We finally moved this weekend and it feels like we have come home. John Le Carré said that ‘home is where you go to when you run out of homes’. Perhaps that is our state at the moment. We will put in bifold doors between the kitchen and dining room to give more light. The irony is, these are called French doors and are difficult to find in France! The search is on. The cats have settled in with familiar furniture smells and a dinner has been cooked and wine served. A good friend is visiting on Wednesday to be our first real dinner guest.
Feng Shui First!
We already had the crystals and mirrors in place and moved back all the colours and furniture we had before. Feng Shui is about life energy including a love of cooking and wonderful smells. An Asian salmon meal is adding the usual fragrant sesame seed oil and garlic wafts and it is important to add your energy. For any new place, there are various ways of moving out old energies from previous tenants. Some use salt water and the Chinese clap hands in each corner of each room. I prefer to use sandalwood or frankincense stating that ‘all old energy is leaving and this room welcomes all positive, new energy’. Cleaning also helps but try to use natural products and a whiff of wood oil always smells good.
The Bedroom
Back to grey! It is in the Travel and Helpful people sector with a part of the Communication area and the grey and white combination offers a clean energy. White is metal and silver frames with 1920s artwork of travel and style blend with Art Deco reproduction lamps. Dove grey softens the darker grey which can look cold and the browner grey tones offer a gentle light and cosy feeling. One note: the air conditioning is partly above the bed which is not great. To counteract this a white conical dome with a pointed top is used to state that all negative energy moves away from the bed.
The Lounge
Back to sands and cream in the Relationship sector. We painted the side table and mirrors in a soft creamy white. Decor of white porcelain from Asia; 1950s white acrobats which I love, two hand made ceramic bowls to represent the two of us and a lovely memory from Berlin. Finally, music. This is how we met originally through a music agent in Australia and it’s still an important connection. Note: the beautiful original stone wall is also a ‘blade wall’. This is when you have a floor plan like many of us where it looks like a hatchet. This wall is on the blade of the hatchet. Ideally, no one should sit against this wall so when we play the piano, we will pull the piano stool back.
The Dining Room
Lots of wood, greens, leaves for growth and in the Wealth sector. As I have quoted before, my Feng Shui mentor, Clear Englebert, says to ‘drop some money here’. We have the Asian money chest with the only plant which has survived and thrived. The French table was bought before we left Ferney Voltaire and wasn’t cheap but is pear wood and lovely to work and dine on. The cocktail bar will be painted a cream colour to blend in.
The Kitchen
We love the retro look and are buying soft green tea towels and accessories. This area is a combination of the Self-Help and Family sector with Wood and Earth combining. Bought by chance, a genuine piece of artwork from a famous American illustrator, Janet Lauren Scott. When living in New York, we found it in a hole-in-the wall antique shop and bought if for $20. A recent visitor admired it and was drawn to it. Along with the SMEG retro coffee machine, my husband is happy to be in a bigger kitchen.
The Bathroom
Back to stone and earthy colours to soak up the water elements. Finally, a lovely green has been found for accessories. Often the green is too dark or with a blue tone. Zara Home’s latest collection has lovely soft colours so green towels were snapped up. Another favourite store, Rituals, provided body washes, hand balms and room fresheners in the Ritual of Jing collection, focusing on peace and tranquility and in a leaf green colour. The art work will have the border changed to a soft shade of green.
Final Thoughts
We admit it was a crazy idea to buy downstairs but we were in a different space, city and mindset prior to the pandemic. Recent interior design articles say that the major effect has been people seeking places that make us feel at peace. A close relative has sold a massive house and is currently home sitting for her son. New places and life are waiting for her and we hope to see her soon. As James Baldwin said, ‘perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition’.
