It is amazing how the traditional Japanese room has really stayed the same through the centuries. The overall concept of keeping true to natural materials of wood and the tatami mat remain consistent. Shape and form play an important role, always striving to allow for as much natural light as possible, while keeping to symmetry …
photo by EverJean Imagine having a zen room in your own home; a room that you can use to meditate, read, practice yoga or just have a bit of “me” time. Why not put together your own zen room? Traditionally, Asians enjoy sitting on the floor with minimal furniture, so this can be our model. …
A guest post by Design Shuffle. Natural, serene, soothing, calm and Zen are often used to describe Asian-inspired design and the environment it creates. Many Asian interiors are in large part the result of bringing the outdoors inside through the use of natural materials and the colors of nature. A minimalist approach is also a …
According to Pantone, an American company renowned for it’s expertise on color and color systems, the 2011 color of the year is “Honeysuckle”. As shown above, it’s from the pink family and is a bright, clear pink with very little undertones. Actually, the honeysuckle flower comes in a variety of colors: white, soft yellow, vivid …
I am very excited to announce that I will be teaching a Feng Shui class at Bellevue College Continuing Education starting in February. This class is intended for the home owner who is interested in learning how to improve their well-being in their home and the course name is : Feng Shui Your Home Ever …
Large rooms with high ceilings feel grand and spacious. Yet on the other hand, they can be difficult to work with for design purposes as it gets complicated to accessorize and place furniture. Many times we separate spaces using furniture, plants and accessories to imply walls. Such grand rooms need large scale furniture, wall hangings …
Where did summer go? In this part of the world, it felt like we hardly had a summer. There were many gray days, lots of cloudy skies and the good ‘ol rain. It was so disappointing for me, because summer is my favorite time of year. I like it hot. Yet, I know from friends …
Compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL’s, are now being promoted as an easy way to conserve energy. Compared to the regular incandescent light bulb using CFL’s can save up to $30.00 over it’s lifetime. It sure sounds good. So, in the beginning I went out and bought many CFL’s in different shapes and wattage. It …
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs – To Use or Not To Use Read More »
A few days ago I visited a tile showroom in Bellevue called Ambiente, which specializes in European tile. Their tile designer Stephanie Lappano guided me to what’s new in the tile market. It’s always a fun outing to see and learn about new trends, as materials change constantly. As I tend to gravitate toward a …
Kitchens have become the focal point of homes today. In some cases it has become the showroom, because the family room and kitchen are combined into one space, creating the great room. So now we see kitchens that are a cross between kitchen and living room. The cabinetry has taken a more furniture aesthetic and …
We all have books that carry special personal memories. Isn’t it interesting how we can remember how we obtained most books in our library. Maybe if we look back to see what kind of books we purchased during our lifetime, we can see how they resonate with our own path in life. There was a …
In Asian families, food is a very big part of our lives and we often share the table with many friends and family. Often our dining table becomes the center of our family lifestyle. For today’s tips, I am again going to focus on size, shape and material. Size: The first question to ask yourself …
We spend approximately 1/3 of our life in bed. It is a place where we replenish our energy, a place to unwind and relax. So, here are a few tips to help you with the selection process. I’m not going to touch on the subject of mattresses because that is really a personal preference and …
image from freshhome.com Buying furniture can be a very stressful endeavor, as it can be a large amount of money for many people. Unlike clothing, where you can change on a whim, major furniture cannot be switched so easily, plus it will be used on a daily basis for many years and must withstand the …
Just as there are many schools of martial arts, there are many schools of feng shui. I studied Form School feng shui and under their principles, they do not consider the birth date of the residents relevant to the feng shui of the home. If the feng shui consultant is from a cosmology feng shui …
Is Your Birthdate Relevant to the Feng Shui of your Home? Read More »
The traditional concept of multi-functional spaces is deeply rooted in Asian culture. In Japan, the modular rooms would change in size with the use of the shoji sliding doors. Two six mat tatami rooms could transform into a twelve mat room where the family could enjoy their meals together by opening the shoji doors and …
