• Select a decorative fixture that gives out a lot of light. Do not be afraid to make a statement with the fixture as it will add interest to the room.
• Placing a mirror on one of the walls will expand the space and reflect the light. If the front door faces a wall, the mirror will deflect the feeling of blockage upon entry.
• Staircase: From your note, it seems like the staircase is on one side of the entry. This is a good location for it. If it is directly facing the front door (in a small space) the energy of money flows out. To counteract this negative effect,  place a decorative object between the   door and the last step. Objects can be a small decorative crystal attached to the bottom of the ceiling light, a chime on a wall by the door or any other movable object that suits your fancy.

• Paint is one of the less expensive remedy to a small space: Create drama by painting the walls and ceiling the same color. Pick a a dark hue. The stronger the color the more impact it will have.
• Place a decorative rug on the floor. Use one as large as the floor space will hold.
• Think large scale. Larger artwork/mirror on a wall will expand the feeling of the space.
• A water fountain in an entry can be very auspicious for business and work. Make sure it works!
• Front door: Give it some personality! Paint it a contrasting color or the same color as the walls if you want it to disappear. Paint the door frame to match the door.
• Last but not least: Keep the area clean and organized!

Our lives are so busy that it is very easy to overlook one of the most important rooms in the house:
THE MASTER BEDROOM!
This is the space where we retreat for rest. This is also the Couple’s retreat for intimacy and romance.
Below are a few tips to change the mood in your bedroom:

• How do you feel when entering your bedroom at the end of a long day?
• What is the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning? Make sure you enjoy the view!
• Role of the room: the bedroom represents the energy of calm and relaxation: Avoid having exercise equipment, a desk, or computer, as they symbolize movement and work, the opposite of what you need to get a good night rest. If they cannot be moved, shield them at night with a screen or cover them.
• TV in the bedroom? Not recommended as it is another element of high energy. If in a cabinet, close the doors while you sleep, or cover at night.
• Are you in a relationship or alone? In both cases look at your artwork and accessories. Surround yourself with items that not only make you feel good but also support your goals of a happy relationship. Using items in pair in that room is a good symbolism of the union of two. Display recent pictures of your couple.
• If you are looking for a companion: Display art that corresponds to your idea of the perfect union. Decorate the bedroom and make space as if the person was already living with you.
• Bed: Place the bed against the wall with a sturdy headboard to give yourself the support you need in life. The bed should be located to allow you to see the door from the bed, but not directly in front of the door.
• Bedding: There is nothing better than changing bedding to renew the spirit of a relationship. Add new sheets to create a fresh atmosphere. Touches of pink for romance, red for passion, peach if single to bring a new lover.
• Open your windows! Take advantage of sunny days to let some fresh air in and bring new energy.

For this new year, let’s take a closer look at your baby’s room.Did you know that a newborn child is brought into the most toxic of rooms in your home? With the fresh paint, new flooring, furniture, bedding, mattress and toys, babies are exposed to around 200 chemicals.

Here are a few tips to ensure a healthy start to the new year and your child’s life:

- Use low or no V.O.C (Volatile Organic Compound) paint. VOCs are the toxic fumes that off-gas from common household items such as paint. Low VOC paint is easy to apply and has hardly any smell and make sure that the room is well ventilated.

-   Flooring : If possible, avoid wall to wall carpeting as carpets can host dust mites and allergens, as well as off-gas VOCs. If this is your only option choose a natural fiber like wool, cotton, hemp or jute. Require a natural underlay. Carpet tiles are a great alternative as they can be cleaned separatell. Cotton area rugs are a great option to cover tile or wood floor.

- Furniture: Pressed-wood products are typically made with resins and glues that often have high levels of VOCs. Plastic is not the best choice either as it is made from petroleum. Look for the companies that make furniture from certified sustainable wood or reclaimed materials.  If these aren’t  a possibility, make sure to at least aerate the furniture outside for a few days.

- Mattresses are treated with chemical fire retardants that accumulate in our bodies and affect our nervous systems. Organic cotton mattresses and natural wool ones are two green choices. These two materials are flame retardant. If this is not an option, make sure to aerate the mattress before the baby is born then cover it with an impermeable cover that will block asthma-triggering dust mites.

- Bedding: Use bamboo, organic cotton sheets and blankets. They are not only environmentally safe but won’t irritate baby’s sensitive skin. For more information check out Healthy Child Healthy World’s make a safe bed checklist.

-  Toys: Babies put everything in their mouth, so avoid teething rings and toys made of PVC, which contains phthalates, an ingredient in plastic that can affect reproductive and developmental health.  For more information on a healthy home go to:

http://awakeupstory.healthychild.org/

As a feng shui consultant I go into people’s homes and offices and help them use their environment to support their goals of abundance in business, relationships and health. Feng shui , a Chinese discipline,  believes that everything has energy, from the location of our home, office, to our furniture, artwork, accessories. If you surround yourself with objects that you love and are in harmony with your goals, your life will be more pleasant. Below are a few suggestions to ease the Christmas decorating process:

• THROW AWAY, give or sell any decorations that bring back bad memories, or are associated with people you do not want in your life anymore. A client gave to a charity a set of expensive ornaments given to him from a company that had fired him unfairly.

• SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY to invest in some special ornaments selected by you and that you really love.

