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How to Activate Your Entire House from the Living Room

No other room in the house offers the feng shui potential that the living room does. This room is central to family life and to feng shui. When it comes to feng shui, no other room can compare to the living room. That’s because the living room is the ONE room in the house that can be activated according to all nine sectors of the bagua or lo shu square — making this a very important room, indeed.

When you want to affect the feng shui of the entire house, you should begin by applying feng shui enhancements or remedies to the living room. The benefit is that the living room can boost the feng shui of other parts of the house that may have afflictions or are missing or shouldn’t have a particular enhancement.

For instance, if the bedroom is in the north sector, a water fountain would be a great feature for enhacing career feng shui. However, water in the bedroom is not recommended. But, water in the north corner of the living room will help boost that sector’s feng shui with beneficial water energy in the corresponding corner.

How is this possible? Think of the yin-yang symbol in the center of the bagua. This symbol is called the “tai chi” — yes, just like the martial art exercise. This tai chi can be applied to any size space and is referred to as the large tai chi or small tai chi.

As an example, you can apply the bagua to your lot that your house sits on. This is called the large tai chi. The small tai chi would be to apply the bagua to an individual room — such as the living room — or to an area such as a desk. In applying feng shui to the living room, you are activating the small tai chi.

Be aware, though, that depending upon the sector, you may not want to apply all enhancements. For instance, if your living room is in the northwest corner of the house, then it would not be advisable to add candles to the south corner of the living room because an open flame in the NW sector of the home is very dangerous.

I actually know of someone whose house began to burn down from candles that were placed in this sector. More importantly, is that the NW is the sector of “heaven” or the patriarch or breadwinner of the family (if the breadwinner is a man). With that caveat in mind, do proceed with making changes to your living room. By doing so, you will instantly improve your feng shui for your whole home!

1. Arrangement, arrangement.
The whole point of a living room is to create a room where the family comes together or where guests can be seated and all can enjoy conversation and each other’s company. Living rooms are the place of celebrations and good times, so they truly benefit from proper arrangement.

Many times, living rooms suffer from a L-shaped configuration caused by L-shaped sofas or by position a sofa and loveseat at a 45 degree angle to one another. This creates conflict and a feeling of being unexplainably uncomfortable in the room. Remember, televisions and fireplaces aren’t the focal point of a living room — people are.

Instead, arrange the living room so that sofa and seat FACE one another… Don’t worry: you’ll still be able to view the fireplace and TV, but you will instantly and dramatically improve your desire to be in the room and you will cultivate more loving and harmonious relationships. Better still, you will improve the flow of energy in the room. So, get to moving those sofas!

2. Add some red and gold.
To make certain that families are harmonious and enjoying good relationships with each other, be sure to add some elements of red and gold together. This could be a vase of red carnations and gold daisies, or it could be a pillow with gold and red colors. Red and gold together help calm conflict and create good feelings. Be sure to add these two colors together wherever there are conflicts or angry feelings.

3. The picture of happiness.
Be sure to hang a picture of a happy family or occupants in the living room. This picture can influence the entire family. Hang the pictures on an East wall to benefit family relationships. You may also wish to add pictures according to their direction in the living room to boost a particular area. For instance, a picture of a beautiful lake or waterfall would be wonderful on the north wall (career/opportunities) and a large, beautiful tree would be excellent for the east wall (health/family relationships).

4. Add some “yang” to your living room.
The living room should be a good balance of yin and yang. However, a little extra “yang” or positive energy is especially beneficial. This can come from the addition of a red accent wall, a bright chandelier, or a moving object.

5. Boost the lucky corner in the living room.
Where is the lucky corner? This is the corner of the room that is opposite and diagonal to the main entry to the room. If this corner is in the SW, W, NW, or NE, then boost this corner with a beautiful geode, bowl of semiprecious stones, beautiful vase, globe or other earth feature. If the lucky corner is the south or southwest, then boost the chi here with a nice tall bright lamp. If the corner is in the north, add a fountain here. If it is in the east or southeast, you can have a fountain here or add a grouping of beautiful lush plants or pretty flowers.

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter feng shui e-zine and is dedicated to helping her readers develop successful, prosperous, and supportive environments with feng shui. To subscribe, logon to www.redlotusletter.com and receive this special report Fr*ee “16 Feng Shui Secrets for Greater Prosperity.”

kweber@redlotusconsulting.com

[tags]feng shui, interior decorating, interior design, home improvement[/tags]

We turn on the tap and there it is: water. This liquid of life nourishes our environment, our crops, and our bodies. But there are fears for the future of our water supply. Planners warn that good quality water could become the world’s most sought-after resource.

