Nanuet, NY

The five Chinese Feng Shui elements ~ wood, fire, earth, metal, and water ~ can define five different traits of chi or energy. These five elements are also referred to as the "five transformations" due to the fact that each element can define a specific kind of energy to change the chi of that space. As discussed in a previous blog, each of the Feng Shui elements is associated with a specific object type, color, and shape. By manipulating the balance of these five elements in a specific space, the balance of chi is also adjusted. The addition of more red in a space (which is the Fireelement), such as red candles, red curtains, or red pillows the chi energy will be more energized. While the addition of browns and beiges (which is the Earth element), such as ceramics will help you feel more secure. The Water element, whether through the use of fountains or a picture of the ocean, tends to increase communication. Adding metallic objects or shapes (the Metal element) will help your ability to focus. Through the addition of greenery or even the color green (the Wood element) will help you launch new projects.

The decorating in each room should contain all of the five elements; the Feng Shui elements do not need to be represented equally. A small grouping of the 5 elements can be used to balance a room.

Some objects combine several different energies together. For example, a white candle with a vine pattern represents a Fire object with a Wood shape and a Metal color. The candle represents three elements. To make the candle represent all 5 elements it could be set on a blue (Water element) ceramic object (Earth element). If a green plant (Wood element) was placed in a blue (Water element) ceramic planter (Earthelement), three of the elements are already implemented and then all you need to complete your room's Feng Shui balance would be a white candle (Fire element) on a silver tray (Metal Element).

How the Energy Interacts -

N/A - there is no interaction that will affect the elements.

N - the elements support and are nourished by each other.

D - the elements interactions are destructive to each other. Metal is destructive to wood.

WI - the elements are weakened, when another element is increased. For example, you increase wood, the water chi will be weakened in the space.

DS - the elements are destroyed.

Based on this chart, metal is destroyed by fire, wood is destroyed by metal, water is destroyed by earth, fire is destroyed by water, and earth is destroyed wood. Metal nourishes water, water nourishes wood, wood nourishes fire, fire nourishes earth, and earth nourished metal.

If you add a Water element object, at the same time you are strengthening the Wood energy and weaking the the Metal chi.

Adding the five Feng Shui elements to every room will help you create balance and harmony within the room. By understanding the 5 elements and how each element interacts with the others, will help you understand how to create an appropriate home decor scheme. To determine which areas to focus your Feng Shui knowledge on, use your Baqua Map to locate which of the eight areas to prioritize.

Kate

Kate's Home Staging and Redesign, serves the New York and New Jersey area, we specialize in home staging, interior design, home decorating, color consultations, home decor discounts, and sell semi-custom window coverings. Call Kate to schedule you design consultation at 845-538-3623 or visit www.kateshomestaging.com

I was working with an agent who was selling a house that was full of antiques. The client was down-sizing so the obvious question was, "What do we do with all of them?" The homeowner's daughter wanted to take pictures of the items and post them on eBay but I figured this might be a topic worth investigating. I searched my yellow pages and was luck enough to get a gentleman who has been in the antique business for 30+ years. He said that given the current economy, they have become very particular about what they purchase. Bottom line, you can reach out to local antique dealers and if you know what you have, you give them a list. If it's interesting enough, they'll come out to you and see what you have. He also said that you can email all of the antique dealers with pictures of what you have and again, if they're interested, you'll get a response. Now I was also in touch with a larger antique dealer who is also a certified appraiser and he offers more options. He said that they can come in and inventory all of your pieces and have a tag or estate sale. He said that these are very popular and can attract a broader and larger population. In addition, they could purchase the entire collection of antiques as they do auctions every couple of months and also post items on eBay. He was not a proponent of the homeowner doing this on their own since he said it's a very involved process. This particular dealer said he has three staff members that handle eBay auctions. In addition, if you're an agent who has a referral for this larger dealer, he offers a referral fee. So I just thought I'd share this information in hopes you would find it useful. If you're in the Rockland County, NY area and are interested in the names of my contacts, I'd be happy to share!

From recycled glass tile, bamboo flooring, textiles, low VOC paints, cleaning products, to home design products, the trend towards green design seems to be growing due to consumer's heightened consciousness of the importance of using items that are good for our environment. Using recycled items is also gaining interest among interior design clients.

There are varying degrees of "green," also called eco-friendly design, but in general a product must be made from a renewable material that was grown organically with minimally impact to the environment; the manufacturing process must not cause pollution. Green products may be recyclable, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable, and some may even save energy (such as energy star appliances and energy efficient light bulbs).

If you were to ask the average person what going green means, they may picture lines of solar panels angled on their roof line. While solar panels are a great way to save money on your energy bill and definitely fall under the going green umbrella - the expense of installing them can be very steep; simple changes can have a positive impact in our lives as well. If you need to upgrade your flooring, going with a bamboo or cork is a would be an environmentally friendly option. When selecting a wall paint, it is always healthier to select a low or no-VOC paint, since it uses water as an ingredient and is less hazardous to the environment.

Eco friendly interior decoration avoids using toxin-introducing materials in your home. Synthetic fragrances and air fresheners may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can irritate the respiratory system. Candles made before 2003 were made with lead-core wicks and are now banned, according to the National Candle Association. Organic soy and beeswax are green options that are better frangrance choices for your home; these choices are safe for pregnant woman and people with asthma.

When selecting cleaning products, it is always a better option to select a green product. Synthetic cleaners pollute our environment and can affect our lungs. Using water and steaming your ceramic tile is a great way to clean your kitchen floor. Products such as Cleaning the Green, are all natural and are great glass and surface cleaners. Also, Pet Pure Ayre Odor Eliminator is all natural and safe for your pets and will eliminate all your pet's odors. Vinegar and water is also a great all natural cleaner for your kitchen and bathroom. Believe me, you will start to feel better when you use all natural cleaners in your home.

Keep in mind that "greening" your entire home does not happen overnight, it is an ongoing process that can lead up to an large environmental impact overtime that will also affect your health positively. Adding plants are an excellent green option and design element to add to any room.

Kate

Kate's Home Staging and Redesign, specializes in home staging, interior design, home decorating, vacant staging, color consultations, and more. Contact Kate at 845-538-3623 to schedule your design consultation, www.kateshomestaging.com

I just finished this bathroom redesign and I'm really happy with the results! This is a new townhouse so the walls were white and I painted them a light creamy gold. There's no natural light here so the wall color was really important. I purchased coordinating accessories and bathroom furniture that was originally white! The client wanted the furniture, so I painted it a rich deep purple which was the color of the piping in the bath towels. I picked up a more regal mirror and finished it off with a picture I found and here are the before and after photos. I'd love to hear your comments! Need me to redesign anything for you???

After 23 years in the banking business, and a salary that my husband says was too good to walk away from, I decided to start my staging & redesign business. I know, I know, you're sitting there thinking what does banking and design have to do with each other? Well I am one of those people that says, "Give me food and drink, and I'll be there!" I've been helping family and friends for over 20 years with home improvement projects. I found as my days in banking got increasingly stressful, (I did work for Citibank!), having a home improvement project to do, gave me an outlet for my stress! So here I am and the passion for work that was missing from my life has returned! Thanks to the support of my wonderful husband Tony, I have been able to take on this new venture and I have never been happier! It's been a lot of work getting the business up and running and taking care of every detail on my own, but I've learned a lot. If anyone needs help in this area, give me a call. I hope you'll allow me the opportunity to help you with your home staging and redesign needs. If you check out my profile, I've included some detailed information on the services I provide. My website is being revamped so the one that's up right now, I did. (Please be kind!) So how was that for my first blog??