Each room in your home represents a different aspect of your life, which means that your happiness is largely dependent on your home decorating skills. Samantha Wong reports

In order to successfully apply feng shui in your home, you need to determine where each room is located on the bagua map. This is simple enough to do but first you need to decide whether you are going to follow the Western (BTB) bagua or the traditional bagua. Both BTB and traditional baguas are divided into nine squares (see the BTB map overleaf), with each square representing a different aspect of your life wealth, fame and reputation, love and marriage etc. Each square also corresponds with one of the five elements and a colour or colours.

Simply put, the bagua connects aspects of your life with areas in your home. This allows you to work on specific areas in your life by improving the energy in the corresponding area of your home.

You can do a BTB bagua reading in three easy steps. Step 1: Draw the BTB bagua map on tracing paper. Step 2: Superimpose your map over your floor plan, aligning the bottom row of your map with the wall of your front door. Step 3: Note down which parts of your home fall under and are therefore governed by which sections of the bagua map.

A traditional bagua reading works in much the same way, except it takes the points of the compass into account. You need to take the compass reading of your front door in order to line up a traditional bagua map with your floor plan.

If your floor plan is not a perfect square or rectangle, sections of the bagua will be foreshortened or missed out altogether, and youll have to work at filling in the space (and therefore the energy) that is lacking. Remedies include introducing potted plants to activate the area or hanging crystals, especially when there is a window. If a whole section is missing, place mirrors on both walls of the interior corner to expand the area.

Extensions, like a bay window or balcony, are a positive in feng shui even if they fall outside the bagua map. This is because they extend the good energy that you are creating within your home.

Plotting your courseIn many ways a bagua reading is so literal, you can work out how to boost the energy in a room intuitively. Worried about your health? Revamp the decor in the centre of your home (which falls under the health section of the bagua map). Hoping to travel again soon? Decorate the travel corner of your home (bottom right on the map) with photos of the countries you want to visit. Sex life in need of a boost? Place candles and flowers in the love and marriage section of your home (top right).

But theres more to the bagua than that. Youll see from the map below that each bagua square corresponds not only with an aspect of your life but also with one of the five elements. So, once you know where a room fits in the bagua map, youll know which element needs to be supported in it. Lets say your living room falls under the creativity section of the bagua map, which is supported by metal if you feel you are lacking in creativity, youll benefit from introducing more metal into your living room.

An easy way to boost the presence of a particular element in a space is through colour use for instance, metal is commonly represented by the colour white, so you can invite more metal energy into a space by introducing some white-coloured furnishings. But take another look at the map below, youll see that colour-use in the bagua is more complex, since colours in each square correspond with both the element and aspect of life represented. For instance, you can up the metal energy in the creativity section of your home by adding white-coloured accents, but to boost the travel section of your home, also associated with metal, you need to decorate with grey and black, as well as white.

By learning about the bagua, you can improve your quality of life. So think about which aspect of your life needs work. Lets say its your relationship with money. Work out which room in your home falls under the wealth section of the bagua (top left on the map). Which element do you need to boost in that room to bring more money in? Wood. How do you do that? By incorporating plenty of blue, purple, red and green accents into your decor. Throw in a piece of real wood furniture and youll soon be as rich as Jack Ma.

Read more from the original source:
Feng Shui: The Bagua Map - Around DB and Life on Lantau

In June 2018, we brought you news that Parks and Recreation actor Rob Lowe and his wife Sheryl, a jewelry designer, had listed their Montecito home for a whopping $47 million. While the exorbitant price tag raised some questions about how much Rob Lowe is actually worth, the home's price made more sense after we saw just how grandiose the estate truly is.

Fast forward over two years later to current day, and the 20-room home, known as Oakview, has finally been sold! According to Variety, the estate recently sold in an off-market sale for $45.5 million.

Initially listed with Sothebys International Realty, the home was re-listed with Eric Haskell of The Agency and Luke Ebbin of Compass in August, 2019 for $42.5 million these agents handled the final sale. Now, the Lowes can officially say their goodbyes, raking in a generous profit that sits in the middle of their first and second asking prices.