The average Canadian household releases about 691 kg of water pollutants annually, according to recent research by the David Suzuki Foundation. As contamination threats continue, our water quantity is diminishing. A 2003 report by Statistics Canada into the nation’s freshwater resources notes how since 1850-and especially in the last 50 years-about 1,300 of our glaciers have lost 25 to 75 percent of their mass. Along the Rocky Mountain eastern slope, glacier coverage is decreasing rapidly and is now the lowest it has been in 10,000 years.

Canadians are the second largest water consumers in the world. Recent statistics show each Canadian uses 1,471 cubic metres of water annually, while each American uses 1,870 cubic metres.

Watering yards and gardens accounts for 14 percent of our annual household water use. In the summer months, this jumps significantly, making outdoor water conservation essential to preserving and protecting our precious resource.

Common sense measures, such as taking showers instead of baths and only doing full laundry loads, can also make a big difference. When it comes to water, let’s make our philosophy: Waste not, want not.

For great water-preserving tips, check out the following resources:

• davidsuzuki.org, The Green Guide by the David Suzuki Foundation
• savingwater.org, The Saving Water Partnership

Water-Friendly Lawn Care

Turning your lawn into that perfect blanket of green can come at a cost. Summer water consumption increases by 50 percent, putting stress on local lakes, rivers, and reservoirs at a time of year when water flows are naturally low.

The good news is a few basic steps can go a long way toward maintaining water-conscious greenery. Greg Seaman, founder of eartheasy.com and long-time ecological thinker, has these tips:

Choose a Locally Adapted Grass

Grasses vary in their preferred climates, amount of water and nutrients required, shade tolerance, and the degree of wear they can withstand. Ask your local garden centre to recommend a grass best adapted to your area.

Mow Often, but Not Too Short

Giving your lawn a “Marine cut” isn’t doing it a favour. Surface roots become exposed, the soil dries out faster, and surface aeration is reduced. Don’t cut off more than one-third of the grass at any one time. Most turf grass species are healthiest when kept between 2

When you have bought your handmade solid oak furniture, you should know how to care for it properly. Besides the obvious ‘handle with care’ when moving your furniture, do not drop it from a great height and so on, here are a few tips that we mention to our clients to help them care for the furniture that we make for them.

Solid wood furniture needs to be waxed with natural beeswax regularly. The traditional thick ‘paste’ lightly applied with a soft rag (old towelling) is best, or a natural spray on is quite adequate, but silicon spray is not suitable as it does not feed or nourish the wood, but merely puts a slippery shiny surface on the wood.

Timber should be dried as closely as possible to the moisture content of the room that it is going into, minimizing movement in the timber. Cells will expand or shrink across their girth (not length) as they take on or loose moisture until they balance with their surroundings, and reach ambient (this is why doors stick in the winter). The British standard for kiln dried timber is 12%, plus or minus 2% (that’s the timber merchants’ job). If the room is very damp, then the wood will swell, ‘blowing’ joints apart, while too low and the wood can shrink causing tension in the timber and possibly splitting.

Hot coffee cups, red wine rings, watermarks from vases which mark polished surfaces are often repairable, while cigarettes and sharp edges can often cause irreparable damage. Highly skilled furniture polishers can remove small marks and scratches, wine rings and water marks and it is best to hunt for a local polisher in the yellow pages, than attempt removing the mark yourself, and ending up with a bigger problem. You should ask your furniture maker how durable the surface finish he uses is, or what else he would like to use to increase the durability to make it more suitable for your purpose. Although not as durable, we have noticed a recent trend going back to the natural finishes, such as oils and waxes, rather than the manmade lacquers, which tend to be sprayed on.

Furniture should be kept away from direct sunlight, as it will cause to wood to fade (or even shrink). A table left in direct sunlight with a fruit bowl in the centre for sometime will end up with a darker area under the fruit bowl. If a sideboard is put in front of a window, then it’s worth drawing the curtain or blind during the worst part of the day.

Inevitably your furniture will age, taking the odd knock and dent as it becomes an antique, gaining patina from a build up of wax polish mixed with dust, creating darker areas in the corners and lighter areas in the high spots. You should also be aware that over time, light woods darken, and dark timbers lighten, so you natural English oak four poster bed will darken to a Tudor oak colour, and your deep brown, almost black English walnut dining table will gradually turn into a honey colour.

