Catherine

I have no idea what is happening in the land of interior design. We seem to be stuck in the land of cream and beige and we could ask if this is a mirror of life at the moment. In Feng Shui these colours represent the Earth element which is all about grounding, foundations and stability. Hmmm, chic but honestly, for two years? A shot of a navy blue cushion, the ultimate in conservatism, looks radical! So I turned for inspiration to the land of teacups, porcelain and ceramics. At least these add life and symbolise your personality. Just

I took this photo on a car day trip helping a friend deliver ropes and non-nutritional white bread to yachts! So much to say about that sentence another time, but it got me to thinking about where we are heading. I love the quote about a ship in an harbour is safe but that is not what ships are for. So many people are moving in to new chapters of life, some through no choice of their own but then that is a new adventure. How to approach it, will it work out, what about friends, so many questions

Summer is around the corner, beach chairs have appeared and it feels as if the air is brighter and lighter. This post focuses on outdoor spaces attached to your apartment or house. These include gardens and balconies. I have plenty of posts on both but let's have another look at them. Firstly, they are part of your space even if they feel like an extension. Feng Shui practice 'pulls' these spaces in to the overall Bagua map of your area and to connect with your floorpan. Feng Shui First Determine where the balcony or garden is on the Bagua

Signs of summer are appearing and t-shirts are on, coats put away and bright colours are here. I always wonder why we don't see these lovely colours in winter when they are really needed. More orange spritzs are on tables and the atmosphere shifts to one of sunny relaxation. We have a dinner coming up and I am going to make a good old Cosmopolitan. First created in the 1980s and is all about brightness with the combination of sweet and sour. Cheers!

There is no better example of the metal and water relationship than big cities with harbours. Think of Manhattan, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore and others. They shout glamour, style, action, business and then the alternative of water whispers, boats, the sea and calm. There is a reason why these cities draw tourists and habitants from all over the world. It is an attractive combination and perfect photo opportunity for most people. Feng Shui practitioners understand why. The Metal Element This element is the key one for the sectors of Creativity and Children, Helpful People and Travel. Metal is all

"When life gives you Monday, dip it in glitter and sparkle all day" said Ella Woodward. We all love and need something shiny at some stage in our life. Faery lights, sequins, candles, anything to shine a light in a corner. It was a grey Monday with the sky throwing buckets of water at your feet. It was necessary to go out and passing by, a shiny thing caught my eye, three copper kitchen tins beckoning with the words of sugar, coffee and tea. Everything comforting except for chocolate.

The first Feng Shui class I attended left me reeling. Aside from the principles, why would you paint anything cherry red, purple and black? It was overwhelming if taken literally. First things first, original Feng Shui focuses less on colour than the modern Form school. The old Feng Shui methodology is attached to Chinese architecture and way of living. Modern Form school Feng Shui focuses on the 21st century and different styles of space and design. Colour is also recognised as an important part as there is a colour synergy attached to how we now psychologically perceive colour. This

It was a dark and stormy night, actually, it was a grey and dreary day but I have always wanted to use that line. It was also a sleepy Sunday morning with no real reason to get up other than to get going. Walking along the main shopping street, suddenly a sunny cake appeared! Yes, a bucket of sugar with zero nutrition but I couldn't resist taking a photo as it raised the spirits. Then a happy golden retriever bounded along, the sun started to come out, a blackbird sang and all the cliches in the world made sense.

This is a question that comes up often. How to Feng Shui a place or rental space on a budget, how to follow the principles without renovating or making dramatic changes. With the Form School, the modern Feng Shui practice, there is a focus on practicality and most importantly, intent. For example, ask yourself what wealth or prosperity means? For some it is purely money, for others it is abundance in friends, good food and health. Many wealthy people, such as Steve Jobs (Apple), have died from health issues inspite of having millions. So if $50 is a lot