Jim Bartsch for Sotheby's International Realty

Jim Bartsch for Sotheby's International Realty

The home features six bedrooms, eleven bathrooms and nine interior and two exterior fireplaces. It elegantly blends West Coast living with the tranquility of the Virginia countryside, where Lowe grew up. "Ive always been drawn to a historic, east coast American aesthetic," he told Architectural Digest in its November 2010 cover story on the home.

Jim Bartsch for Sotheby's International Realty

Over the years, the couple had tapped architect Don Nulty, interior designer Kyle Irwin, landscape architect Mark Rios, and feng shui expert David Cho to incorporate their personal style throughout the 10,000 square-foot home.

Jim Bartsch for Sotheby's International Realty

In addition to the spacious backyard, the grounds boasts a gorgeous resort-style pool and hot tub, as well as a two bedroom guest house. There's also a championship-sized tennis court with two observation areas.

Jim Bartsch for Sotheby's International Realty

Jim Bartsch for Sotheby's International Realty

As Lowe said back in 2018, "with our boys now out of the house, were looking forward to our next real estate adventure." We're excited to see where the couple ends up next!

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Excerpt from:
Rob and Sheryl Lowe Just Sold Their Montecito Mansion for $45.5 Million See Inside - HouseBeautiful.com

REGARDLESS of whether youre back to school or not, this is a good time of year to stop, take stock and make some positive changes.

For Gen Z in particular, theres been an increased focus on making bedrooms a calm and soothing space.

Pinterest has found the age group (born between the mid-Nineties and early 2010s) is looking for serenity, with searches for Zen bedroom ideas up five times on average, and feng shui bedroom layout up two and a half times.

Thinking about how to bring this feeling of calmness into your home as a whole? The Chinese practice of feng shui could help.

Translated as wind-water in English, feng shui practises the belief that by bringing positive energy into the home, good health, wealth and luck are set to follow, explains Rebecca Snowden, interior style advisor at FurnitureChoice.co.uk.

Here are Snowdens top tips for welcoming positive energy into your home...

Many of us see the arrival of autumn as a second new year, meaning its the ideal time to declutter.

A neat home works wonders for our mental clarity and overall health, explains Snowden.

In feng shui, each space is connected to each other and allows positive energy to flow throughout the house.

Add a decorative mirror to the living room to make the space feel larger, and multiply the positive energy flow.

Meanwhile, closets or drawers overloaded with old items block the chi (energy) so its best to discard any clutter.

Balance yin and yang

Snowden recommends incorporating yin (feminine) and yang (masculine) elements into your decor.

Apply this concept by mixing different shapes together, she says.

For example, contrast the sharp edges of wall hangings with the soft curves of a sofa or mirror in the living room. This will balance out the room and give it a more relaxing feel.

Bring calm into your bedroom

Its no surprise Gen Z are keen to feng shui their bedrooms: after all, getting a good nights sleep is crucial to overall wellbeing, and the right environment can play a big part.

To boost feelings of calm and relaxation particularly in your bedroom, Snowden has two top tips: first, get rid of mirrors to help avoid an energy overload.

And second, make the bed the central focus.

In feng shui, this symbolises a commanding position that allows you to take charge and handle lifes many challenges, says Snowden.

The bed is best positioned diagonally away from your door as you will still be able to see it clearly, while not being in a direct line to it. Placing your bed against the wall will also give you a sense of security and ground you when you sleep. And for extra strength and stability, a bed with a headboard will represent this, with its solid support and build.

If you have a home office, apply the same logic to your desk to bring the focus onto productivity. Freshen up the place with plants Snowden says plants can bring positive energy into a room, adding: In feng shui, they are commonly associated as a life force and bring in growth, prosperity and luck. Common indoor plants said to attract these good elements include pothos, lucky bamboo and peace lily.

A neat home works wonders for our mental health. In feng shui, each space is connected to each other and allows positive energy to flow through the house.

See original here:
How to bring the calmingprincipals of Feng Shui into your home - Echo Live

Sometimes the best parts of a home are in the details you cant see. While perfectly placed furniture and decor add to the comfort of a house, the atmosphere really elevates it into a home.

