Catherine, Author at Interior Harmony

How to Bring Nature Into Your Home

Many of my friends have discussed the struggles the world is currently experiencing and know we are blessed to live in a peaceful country. We say we feel helpless and, like many, are unable to cope with the world out there and are retreating to manage our immediate place, our 'village'. At the same time, interior design and homeware stores highlight the trends of eco-products, recycling and bringing nature and organic aspects in to our homes to create a space of inner balance. Wood When I studied art, I saw a wonderful documentary asking a child to draw nature

Catherine2023-08-23T12:47:34+00:00August 25th, 2019|Feng Shui|Comments Off

Back to Nature

With the Amazon forests burning and the ice caps prematurely melting, we need to honour Mother Nature. I am trying to reduce my use of plastic - not easy and I think before I buy that t-shirt and recycle where I can. Considering that a fundamental rule of Feng Shui is to declutter, it is also about our throw-away society, something I have also been guilty of. One friend is teaching us about non-plastic alternatives, another about re-using fashion and avoiding non-biodegradable fabrics. It may seem like the latest fad but it aligns with the harmony of yin and

Catherine2019-08-25T08:59:11+00:00August 25th, 2019|Interiors|Comments Off

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

Catherine2023-08-23T12:45:19+00:00August 16th, 2019|Feng Shui, Interiors|Comments Off

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

Catherine2023-08-23T12:43:25+00:00August 11th, 2019|Interiors|Comments Off

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

Catherine2023-08-23T12:41:08+00:00August 10th, 2019|Feng Shui|Comments Off

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.

Catherine2023-08-23T12:39:31+00:00August 10th, 2019|Photo of the Week|Comments Off

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.

Catherine2019-08-05T06:29:31+00:00August 5th, 2019|Photo of the Week|Comments Off

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

Catherine2024-12-15T15:04:48+00:00August 3rd, 2019|Feng Shui|Comments Off

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

Catherine2023-08-23T12:37:16+00:00July 28th, 2019|Interiors|Comments Off

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

Catherine2023-08-23T12:36:03+00:00July 28th, 2019|Interiors|Comments Off

Catherine

About Catherine