Feng Shui Design: Art For Every Budget

Photo & Sacred Space Design by Elana Kilkenny.

THE FENG SHUI OF ART:

Art is a wonderful way to add beauty, personality, and inspiration to your home. From a Feng Shui perspective, I always suggest that you buy art that you love and that makes you feel the way you desire to feel...which is not necessarily the same as what you are currently feeling.

For instance, maybe you are single and wanting to be in a relationship. Are you drawn to art that contains solitary figures or images? While you may be attracted to these pieces, it might be echoing back to you a sense of living a solitary life that you may no longer desire. Try adding some other art into the mix and consider taking down some art that may not be nourishing your dreams. In this instance, consider adding some art to your home that has duality, reflects how you want to feel in a relationship, or somehow signifies love to you.

If you are feeling overworked or stressed in your life, look for some art that is more calming, serene, and/or joyful. Do you find yourself vigilant in your life, feeling a need to be protective and avert getting hurt or possible danger? Having a collection of tribal war masks might not be the best choice for you. Are you prone to fiery spurts of anger or simmering rage? Art that depicts or symbolizes conflict whether in abstract or figurative form might just be fanning your flames rather than helping you get to a more peaceful place in your heart. You get the picture...

Our relationship to art is ultimately very personal, what one piece of art might mean to you, might mean something else to another person. Understanding your own relationship to the art you already own and to that which you are drawn to bringing into your home can be a very significant form of support and catalyst for creating the life that you desire.

ART FOR EVERY BUDGET:

Now that you are thinking about the art in your home, below are some tips and resources for Art For Every Budget that I use frequently with my Sacred Space Design clients:

• Prints and Photography: are wonderful options for adding art to your home. While this option can run the gamut of pricing from reasonable to pricey there are some great options out there in all price categories. Many of the resources I have listed below also offer a limited selection of framing options that are often cheaper than having it framed at a frame store.
  
  Here are some resources I often use for my Sacred Space Design clients: 
  1. My Pinterest board "Prints I Love"
  2. Etsy
  3. Minted 
  4. Domino Magazine
  5. Specific sales from One Kings Lane
  6. Some of the artists you love but can't afford at this time, might sell prints of their more expensive works. For instance, many painters now sell prints of their in-stock and/or sold pieces of artwork. 
      
• Misc Options: Beautiful pieces of wrapping paper, fragments of wallpaper or fabric are a great and often cost-effective way to add art to your home. Another option is framing cards or postcards with a design you love. As these are generally smaller in size, think about hanging a bunch of different pieces that work together or adding them to collection of art that is on one of your walls.
  
  For Example: To add more meaning to our home I took a handmade sheet of wrapping paper that I used to make our wedding invitations and I had it matted and framed. It now hangs over our couch in our living room as it is a beautiful reminder of our love and commitment to one another.
  
  Here are some resources I often use for my Feng Shui Design clients:

1. Etsy
2. Paper Source
3. My Pinterest board "Wallpaper"

• Paintings: Paintings are one of my favorite ways to add depth, texture, beauty and soul to your home.While paintings can get expensive, there are plenty of options for every price range.
  
  Here are some resources that I often use for my Feng Shui Design clients:  

1. Etsy 
2. My Pinterest Board "Artists You Should Know About"
3. Local flea markets and craft fairs
4.  Ugallery

• Make Your Own: Last but not least, one of my favorite ways to bring art and new energy into you home is by making your own art. You don't have to have dreams of showing your art in a gallery or call yourself an artist to create your own art. Whether you love to draw, paint, make collages, etc. it's never too late to unleash the inner artist in you. It's one of the most soulful, fulfilling and budget-friendly ways you can bring art into your home.
  
  If you need a little help to get your artistic juices flowing, look for some local art classes that resonate with you in your area. My beloved journey into painting started with some amazing classes that I took with Rebecca Schweiger (one of my favorite artists and people) at her amazing The Art Studio NY .
  
  As always, I'd love to hear from you!
  
  Does you home's art currently reflect your dreams and, if not, what tip or resource are you going to utilize to create a home that inspires your desires?
  
  Who are some of your favorite artists or resources for art?
  
  Let us know in the comments below.
  
  As always, deep gratitude to you for reading and sharing so generously! Enjoy feathering your nest!
  