Embodhi: Space and Energy Clearing seeks to go deeper than traditional professional organizers. Taking a spiritual approach, owner Nicole Jones helps clients create inviting spaces for their homes and businesses using elements of mindfulness to help them restructure and repurpose the use and feel of their spaces. These methods can range from assessing a rooms feng shui to burning herbs to cleanse the air and spirit or letting go of old emotional attachments.

RHOME: What is energy and space clearing?

Nicole Jones: An act of making your space more livable and removing unwanted energy that is within that space. When you are clearing your home, youre actually ... making space to improve upon your life.

RH: How does Embodhis process work?

Jones: The first thing I do is take an assessment of your home or business and talk a little bit about all the unwanted negative energy that you want to remove. This also entails setting intentions around what it is that you want to do for this space. We can close with some sort of agreement of how you and the folks who live in your home plan to continue operating in and occupying that space. Because we are constantly creating energy around us with our intentions or emotions, were less aware of the energy accumulation and more aware of the physical.

RH: Whats the difference between clearing and decluttering?

Jones: With a home clearing process, were not going to throw away all of your furniture, but there might be something in there that no longer serves you. You might say, I had this in a previous lifetime or previous relationship, and I no longer want it. You are becoming aware of the things in your space that are maybe hindering you or holding you back. Whereas with decluttering, the concept behind that is you have too much stuff, you have to get rid of something.

RH: Why is it important to have a home connection, especially during a time when many people are quarantining?

Jones: It's like a relationship; you have to nurture it if you want it to evolve. People hide in their homes because it's where we feel safe. In the case of quarantine, most people are home all day. So the question should be, What am I doing to stay connected? Prior to quarantine, people didn't have time. They were always on the go, with very little time to think about clearing space. Clearing space allows positive energy to continue to flourish. Since energy is always changing, it should most certainly be reflected within our spaces.

View post:
Positive Vibrations - Richmond magazine

Style your home with ideas borrowed from these homes

The Indo-French fashion partnership between designers Hemant Sagar and Didier Lecoanet, which started at couture school in Paris in 1979, has wended a long route. From their first store on Pariss rue du Faubourg Saint-Honor, to a large factory in Gurgaon, and a wide network of online and offline storesthey also handle production for brands such as Balmain and Chlo in France. The duo has often taken the road less travelled, and among their newer directions is the creation of two neighbouring abodesas much a family story as an odyssey of rediscovering India. It was Sagars father, a prominent lawyer and forward thinker, who bet on Gurgaon as a city of the future. In 1999, he bought a 2,700-square-foot plot to build a two-storeyed, four-bedroom family home with a terrace and encircling garden. When Sagar and Lecoanet relocated their business to India, they wanted a place of their own. As luck would have it, Gurgaon property prices slumped, and some years later, taking the stray cow they spotted on the empty plot next door as a good omen, they bought it (the plot, not the cow). Eventually, over five-and-a-half years, they built a beautiful villa, designed by a French architect friend, and decorated on principles of feng shui. It is a tranquil haven of soaring heights, rippling water bodies and soothing woodwork.

Photo courtesy: Montse Garriga/ Hemant Sagar

Photo courtesy: Montse Garriga/ Hemant Sagar

Photo courtesy: Montse Garriga/ Hemant Sagar

Photo courtesy: Montse Garriga/ Hemant Sagar

Photo courtesy: Montse Garriga/ Hemant Sagar

Photo courtesy: Montse Garriga/ Hemant Sagar

Photo courtesy: Montse Garriga/ Hemant Sagar

Photo courtesy: Montse Garriga/ Hemant Sagar

Charles-douard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier, was a rebel with a cause. Famous for his statement, the house is a machine for living, Le Corbusier was not afraid to challenge the concept of an old-world home. It is no wonder then that the purist canvases of Le Corbusier inspired Bengaluru-based interior design firm FADD Studio to design a modern, minimalist home for a family of four in Gurgaon. While designing the 5,000 square-foot space, the design teamled by interior designers Farah Ahmed Mathias, Dhaval Shellugar and Dheeraj Dhamuwas deeply inspired by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeannerettheir deep sienna passage of the Villa La Roche, their Chandigarh series and the general polychromatic feel of some of their work. The furniture is a mix of imported brands and locally customised pieces. The natural colours and materials of the furniture stand out vibrantly against the textured grey walls of the house, giving the otherwise serious shell a dash of drama, says Ahmed. All design elements lend the space its Zen-meets-mid-century-modern look, lending the foyer a burst of life.

