Totke Remedies

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Home Performance Audits are Good Feng Shui

Savvy homeowners realize that we are working in a new economy. Instead of moving, they are looking at home repairs, maintenance and home improvements as the best option for investing in their homes.

Not only are savvy homeowners investing in repairs and remodeling but there is a major attitude change about owning a home, and it’s sweeping across our country. Gone are the days of a home being an investment first and a place to live second. According to various articles in the Professional Remodeler Magazine, today’s homeowner wants a permanent home that will suite them well through their various stages of life, not just for a particular phase. A “home for life” is the prevailing attitude which is leading to home performance audits, repairs and renovation.

With 10,000 Baby Boomers reaching retirement age daily according to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030 there will be more than 70 million people age 65 and over. This means an even more significant shift in housing needs; whether it is moving or nesting and growing old in existing housing. A recent AARP study indicates that 86% of adults wish to grow older in their own homes. Called “aging in place,” this is defined as older consumers wanting to live in their current homes and communities as long as possible.

All of this means great Feng Shui energy for the homeowner. When you clean up, clear out and fix up, or remodel and remove old energy, you make room for positive, healthy, prosperous new energy to enter.

Home Audit Findings

Comfort, convenience and cost-savings are at the top of the list for home audits. The Residential Energy Consumption Survey reports that of 113.6 million homes in the United States, over 96 percent of them have never had any type of energy audit or evaluation. Of those homes they also found the following:

• 64 percent of housing built before 1980 were poorly insulated leading to higher energy costs
• 47 percent were drafty, losing heat in the winter and cool in the summer
• 42 percent had single-pane windows, further contributing to higher fuel costs

The good news is the report notes that despite increases in the number and the average size of homes, plus increased use of electronics, improvements in efficiency for space heating, air conditioning, and major appliances have all led to decreased energy consumption per household. Newer homes also tend to feature better insulation and other characteristics, such as double-pane windows, that improve the building envelope.

Home Audit “How to”

First and foremost, if you are going to do some serious renovating, connect with a local, well-credentialed home remodeler. If you do not know how to find one, talk to your local realtor. They are the professionals that know everything there is to know about housing and local renovators with good reputations. Search for a professional contractor much like you would for a good dentist or doctor.

If you aren’t ready to take that step or your budget doesn’t permit such an expenditure there are some things you can do on your own.

Clear out all the nooks and crannies. You need to actually unclutter and clear corners, closets, garages and wall areas so you can see if there are any problems such as water stains, warped flooring or exposed electrical wiring. Just clearing your space is a great first step. If a problem isn’t visible you can’t find it and fix it.

Become a sleuth. Look everywhere. Don’t forget up as well as down and sideways. When looking up, check for water stains on ceilings or buckling plasterboard. You may be seeing the beginning signs of roof problem. Check for the same issues when looking down, especially below windows and around doors and sliders. Also use your nose to pick up the smell of mold and mildew which can cause health issues. Seals may have deteriorated, allowing water to enter.

While you are checking windows and doors, play close attention to see if seals are cracked, broken or worse: missing. This along with limited or no insulation is the biggest drain of air-conditioning energy in the South and heating energy in the North. Drafty leaking windows and doors can also cause health problems, and according to Feng Shui principles the loss of prosperity.

Make a list and check it twice. Evaluate your home for potential upgrades or changing needs in the areas of electrical, plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning). A professional will usually be happy to answer your questions in these three areas with no charge. While there are many other areas to check such as the roof, the attic, the basement and the foundation of your home, this mini-audit list is a good beginning.

A well-cared for home can and should last a lifetime when properly maintained and upgraded to meet ever-changing family needs. Perform a home inspection audit today to make sure it meets your needs in a healthy way and your aging requirements for the future.

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Neutrals are King for the 2013 Holiday Season and Beyond

Are you excited to bring out your holiday decorations each year? Do your design accents inspire and uplift you? There are more decorating choices than ever for consumers in 2013 but even with the variety of options, this may not be the year to transition into a completely new look.

With so much geometric movement and tribal design trends in rugs, pillows and accent pieces, it is hard to put a lot of color energy into any other décor item. Metals, earthenware and baskets top the list for all basic floral décor, whether year around or specifically for the holidays. In fact, there is so much neutral in holiday decorations that you could simply call it “winter” and leave it on display until spring.

Neutrals are king. Whites, beiges and grays are such a strong trend in florals that it is expected to influence other design areas and stay strong for quite some time. In fact, floral designers say they are deliberately creating more simple and conservative designs that can be used for longer periods of time to better meet the consumers’ needs.

Watch for These Color Combinations in Floral Décor

Forget about shiny and bling. Floral décor has very earthy simple components such as shades of olive, gray and cocoa brown. For a bit of balance and a splash of color, various shades of blue, especially aqua, are ideal for creating the feeling of an oasis at home. This color combination provides very good calming sanctuary-type Feng Shui energy.

