Blog Constructed by Mike Ross

Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment. Historically, Feng Shui was widely used to orient buildings—often spiritually significant structures such as tombs, but also dwellings and other structures. Using open design spaces with good quality air and light we can achieve proper Feng Shui. Incorporating windows, fold-able door systems and skylights or solar tubes into an open floor plan adds to this clean, modern and fresh feeling space creating harmony. Be sure the Chi, or Feng Shui energy, runs smoothly throughout your whole house and that each and every room has the ability to keep and nourish good Chi. This applies to all rooms, even to spaces that you would rather not think about such as: closets, the garage or the laundry room. Whether you’re aware of it or not, your environment — and your relationship with it — are constantly affecting you. Consequently, your best bet for a healthy, happy and successful life is to make your environment work for you through the practice of Feng Shui. If you’re looking to make some quick improvements to the environment in your home, the following list of practical Feng Shui cures are at your service: Place an energetic fountain near your front door. The flowing energy of the water symbolizes cash, which helps more of the green stuff come your way. Get ready to enjoy more cash flow and connections with key people thanks to this simple cure. Clear the entryway to your home. Let the chi (energy) flow right into your home and life by ridding your home’s front entry of obstacles. Such things as looming plants or vines, old newspapers, bikes and toys in your front path may limit the amount of energy entering your home. Clear out anything behind your door for even more benefits. Make sure your home encourages learning. Put books where you can see them when you come in the front door to stimulate learning in both you and your children. Get rid of unwanted frustrations by fixing broken objects. Make sure your front door is in good working order. It should not scrape the floor or squeak and the doorknob, hinges, and locks should all be secure. This cure allows you to release your frustrations and anxieties and soothes your life path. Spice up your love life with plants in the bedroom. Place three or nine new plants in your bedroom to enliven the energy of the room, adding hope and cheer. (If the plants have pink flowers, this cure will be even stronger!) Position your bed to feel safe, loved and great. Place your bed in the Commanding Position of your bedroom. This spot is the one farthest from the door but where you’re still able to see the doorway and anyone approaching while you’re lying in the bed. Placing your bed in the Commanding Position allows you to be stronger, calmer and in charge. Block drains to keep dollars from draining out of your pockets. To keep your funds from being drained, keep your bathroom doors closed, hang full-length mirrors on the outsides of your bathroom doors, and keep your drains closed when not in use (cover the sink drain, stop the tub, and keep the toilet lid closed). Encourage helpful people in your life by hanging a pleasant-sounding wind chime. The sound of a metal wind chime hung in the right-front area of your home, office, or bedroom activates more people to help you and gets you more help from the people who are already at your side. Boost your career with a better desk position. Position your desk corner to and facing the office or cube door (even if you do not actually have a door in your workspace). If you cannot turn your desk to face the door, arrange a mirror on your desk or wall so you can see who’s coming. This adjustment helps you encounter more opportunities, go further in your field and lose less often.

Everyone wants the best things in life, but with as little maintenance as possible. Low maintenance is a very desirable home feature. Beauty, however, will always rank supreme with homeowners. Favorites include Quartz countertops, which come in stunning designs without the upkeep of marble, granite, and other natural stones. Caesarstone’s marble-inspired Nobel Grey, and Cambria’s Roxwell (image), with its mix of gray dappled with white, black, and charcoal flecks. Stainless steel is also getting a low-maintenance makeover from several major brands. KitchenAid’s black stainless steel (image) resists fingerprints better than traditional stainless and it’s a softer, warmer finish. GE’s new graphite finish for its Monogram Professional appliances is made through physical vapor deposition, or PVD, a process that promises exceptional strength and scratch resistance along with a rich luster we haven’t seen before. Stainless steel is a personal favorite. Outdoor living products are also getting makeovers. If you’re creating a new exterior living space, check out the Trex Pergola (image), an outdoor structure made from cellular PVC with structural aluminum cores and stainless steel hardware. The easy-to-assemble pergola is available with a motorized canopy, providing instant sun and rain coverage to any deck or patio space.

Spacious kitchens to fit your unique lifestyle is becoming a huge game changer in home remodeling and renovation industry. We are starting to see a lot more personalization within the home in areas that traditionally were not custom made. Furthermore, the home of the future will be tailor made to suit your distinctive interest and be more universal for the individuals living in it. Below we discuss just a few of the biggest industry design changers we’re about to witness today and some ways you could incorporate these ideas into your home remodeling project. Outdoor Living Spaces Entertaining family and friends it is much more enjoyable when your home has a good flow between the indoor and outdoor areas, namely the backyard. To create this connection, many homeowners are opting for oversized glass doors that, when opened; remove the traditional division interior spaces and yards. Design this space to include a flow of indoor-outdoor connectivity elements, such as a patio or deck that can easily be converted to a closed-off section for colder months of the year. It’ll increase the efficiency of any home. Intimate outdoor gathering spaces, complete with outdoor fireplaces or fire pits and cozy seating, as well as low impact design featuring sustainable, green features are also trending right now. These spaces are geared toward smaller gatherings, as opposed to the extended family-size backyards of the past. Personalize Your Ideal Space A significant design consideration during the home remodeling process is deciding and personalizing unique and ideal spaces that incorporate your demanding lifestyle and offer potential uses. Homeowners are requesting as much customization as possible. Whether it is the latest technology, custom work spaces, or design with a unique edge, modifying your home to your lifestyle and needs is one way of making your home exceptional. A new house is sort of a blank canvas. Choose a neutral color for your home, when the walls are already painted, you may be able to right away add in your ornamental touches while not a ton of work. Although neutrals are invariably widespread, they don’t show off your personality. If you are looking for a method to point out off just who you are, do not be afraid of color! Consider inserting some splashes into your living space by employing great wallpaper on one wall that complements the neutral colors on the opposite walls, then repeating that pop of color in accessories like sofa cushions, design, a rug, and alternative decorating accessories. The end result is a creative room that you’ll love to relax in. Spacious Kitchen It is a known fact that homeowners will usually spend more money on a kitchen remodel than any other room in the house. With amenities such as luxurious over sized islands, enormous pantries, and top of the line appliances, utilizing kitchen space and emphasizing design can dramatically change and update your kitchen space. Many kitchen renovations also include removing one of more of the walls that separate the kitchen from adjourning spaces, thereby creating a larger space to enjoy family and friends. Small Homes The small home phenomenon, a movement centered on the counter cultural idea that it’s better to live small than large, is taking a cue from the mega-mansion and embracing upscale amenities. Smaller homes are often more energy efficient because they have less space to heat and cool, which means they also have a lower ecological footprint. Many homeowners in the recent years have been looking to scale down and live comfortably in smaller spaces that are more practical. All of these up and coming trends are inspiring, fun, and very efficient.