Stephen Edwards has been making furniture for 25 years, and has settled into making four poster beds and oak country furniture. He does this from the English/Welsh border county of Herefordshire, in an area as rural as it gets. For more information and other articles, please visit www.fourposterbed.co.uk , www.fourposterbed.com or www.edwardsfurniture.co.uk

[tags]English,Country,Furniture,Solid,Oak,Four poster,Beeswax,polish,antique,bed,table,natural,repair[/tags]

Although it is very common for people to buy chemical silver tarnish removers and jewelers cloths to polish silver jewelry to a sparkling shine, it is possible to achieve similar results with just a few inexpensive items found in almost every kitchen. With a glass bowl, some baking soda, some aluminum foil and boiling water, you can have your silver shining again in under 20 minutes.

The following are the simple steps to shiny silver:

1. To begin, place a layer of aluminum foil on the bottom of a glass bowl or container.
2. Place the silver item on top of the foil.
3. Spread out a large spoonful of baking soda over top of the jewelry and foil.
4. Boil water.
5. Pour boiling hot water into the bowl until it covers both the foil and your silver item.
6. Wait 10 - 15 minutes.
7. Remove your item and rinse in cold water.
8. Allow your jewelry to dry without using a towel, as this can leave tiny scratches that cause silver to lose its luster.
9. Enjoy your shiny jewelry.

This method of cleaning silver jewelry has been used by many for a long time. This method is also good for those with sensitive skin that may react to the chemicals found in silver polish.

Rob Ross designs and creates handcrafted jewelry that can be found online at http://www.canadiantrinkets.com

[tags]clean, sterling silver, jewelry, silver, baking soda, aluminum foil[/tags]

Buying a new mattress is a daunting task that few relish. The range of prices, features, and stores can make your head spin. It doesn’t have to be this difficult. Bearing a few things in mind while you try and find that perfect place to sleep can ease that big purchase tension.

1. Don’t limit your mattress search to innerspring mattresses.
Innersprings mattresses have long been the standard and for that reason many people are inclined to shop accordingly. Recently that trend has been changing as more and more people are realizing the benefits of getting-edge sleep systems. Latex and memory foam beds are superior to innersprings in comfort, support, and price.

2. Explore what will best suit your needs.
It is easy to be swept up in advertising and form opinions about products without ever having tried them or done any further research. This is one of the biggest mistakes to be made when shopping for a mattress. Being dead set on having a memory foam bed can blind you to the possibility that latex, with its antimicrobial properties and breathability may be a better mattress for you. You may find that memory foam is what you needed, but it is important to keep your mind open.

3. Don’t be sidetracked by trends or gimmicks.
Though it may seem like fun to change the firmness of your bed every night through products like air beds, it is not worth losing the support your body needs. Find a mattress that is customizable but continues to offer support. For example, it is easy to customize latex mattresses to any firmness level without losing support, even for couples.

4. Know the difference between firmness and support.
It is a common misconception that firmer is better. This theory has been debunked. As it turns out the human body does in fact have curves. The best mattress for you will relieve pressure points while supporting your body.

5. Don’t buy more than you need.
Many mattress sellers will try and sell you a whole new mattress set even if you already have a perfectly good box spring. If your box spring isn’t broken don’t replace it. In the case of a platform bed, which provides more under bed storage, a box spring is unnecessary.

6. Know what the exchange policy is.
Being stuck on an uncomfortable mattress that cost you a fortune is a miserable experience. Many retailers have exchange policies extending up to a month to ensure that you know the mattress you buy is the mattress you want. Know what the store’s policy is before thinking about buying.

7. Take into account the importance of a good night’s sleep.
A lot of people undervalue the time they spend in bed. A cheap innerspring mattress will not relieve pressure points near as well as memory foam or latex, which means more tossing and turning, and less deep restful sleep.

8. Don’t be too attached to brand names.
Name brand products are often very high quality. However, many smaller scale manufacturers and retailers generate comparable and often superior products at a fraction of the price.

9. Take into consideration the longevity of the mattress.
Mattress lifespan is important to consider because it affects the cost of the mattress relative to time. A good latex mattress will remain a premium sleeping surface for twice as long as any innerspring mattress. Be sure to ask about warranties on any mattress you are considering.

