Feng Shui Cures by Annette (cont'd)

The practice of feng shui is essentially in the placement of your furniture, personal effects, and you, as well as the use of colors, so that there is a sense of balance, comfort and harmony in your environment. Of course, the term "placement" can also refer to the physical layout of your home such as your front door, bathrooms, kitchen (stove specifically) back door, etc., which would present problems and barriers (unless you build your home under the guidance of a feng shui practitioner). However, there are feng shui cures that would resolve the problems and reverse the negative patterns.

Cures can also be effected through the strategic placement of symbols of good fortune. These symbols can help to improve those life areas that you want to change for the better. These life areas would be health and longevity, successful career/worklife, wealth, harmony and closeness with your life partner and family, attain respect and recognition from your peers and colleagues.

Before one starts to put feng shui in one's life, serious thought must be given to those areas that you want to change. Next you would select the best cure option to achieve your goal and pursue it in earnest with the right tools. Tools can be floor plan of your home, compass, appropriate good fortune symbols, etc.

Good fortune symbols have hidden meanings attached to them and do not need to be Chinese, or of antique value to do their special magic in the comfort of your home. More importantly the symbol must be chosen for its relevance to the need, and be pleasing to the eye. A word of caution is not to pay a high price but to wait until you find a price within your budget for these items. Some examples of good fortune symbols include, but are not limited to, the celestial creatures e.g. dragon, tiger, phoenix and the tortoise, old Chinese coins and oriental paintings.

Questions? E-mail Annette

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Area Rugs (cont'd)

Of course, when considering what is best for your decor, two factors are critical in making the area rug fit in your home. No matter how it's made, or how much you've paid, if it does not complement the interior design in your home, in style and color, the effort you made in the selection will go unnoticed, or if noticed, it will not be favorable.

Of course, there are other important considerations, like the size that will be best suited to the room. Is there an unsightly floor or outdated wall to wall carpet that must be camouflaged with the area rug? If so, it's worth investing in a room size rug. A large, colorful rug works as a magnet to draw your eyes to it, and away from the other flooring material.

Are you trying to achieve a cozy or an open look? Size, as well as design/pattern, or lack thereof can significantly influence the feeling you will have in the room; whether it will be one of spaciousness or intimacy. A solid color will help to keep the room as open, while still serving its purpose as a finishing touch in the room. On the other hand, a pattern or design that is intricate will "cozy up" the space. So, obviously, if the room is large and overpowering, reduce the overwhelming size by adding a large, patterned rug. If the room is small, stick to a rug with fewer colors, and definitely stay away from small patterns.

Now, when it comes to material, I am partial to wool any day, even in the warm climates I've lived in (sunny California, and sultry Florida). They last forever, and retain their beauty year after year. And today you can get some wonderful wool rugs without having to refinance your home in order to buy it. Naturally, there are also beautiful cotton rugs, and natural fibers such as sisal, jute, bamboo, all of which have increased in popularity and have their place in the right home setting.

There are a many types of rugs to consider: flat woven, hand woven, hand hooked, hand tied, hand sewn, hand tufted, braided, hand loomed, machine tufted, each one lending itself for multiple decorating applications. A number of these are available with intricate and colorful designs, others are more subtle, some lend themselves to a formal decorating style, some are best suited to more casual or transitional settings.

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