Inspiration + Colour + Placement = Balance
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Alpine Moments
John Steinbeck said, "What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness". It was a freezing weekend of powdered snow, pine trees, wood chalets and everything ski-related! Not our natural environment but we were there for a friend's birthday. Surrounded by wood walls, ornaments and decor, the open fire, spa and sleigh beds offered the comfort needed against the outdoors. We were at least 4 kgs heavier with clothing, wrapped up to face the wind chill. Happily returning to warmth and sunshine, Camus says it all, “In the depth of winter, I finally learned
Decorate the Tree!
I have given in and the tree is decorated, fairy lights are out and a small fortune has been spent on baubles and decor ready to enter into the Christmas season. Maya Angelou said, "I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights". I am with her. It is a crazy time with so much expectation packed in a few weeks and full of nostalgia, Hollywood movies pressure and the dream of happy families and good cheer. Some stores have gone
Doors May Close but Windows May Open
So many conversations recently with people whose lives are at a tipping point, a moment of change or even just asking the big questions, who am I, where am I going, what on earth am I doing? As we move to the end of an interesting year, there is a hope of some weeks of peace and kindness. It is not about belief but about behaviour. As Milton Berle said, “If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.” Why not a window?
Feng Shui Basics for Rentals
This is a very practical post based on recent questions from friends regarding renting a place and managing Feng Shui practices. Some have a house, some an apartment and others, just a room. Not easy to manage and also, most requests are from people on a budget or who are not keen on spending too much money on a temporary space. Start with the owner and ask for permission to make changes, they can always say yes. Many are willing to allow changes and painting within reason as long as the apartment is restored to its former glory for the next
Christmas is Coming
"Christmas is a frame of mind", Father Christmas said in Miracle at 34th St. I am not there yet. The sun is shining today and a friend and I sat on blue chairs looking out to a glittering sea soaking in the vitamin D. However, the shops and adverts are making it known that there are only a few weeks left. As we get older, it is isn't the presents but the thoughts that count and a card is always welcome. Over the years we have gone from postage costing more than the gifts, to sending a card, and now a
Autumn Leaves
"Autumn is the hardest season. The leaves are all falling, and they’re falling like they’re falling in love with the ground', wrote Andrea Gibson. I hear her, others love the idea of anything orange or representing a pumpkin, cups of hot chocolate and big, baggy jumpers and boots. Some of us sigh as the sun gives up, the wind picks up and the rain sets in. I then count 'blue sky' days as at least they are cheerful other than the 'greyness of a quiet Sunday with nothing happening or worth watching and I have read my recent book' kind of
Halloween
It is Halloween, or All Saints day or All Hallow's day, whatever it means. As we have fewer rituals, others are taken on from the past. The history is all about spirits moving over to another world. Now we have a Hallmarked trick or treat night with pumpkins, costumes, chocolate and candy and everything orange!
Black & White – Water & Metal
While some people live in a world of black and white, most of us live in tones of grey, moving across both colours. Some interior designers see black and white as being 'non-colours' and others, as the perfect monochromatic palette. Rooms can look chic, simple and dramatic with the sheer simplicity of the two colours combined. Personally, I immediately itch to add a third colour, lemon, lime, aqua, pink, red or orange; anything to lift the space. Black is Black Black represents the Water element in Feng Shui. Think gentle flows of emotion and growth and not full-on waterfalls that
