Catherine

In this unprecedented time of our lives, there is so much information, instruction, social media on how to learn, do, act and improve. I find it overwhelming and after reading an article in the Guardian about mindlessness rather than mindfulness, I need to mellow out. While I am happy to talk to friends and share any feelings and updates, I want to focus on the day and enjoy a time of just being. As the spring weather starts to show blue sky days, we changed the bed linen back to the summer look and it has instantly cheered us

During this difficult time it was in the middle of covid and I found it hard to write about interior design and it wasn't easy to keep calm and not to feel that every odd cough or breath was a symptom. So from this week, I was focusing on our core values and needs. I created this blog from a desire to blend interior design with the balance elements of Feng Shui. I can't control the outside world and all of its challenges but I can try to create an inner space that offers inner peace. This week, ornaments

Writing a post at the moment, with all of the virus anxiety happening, seems a bit frivolous as we worry about what we can't control. Research on how to reduce anxiety in a time of crisis states that colour therapy is helpful. Colour therapists recommend that we stop wearing black and put on something colourful and look for colour in our living space. So, paint a wall, add a bright cushion and turn on the fairy lights - create a sense of light and space. Here are some other tips to help with anxiety. Meditation with deep breathing -

To misquote Dean Martin, or perhaps not, I like a cocktail that gives you a 'kick in the head'! I don't want a glass with a thimble of alcohol, a can of mixer and half a bush of mint. It needs pure alcohol, a bit of chemistry and a twist of lime. I also love a vintage cocktail bar and have a mini one wherever we live. There is an air of glamor and sophistication with fleeting images of by-gone times, high heels, long cigarette holders and of course, a shaker or two.   What Should I Go For?

As we locked the door to a past French apartment and said goodbye, we realised each room reflects key places we have lived in! The bedroom had an Art Deco New York mix, the dining room was an Indochine conglomerate and the lounge was definitely French. This wasn't intentional; more by chance than design. More pieces will be added but it needs careful mixing and matching. How to manage this without looking like a hot mess? Colour Your World From my other posts, you know the formula by now of 70% a dominant colour, 30% the secondary and 10%

First of all, there is no perfect space. There will always be a room or area that presents a challenge. For our French apartment, we have the classic L-shaped which has a 'blade wall'. Think of a knife with a long space as the handle and then a square top as the main area. There is an 'edge' wall, like the edge of the knife; it needs to be balanced. The key rule is to not sit or sleep on this edge wall and there is a solution!   Irregular Floorplans While the ideal Feng Shui floor plan is

Many of us have moved homes, cities and/or countries and yearn to have a space that offers comfort while managing the new challenges of life and love. Some are comfortable with basic needs but that is not us! This blog is called Inner Harmony for a reason, it is about creating a space that offers a sense of calm despite what is happening outside in the rest of your life. It is about maintaining a sense of self when everything else is changing, it can be a psychological support when are starting again or in a state transition. We

“She would be half a planet away, floating in a turquoise sea, dancing by moonlight to flamenco guitar.” Janet Fitch. Various artists have wonderful quotes on the blues, Yves Klein stated that, “Blue has no dimensions, it is beyond dimensions, whereas the other colours are not … All colours arouse specific associative ideas, psychologically material or tangible, while blue suggests at most the sea and sky, and they, after all, are in actual, visible nature what is most abstract.” Aqua, turquoise, petrol blue and any shades of blue in between, represent the sea and all things summer for me.

There are so many songs about needing a friend, standing by each other, being there and reaching out. All inspire and are necessary to hear in challenging times. While not life threatening, we have had several months of reality checks with work, moving and selling an apartment and other frustrating moments. It is at these times, that people offer support and sometimes from where you least expect it. We have had bank managers in two countries known for challenging bureaucracy, help in ways outside of their jobs, real estate agents organise furniture delivery and sort out taxes and new

I am recently attracted to emerald green and anything tropical. Colour psychologists - yes, they exist - state that green resonates with feelings of growth, safety and tranquility. Green is associated with forests, plants and water and nature. It can also be used to increase reading ability and I love a good book! Hospitals have used a particular shade to relieve stress. Others say it can add a sense of luxury and new beginnings giving a sense of excitement.   Those who read my blog, know that I have been practicing Feng Shui for years and that green is