The Muted Garden Party. Some floral designers use berry colors for punching up the energy of their arrangements. The colors range from deep purples and magentas to rich raspberry. No true red in these décor products. The favored green comes in the form of succulent rosettes. They’re available in powdery gray, blue and brown greens. Since the florals continue to read muted as the colors blend quietly with the neutrals, size becomes the focal point. The focal statement is often made through the design itself which can be quite oversized.

Texture is everywhere. Ribbons are coming back in a variety of textures ranging from burlap, wrap-able metal and jute to fabric ribbons with words or a tone on tone damask look. Small neutral non-descript birds are also everywhere along with the snowy white owl in a variety of sizes. And, felt is back. The fabric that grandmothers used to create handmade charming crafts and ornaments has made a triumphant return, especially in the Christmas category.

Holidays 2013

If you are going to transition into a new look for the holidays for 2013 begin now because it might require an entire makeover since there is very little traditional red and green. For you traditionalists, never fear, there is always a bit of traditional holiday décor to be found every year. Just know that this is not the year where tradition predominates. And, if you love metallics, be aware that while gold is never out of style this will definitely be the year of silver.

Nature-made and handmade along with woodland animals predominate along with neutral fibers, neutral colors and silver. The colors include the aqua or soft blues, mint and light teal greens, coppers, gray and chocolate – the only bling accent is silver.

Nature-made – this look replaces anything glitzy, glittery and plastic. It is filled with all the shades of nature such as burlap, rough-hewn wood, birch trees, earth tones and industrial colors. It is actually a very pretty woodland look, very peaceful and can stay displayed for the entire winter season. It features lots of woodland animals, especially bears – the real kind not the teddy – deer, squirrel, raccoon and moose. This look uses very grounding colors: the perfect calming antidote for a home filled with chaos.

Handmade – for the felt enthusiast and crafter, this look is a dream come true. Felt ornaments adorn trees, often embroidered or stitch embellished and often feature woodland animals. Call it the self-made look if you wish, it features knitted and crocheted ornaments along with ornaments wrapped in twine, burlap flowers and metal ribbons. This style category is great for families trying to reconnect with relationships and traditions of the past, while also integrating them into today’s hectic lifestyle.

Anything goes – this is sort of an eclectic category that goes toward the glitz and shine of the art deco era of the 1930’s and features silvers, gray, mirrors, whites and beiges with lots of stars. Or, it is very whimsical and leans toward farm animals, tractors, robots, musical instruments, notes, space aliens, and foods like hot dogs, tacos, pizza and strawberry tarts. This category was the most colorful, fun and funky. If you are a collector, this is the perfect setting for all those colorful treasures hidden in drawers and attics. They will be full of fond memories and provide uplifting energy.

Love it or hate it, change is in the air when it comes to this year’s home décor floral and Christmas trends. If you are ready to turn over a new leaf and get a fresh start, some of these new trends might be perfect. If you love what you have and it gives you great peace and joy, hang on for another year as some of these new trends may not last very long.

Food, Feelings and Feng Shui

Studies have shown that people’s food intake is susceptible to their surroundings. Simple visual clues like plate size, room lighting, room color and the eating behavior and body size of dining companions were shown to affect the portion and size of food consumption.

While the studies are numerous and supported by a wide range of industries such as restaurants, psychology and color researchers, the findings are remarkably similar when it comes to the impact of color on your life and its effect on your behaviors.

Shape, colors, lighting, music and even the size of things such as bowls and dining companions play a dramatic role in your food intake and mood. The results also strongly support long-held Feng Shui principles of dos and don’ts when it comes to the use of color and design in your surroundings to create balance, peace and calm.

Room Color and Surroundings

As you visit your favorite restaurants or fast food haunts over the next several weeks pay close attention to their color scheme to see how it influences your food choices and mood. If their predominant colors are red, yellow or orange beware. Those colors stimulate the appetite, encourage you to eat more and eat faster. They want you to purchase more in larger sizes, eat and leave. They tend to be noisier and louder because these colors also increase the levels of anxiety and aggravation. The more red involved the higher the levels of aggression, the more yellow that is involved the higher the anxiety levels and the sooner you want to leave. Think red chili peppers and hot yellow peppers and you get the picture.

When you apply this information to your own home it becomes quickly obvious that these colors would be a poor choice for dining rooms and kitchens where you want to maintain balance, calm and enjoy nourishing food in a nurturing atmosphere. Even if it means going against nouveau trends of painting the dining room or one wall of the dining room red, don’t do it.

Earthy tones, beige and warm browns make a room feel grounded, a bit luxurious and provide a calming atmosphere. These colors have no effect on the appetite and are often the same colors as the food we consume such as bread, meat and beans. This is the ultimate neutral for the appetite and table conversation. Just don’t go too dark as the room will become too somber and dreary, creating more of a foreboding atmosphere rather than an engaging atmosphere conducive to savoring every morsel of your meal and the attention of your companion.

