Today is unusually sunny and warm for the Pacific Northwest. I crave weather like this and so I shall make this short because I want to go outside and plant my geraniums! This type of weather also brings back fond memories of our days in sunny Kuwait where hummus is a staple. The following recipe …
This is a practical Jen blog. I used to chuck all my glass jars out because they took up too much space in my cupboards and I couldn’t find a good use for them. However, I have learned from the many kind friends in my life for some useful ideas on how to use those …
Another way of helping you choose paint colors is to think about your color intensity. Intensity is the saturation or more simply, the brightness or purity of a color. The way I would explain it, a neon red is a cheerful, bright red, that is highly intense or similarly, highly saturated. On the other hand, …
Choosing your paint colors according to intensity Read More »
Choosing the color for the exterior of your home is very difficult. The paint swatches that you get at the paint shop are very small and can be very deceiving because of its size. Just remember that generally the color on your home will be much more intense than the color swatch. So what’s a …
There was a tall birch tree next to our house that had grown taller than our roof. Because it was so close to our home, the leaves would drop on on the roof and clog the gutters. This tree was also blocking our neighbor’s view so we decided that it was best to have it …
During the school spring break we went up to Whistler for a few days and I visited the First Nations Museum that opened last summer. It features the Squamish and Lil’wat Native Indian tribe’s culture. If you have the chance to visit, it is a wonderful experience. From a Feng Shui point of view, both …
Last week in my neighborhood, eight large fir trees were chopped down. Wow, did it change the landscape! It’s hard to recognize some of the homes so exposed now. It sure must have increased the amount of light they receive. It was interesting to note that not all were in favor of chopping down those …
Since studying Feng Shui for the last two years, I try to incorporate both design elements and feng shui principles into the way I design. The common issue I encounter is, “Where should I start when trying to change the interior design of my home?” We all get overwhelmed when we think about organizing and …
My feng shui master, Dr. Shantung Hsu, always teaches me something new every time I visit with him. It is so energizing to learn from such a knowledgeable yet most humble master. Please check out his website and blog at bluemountainfengshui.com The feng shui that we practice is called form school. In form school, we …
photo by hawaiianfoodrecipe Growing up in a large family, food was always a big deal in our home. So, it is no wonder that food is still an important part of our lives. My teenage sons ask me what’s for dinner during breakfast!! It really can drive one nuts when your mind doesn’t really want …
When I started out at design school I really didn’t understand the difference between interior decorating and interior design. Interior decorating is what one would call the soft furnishings and embellishments. This usually includes the non-permanent items such as window treatments, furniture, paint, art, etc. Interior design includes everything inside the home including walls, fixtures, …
