Gratitude

Photo by Katy Ho

 Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
~ Buddha
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, I am feeling so grateful for the wonderful community I live in where good friends & neighbors joined together to share from their hearts & homes! ~kathleen

Eliminate Morning Madness! Must Have Mudrooms & Entryways

Summer is quickly winding down with cooler days & nights that feel like fall. Labor Day is around the corner and we're already shopping for back-to-school supplies and clothing. Mornings need not be frantic last minute searches before heading out the door for the bus or carpool. Take the stress out of them by getting organized and having backpacks packed with homework & assignments, boots & shoes, outerwear & accessories organized the evening before in baskets and on shelves in your mudroom or entryway. Don't have a mudroom? A dresser, coat hooks, baskets and a bookcase can help you organize a corner near the door. A simple cubby is easy to build. Home Depot will cut the lumber to your measurements. My husband and I built one in about an hour. (Materials $78). We painted it white and added coat hooks and baskets. A boot tray corrals wet shoes and boots while protecting the floor.

A Feng Shui Consultation for the Draper Residence

I am a huge fan of AMC's hit show Mad Men, so I am excited that they have finally begun filming Season 5.
I'm doing a fantasy feng shui consultation for the Draper residence in today's blog, but first, the latest buzz about the show~The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards is only 33 days away, airing Sun 9/18 & Mad Men is nominated for 19 categories including Best Drama, Best Actor (Jon Hamm), Best Actress (Elisabeth Moss) and Best Writing (Matthew Weiner). Hamm's toughest competition: Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Globe and SAG awards winner, & Mad Men hasn't won any acting Emmys, yet. Good luck this time, Jon~you have my vote.

Feng Shui Consultation for the Draper Residence by Kathleen Ho Feng Shui

During Season Four, Betty continues to live in the Draper residence with her new husband, Henry Francis~a year after her divorce. Don Draper is paying the mortgage which is a point of bitter contention between Don and Betty. Betty seems discontent in the home that she once shared with her ex-husband.

In the season finale, "Tomorrowland", Betty and Francis finally move from the Ossining house to a home in Rye. Don is meeting a real estate agent at the house, but is surprised to find Betty still there. They share a drink from a bottle of liquor Don retrieves from a cabinet and he tells her that he is engaged.

I don't know if Don Draper will move back into the Ossining house once he and Megan are married, but a feng shui consultation would bring balance and harmony to the home as they begin their married life. Because this is my fantasy, I am consulting the Draper residence fully furnished as it was in Seasons 1-4 by set decorator, Amy Wells. I've done my research. I combed through episodes, taking a "virtual tour" of their home, making notes.

First, the house is in need of space clearing to revitalize stuck energy that has been building up in the Draper residence over time. A space clearing is a good idea anytime there is a major energy shift in a home including a new home purchase to clear out previous tenant energy, a baby's birth, a new job or career change, illness, death or even a bad argument. The Draper household has been on an emotional roller coaster the past few seasons~that's a lot of stuck energy in those walls!

The Consultation
Prior to my on-site feng shui visit, I request floor plans and a property site plan for review. I also explain that payment is traditionally paid in one-nine red envelopes to the feng shui expert. The red envelope acts as a protection for the feng shui expert who is imparting sacred feng shui knowledge to the client. The client demonstrates respect and openness to the feng shui expert by finding a red envelope to make payment, and presenting it at the time of the consultation. The color red is protective in Chines tradition and "burns" away negative chi.

When I arrive, I follow the straight walkway to the Draper's front door. Ideally, paths to the front door should be curved and winding to slow the chi down. Flowers and shrubs planted along the walkway edge will help slow the chi. I take a walk around the exterior of the property taking note that there are no missing areas at the front of the house and that the front door opens in Knowledge and Career areas of the bagua. The front hedges need trimming to allow vital chi to flow freely in through the windows during the day.

The red front door is a symbol of good fortune for the residents. The color red helps chi to find its way to the home and raises the chi as it enters. A welcome mat, porch lights and a pair of planters with seasonal plantings would enhance the front entrance.

Once inside the well-lit foyer, I notice the staircase to the second floor that is across from the entrance. When a doorway is directly across from a staircase, chi rushes out the door and takes with it good fortune and opportunities. I recommend hanging a 30mm faceted crystal from the lantern to disperse the chi and keep it flowing through the home. In my virtual tour I am happy to note the red rug in the foyer, a perfect cure to slow down the chi. A heavy planter placed near the top of the stairs will slow down the chi, also. There is a tiered round table by the door with a vase. Keep fresh flowers or cuttings from the garden to welcome guests and bring vital living energy into the home.