If you wish for more control of what you eat and how much, consider using light green in the surroundings. Green is said to aid digestion, help you focus and be more relaxed. Think of all the markets that us the color green in their ambiance and title description. Rather than stimulating the appetite and rushing out the door, you can leisurely dine, relax over a cup of tea with a companion and slowly enjoy a peaceful conversation while allowing your food to digest. Green is one of the best energy colors for a dining room or kitchen, providing all the right color energy for physical and emotional health.

The one color most calming for a room but least used in restaurants and home dining rooms is blue. It may be a tranquil color as long as it is not too dark or too bright but it is truly an appetite suppressant and discourages one from eating anything served on a blue plate. While this colors appears a lot in nature making it a very user friendly color it does not appear in food very much other than blueberries. When was the last time you saw a set of blue dishes or fine china other than blue willow or Wedgewood? Or perhaps recall eating the “blue plate” special which dates back to the 1920s -1950s, where it was the low priced daily special, rotating the meat every day and served with three vegetables. Nourishing it was, appetizing and appealing, it wasn’t -- and still isn't.

Lighting, Containers and Companions

The same rules apply to background lighting and music. The lighter and brighter or the noisier the room the less time you want to spend there and eat there. However, candle light and dimmed lighting encourages you to linger and relax but also to eat more (think: second helpings, extra drinks and dessert). Candlelight is a wonderful natural light for dining as long as you are aware of the downsides. Normal full spectrum lighting works best along with either peaceful music or the gentle bubble of a small waterfall.

A simple catchphrase to be aware of is “we taste first with our eyes.” What we see makes a difference in how much we eat and how our emotions will be satiated. For example, research showed that the more colors available of an item to eat the more you will eat. If you place a bowl of M&Ms in the standard seven colors in front of a group of people, on average they each will eat 56 pieces. However, if you add three more colors to the bowl, each person will consume 99 pieces. Other simple things to be aware of are of that people will do:

• drink more from short fat glasses than tall skinny one
• eat more from 12” plates than 10” plates
• eat more snacks if several small serving bowls are used instead one large one
• eat more ice cream or popcorn if larger bowls are used
• want second helpings or larger pieces of pizza or cake if served on large plates
• eat more food when dining with a companion that is overweight or regularly overeats

Balance in weight maintenance and emotional well-being are directly linked to finding balance in your surroundings, especially those areas where food is prepared and consumed. Moderation in this case applies to more than just a serving size.

Using Feng Shui To Transform A Home Office

Separating home life and business is the first major challenge. When your work space is nestled within your home, the two parts of your life often collide in ways that impede your performance in both. Running a small business may be interrupted numerous times throughout the day by family members and work issues can threaten to overtake important family time.

The other obstacle involves a lack of social interaction and stimulation. This lack of stimulation that is experienced in a typical office can lead to a lack of motivation that results in poor work performance. In a business-related office setting, co-workers pull their resources to create a productive workflow – not an option when working from home.

However, perhaps this is the right situation for you at this time in your life and you simply need to learn how to balance these factors correctly. If so, there are some things I can teach you about feng shui that will help you create a working environment that you can thrive in.

First make the room farthest from your bedroom your home office. Ideally, your office should have a completely separate entryway. Physical separation helps to create a separation between work and home life. It also helps prepare the way for good home office feng shui.

As you create your home office, do so with positive thoughts of productivity, well being, and success in mind. Think about your field of work. Then think about the energy needed and the energy you want to project. Be creative and fill your office space with things that express you. Be sure to include relevant feng shui colors, memorabilia, and images that will stimulate your creativity and your mind.

Do not neglect two of the most important factors in feng shui: the air quality and the light quality – both natural and artificial. Your brain cannot function with inadequate oxygen or lighting. This will hamper your work output and keep you from enjoying working from home. Invest in good lighting and add some air-purifying plants to the décor.

By placing your office desk in the feng shui commanding position, you will create and stimulate the flow of strong, successful energies. This means that your desk will be positioned so that your back face away from the door at a further distance. Your desk should not face the wall. If the room makes this impossible, you can creatively use art and feng shui to mend the problem.

Be mindful of the various spaces throughout your home office. The south area is referred to as “Light in the World” and represents fame and reputation. In feng shui, its energy is that of fire. Avoid having blue objects, water, fountains, or mirrors in this area as these will clash with fire.

The north area is water and metal. It is concerns your path in life. The best way to create good feng shui here is to frame inspirational pictures and images in black and white frames. The southeast area of your office stands for prosperity and abundance. Here, the feng shui energy is wood. Fill this space with things that represent money and abundance for you. Be sure to avoid fire elements, which will hamper the wood energy.

Organize your home office and clear it away of clutter by using feng shui to complete the transformation process. Clutter only hampers your productivity and drains your energy. Plan a feng shui clearing day and get rid of all that threatens to impede you and your workflow.

These are some of the simplest feng shui tips that yield the greatest results. This feng shui will create high, positive energy that will benefit you during your workday. After tackling the home office, you are now ready to move onto the energy in your bedroom. Because all things are subtly connected on the feng shui energy level, it is important not to neglect the rest of your home in order to create a good base for your business.