Riverside home goes with the flow

When a feng shui master such as my buddy Carrie Luce Forsythe renovates, she has a lot more criteria in mind than your average fixer upper.

For one thing, feng shui folk want "flow."

In response to her "flow" response, I paused momentarily, tried to look as though I had some idea of what she meant by that, then asked, "When you say flow, what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Flow," she replied with that deep, knowing look on her face, "is what determines your path as you walk through a room, as well as how energy passes through a room."

"Ahhh," I replied, pretending to concur, as it were.

"What you don’t want when you enter a room is furniture or obstacles that impede either your ability to move through a room, or that disrupt the flow of positive energy," she continues. "Not only does furniture have to be strategically placed, but clutter gone as well, and cleanliness, very important to flow in the context of proper feng shui. It’s really about living in an environment that gives you a feeling of harmony, of balance, that allows you to live at the highest potential your space has to offer to achieve harmony, good health and success."

Actually, of course, I do get this. We all do. Who doesn’t want the perfect conditions for harmony, health and success in their home?

But hey, we’re not all feng shui masters, so how do we know what to do? Well, of course the standard "go to" these days is just to Google it, but if you want more hands-on professional help and advice, you are more than welcome to email Carrie at ambrosiaapothecary@gmail.com and take it from there. She is a gold mine of information and knowledge on the subject.

Warning, she may make you move the recliner that the front door bumps into when you enter your house, and reposition your 55-inch TV a bit so you don’t have to squeeze between it and that ugly table your dear deceased aunt left you 17 years ago. Growth takes change.

Carrie knows flow, so understandably, negative flow as well, and even no flow, because that’s exactly what she encountered in the home she moved into a few years ago, albeit, on a lovely river lot, with the river eternally ­flowing by. So, to date, it’s been a four-year renovation, and a rather in-depth one at that. I ask Carrie to give us an idea of some of the changes.

"So, what used to be a dilapidated sunroom with a master bedroom above got completely opened up to be a great room with a stunning view of the river and a perfect area for entertaining."

It is beautiful.

"Then I took a small, very dated kitchen that I thought was not strategically placed and flipped it so it would have a view of the river, and the kids’ play area. Prior to redoing the great room and kitchen, there was no view of the river. Everything was cut off from the river! Now, with it all open to the river, we have a living landscape, with lots of wildlife passing through every day. Much better.

"It’s all about form and function. Your home, office, whatever, not only has to look good, but help you feel good. Your surroundings play a big part in creating personal happiness, productivity and peace."

Wow, so there’s hope for me yet.

"This is one remarkable reno," I tell Carrie in sincere praise and appreciation for a job well done (and continuing in other areas of her "castle"). "But what can we who are not in a position to flip rooms and go gaga in our humble abodes do to begin creating a sense of renewal along feng shui principles that can slowly turn the feel of own homes around? More of a cosmetic reno that leads to a more "flowing" home environment?"

"Small steps, easily managed changes can make a huge difference in the feel of any home. Rearranging, removing or replacing furniture so that flow and energy have a chance to work their magic... While costing very little to accomplish."

"What about colours?" I ask. "Painting, perhaps, wallpaper, new flooring?"

"Those are very doable changes and generally very affordable with smart shopping. Colours are very important, and can have a huge impact on the feng shui success in your home, office, wherever. Best to gain a quick understanding of feng shui principles, create a grid in your home and take it from there. Colours are very significant in creating that positive, comforting, peaceful feel you want."

I close by suggesting that Mustard Yellow must be one of the most beneficial colours one could ever choose to help create a positive, productive, even "sunny" environment, like, ANYWHERE!

"As a matter of fact, yellow is very helpful for minimizing stress, reducing fatigue and helping create a sense of well-being," she says.

Well, that’s me, exactly. My work here is done. Thanks, Carrie. Beautiful home.

Comments or feedback, love to hear from you at lmustard1948@gmail.com.