CONDUCIVE TO CALM
Posted by DécorDrama on March 12, 2007
Ancient feng shui principles bring harmony to home
By ALMA E. HILL
03/15/07
Balance.
For Melissa Van Rossum, a writer and stay-at-home mother with two young children, having a balanced home is essential for a peaceful, nourishing environment.
By balance she means using color and a mixture of textures and natural materials to make a home harmonious and calming.
To make sure she achieved the right balance in her new Brookhaven home, Van Rossum hired Tish Mills, an interior designer who specializes in feng shui, an ancient Chinese art that involves arranging furnishings and other elements in a home or business to create a harmonious environment by stimulating the flow of positive energy.
“I’ve been familiar with feng shui for some time,” Van Rossum says. “With every home — I’ve had three prior to this one — I would use the principles of feng shui for balance.”
Since Van Rossum works from home but doesn’t like to sit at a desk, it was important that her furniture be plush and comfortable.
“I’m very picky about where I’ll write. I’m somebody who has to move around,” Van Rossum explains. “I can’t write at a desk. I have to write on the couch or in a big chair. If my environment isn’t comfortable, then I’m distracted.”
Mills created harmony in the library and salon/family room, the rooms Van Rossum typically writes in, by mixing soft brown tones with splashes of red and by balancing natural elements such as crystal, jade and metal in key areas around the rooms.
“The overall goal for the house was a space that’s very peaceful, very balanced and very beautiful, but comfortable for her family and the way they like to live,” Mills says. “It’s interesting and soothing to the mind because everything feels so comfortable.”
HOW TO CREATE A HARMONIOUS ROOM
Balance elements such as wood, stone and metal. Don’t overdo it.
Place items that serve a purpose or are interesting to look at. Don’t buy stuff just for the purpose of filling space.
Eliminate clutter. “I tell people all the time to edit, edit, edit,” Mills says.
Don’t overaccessorize. “I’d rather have one great item than 10 things sitting out just to have them,” she says.
Be mindful of furniture arrangement. For example, sitting at a desk with your back to the door creates bad energy. Consider changing the arrangement or placing a mirror at the desk that provides a clear view of the doorway.