• ASK FRIENDS AND FAMILY to give you an ornament for the holidays. I personally love hanging ornaments and thinking of the person who gave them. (Write the name of the  person on the box to make sure you remember)

• IF YOUNG CHILDREN are helping you decorate the tree, let them hang the unbreakable ones. This seems obvious but I learned this lesson the hard way. My then 7 year old son was happily helping me when I left the room and heard a sound of broken glass on the wood floor. I rushed back, my son was fine, but my most expensive ornament, a Christopher Radko French Santa, was lying on the ground. I could not be mad at my devastated  son, and luckily the ornament survived with a broken side. Santa still hangs strategically hiding his missing side every year on the tree. I can’t help smile at the memory of my eager son who these days would rather NOT help decorate the tree. (feng shui would suggest getting rid of the ornament if the fact that it is broken was a reminder of a lack of money)

• KEEP YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR! As a designer I take my decorating seriously. Imagine my dismay when my husband came home from Walgreens with 3 little dancing/singing penguins on a stand. How was I to tell him without hurting his feelings, that these were not the most elegant decorating choice?  As I was puzzling over this critical dilemma,  my parents and brother who were visiting from France, turned this potential decorating tragedy into the most wonderful memory. At the sight and sound of the penguins, my brother spontaneously stood up, danced and sang along with the penguins. We laughed so hard that we all had tears in our eyes. The singing and dancing continued for their whole visit. You have guessed right, the penguins now figure prominently in our Christmas decorating!

The offensive penguins!

If your life is hectic, and you have not had time to think of decorating for Thanksgiving, here are easy ideas to get your house in a festive mood.

Instead of decorating the whole house, focus on one small area: a table in your entry or living room and make it special!

1)    Look for a fall looking scarf in your drawers; I personally like soft rusty reds. Search your closets for forgotten loved objects and memorabilia, or objects in other areas that have the same tones as the scarf, or textures that are enhanced by it: wood, colored glass, pottery…

2)    Drape the scarf over the selected table. Depending on the table, you can use the scarf as a runner, or if the table is square, place the scarf to show some of the wood. Have fun with it; there is no right or wrong way.

3)    Option 1: Place your objects in grouping of 3, usually in different sizes. If the color tones, or textures are similar, you get a coherent look.

4)     Another option is to place a lamp (buy a 3 way light bulb to dim the light) and surround it with pictures frames of your family.

5)    Option 3: Buy pillar candles in different sizes. Invest in a good quantity 7 or 9; you will use them all year long. Buy a bag of pretty fall looking pot pourri that has some great texture. Place a tray on the table and group the candles on it (make sure that the tray will not be damaged by the wax). Sprinkle some of the pretty pieces from the pot pourri on the tray with the candles. Use the remaining potpourri in a pretty bowl in another room.

6)    Buy a pretty bouquet of fresh flowers. Either place the bouquet in one vase, or create several small bouquets that you place around the house.

Have fun, and enjoy looking at your creation!

1)Start thinking about Thanksgiving this weekend:
-Clear clutter, and do some dreaded cleaning now. Check that your tablecloths, dishes are clean and ready to be used.
-Decorations: Check that your stored decorations are still usable. Clean them and display
-Prepare the menu if you have not done it yet, and let your guests know what they can bring. Order or purchase the turkey now if you can store it.
-If you have guests staying over, prepare the guest room/guest bathroom: make the bed, prepare towels and necessities. Display a picture of you and them in a frame to make them feel welcome. Add some special touches that your guests will enjoy: magazine, candles, city guides….

2)Flowers: If your budget allows it, order your centerpiece next week. Otherwise invest in fresh flowers that you buy the day before(simple bouquets are very affordable) to make you feel abundant and grateful.

3) Plan and delegate:
- Make your grocery list, and buy now what can be stored.
- Cook and freeze some prepared food if possible
- Delegate: be prepared to let go and let your guests participate in some of the food preparations. Give them a specific job or cooking assignment.

4) Take a deep breath, ask for help. Take a short nap, a shower and time to pamper yourself before the show. Enjoy!

A very special thank you to Patty and Ed of Ambridge Do It Best Home center who presented Benjamin Moore’s Natura paint containing no V.O.C (Volatile organic Coumpounds). They painted a board during the presentation and demonstrated not only the ease of use of the paint, but the zero smell. For more information, visit: www.BenjaminMoore.com and www.AmbridgeDoItBest.com

We also want to thank Joe Pisano of Kitchen Galleria in Crescent for giving us samples of Cambria, American made Quartz counter tops. Cambria is a leader in environmental responsibility. For more information, visit: www.CambriaUSA.com and www.KitchenGalleriaInc.com

Van Miller of Van Auken Miller Architect and I are presenting an informative and educational seminar on ways you can “Go Green”in your own home. Learn some easy ways to help the planet, your health and your pocket book at the same time. No registration required

Sewickley Public Library
500 Thorn Street
Sewickley, PA 15143

Fall about re-designing an office using feng shui.

I was so impressed that a business magazine would take the Chinese discipline seriously.

After all, successful business men, including Donald Trump,  use it to ensure that

their office are located and designed to bring abundance to their ventures.

So here it is, enjoy and get motivated to make some positive changes in your work environment.

It is well worth it.

CLICK ON : HOW TO DESIGN YOUR OFFICE FOR SUCCESS USING FENG SHUI on right side of page