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

Interior Stylist: Shohini Munshi; Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ FADD Studio

This penthouse located on the 23rd floor of DLF Magnolia, Gurgaon, is designed by Love Choudhary of Delhi based architecture firm, AND Studio. The interiors showcase the firms signature style of embracing understated elegance into each and every detail. The brief was simpleto convert a spacious four-bedroom penthouse into a luxurious, serene space. The home boasts of warm colours that fill spaces with a sense of positivity and comfort. The concept of the home travels beyond the stereotypes of over-the-top residential apartments and instead focuses on a contemporary, clean design aesthetic. The client wished for a house that did not embellish the acuity of luxury rather subtly assimilated class and sophistication. By using plush furnishing and materials that aligned with luxury, the team achieved a home that was the perfect example of unpretentious indulgence. Composed with immaculate marble feature walls, tinted glass work and glossy accents, the home serves the intimate functionality required in a habitat, states Choudhary.

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Photo courtesy: Prashant Dubey/ AND Studio

Just like the confederate rose flower, this Pune apartment too displays a transitional colour scheme

Read more here:
3 Gurgaon homes that are evocative, art-filled and high on style - Architectural Digest India

Control did it stick the landing? (pic: 505 Games)

A reader explains why he was disappointed by the end of Control and its hints at a more daring and unpredictable storyline.

With only 69,000 metric tons of the stuff in the world, platinum the inert corrosion resistant metal has found its way to becoming the signifier of gaming excellence. I was proud that my PlayStation and Xbox accounts were platinum free, but no longer. Ive succumbed and became just another hardcore gamer scrub with a platinum, making it look like Im a trophy hunting obsessive. What game served up a googly and broke my gaming duck? It turned out to be the very excellent Control.

As I wandered the corridors of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), completing the story, the usual ping of the trophies regularly fading in and out I scrolled over them and realised, bloody hell, theres a real chance that I could nail this and lo and behold I made it. But this article isnt about that, this was just some common or garden humblebragging about probably the only platinum Im ever likely to bag. No. This article is about Controls story and how, while I loved it, I feel it didnt quite stick the landing.

I love single-player story driven games, theyre totally my bag, my genre and obsession when theyre good, and by god was Control good. Like a warm bath in a cloud with angels bearing me upwards to a rainbow slide into a ball pit of peanut M&Ms. Ive dabbled in other genres, but over the years Ive come to accept that these are the games that give me the most pleasure, so I seek them out and tend to single-mindedly devour them.

Alongside gameplay I need a story in order to place a game high in my mental top 40. So, for example, while the gameplay is probably better in Shadow Of The Tomb Raider, I still think the Tomb Raider reboot is better since it had the more compelling story. With that in mind, in order to discuss what I need to about Control, Im going to have to talk about the story which obviously entails some spoilerific content, so, youve been warned.

Control opens strongly, with an intriguing premise, half Men in Black, half Ghostbusters with Star Wars Force powers thrown in. You play Jesse Faden, a young woman who arrives at the building of the government agency responsible for taking her brother after some unpleasantness in her hometown. Like Gordon Freeman, Jesse lands at the worst possible time, with everything in this mundane brutalist building in disarray.

Clearly some emergency has upended the natural order of things and Jesses first interaction is a cryptic conversation with the enigmatic Athi, which does nothing to ease your shredded nerves as you creep around corners waiting for the inevitable appearance of the big bad responsible for all the terrible feng shui. Athi advises you to go to the directors office for a chat and its here that the story really lifts off.

The exposition comes thick and fast after you pick up that service weapon in the form, of well-produced and acted video presentations, environmental storytelling, and a snowstorm of documents. Objects of power, The Oldest House, The Hiss, Hedron Resonance Amplifier (HRA) devices. Jargon and lore are thrown at you at a million miles an hour it can be overwhelming to take in but after a while you start to piece it together.