  Much love and blessings,
  Elana

Revitalizing Your Home: De-clutter and Redesign

Photo by Elana Kilkenny. Taken at a Jonathan Adler store in NYC.

With temperatures climbing across the country, it is a great time to spend some time indoors de-cluttering and re-decorating your home. I have found with myself and clients that so much energy gets stuck in our homes when clutter accumulates and when your home no longer reflects who you are. De-cluttering can be a bit overwhelming for many of us,  I have found that since becoming a mother and having less disposable time that for the first time in years I am needing to do a de-cluttering overhaul. It is often wise to start with a small defined area and to identify first the items that simply need to be sifted through for outdated material (i.e. papers, magazines, etc.) that are no longer of use. I start here first as it gives an instant boost in de-cluttering confidence as you have an instant clearing in space. The areas that have items that require you to create more systematic organization in order to properly place them takes more time and thought.

Karen Kingston has a great and simple book called "Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui" that I refer to a lot of my clients when I help them with the Sacred Space design of their homes and office. A simple tenant that I try to keep in mind as often as possible is to keep that which you truly use and that which you love. Those things that you are keeping out of obligation, attachment to the past, fear of not having enough..all contribute to a constriction in your energy and general flow of not only your space but also your life to receive what is trying to come through to you.

While not all of us have the budget or desire to completely redesign your home, this time of year provides a great opportunity to be creative in bringing the style of your home into your own inspirational present. As an example, our family is still in the process of allowing our new home to speak to us and to acquire meaningful pieces to fill it. In the meantime, there are spaces that I know I don't want to commit to hanging pictures with nails as I know the furniture arrangement will probably change shortly. So I have taken some of my children's art and used simple blue painters tape to artfully arrange some pieces to add instant color and meaning to our home. When new artwork comes home or new inspiration hits I simply take down the old ones and replace them with new ones leaving my walls completely unharmed.

Another cost-conscious way to add instant pop to your walls is to frame pretty wrapping paper, wallpaper remnants, or reasonably priced prints (Etsy has some great ones). The summer is a great time to also unleash your inner artist and even if you have never painted before  you can buy a canvas and simply buy paint whose colors attract you and paint. My inner painter was unleashed years ago at Rebecca Schweiger's wonderful The Art Studio NY (see below for resources) as her classes provide tremendous support and freedom to simply create regardless of whether you have ever painted before or consider yourself an artist.

Another instant re-boot for your home is to simply rehash some current furniture and pieces in your home by placing them in different locations and/or for different uses. For instance an old shelving piece with doors once used for books can be re-jiggered to be a min-wardrobe for a child. Simply switching out or adding some decorative pillows are great ways to instantly refresh your current decor and can be switched seasonally if you like.

For more design inspiration from everything from great interiors, furniture, pillows, etc. follow me onPinterest and Instagram. Need some more one-on-one guidance, contact me about my transformative Sacred Home Design and Space Clearing and Blessing services. Happy clearing and decorating!!!

P.S. More tips forthcoming!

Resources:

1) For Design Inspiration and Resources follow me on Pinterest and Instagram.

2) Art Classes: The Art Studio NY.

3) Pillows of all price ranges (Ikea, Jonathan Adler, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and more on my Pinterest "Pillow Talk" board)

4)For art at all price ranges follow your own muse or check out my "Artists You Should Know About" board on Pinterest.

5)"Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui" by Karen Kingston

6)Resources and great idea for organizing at my "Uncluttered Home, Peaceful Home" board on Pinterest.

Follow me on Pinterest for More Inspiration and Resources!

"Butterflies In-Store" Photo by Elana Kilkenny. Taken at Anthropologie in Soho, NYC.

Many of you know that I am positively and joyously obsessed with interior design and all things related to making one's life more fully beautiful, so it will come as no surprise to you that I would instantly fall in love with making boards on Pinterest.  For those of you who don't know what Pinterest is, it is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to decorate their homes, share children related information, and a host of other information.

I have recently created a collection of boards to share with you on everything from home decor, children's rooms/stuff/clothing, to holistic resources. Whenever possible I have tried to pin something from its original source so if you click on the picture it will take you there. It has been a great way to organize a treasure trove of information that I am thrilled to share with you to inspire you to truly create a more beautiful and vibrant life! If it sounds intriguing follow my Pinterest page as I update my boards frequently.

