Bring Feng Shui Outdoors

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION


Before Photo courtesy of Shauna Piscitello;
After photo courtesy of Seth Hannula

By Shauna Piscitello
Living in Balance with Feng Shui

Feng shui, the Chinese art and science of arrangement, is a connection between people and their environment. It is a discipline based on balance, harmony and energy flow or “ch’i.” Feng shui has become increasingly popular for interior design, but the ch’i outside is equally important and has enormous significance on the energy flow into a home.

Instinctively, we know when a home has good feng shui; it looks and feels inviting. This begins with its surroundings. Harmonious landscapes should compliment the shape of a home, enhance the front entrance and create private areas for support. But there are much deeper levels of feng shui that examine the occupants’ personal ch’i and how it relates to their home. For example, those who value privacy and solitude are best suited with a courtyard entrance versus an exposed foyer.

Designing with feng shui is not just about aesthetics; it is entirely inclusive to personal needs. When there is healthy and agreeable ch’i surrounding your home, it has a positive effect on your life.

Here are a few things to consider about your home and if the outside has “good” feng shui:

• How do you feel when you are approaching home? Are you greeted with a sense of peace and calm?
• Are there outside areas that you enjoy spending time in?
• Can you see the front entrance from the street?
• Are the views from your prominent windows complimented with beauty and nature?
• Does your landscaping include an “outdoor room”?

These questions start to give you a sense of the home’s exterior feng shui and then begin to see how this affects your personal ch’i. Incorporating Feng Shui into your landscape design compliments all design styles and will enhance balance and harmony to your life.

A Good Investment

(by the American Nursery & Landscape Association)

A number of reputable sources have done studies which show that installation of plants and professional landscaping can increase the value of your property. Some specific examples:

• Landscaping can add between 7 and 15 percent to a home’s value. Source: The Gallup Organization.

• Landscaping can bring a recovery value of 100 to 200 percent at selling time. Kitchen remodeling brings a 75 to 125 percent recovery rate, bathroom remodeling a 20 to 120 percent recovery rate, and addition of a swimming pool a 20 to 50 percent recovery rate. Source: Money Magazine.

• A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000. Source: Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers.

11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)

Only $9.95!
  • Less than $1 an issue.
  • 77% off newsstand price.
  • Includes annual HomeBook.


Everything Home. Everything Local.

You can also add Minnesota Monthly
(12 issues a year) for just $13 more.