Interiors

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

We had been buying light fittings for our past French apartment and suddenly, I was focused on various lighting around restaurants and hotels for inspiration. If you can, sit under the light fitting you are considering and ask what you sense. Having sat under crocheted bohemian lights, I realised that I felt as if I had string hanging over me! Then I sat under wooden slatted Chinese lanterns and immediately got a sharp 'poison arrow' energy. So let's talk about light. In Feng Shui, light is seen as a key energy that can add yin and yang, light and

Robbie Burns said, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”. We flew down just before Christmas discussing paint colours, cushion covers and candlesticks. One small delivery of furniture had happened and we were looking forward to the main delivery and sleeping on a real bed. It didn't happen. Our removalist was unusually silent and we finally received a text that he had suffered a heart attack and was in hospital with three stents! We reassured him that it was just furniture and went back to our empty space and inflatable mattress. Vintage Furniture We had

Green is a colour that resonates with nature, freshness, new life and a sense of calm. It comes in a range of shades and you need to decide, carefully, if you go for a yellow-based green which produces happy apple green and citrus lime. If you are considering blue-based shades there is a wide range of turquoise and emerald. It is important to remember the base, otherwise you might end up with different greens that clash. You can now by from paint companies such as Farrow & Ball, hints of green but be careful as they can give the

Deck the halls with boughs of holly! It is that time of year where trees, decorations and lights come out. Trouble is, I don't like the traditional Victorian style decor of Father Christmas, chubby angels and general red and green shiny baubles. Fortunately, there are now lots of different styles of decor you can consider. Traditional Victoriana This is where it all started commercially . Queen Victoria's German husband, Prince Albert, brought over some of his family traditions of candles, cake and small gifts opened on Christmas Eve. Along with sugared almonds, Christmas pudding with charms inside to find,