It seems that you and your brother were targeted by the FBC after you both encountered an object of power, allowing a being from the astral plane called Polaris to latch onto Jesse like a benevolent hitchhiker. Whilst Jesse escaped the FBC her hapless brother Dylan was not so lucky. Experiments were conducted which had the side effect of driving Dylan quite, quite, opera music conducting, dancing in his underwear mad. Dylan is possessed by a malevolent entity from the astral plane called The Hiss, which was ushered into our dimension by the previous director a weak-willed person who let the job get on top of him, literally.

Theres a lot of potential in the story as its laid out but the longer I played it I knew they would play it safe and not throw any curveballs at me. Polaris is a nice astral plane resident and not a string-pulling evil doer and those hints that you and Dylan could in fact be the same person are debunked almost as soon as theyre hinted at and thats what I mean by sticking the landing.

None of the curveballs were completely necessary to elevate the game but I couldnt understand why the game would hint at interesting and leftfield turns but consistently avoid taking them. I wanted it to go there but they werent brave enough and, unlike Spec Ops: The Line, they stopped short from suggesting youd been playing for the wrong side the whole time.

By reader Dieflemmy (gamertag/PSN ID/NN ID)

This Readers Feature does not necessary represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. As always, email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk and follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Control owners get impossible free upgrade, then have it taken away

MORE: Rogue One writer wants to make Control movie and so do Remedy

MORE: Remedy describes PS5 upgrades for Control, hypes up ray-tracing and SSD

Follow Metro Gaming on Twitter and email us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

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How Control never stuck the landing with its story - Reader's Feature - Metro.co.uk

When Canadas chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam wrote her first report, Designing Healthy Living, on the state of public health in Canada in 2017, she wrote of the tremendous potential that changing our built environment has for helping Canadians lead healthier lives.

Leading a healthier life is shaped by many factors, yet there is a link between ones built environment where we work, live, study and play and a persons healthy behaviour.

Chronic lifestyle diseases continue to rise in Canada and research suggests that approximately 30 per cent of cancers can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Studies have also shown that well-designed environments can reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and decrease pain.

With the pandemic having no foreseeable end date, setting up our homes to be as conducive as possible for health and wellbeing is more important than ever, especially as we prepare to hunker down for the winter.

Annabelle Mastalic is owner of ADM Interiors, which focuses on assessing homes to make them safe and comfortable. Courtesy, Sandra Miller, Shutterbean Photographyjpg

Enter Annabelle Mastalic, owner ofADM Interiors and the only designer inAlberta with the Certified Living in Place designation, a training focused on assessing homes to make them safe and comfortable for its occupants. Formerly a nurse of 17 years, Mastalic has melded her medical background with design, concentrating on how health promotion and illness prevention can be woven into residential spaces.

I approach design through a lens of health and science. Before COVID, the demand was for making homes beautiful. Now theres a greater need for homes to be more functional. Its about creating ease, so you can live healthier, while still making homes inspiring to live in, she says.

With COVID, the need for multi-purpose, functional spaces has never been greater. Many families are in need of an exercise area, quiet spaces to work and places to relax away from work (and possibly other family members). This requires reconfiguring and possibly redesigning certain rooms.

Take the hub of the home, for instance. Kitchens are no longer used solely for cooking and eating. Part homeschool, part temporary office, it can be challenging to utilize one space for so much, before shifting it back to its natural functionality without lingering work stress.

Mastalic recommends transforming your kitchen area with multi-purpose furniture, such as storage carts on wheels to house computers and school materials. When work is finished, the cart gets wheeled away.

A youth bedroom design that is both comfortable and efficient. Courtesy, Nick Glimenakis for Homepolishjpg

While appointments are typically done in-house to identify your health needs and design preferences, they can be done virtually. Afterwards, youll be sent a wellness design assessment with recommendations and referrals, putting home dwellers in touch with an ergonomic specialist or occupational therapist if needed.

Another option for making your home more efficient may be found through feng shui, an ancient Chinese practice. Feng shui is a method of optimizing residences to bring forth happiness, abundance and balance through the placement of objects in relation to the flow of qi (life energy).

Its like design on intention steroids, explains Mia Staysko, a feng shui practitioner, interior designer and instructor at Mount Royal University.

We spend so much time in our homes, they should be as energetically nourishing and geared to your intentions as much as possible. Feng shui is a complimentary way of getting your physical world inline with your intentions, she maintains.

