Tips for the spring season from our friends at Knapp Interiors

Spring is finally here and that means it is time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and the smell of jasmine in the air. Spring is also time to refresh, renew and reorganize. So just for you we've put together our Knapp Interiors “Top 5 Tips for a Refreshing Spring”.

• Add life back into your wardrobe. Time to box up those heavy dark wools and bring out your lighter weight, more colorful garments. Rumor has it that this is the year for 'green', so be sure to throw some into your wardrobe for a fresh start to the season.
• Personal Refresh. Its sandal time again so get those toes ready by treating yourself to a spa pedicure. And why not get a fresh new haircut to add to your new spring look?
• Plant a Garden. The thought of overhauling your diet for spring always comes to mind so why not incorporate a home garden into that diet and become a little more green minded as well. It is the perfect time to plant broccoli, cabbage, leeks, lettuce, parsley, tomatoes and cauliflower for that perfect salad on your new diet.
• Refresh your walls. Tired of looking at your plain old white or beige walls? Spring is the perfect time to incorporate some color to your house and enliven your mood, and just like fashion, this is the year for some green. Why not try a nice shade of turquoise or sage?
• Reopen your backyard for business. Nicer weather means it’s time once again to relish leisurely candlelit meals in your backyard or patio. Take some Windex and polish up your grill. Invest in some new grill brushes to make it look shiny and new. Take the covers off those seat cushions, dust off the table and invite some friends over to toast springtime.

Enjoy and best of luck with 'refreshing' your spring 2010!

Feng Shui and Window Treatments

Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese practice proven to get results, follows the belief of “Live with what you love.” Everyone loves beautiful window treatments don’t they? Now what if those window coverings not only are beautiful to look at but they improve your health or finances or relationships? That’s not only possible but it has happened. Helen Arabanos and I worked together on a project recently; and the client was thrilled with the results. Not only did they love the way their new draperies made the room look, they loved how the room felt and how things in their life shifted for the better because the Chi, or Life Energy, was balanced. After doing an analysis of the property to determine the energetic chart, Helen and I worked together to pick the best type of covering as well as the fabric texture, color, pattern that would enhance the favorable energy in this client’s room. The result was that they spent more time in the room and thus they were continually being showered by that good energy, kind of like taking vitamins or having an assistant available to you at all times.

Some rooms have favorable energy, some not so favorable; some rooms need the energy blocked, some need the energy to be activated. Knowing the type of energy in the room will allow you to pick window treatments that utilize that energy to your advantage. Think of it as giving a plant water or sunlight, it will thrive. That’s what will happen when you incorporate Feng Shui applications into your selection of window treatments; you’ve now created a situation where those draperies are working for you and helping you move forward in your goals. That’s right, you don’t need to put three-legged toads around your home; your custom window treatments can be your Feng Shui enhancement! To learn more about Feng Shui please go to www.fullbloomfengshui.com