10. Be sure to know the features and benefits.
Knowing the features and benefits is the only way to decide which mattress is going to work best for you. To the uninformed eye a cover is a cover. To someone in the know, a cover is an amazing feature. Some covers are antimicrobial to reduce the number of allergens in the sleeping area. Some breathe better than others allowing excess moisture to be rapidly dissipated. Still others stretch to form to your body. Remember that there are important considerations when choosing a mattress cover.

With these tips in hand, it’s easier to focus on the ultimate goal of achieving a comfortable, restful sleep. Inquire into new technologies and investigate as many different options as possible using the internet before you walk into a store. Use these points to form your own list of preferences and questions and take your business to someone who listens to your questions and answers them honestly. The most powerful ally for any consumer, after all, is preparation!

Ben Hermsen, a latex mattress and foam cushion engineer, is a manager for FoamSource.com where he champions the benefits of latex mattresses, toppers and pillows for both individual health and also the preservation of our natural environment. For more information on ordering latex mattresses, click here.

[tags]mattress, mattresses, tips, advice, mistakes to avoid, top ten, memory foam, air mattress, memory[/tags]

When redecorating a room, don’t forget about your lighting. While it may seem that you will have to purchase all new lamps for your new d

Do you love that wonderful warm happy feeling you get when you are outside on a sunny spring day? Sunny days lift energy levels and improve moods. Would you like to bring the benefits of natural daylight indoors? Revolutionary full spectrum light bulbs produce “natural” light by filtering out excessive yellow light. You must try them to believe it! Here are some usefull tips and techniques to help “lighten” up your home.

Bathroom: Replace your “Hollywood” bath strip light bulbs with some full spectrum globe bulbs for a rosy glow.

Kitchen: Put 75-watt full-spectrum flood bulbs in your recessed lights. Replace the bulbs in fluorescent ceiling fixtures with full spectrum tubes. Then you can put in a “painted sky” lens to give the effect of a real skylight.

Office: Use full-spectrum non-glare bulbs in your desk lamps and overhead fluorescent fixtures.

Family Room: Use plant uplights, real candle, and natural firelight for maximum impact on cold winter nights.

Bedroom: Replace your bedside table light bulbs with 3-way full-spectrum bulbs.

Use mirrors and crystals to reflect light and create a rainbow effect on your walls. Open your draperies during the day or take a walk to get one hour of sunlight exposure per day.

©Shades of Light 2006

Ashton Harrison has a bachelor of science degree from UVA and a masters in business administration from the University of Richmond. Ashton was the V.P. of Operations for This End Up Furniture before opening the first Shades of Light retail store in 1986. She started Shades of Light national catalog operation in 1995 and launched the Shades of Light web site in 1997. Shades of Light specializes in the highest quality lighting, lamp shades, chandeliers, rugs, and curtains for every lifestyle. For more information please visit the Shades of Light web site and sign up for a free lighting catalog.

[tags]lighting, indoor lighting, bathroom lighting, kitchen lighting, office lighting[/tags]

Modus Operandi is Latin for saying “Mode Of Operation”. Modi Operandi (plural
meaning “Modes of Operation”) was a way that law officers would use to establish
certain habits or characteristics that would define a criminal’s behavior. Observers
of any kind can use someone’s MO as a manner to see how they function, and
actions they take.

Office Operandi is my attempt to plot out the top 10 pitfalls or bad habits people
make when selecting, buying, and organizing their office furniture for new home
office. I will also explain why it’s a pitfall, which in turn will present a clear and
simple solution for a Top 10 List, so listen up.

1- Office Budget: It may sound like a no-brainer, but I still have to mention it - with
any project for the home or office, write out a budget. By establishing a rough
estimate of what you have to spend it will establish guidelines for the project, in this
case an office for the home.

2- Office Space: Map out and measure the space you have for your office. The space
you have will influence what you buy. People many times will buy a desk or a chair
that does not fit right in the space of the room. Always measure the room before
anything. It gives you an idea what you can get and how much breathing room you
need to work comfortably.

3- Office Essentials: Make a list of the things you really need in your office. Keep in
mind at the core an office is a place to work and be creative or just simply buckle
down. Fancy paperweights or other attractions that snag your attention are not
essentials.

4 - Buy Smart: When buying your office furniture, please keep in mind that you
don’t need the most expensive nor do you need the cheapest. Look for furniture
that is built to last, by going with a trusted name. Stay away from dumping your
budget into a $1200 office chair if you only have a $1500 budget. Remember to buy
smart.

