InstagramPinterestEmail

About Catherine

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Catherine has created 408 blog entries.
Email

Moving in to a New Home

Congratulations, you are moving in! Getting the keys to a new space is a mixture of a sugar rush high and a tight bubble of anxiety. It is a new beginning and a chance to start another life chapter or to re-invent yourself. It doesn't matter if you are buying or renting, you need to enter the house or apartment the right way. It doesn't matter if you are freshly married, taking the next step and moving in with your partner or making that big life change, it can be overwhelming. Get Ready When moving, it is a great

2023-08-23T12:45:19+00:00August 16th, 2019|Feng Shui, Interiors|Comments Off on Moving in to a New Home

How To Use Patterns

I was in an interior design store, Maison du Monde, looking at the new autumn colours and I heard a woman admire the display, sigh and buy a neutral, beige cushion. Now I love soft beiges as they remind me of my favourite place, the beach. However, there is a touch of sand and there is dull, ordinary and neutral colour that just screams - practical! So let's look at where, why, how and when to use patterns. Size Matters When decorating, the size of the room needs to be considered as well as how much light is coming

2023-08-23T12:43:25+00:00August 11th, 2019|Interiors|Comments Off on How To Use Patterns

Feng Shui Basics – Fire

So many song lyrics come to mind! 'We didn't start the fire', 'come on baby light my fire', 'a ring of fire', 'great balls of fire', 'can't start a fire without a spark' - I could go on but let's view the Fire element in Feng Shui. In its positive form it represents energy,  action, love and passion. In its negative form, it can be seen as anger, aggression and too much heat. The key colours that partner with Fire are shades of red and purple. Other elements that partner with Fire - Wood feeds Fire, Fire nourishes Earth

2023-08-23T12:41:08+00:00August 10th, 2019|Feng Shui|Comments Off on Feng Shui Basics – Fire

A Flute of Champagne

I would prefer to live forever in perfect health, but if I must at some time leave this life, I would like to do so ensconced on a chaise longue, perfumed, wearing a velvet robe and pearl earrings, with a flute of Champagne beside me and having just discovered the answer to the last problem in a British cryptic crossword. Olivia de Havilland.

2023-08-23T12:39:31+00:00August 10th, 2019|Photo of the Week|Comments Off on A Flute of Champagne

Diving in to the Future

There are many of us moving forward in to new ventures, lifestyles and ways of thinking. It isn't easy, we will make mistakes and we will be anxious. However; there is also a sense of diving in and stretching out our arms to merge in to that sea of newness with hope and excitement.

2019-08-05T06:29:31+00:00August 5th, 2019|Photo of the Week|Comments Off on Diving in to the Future

Let’s Start At the Very Beginning…

As holidays are coming to an end and as they do, we all start to look at new beginnings, the new school academic year starts, work colleagues return from final summer breaks and we start all over again. I have re-posted this first step in to Feng Shui for beginners. It is a very good place to start - as the song goes! Where Do I Start? Using the Bagua Map, you should have completed the process below. Create a drawing of your whole space within a square Place the map on a drawing of your whole living place

2024-12-15T15:04:48+00:00August 3rd, 2019|Feng Shui|Comments Off on Let’s Start At the Very Beginning…

How to Choose a Dinnerset

I have a friend who had to leave everything behind her for a range of personal reasons. She is a young woman who is embarrassed that she has mismatching plates and mugs to use for guests. It was her birthday and it was a lovely excuse for me to go to the Zara Home sale and buy her pretty white plates, bowls and lovely water glasses. It made her so happy so easily. As a lover of beautiful cups, plates and way too many vintage glasses, I love finding bargains and also appreciate the expensive porcelain as well.   Beautiful

2023-08-23T12:37:16+00:00July 28th, 2019|Interiors|Comments Off on How to Choose a Dinnerset

Feng Shui Basics – Metal

Metal is an interesting Feng Shui element and in its positive form it represents purity, clarity, honesty and freshness. In its negative form, it can be blunt, cool and too precise. The key colours that partner with metal are shades of grey and tones of white. The other elements include Earth which strengthens and creates the Metal element and Metal is aligned with Water as it is created from Metal. The elements to avoid are Fire as that melts Water and Wood as Metal cuts down Wood.   Where Can I use Metal? Checking out the Bagua Map, a

2023-08-23T12:36:03+00:00July 28th, 2019|Interiors|Comments Off on Feng Shui Basics – Metal

The Lovers

Raymond Peynet is a famous French illustrator and known for his poignant drawings of lovers. There is a tender element that strikes you when you view his work. This lovely statue is in a central area in Antibes outside a tiny museum in his memory. With so much going on, we need to remind ourselves of kindness, compassion and unconditional love.  

2019-07-21T20:00:45+00:00July 21st, 2019|Interiors|Comments Off on The Lovers

Feng Shui Basics – Water

Human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container - Wallace Stevens. In Feng Shui, Water is the word for Shui and is seen as a yin energy that flows, representing emotion, wisdom and offering life and often needing to be contained. Within a positive partnership, Water needs Wood to grow and Water is created from Metal. In a negative partnership, Water puts out Fire and Earth drains Water. While this is the general cycle, there are times where you may wish to weaken the Fire or Earth elements in your space. Let's check out the Bagua

2023-08-23T12:34:43+00:00July 21st, 2019|Feng Shui|Comments Off on Feng Shui Basics – Water
Go to Top