Like an interior design consultation, feng shui practitioners will want to walk through your house and will ideally look over a floor plan in order to suss out how they can help improve safety, flow and harmony.

But you dont need an expert to tell you now is an excellent time to declutter. Clutter takes up valuable space both mentally and physically. If you want to shift the energy in your home, Staysko recommends rearranging or removing 27 items within a short period of time (not over weeks).

Do it with intention and pay attention to whether anything happens afterwards, she suggests.

Even if you cant afford to bring in a professional, there are still ways we can integrate wellness into our home spaces. If working from home, try setting up workspaces near a window. Exposure to sunlight can increase serotonin levels, keeping you focused and alert. And ensure your bedroom is set up to promote rest, with minimal light and noise.

Keeping germs out of the house is top of mind, and more easily created with a drop zone at your most-used entryway. Mastalic recommends families carve out a contained space to drop backpacks and wipe down lunch containers. You could even add a laundry basket for masks, gloves and other clothing.

While that may not look aesthetically pleasuring, there comes a time when health benefits outweigh the desire to beautify a room. Likewise, if you dont have space to put exercise gear anywhere but in the living room, dont stress about how it looks. Youve got to work with what youve got. Though, there are likely things you can do to make the space more pleasing, such as putting hand weights in decorative baskets or covering a drop zone basket with pretty fabric.

Whenever youre embarking on healthier changes, whether its a new fitness routine or cutting back on alcohol, creating a supportive environment only helps.

You want to have a home thats work for you in supporting a healthy lifestyle one thats easy to live in, functional and works for your needs now and in the future, stresses Mastalic.

If homes can be designed and reconfigured to set people up for success, making healthy choices the easier choices, isnt that worth trying?

Jody Robbins is a Calgary-based lifestyle writer. Follow her wellness adventures on her blog: Travels with Baggage and on Instagram at @TravelswBaggage.

Read this article:
Robbins: Wellness starts at home - The Kingston Whig-Standard

More people work from home now than ever before. Some professionals are transitioning to a remote office full-time, while others will use their space for only a short period. Whatever your situation may be, its important to make your workspace as comfortable as possible. If you cant relax or focus at your desk, you wont be as motivated or productive.

Besides keeping your notes and papers organized, it helps to use the design principles of feng shui. The philosophy has been used for thousands of years to provide balance and harmony to the environment around you. Use these tips to create a beautiful and functional home office. In a short amount of time, youll design a sanctuary for your online meetings and work sessions.

Some remote workers are able to turn a spare room into an office. If you dont have this luxury, you can still use feng shui to make a space of your own. Find the quietest corner of your homeor at least an area that you can block off for a few hours. If possible, choose a workspace near a window. According to feng shui, natural light increases energy. The brightness combined with the increase in sunlight can help to make you feel more energetic and productive during your workday.

Consider arranging your desk so it faces a door. According to Greatist, this is usually the opening to your home office. When you need to share a room, try facing the living room or kitchen door. Feng shui philosophy claims that facing the door keeps you open to new opportunities. Most practically, youll feel more in control of your space while staying aware of whats going on around you. When noise gets overwhelming, take a walk or spend some time in a quiet place, such as your bedroom. Just a few minutes in silence or nature can help you feel more balanced while you work.

Color helps to set the mood and tone in your home office. First, think about your current wall color and dcor. According to feng shui color experts, you have an excellent foundation for a relaxing and nurturing environment if your walls are blue, yellow, or lavender. If your job requires constant change and growth, decorate your space with the natural, flowing hues of green or turquoise. Some professionals require inspiration and passion to get through their day. Red and salmon dcor can help to spark creativity and encourage conversation.

Before you redecorate, consider whether you have too much of one color. Feng shui is all about harmony and balance, which means that too much of a bold or fiery color hue can feel chaotic. At the same time, dark, muted colors will make you feel fatigued or uninspired. If you choose salmon walls, add a couple of pieces of metallic dcor. The cool, liquid feeling of the metals are an excellent contrast to the high energy of pinks, reds, and oranges. If everything is blue or black in your space, incorporate some white, red, or yellow. Angular dcor can help to spark motivation and energy. Lighter colors are also effective for lifting mood.

