ERIC FIGGE PHOTOGRAPHY
WILL HARE PHOTOGRAPHY
Water elements and plenty of greenery create a calm retreat .
And the words themselves — feng and shui — mean “ wind ” and “ water ,” revealing just how crucial these elements are to the foundation of the practice .
“ Water … is very soothing ,” Jeannette says . One way he often incorporates it in the home is through the use of fountains with natural rock stones . “ We like to backlight it so you get a nice glimmer off of it ,” he reveals .
Fire is another ingredient that Jeannette likes to add to the mix , noting that it ’ s like water in that you want to keep it calm and soothing . “ Keep it low flame , don ’ t get too aggressive and let it provide both warmth as well as visual stimulation ,” Jeannette says . “… I ’ ve actually done fountains where I have a ring of fire with bowls of water above it that kind of cascade [ down ].”
But air and light play roles as well . “ When you look at the passive aspects of architecture and sustainability , the wind aspect is something that we use a lot ,” he says . “… You [ can ] create convection currents , [ which ] … are automatically going to cool the house down . So in that case , the wind aspect is creating an environment that ’ s more comfortable .” Sumerford adds , “ Meditating , yoga and unwinding spaces should be open and airy so ‘ chi ,’ [ or life energy ,] can flow .”
Homeowners should also strive for as much natural light as possible . “ That morning sun is going to warm you up [ and ] it ’ s going to feel right from the beginning ,” Jeannette says of the mood in the home . “… One of the worst spaces is a space without windows . Then you ’ re sort of stuck in a box .”
Natural light can transform nearly any room into a relaxing one , according to Jeannette . Consider the bathroom . “ Put a skylight … in the bathroom , because you want that to be the part of the house where you get the morning sun .” Connecting the bathroom to an outdoor space with a garden , hot tub or sauna can let in natural light while creating an extension of the interior space .
Whether you consider the fundamentals of feng shui or simply do what looks good , using these tips will transform your home into a space that elevates your wellness and feels good , too .
54 SPRING / SUMMER 2023 | LATITUDE33MAGAZINE . COM