most of my work involves helping homeowners make the most of the finishes they already have. In fact, many of my clients aren’t looking to replace their countertops, tiles, or furnishings, they just want paint colors that go with them/update them.

My color advice helps with:

  • Tricky cabinet colors, including cream, wood, gray, white or otherwise.
  • Bringing together a variety of finishes that don’t seem to belong together (it’s rare that I can’t make it work).
  • Challenging spaces, whether they’re too big, too small, dark, or oddly shaped
  • Refreshing and updating older finishes without needing to replace them
  • Respecting your home’s roots, architectural style, and character, along with the character of those living in it!

Absolutely – interior or exterior! Whether you’re at the drawing stage, bare studs, or hanging drywall, I can suggest colors. Ideally, you’ll have chosen some of your main finishes – countertop, fireplace finish, stone, brick, tiles, etc – as these heavily influence color selection.

However, if you’d rather start with paint colors and coordinate your finishes from there, I can do that, too!

In place of photos, you’ll send in your home’s architectural drawings, images of any finishes you’d chosen, along with some inspiration images.

I do it every day.

Most finishes aren’t as hopeless as the homeowner thinks. Sure, the odd finish can be a challenge, but most cabinets, countertops (granite, laminate, quartz), fireplaces (stone, brick), carpets, and tiles can be given a fresh, updated look with the right paint colors – they just need a fresh, educated eye.

The right color won’t change the finish itself – it is what it is, but it can completely change how you see it.

You bet your cute little booty I can. Whether you have 1980s brick, greige-taupe windows, or a roof color you don’t love, I’m EXCITED to help you give your home a facelift with the right paint colors!

Yes, but it’s under the full package pricing. I’ve done this many (many) times, and more often than not, changes are needed. In this case, I’m treating the home as a full project (as it is). Even if I confirm everything IS okay and nothing needs to be changed, it’s the same price (and well worth it to feel confident with your choices!

Home and Paint Color Guides

Which guide is right for you?

I ALWAYS recommend starting with Colorful Language. While it’s more ‘interior-focused’, learning the basics of color, exposure, LRV, terms, coordinating, etc, is the best way to get off on the right foot!

From there, choose your focus: Cabinets, Exteriors, Decorating, Home Staging, or White Paint Colors. I plan to add more Guides in the near future!

I sure as heck hope so, as by the time you’re done, you’ll have WAY more color confidence!

My goal is to help you make smarter, more informed color choices. This is done by helping you understand how your home’s finishes, lighting, exposure, and other factors can affect how a paint color appears.

Through real-life examples, practical advice, and real-home lessons I’ve learned over 12,000 consults, you’ll learn how to narrow down your color options from 1000s to a focused shortlist, and hopefully, to your 1 perfect paint color!

While no guide can guarantee you’ll never make a mistake, Kylie M’s Color Guides help you approach color (or Design) with way more confidence. Learn to avoid common mistakes, make more informed color decisions, and move forward with confidence and excitement rather than uncertainty.

Yes, you’ll find references to many paint colors throughout these guides. Where possible, I’ve included the colors shown in photos, along with some of my personal faves.

The White Guide, in particular, includes very particular color suggestions.

If colors aren’t listed with an image, either…
a) I’ve forgotten the color and can’t find the OG in my files, or
b) I’m not sure what the color is (e.g., some of the exterior photos are examples from my town).

Hi, I’m Kylie

For over 24 years I’ve helped 12,000+ homeowners and renters make more confident decisions on paint colours and affordable home updates using real home examples and practical, experience-based advice. My goal is simple: help you love the home you have.

Meet Kylie

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