The Draper's living room is located in three areas of the bagua, Knowledge & Self Cultivation, Family and Wealth. The door opens in Knowledge. The fireplace is in a good location, Fame & Reputation (Fire is the element for this area of the bagua). The stereo is also in a good spot: Creativity and Children, Metal is the element and electronics with their metal components belong here. So go ahead and crank up your Sinatra albums, Don! The main seating, usually a sofa, should be in a commanding position so you can see the door. This is so you feel protected and secure helping you to be comfortable and relaxed.  I love this curved sofa, but your back is to the door, leaving you exposed and unaware of what is happening "behind your back". A narrow table placed behind the sofa provides support. Hang a mirror across from the sofa so you can see anyone entering.  Also, the shape of the sofa and color are Metal attributes. Metal "chops" Wood in the controlling cycle. The coral carpet and pillows (Fire) help to weaken the metal element of the sofa. The blue walls and pillows (symbolizing water) help nourish the Wood element of Family & Wealth.

In Season 3, Episode 7 "Seven Twenty Three"   Betty hires a decorator to redo her living room. The room now feels more balanced. The sofa is in the commanding position. The carpet and draperies are lighter. The two chairs in a graphic print are not considered the primary seating so they are fine. Don suggests to move the end table and lamp to the other side of the sofa which blocks the flow if you are walking through the room (there is a door to the right of the sofa leading to the study).
The bookshelves are highlighted with lighting and coral paint. It's always a good idea to enhance corners of the room so that energy doesn't stagnate there. In the video you can see that there is a table with a lamp and framed photos to the left of the door (Knowledge in the room's bagua). Light sources, as I have mentioned before, are excellent ways to enhance any area of the bagua. The living room decor tells your guests something about you. Amy Wells has chosen Murano glass for the Drapers, and a modern chinoiserie breakfront. There are decorative accents in pairs throughout the room. Feng Shui Plus for this room! Well, until Betty adds her own decorative touch:

Her decorator is horrified and doesn't want to be considered responsible for it. Amy Wells also asks production designer Dan Bishop if it has to be added. Feng shui consultant Kathleen Ho suggests to move it across from the sofa and angle the chairs on either side of the fireplace if it's staying, otherwise remove it to improve the flow of the room.

Everything Happens for a Purpose

In times of reflection, I need only listen and the still voice within always responds. And here's a reliable favorite from my bookshelf: The Spiritual Teachings of MARCUS AURELIUS by Mark Forstater~

Good Vision
Observe carefully and you will see that everything that happens happens for a purpose. 

I don't just mean the actual unfolding of events in time, but the way these events carry meaning, as if some guiding hand were giving each event its own significance. 

Continue to observe yourself, and follow this same principle: that all your actions must be good~good meaning the correct way a man should act. Express this goodness in everything you do. MARCUS AURELIUS (The Spiritual Teachings of Marcus Aurelius by Mark Forstater)

Feng Shui~Perfect Porches & Patios

Outdoor rooms are such a lovely escape and asset for any home! I lived in Portola Valley, California, on a mountain for the first year of my marriage and we dined by candlelight most evenings on our deck overlooking the San Francisco skyline. Hummingbirds were among the regulars seeking nectar from our potted petunias in an array of floral bloom.

Our east coast home has a porch which I enjoy, especially on a cool evening in the summer, but I miss that view from my mountain home! My friend, Meg, lives in Calabasas, California and says her family enjoys their outdoor room year-round. They recently renovated their patio with Dublin sandstone pavers, new furnishings, and plantings. The space provides a perfect enclave for family, friends, and their rescue-dog, Barney.

Outdoor rooms can be as simple as a chaise and potted plant and as elaborate as a deck with a built-in lounge, natural rock, water flowing from water terraces and an infinity pond. Outdoor room expert and internationally renowned landscaped designer, Jamie Durie, entices us with his vision and passion for creating the most gorgeous, and environmentally friendly designs. Visit his website at www.jamiedurie.com for more inspiration on planning your Outdoor Room!

On a recent feng shui consultation, my client asked if we include the porch in the bagua (the energy map that we lay over your floor plan and property site). Here's the simple rule of thumb: any part of the house that shares a roof is included. If a covered patio shares a roof with the house, it is included. Gazebos and patios that are not attached to the house would be included in the overall bagua for the property.

