While a space absolutely does not have to look Chinese or 'zen' in order to be a good Feng Shui home, incorporating gorgeous high end Chinoiserie into Feng Shui interior design is generally a beautiful thing to do. It creates an elegant feminine style space with very pretty nature motifs, contrasted with strikingly bold lacquered items of furniture or modern lounging sofa sets. I adore the intricacy of Chinoiserie patterns and the fact that so many flowers, animals and symbols have a specific meaning in the Chinese culture, and also in the Feng Shui language too.

Noetic spaces

Creating an environment conducive to contemplating the deeper meaning of life and perhaps even experience a sense of mysticism, was fundamental to Feng Shui garden design in ancient China and also in Japan, with the Zen Garden being a widely acknowledged example.  It is this peace and tranquility that I endeavour to guide clients towards in their homes and gardens. It is a little different in a business, as we want both peace and activity, not just calming influences.

Water - the gift of life

Water is also used in Feng Shui, both in image format, or in the actual form of ponds, rivers and lakes to bring a sense of tranquility and life force to a space. I recall spending an afternoon floating on a wooden pallet in a freshwater pond just outside of Arizona, watching the bubbles of the natural spring below me bubble to the surface. The depth of relaxation was truly an amazing gift and one of the many highlights of my 10 day stay on that special sacred land with a wonderful Shaman.   Motifs of rivers and lakes with beautiful trees in blossom are commonplace in Chinoiserie and are an attempt to bring the fractals of nature into the space.

Spiritual Reflection

Building pagodas into a garden in order to meditate was a common practice and also a pagoda is used to anchor the main chi pulse each fate period known as the Dragon Castle. A client in the South of France just installed one actually and it looks and feels amazing in that spot.

Multi-Dimensionality

In some Chinese and Japanese art form there is a beautiful blend of geometric details with the organic swirls of nature, as if to suggest the quantum level of existence that can be reached in deep meditation, when your visual awareness seems to be almost pixellated.

Sun and Moon

The balance of solar and lunar energy was also a very popular theme which continues to this day in Feng Shui practice, as we attempt to create a lively dynamism between yin and yang. We don't always want 'balance' as such, as balance can cause stagnation, but a type of ever-changing dynamism between the two forces of yin and yang. This is why natural, changeable energy such as plants and water features are so popular, as they bring life movement. 

Birds and fish

Often there are birds and fish in the beautiful pastoral scenes of Chinoiserie, and each have their own cultural meaning. In Feng Shui we often recommend fish tanks or full aquariums are installed to stimulate natural energy and abundance mentality. I have yet to recommend a client keep particular birds in the house, but did once work on a Feng Shui architecture project in Dubai where the client wanted birds of paradise in the lobby...!

Sense of Journey

Many works of art in China and Japan have a sense of perspective and depth, so that the eye goes on a journey and thereby leads the viewer into a subconscious journey. Similarly, where a physical or energetic cure is not possible, Feng Shui will use symbology to reach into the subconscious in order to bring about a desired effect. It isn't as powerful, since it is what we call a 'human' cure, rather than a heaven or earth cure, but it can be useful to help shift the energy long enough until the person can move on to a different property or implement the preferred cure that is perhaps more involved.

Simplicity & Elegance

At the end of the day, the juxtaposition of simplicity and intricacy of some of the modern adaptations of Chinoiserie, provides Feng Shui appeal as it is easy on the eye, stylish and a pretty contrast to modern pared down furniture. I once designed a custom bar for a woman, made with the most wonderful white, gold and grey 'Ikebana' printed glass from Knowles and Christou, but sadly we cannot convince the client to let us photograph it! (This is often frustratingly the case, and I forget when onsite even for my own reference!)

If you have a new build, extension or an interior design project that you would love to infuse with Feng Shui, wellness and tranquility and vibrancy then do Contact Me. I'd love to help!

Or if you just want to make the most of your existing home with a professional Feng Shui consultation, to tweak its current layout then I'd be happy to help with that too.

Sarah x