Do you feel like a change but you are not sure why? Have you grown tired of the colour of the living room? Do you think the sofa in the wrong place? Maybe there’s a corner of your home that just makes you feel uncomfortable.

The intuition that something isn’t quite right is commonplace and shouldn’t be ignored. If you feel uncomfortable with your home, don’t resist the urge to move things around and experiment with furniture arrangements and colour combinations. (more…)

Create a healthier, happier home the Eastern way. It’s an ancient Chinese art that brings harmony and it makes good design sense in Western homes, too.

Natural textures and neutral tones that harmonies with one another are considered good Feng Shui. The concrete pedestal filled with candles and river pebbles combines the natural beauty of stone with the warm ambience of candlelight. As an energy source, fire is an important element in Feng Shui. An oil burner will also create a welcoming atmosphere.

If you love colour but want to avoid a look that’s too loud, mood-setting pastels are the way to go. Soft yellows evoke the sunny cheer of summer, while muted blues and greens bring on a sense of calm.

FOR QUIET MOMENTS. A blend of soft yellows and blues creates a summery atmosphere in the simple setting. The framed print and the quaint antique seat lend a charming country tone.

EASY ON THE EYE. Soft aqua and yellow is a brilliant combination in the kitchen, especially in the chequerboard formation. The colour in the cabinets is tempered by the glass display panels.

A PRETTY POTPOURRI. Pastels are a decorator’s dream because they mix and match so easily. The cluster of multi-coloured cushions blends harmoniously because the colour intensities are similar.

A busy passage doubles as a handy dining room. Narrow rooms are especially difficult to organize when they also function as a high-traffic area. The space between the lounge and kitchen of this house had to be used wisely to avoid overcrowding what is essentially a passage.

Being close to the kitchen, the best use for the area was as dining space. A narrow dining table placed to one side of the passage allows plenty of room for access to the kitchen. Paintings and a small bookcase lend colour and character without taking up much space. (more…)

A useless area by the stairs is turned into a cosy office. This open alcove at the top of a stairwell had limited potential because of its size and position. The half wall is necessary because it allows light to flow through to the stairs, but it proved limiting in regard to furnishing the alcove.

The best use for the spot was as a compact home office. Nothing complicated, just a comfortable chair and a desk with lots of natural and artificial light. A narrow couch by the side wall is a cosy touch, with space left for a filling cabinet or bookcase later on. (more…)