Do you believe in Feng Shui?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

That's not Feng Shui. What you described maybe a twisted western version, maybe even sales pitch for a certain design.

Right. Feng Shui is more about flow, layout, colors, decor and how you feel (the energy of a place). I think I've read a book from one of the Barnes and Noble bargain book tables years ago. I'm sure it was the authority on all things Feng Shui.

[Noah930]

I didn't believe in it as a kid. Then I had an auntie from Hong Kong who came to visit. She was big into it. We were driving through Chinatown in LA. She pointed to an empty, overgrown lot and asked, "Was that a church in the past?" I mean, there is absolutely no way she would have known that this empty lot was formerly a church (I think it burned down many years earlier). But somehow she knew, and she pointed out that that plot of land wasn't prosperous. She was right, as years later there was a small mall built on it that never seemed to do well.

So maybe her kooky ideas about stairwells and front doors, orientation of beds, and placement of plants/furniture/water features has something to it.

In the meantime, I've recently been looking at buying a house in New England, and have noticed that probably 80% of the multi-story houses that I've looked at online have stairwells that point straight out the front door. (Bad juju, as like water flowing down a stream your pro$perity will flow out of your house.) That's a deal-killer feature for me, right there.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

IMHO Feng Shui is a fancy term for setting up a home environment that "feels" right. I've done things like placing a mirror to brighten a dark corner or arrange taller pieces of furniture so they don't block natural light. Hippies will say my home has good Feng Shui but it's just setup in a way that makes me comfortable.

This...

[craigster59]

I have a designer friend who is a big Feng Shui expert. She's done stuff on HGTV. She's also a little bit of a loose nut.

That aside, I've spoken with her and other folks and I have to agree with most of you folks. Whatever flows and makes you comfortable creates an energy in the home.

There are "compass points" involved in Feng Shui for luck, prosperity, harmony, etc.

That stuff I'm not so convinced of. Home can happen anywhere.

[herr_oberst]

I get the most pleasure from the Kama Sutra when practiced in a space which follows the teachings of the Feng Shui.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by masraum

It has also been studied and shown that different shaped and colored plates can make food taste different.

And I've absolutely had music that almost seemed tangible (like wind or the ocean).

And that's a great point. Different folks like different foods, different music, different art, etc.... So there's no reason to assume that everyone is going to like or do well in a house that looks the same on the inside or outside or is decorated the same way or anything else.

The human mind is an amazing thing.

Exactly my point when describing the visual and physical elements in good design but, Feng Shui claims spiritual results from physical placements, etc.

And how exactly does one achieve a certification in something like that? It felt
‘carnival barker’ to me. How does one feel they got their monies worth from a consultation?

I’m drawn to the simplicity of Amish design, Swedish design but, are they Feng Shui or can one muck it up even with the finest furnature and materials? Can the most opulent baroque great room be simultaneously Feng Shui?

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by craigster59

I have a designer friend who is a big Feng Shui expert. She's done stuff on HGTV. She's also a little bit of a loose nut.

That aside, I've spoken with her and other folks and I have to agree with most of you folks. Whatever flows and makes you comfortable creates an energy in the home.

There are "compass points" involved in Feng Shui for luck, prosperity, harmony, etc.

That stuff I'm not so convinced of. Home can happen anywhere.

I guess RVs can be and can not be Feng Shui depending on how they’re parked!

[john70t]

Originally Posted by techman1

No AC? a house stays cooler if the overhangs protect the east and west side of the house. The water is stored in a certain part of the house (Mold prevention). Also proper orientation would take advantage of wind patterns.

A long hallway or walkway might need at least a few rest or pleasant spaces.
(Then you only have to walk half the distance. Twice)

A long fence, without dazzle camouflage or baby poo yellow paint, needs to be visually broken up into parts as well.
(This changes it into an approachable space instead of a blocking mountains.)

There are some psychological preconceptions hard-wired into us to keep us safe and aware.
Babies won't crawl over a drop even on a solid piece of glass. The eyes overrule other senses.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Do you believe in Feng Shui

Yes, I love Feng Shui, particularly with a side of Hainanese chicken.




I give it the benefit of the doubt, I have small stylish mirrors above the French doors so if good luck comes into the house it doesn't go straight through and out the French doors. I want it to stay.

[sc_rufctr]

There's only one thing I want to know... Why didn't Vash start this thread?

[aigel]

If you look to sell to a Chinese person in the future, it would be something to consider to at least cover the basics. I have Chinese friends and coworkers and like mentioned above already, they do concern themselves with this idea of flow and it seems it is mostly affecting prosperity. The most important rule I picked up several times is that you do not want the front door and back door of a home or room lined up. Your money will flow right out of it!