While its important to incorporate natural light into your home office, you also need your privacy. The right window coverings help to avoid brightness and glare, all while keeping your neighbors from looking inside your workspace. High-quality shades and blinds help to keep your workspace light and airy, so you dont need as many lamps.

If you have an office with traditional dcor, consider wood blinds from Factory Direct Blinds. These attractive and naturally durable window coverings are one of the best choices for at-home workspaces. Their appearance incorporates the grounding and balancing Earth element into the room, while easy-to-operate slats let in the perfect amount of sunlight.

Quality material keeps hot temperatures and glare out. Wood blinds neutral colors add a clean look and focus to your space while allowing you to incorporate other elements of feng shui around them. Vertical blinds are another excellent choice because they match with almost any type of home dcor. You wont have to completely change the look of your room while incorporating the natural light you need into your work area. You can also select from a spectrum of colors to fit your offices mood.

Many people use aromatherapy to destress at home. You can use many of the same products to relax in your office. According to experts, essential oils such as lavender, ylang ylang, and neroli help to inspire harmony and energy when youre working on a difficult project or have a challenging day. Other popular favorites for a balanced environment include yuzu and bergamot.

Place a few drops of your favorite oil in a personal diffuser. When choosing a diffuser, consider one in a natural wood design or an energizing feng shui color. Some products even come with color-changing features, which allow you to set whatever mood you need. You can also use colorful aromatherapy candles. A yellow candle infused with uplifting scents such as lemon and ginger can help you power through a busy morning. A purple candle made with lavender essential oil can make afternoon brainstorming sessions more inviting.

No matter where you work or what you specialize in, its important for your office to feel comfortable and balanced. A combination of energizing and relaxing energy will help you to get through your day. Different colors and textures help you to stay alert and motivated. If your job duties or work conditions change, dont be afraid to add new feng shui elements. Its also a good idea to subtract excess items and remove clutter. The more thought you put into balancing your space, the better you can achieve your professional goals. Youll also be more productive and happy in your home office.

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4 Tips to Add Feng Shui to Your Home Office - Along the Boards

A 10pm curfew, table service, mandatory masks, supplying details through the NHS track and trace app, groups of six, social distancing, applying hand sanitiser - eating and drinking out has never had so many rules.

If you think it's tiresome as a customer, spare a thought for owners and staff at Nottingham's pubs and restaurants, who have to implement the ever-changing regulations - and make sure customers adhere to them.

It's with a combination of stern warnings, frustration and humour those in the hospitality scene are coming to terms with this week's latest ruling.

Sat Bains, owner of two Michelin starred Restaurant Sat Bains, in Lenton Lane, reminded diners about wearing face masks on arrival. "You are allowed to take them off whilst eating, I think," he tweeted.

As restaurateurs scramble to amend later bookings to make sure dinner is done and dusted in time for 10pm closing, locally owned Italian restaurant La Storia, in West Bridgford, has asked customers visiting after 8.15pm to pre-order to save time and possibly ditch the starters and "go straight to mains so they can have the best possible experience with us."

Oliver's Pub and Kitchen, in Eastwood, outlined the gamut of restrictions, taking a humorous approach.

"Wait to be seated, no really wait. Don't have a quick tour of the place. Don't move anything. We are sorry that the feng shui doesn't hit the mark for you but the furniture is set out the way it is for a reason," said a Facebook post.

"If you have seen a few people you know sat at the opposite side of the room, just give them a wave, drop them a text, have a Zoom call. Please don't get up and join them."

Ending on a serious note, they told customers: "These are things out of our control, we hate repeating ourselves as much as you hate hearing it but we have to enforce it. Please just do us a solid and listen to us. You are playing with peoples livelihoods, our licences... our patience. If you dont like the rules then complain to Bojo, trust us we are not exactly happy with the current situation either!

"Keep supporting local, tip your staff, say please and thank you, dont ask us to 'smile' and for the love of alcohol please sit down... and yes it really is six."

Secret bar, Lost Property, in Carlton Street, Hockley is opening earlier to make up for lost time.