For example, a gazebo might be in the Relationship area of the property but would not be included in the bagua for the house. Enhancements for a gazebo in Relationships would be anything in pairs~two rockers or Adirondack chairs, for example, the colors red, white & pink, flowers, statues and sculptures that symbolize love, and candles.

The bagua is oriented from the entrance of your home or property. The entrance to your property, usually a driveway, is treated in the same way as the front door of the home and is known as "the mouth of chi" where the energy enters.

Many covered porches extend across the front of the house in the areas of Knowledge & Meditation, Career and Helpful People & Travel. A wrap-around porch would be included in several areas of the bagua. Feng shui enhancements are just as necessary for placement and decor for porch and patio areas as they are for interior spaces. If the porch or covered patio extends out from the house it may be considered an enhancement of a particular area of the bagua~Wealth if it is in the far left corner of the home. A water feature like a fountain would be a perfect enhancement in this area and accents in colors of deep purple or green.

Thank You!

To my friends~ Thank you for supporting me & loving me in my new adventure! I appreciate your thoughts and emails. Thank you! Happy Summer!xo

Magic Mirrors~

I love how Designer Eddie Ross took a simple mirror in an octagonal shape (the shape of the feng shui energy map, bagua) and changed it up with an etched monogram, a repurposed knob and a ribbon. This arrangement brings a balance of all the elements: Candlelight (Fire), Mirror (Water), Plant (Wood), Planter (Earth) and Crystal Sphere (Metal). My favorite blue is on the wall~See How-To's at his site. 

Mirrors are used to energize a missing area, expand a space, bring in natural light, reflect a view of nature, double whatever is reflected (watch out for clutter, a stack of unpaid bills or garbage and other images you would not want to magnify!), to activate chi and deflect negative energy (small mirrors can be hidden behind furniture and pictures, facing toward unwanted, negative energy "pushing" it away). Mirrors should be one piece of glass reflecting whole images, and not fragmented into pieces which distort the reflection. It is also important that mirrors do not "chop off part of your head".

Mirrors activate chi in a room and although they are fine to hang in a bedroom to bring in light or expand a small room, they should not reflect the bed, a window or the door. The bedroom is a place to rejuvenate and rest. Mirrors stimulate energy and if placed across from the bed they reflect your energy and disturb sleep. Solution: Remove them or cover mirrors at night.  Hang full length mirrors inside a closet. If you have mirrored closets reflecting your bed, hang curtains that you close at night. You will sleep better!

SACRED SPACE

Each of us have a sacred space within and in the world~the place that feeds the mind, body & soul. My sacred space is to be in nature by a body of water~the ocean is my favorite destination, but I can be happy by a lake, pond or a stream. I cannot go very long without a visit to the beach in any season and feel so fortunate to live 10 miles from the Long Island Sound! What feeds your soul? Take a moment today to be there in your mind or physically if you are able. Namaste!

The Meaning of "Namaste"

The gesture Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. "Nama" means bow, "as" means I, and "te" means you. Therefore, Namaste literally means "bow me you" or "I bow to you."(yogajournal.com)

 

 

 Photos by Kathleen Ho for Intuitive Designs

Feng Shui: Your Stove, Prosperity & Bread Baking 101!

     I mentioned in my previous blog that in feng shui, the kitchen (stove) is one of the most important areas of the home. Symbolically, the stove and burners represent the source of wealth in the home. Use all the burners, keep them clean and make sure they are all working properly to enhance family finances. Even though bread is baked in the oven and not cooked on the cooktop, I am going to share my favorite bread recipe. The wonderful aroma of bread baking and the custom of "breaking bread" with family & friends is one of the simple joys in life. 
     I searched online for a super-easy bread recipe that would have great texture and a golden crust to bake with my "aspiring chef" daughter, Casey. I had no idea that I would be able to bake a bread that is as wonderful to look at with it's golden crust as it is to eat and as good as any bakery around. I first found No Knead Bread on YouTube with NY Times Food Columnist, Mark Bittman, & Sullivan Street Bakery Owner, Jim Lahey. 

     We have been baking it almost every week since! Mix, let it rise, bake. It's that easy. Do not let the 18-hour rising time for the dough deter you. It's beyond worth it! Thank you Jim Lahey for sharing your recipe with the world. 

After 18 hrs

Turn it over into the dutch oven, seam side up

Done

Bon Appetit!
p.s. Change it up: sub 1-2 cups whole wheat, etc. 

I found it again on Martha Stewart's website where you can see the actual recipe and a video of Martha & Jim Lahey.