Blessings and love,

Elana

Nurturing Yourself Through Your Home: Autumnal Nesting

Photo by Elana Kilkenny.

We have all heard of spring cleaning, well I am a big believer in autumnal gathering. As our days grow cooler and nights draw earlier, the fall is a great time to begin to feather your nest for the upcoming season. For some of you this may mean clearing out your home of clutter and/or things that you no longer love nor support you in your home. Most of us spend more time in our homes in the cooler months, so being surrounded by pieces that nourish you and have positive associations is particularly important to your sense of well being.

It is amazingly freeing to let go of items that weigh you down emotionally and energetically. Are you holding on to things because of a sense of obligation (I should really keep this because so and so gave this to me), from past relationships that you have ambivalence or negativity about, things that you used to love but no longer reflect who you are, etc. Often we hold on to things out of a lack of faith that we won't receive what we really want or out of protection to hold on to a past version for ourselves. In my work with clients over the years I have seen amazing shifts in their lives and homes when they have had the courage and faith to bring their homes into the present and make room for the future.

Some of you may be on the polar spectrum and have very orderly and spare homes. While that aesthetic can be very calming and soothing, you may want to ask yourselves if your environment also reflects any areas of detachment, rigidity, or loneliness that you may experience. If any of this resonates with you, you may want to gather some pieces that soften your home. A great way to nourish your soul and add warmth to your environment is to add accessories and fabrics that are tactile and inviting.

For all of us autumn is a great time to add elements of warmth to our homes which in turn warms us as well. Cozy blankets or throws are great ways to add instant coziness to your environment. For those of you that love tea, buying a fresh stock of aromatic and soothing teas is an affordable and delicious way to enjoy some instant peace. Even though my days are as full as most of you, I find that taking an extra few minutes to sit down and drink some freshly brewed tea in my favorite cup is instantly restorative (I like steeping fresh mint leaves with a bit of raw honey).

If your windows are bare ask yourself is it just a design choice or does it reflect a lack of commitment to settling into your home or does a part of you unconsciously have some boundary issues around personal space (I am not just speaking physical space here). You may be more comfortable in having a choice over the level of privacy and exposure (as well as light) that you want to bring into your daily life.

This is also a great time of year to create a more romantic atmosphere in your home regardless of whether you share your home with a partner or not. Candles are an easy way to add instant romance, as are bath potions and inviting music. If you are interested in cooking, this is also a wonderful time to indulge and bring hearth energy into your home. Autumn is also an opportune time to start or deepen your meditation practice. This is a great way to bring more to your life and to your home. Use your imagination, there are so many personalized ways to lift the energy of your home and your spirits a well!

Some of My Favorite Things for Autumn:

Blankets/Throws:
Splurge: www.ochrestore.com
Visit their store in New York for a larger selection of beautiful and tactile pieces for your home. ABC home store on 19th and Broadway, an amazing selection of pretty much everything for your home (check out John Robshaw bedding).
 

Reasonable: www.barefootdreams.com
Their Cozy Chic line is amazingly soft for adults, children and babies. Wonderful blanket, robes and clothing.


A Tea Moment:
Bodum makes a beautiful and modern range of tea kettles and pots that brew fresh tea. I particularly like the all glass ones even if they require more delicate handling. In New York Cityplaces like Alice's Teacup, Takashimaya and Dean and Deluca have a wonderful selection of fresh and exotic teas to choose from. I also love the French tea company, Mariage Freres.

Raw honey is a delicious and healthy food to have on hand and tastes delicious in tea. After hearing about this from a homeopath at the first sign of a cough or sore throat in our home we have a small spoonful of raw honey (crunchy parts and all).

Favorite Candles:
Splurge: Diptique candles burn incredibly pure and come in tantalizing scents . I am personally obsessed with their Figuier (fig) candle.  A new favorite line of candles is from the French company LostMarch. They come in three scents to set different moods, I love all of them. This line is hard to find in the States but Share with...--a wonderful and friendly store in Montauk, New York--carries them and I believe they ship [(631) 668-2205].

Reasonable: Votivo carries a wonderful line of candles and comes in a beautiful glass jar (red currant is my long-time favorite scent, more sexy than fruity).  Geodesis makes my second favorite fig candle named "fig tree". It is slightly woodsy and reminds of crisp evenings in a foreign countryside.