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Category Archives: feng shui
living walls
Living walls are cropping up all over the Bay Area! Vertical expanses of greenery provide a restful connection to nature without taking up too much space. They also require less water than horizontal gardens. The living wall at left serves … Continue reading
come and breathe for Japan with me
Japanese culture has had a profound impact on my life. Raised as an outspoken and independent American woman, I got quite a dose of culture shock when I first moved to the rural outskirts of Hamamatsu in my early 20s. … Continue reading
living with art
Should you build rooms around your art collection, or seek out artwork to complement your home? The best answer to this very personal question is either/or…both/and. Some art pieces speak to the soul in a profound way, while others are … Continue reading
stop the junk mail
Want to reduce clutter and save natural resources at the same time? Try using this free service to stop receiving all those catalogs that you never requested and don’t need or want! With a click of your mouse, you can … Continue reading
backyard waterfall
In the hilly terrain of the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve seen countless backyards that slope up steeply behind the house. More often than not, this portion of the yard is left to its own wild devices, which can be … Continue reading
Posted in design ideas, feng shui, hearths and mantels, outdoor entertaining, San Francisco Bay Area
Tagged fire pit, hillside landscaping, indoor-outdoor living, landscape design for a steep slope, landscape ideas for hilly backyard, landscaping a hilly backyard, Marin County, San Francisco Bay Area, sloped backyard, stone wall, treehouse, Waterfall
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playing with color!
Color is one of the most powerful ways to create emotional impact in an environment. Bright tones engage and arouse, rich natural tones soothe and relax, pale muted tones support moderation and self-restraint. While we see color with our eyes, … Continue reading
Posted in design ideas, feng shui, specialty paints
Tagged aqua, blue, color, Color palettes, Color theory, energetic qualities of color, gold, green, indigo, meanings of different colors, orange, paint colors, pink, purple, red, violet, yellow
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CFLs and EMFs
In the past few years, I’ve taken a number of steps to make my home more energy-efficient (improved weather-stripping and insulation, all new windows, Energy Star appliances, etc.), but there’s one area where I’ve really dragged my feet, and that … Continue reading
deep and peaceful sleep
Harvard Health recently reported that one in five Americans are sleeping less than six hours per night, and that a large majority of us report having sleep difficulties at least a few nights a week. I was somewhat startled (and … Continue reading
Posted in design ideas, feng shui, health & wellness, window coverings
Tagged bedroom, Electronics, Health, Insomnia, nature images, Sleep, Sleep disorder, White noise
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blessing your home
The essence of a blessing ceremony in feng shui is to open your heart and cast your loving awareness into the environment around you. Moving slowly and patiently, greet each object with gratitude, compassion, acceptance and reverence. It’s amazing how … Continue reading
Posted in feng shui, health & wellness
Tagged blessing ceremony, compassion, gratitude, reverence
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the sensuality of chaos
We all enjoy a clean and organized space, but getting too rigid about this can make your home feel sterile and disconnected from nature. Life itself is blatantly sensuous, not fussy… imagine the scent of fresh dark soil, the relaxed … Continue reading