5 - Compare and Contrast: When you find the brand you want of a particular piece
of office furniture - shop around. You would be surprised the varying degrees you
can find the same item in a different place. Don’t buy in a rush or on impulses. If
you are buying online check return policies and for things like free shipping. Don’t
settle on the first thing you see when it comes to price but instead take a little more
time to research it. In 5 minutes you may save $30 on the same office chair - It’s
worth the double check for any product, especially online.

6 - Office Design: Buy furniture that is consistent. Having an office that looks the
part goes a long way when you’re in it. If it looks professional, you feel professional.
Always keep that in mind. It’s a common mistake to mismatch here and there; the
end result is just that, a mismatched feeling for a place to get to work.

7 - Office Accents: This is the where you can place the left over money from your
budget, and the most enjoyable part of building a home office. Weird lamps,
interesting paperweights, hologram clock, or retro radio - anything that’s not a
necessity but down right cool. Here is where you can go crazy to give it your
personal touch.

8 - Do a Double Take: After you have all your pieces of furniture - Don’t open a
thing! Measure the room again quickly and double check the items you purchased.
It’s a common mistake people make when they open up a chair or a desk to find it’s
the wrong item or they measured wrong. Sometimes the retailer may have made a
mistake as well; it does not hurt to quickly go over things. It will not be fun to have
a shredded box and put together a desk to realize you have one that’s 5 inches
wider and won’t fit. Always, always, always take a recap.

9 - Putting it together: Two heads are better than one. If you have another person to
help you assemble, then ask for their help. Lining up a desk and putting it together
can be done with one person, but a lot of times less handy people end up with a
desk that slightly rocks, or draws that don’t close all the way. Its better to have
someone holding on to whatever is being pieced together. It will also pay off if you
get lost on the instructions. There is nothing bad about having a helper, especially
when lugging a desk around.

10 - The Home Office: Now that everything is done make sure you use it. The last
step seems like common sense, but most home offices collect junk and paperwork
but never see any real use. Enjoy the hard work you put into piecing together your
home office. Enjoy!

So that sums it up, Office Operandi is a perfect observation of the bad choices
people make when investing time and money into a home office. Follow this easy 10
step process to keep fresh some good things to think about to avoid the common
pitfalls. Step 11 is for you to step out the door and get to work. Good luck and enjoy
your new home office!

This article may be redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the links and
copyright stays intact.

Copyright 2006 by Damon N. Burgess

Damon N. Burgess is a search engine
conceptualist, writer, and an award-winning designer. The founder of Verse
Designs, a Long Island web design
company. Also the marketing manager of one of the largest online furniture stores on
the net - One Way Furniture - leader in
Home Furniture.

[tags]office,furniture,tips,budget,decorating,decor,[/tags]

Are you bored of your current d

Anyone can buy a coffee table. But, next time you’re in the market for a coffee table for your contemporary home, consider purchasing a piece that will do more than hold your magazines and the television remote. There are some wonderful modern coffee tables available that really make a statement in your living room. You may find them to be both functional and your favorite conversation piece.

Consider, for example, the Japanese style coffee table. From a beautiful Tribeca style, with its contoured glass top and wooden legs, to more traditional Japanese coffee tables that are very low to the ground and come with solid bases in very dark colors, Japanese style modern coffee tables offer style and grace with beautiful modern designs.

Another great style choice in modern coffee tables is the original Marcel Breuer style, with its silver metal legs and simple black top. His coffee table with attached nesting table design is especially noteworthy. Most famous as a designer of monuments, Breuer’s furniture styles are in great demand.

Consider, also, Curvet’s designs in modern coffee tables. His style offers a wide range of choices, including a large coffee table called the “Big Cheese” design that resembles a chunk of Swiss cheese, and a curved glass coffee table that is a true work of art.

For American modern coffee tables, consider the designs of Ray and Charles Eames. From wooden tables with wire bases to long elliptical tables, modern coffee tables that nod to the Eames style are a classic choice for modern homes.

Kenshoma also offers unique modern styles that include elements that are somewhat more traditional. Their sea star table includes teak legs and a wicker top, and is a modern coffee table that would also work well in a setting that is somewhat more traditional.

Exciting styles in modern coffee tables abound. Spend some time shopping around, and you’re sure to find a great modern coffee table that complements your home’s style beautifully.

Jennifer Akre, owner of numerous furniture websites, makes it easy to find one of a kind Coffee Tables and End Tables . Learn how to decorate your home in style by clicking the following link: http://www.OnlyTables.com.

[tags]coffee tables,end tables,sofa tables,console tables,kitchen tables,dining tables, game tables,[/tags]