It is total BS of course, how would the alignment of your doors affect your prosperity exactly? In your case as a home builder it will affect your prosperity only in that you will have a smaller market if Chinese people won't buy it in the future.

G

[rusnak]

My mom's family is from the SF Bay Area. And to make it worse, they grew up during the great hippie era. So I always looked sceptically at all this Chop-Saki Bu11***** . I did experience this one demonstration by my aunties lesbian ex however. She could "throw" her "chi". It made me wonder if this stuff is real. Maybe. I dunno.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

There's only one thing I want to know... Why didn't Vash start this thread?

Because Vash knows the answer already! Clearly it's working as just got a promotion and is being groomed for another. I'm not sure how the spider fits in with his Feng Shui though.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Just a precursor, I'm a believer in Color Psychology. Hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, our eyesight developed and instinctively, we react to colors like blue, green, red in nature.

I've a long line of artistic bent in my background, dabble myself in many mediums and fully believe in the reactions some colors bring to us. The truly great designers utilize color palettes in the same way any talented painter does.

Having said that,,,,,, Feng Shui. I don't know if I'm on board. Enhancing the 'energy' of a home using 'techniques' that strike me a little like New Age Crystals. My Chakras are rebelling a bit!

We've been working with some designer/builders to remove our carport and build a formal garage, bumping out our entry and a full kitchen remodel. Aside from the cornholeo feeling of some of the quotes we've received, I'm seeing options of Feng Shui consulting, certifications??

Snake oil or just fluffing up a designer's resume?? Anyone had their home Feng Shuided??

Now, Elizabeth Shue I get or wish I did,,,

Feng Shui is mostly just another way to get money of of clients.

I worked in a professional photolab for many years. The darkrooms were usually lights off, and pure coal mine dark and there is nothing for eyes to focus on. Turn on the lights, and the walls were painted flat black to reduce all reflections and flat black does that well. It will make you want to get outside if you are spending time in there working on the processors or enlargers.

So yea, happy colors are much better for spending time in. Will moving a rock or a lamp from one side of a room to the other end of the room make your life better, not likely unless you believe that to begin with. The placebo effect is real.

[varmint]

furniture voodoo.

[Zeke]

I looked into it many years ago. It's about qi, yours and that of your environment. Some may think that is just being comfortable. Or easy to get around in the house. Actually it's a bit more than that.

How do you explain astrology? It's a fact that planets do move in patterns with timing. Observe that for a few centuries and you're bound to come up with some kind of correlation, whatever it may be.

Feng Shui is balancing of the physical and metaphysical world. It's not a rock placed just so near a pond that is somehow just right. Unless that rock and pond do something for you.

There are some theories about straight lines vs. curves. By curves, the practitioners would have you believe that the shape and position of your environment might slow down good energy to your benefit by capturing this energy.

Thus, the comments here about 'dog trot' houses and staircases.

[vash]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

There's only one thing I want to know... Why didn't Vash start this thread?

hahhaha..my mom believed in it. but she was terrible at it. I know the basics.

I did visit the worlds most perfectly put together home in Malaysia. it is supposed to be in perfect balance. felt normal to me.

[Tobra]

Just because it is illogical and unscientific, it does not mean it is invalid.

[thor66]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

HA all good CB! Just playin' with ya. I know that my imperfections make me beautiful.

you look great in the icon pic - must be the feng chewy

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Just a precursor, I'm a believer in Color Psychology. Hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, our eyesight developed and instinctively, we react to colors like blue, green, red in nature.

I've a long line of artistic bent in my background, dabble myself in many mediums and fully believe in the reactions some colors bring to us. The truly great designers utilize color palettes in the same way any talented painter does.

Having said that,,,,,, Feng Shui. I don't know if I'm on board. Enhancing the 'energy' of a home using 'techniques' that strike me a little like New Age Crystals. My Chakras are rebelling a bit!

We've been working with some designer/builders to remove our carport and build a formal garage, bumping out our entry and a full kitchen remodel. Aside from the cornholeo feeling of some of the quotes we've received, I'm seeing options of Feng Shui consulting, certifications??

Snake oil or just fluffing up a designer's resume?? Anyone had their home Feng Shuided??

Now, Elizabeth Shue I get or wish I did,,,

I fully believe in color psychology, I personally am highly effected by light and color as was my mother. We also have an artistic bent.

I am not onboard with feng shui won't go as far as to call BS but not a believer. I also do not believe in going out the door I came in unless it is easiest or closest.