"Boris says no to late nights... so what do we think to earlier starts? Come and join us for some early evening fun," they said, announcing the hidden bar will be opening from 2pm on Friday and Saturday and 5pm Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Indian restaurant MemSaab, in Maid Marian Way, will also be opening earlier, from 4pm. "Since the virus has miraculously managed to tell the time we are now opening between 4pm- 10pm in line with the new government guidelines," said the owners.

Staff at Six Barrel Drafthouse in Hockley are encouraging drinkers to download the NHS Covd-19 app before they venture into town. "Everywhere has to ask you or be ready to say 'can I sign in the old way please?' Trust me we are frustrated by the constant changes too but it's law, does make sense and helps protect not just you but the whole city and industry."

The Crown Inn, a traditional pub in Beeston, asked customers for their co-operation with the new rules, urging: "Please respect our staff when you visit if they are asking you to wear a mask or leave your contact details. And at the end of the night if they are asking you to drink up, please remember they are just working to the new laws and restrictions we are all now required to follow.

"We would like to thank you all for your continued support during these exceedingly difficult times. We feel very grateful to have such wonderful customers who love our pub as much as we do."

The Canalhouse, in Canal Street, pleaded with customers to support their favourite pub through this tough time.

"We're coming into a season that's traditionally not great for trade. With these restrictions and furlough coming to the end, many pubs and restaurants will not be able to weather the storm. If we can all act responsibly and still enjoy our time out with friends and family, then we can help our hospitality trade

"Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last 3 months - it's been incredibly tricky navigating a whole host of new ways of working and the vast, vast majority of you have been very understanding of this."

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How Nottinghamshire's restaurants and bars are dealing with the 10pm curfew and latest rules - Nottinghamshire Live

Feng shui isnt just a buzzword for interior designers and real estate agents: Its an ancient Chinese philosophy that helps people find balance in the way they live their lives by harmonizing their living spaces with nature through spatial design. The key is qi (pronounced chee), or the energy that connects all living things. Through the implementation of specific design principles that promote auspiciousness, feng shui is said to allow your energy to flow uninhibited through your home, improving your overall quality of life.

Over the last 30 years, the concept of feng shui has been developing a loyal following in the American interior design world, but the design philosophy has its roots in ancient China. The philosophy originated in astrology, with ancient cultures designing burial plots to align with celestial objects like stars. Over millennia, practitioners refined the philosophy, eventually expanding it into urban planning, then condensing it into the home itself. As for the name feng shui, feng means wind and shui means waterthe phrase is derived from an ancient poem about the connection of human life and the environment.

In order to allow qi to flow effortlessly through your home, feng shui has quite a number of principles to follow, from dictating the precise places to set your furniture (never put a bed under a window!) to stipulating what color to paint your front door (it depends on which cardinal direction it faces). While different feng shui schools offer many variations on these principles, here are several commonalities that form the basis of the philosophy.

Bagua, which translates to eight areas, is an energy map placed over the floor plan of your home. Its a three-by-three grid with eight boxes, each representing a different category of your lifeloosely translated into wealth, fame, love, family, children, knowledge, career, and helpful peoplewith the center box representing you. If any of these areas in your life need improvement, you should apply the appropriate feng shui principles in the corresponding space of your home.

Feng shui principles also focus on the five elements: earth, metal, water, wood, and fire. While each can be taken literally in terms of incorporation into the home (i.e., wood furniture for a fireplace), they also correspond to certain emotions, colors, shapes, and areas on the bagua map. Ultimately, you should use interior design to balance all five elements for the best qi flow, tweaking per your needs as they change throughout your life.

The philosophy of yin and yang permeates many ancient Chinese fields of study, from the martial arts to medicine to feng shui. Its a concept of duality, demonstrating that opposite forces are interconnected and work in tandem in order to create harmony: yin is a passive, soft energy, while yang is an aggressive, bold one. As it relates to interior design, youll want a balance of both types of energies, with yin energy in calm, relaxing spaces like your bedroom or bathroom and yang energy in your more social, productive spaces like your kitchen or home office.

Pieter Estersohn

Feng shui is a complex tradition, with numerous components that require quite a bit of study to interpret fully. While you can certainly take baby steps into the world of feng shui on your own, many people find it helpful to consult feng shui experts to really revamp their space.

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Feng Shui: What Is It and How to Apply It at Home