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| Power Style Wellness Connections |
Better Design: An Inner Sanctuary
By Joan Whelan Waddell
Photos by Ewa Wojtkowska
Visualize what evokes calmness and serenity for you, and build from there.During the
summer months, simply being outside in a tranquil setting provides a much-needed
sanctuary from the stresses of the day. When I finally arrive home in the evening, one of
the first things I do is walk around my yard to discover what’s blooming and hopefully
catch a glimpse of a gold finch or hummingbird at the feeder. The sights, sounds and
smells instantly lift my spirits.
You can create the same connection with the natural world through an inner sanctuary
inside your home — a quiet place where you can think or meditate, practice yoga or just
decompress.
With the trend toward open-floor plans, in which one room blends into the next, private
spaces are often hard to come by in today’s homes. It may be a challenge to carve out
the necessary space for your retreat, but remember, it doesn’t have to be large or
elaborate to be effective.
Visualize what evokes calmness and serenity for you, and build from there.
When designing a sanctuary for a client, I often apply the principles of Feng Shui. As
stated by Gina Lazenby in her book, The Feng Shui House Book, this ancient practice
“is about how the environments in which we live and work have an effect on our physical,
emotional and spiritual well-being.”
By implementing specific guidelines within Feng Shui, you can create an ideal meditative
environment that’s a pleasure to experience each time you enter it.
If tranquility and focus are your goals, it’s important to incorporate key Feng Shui
elements in the design of your inner sanctuary. These elements are water, earth,
thunder, wind, tai chi, heaven, lake, mountain, and fire. A true practitioner of this ancient
discipline would use these elements as a tool for measuring the health of an
environment. For our purposes, it’s useful to understand the integral role of nature in
creating calm surroundings.
For instance, I always find a way to incorporate a water feature in a meditation room. If
you’re lucky enough to have a babbling brook or waterfall outside your room, open the
window and enjoy it. Otherwise, think about other ways to duplicate those sounds.
Aaron Terry, sales manager for The Pond and Fountain Store, in Middletown, has some
ideas for creating a soothing water feature. Outside, he suggests a bird bath with a
small water reservoir that directs the stream onto pieces of flagstone below.
Alternatively, you could try a small pond with bubbling stones that makes a nice, calming
sound. Inside, the choices range from a slate wall fountain to wicker baskets that
cascade the water flow down to a planter at the bottom. You can even create a mystical
feeling with a fogger, an object similar to a floor lamp that produces a fine mist. Great for
opening up the sinuses! The point is to create the sound of rippling water, which
symbolizes our movement through life, or our journey.
Hanging a wind chime where it will catch the breeze is a great way to introduce the Wind
element. Test the chimes before buying them. There’s a huge disparity in quality, and
some sounds can be annoying, rather than soothing. Digs, in Chenoweth Square, has a
nice selection of chimes to choose from. Even in a windowless room, you can mimic the
sound you want with a CD player. Visit Barnes and Noble’s music section and find a
meditation CD that fits your style — from chimes to nature sounds.
The Earth element is strengthened by flowing lines and soft items, such as a deep,
comfortable chair or cushions on the floor. Yellow echoes the colors of the earth, as do
flowers, plants and organic artifacts like geodes or crystals. But resist the temptation to
add too many accessories. Serenity comes from keeping the environment clutter-free.
Since total relaxation is the desired result, choose carefully when it comes to seating.
For some, seating may mean a large chaise lounge. Others may find comfort in a flat
yoga mat. Regardless, keep the pieces to a minimum so the energy or Chi can flow
freely through the space. Your upholstery fabric should relate to nature, as well, either
in fiber (think cotton or linen) or in pattern — such as a soft leaf motif in pale neutrals.
Keep walls and flooring simple and organic in feel. Grass cloth on the walls and bare
hardwood floors create an instant Zen atmosphere. Or, if softness is key to your sense
of comfort, consider a neutral-colored wall-to-wall carpet in a short-cut pile or a tightly
looped Berber with a minimal pattern.
Lighting, which symbolizes the Fire element in Feng Shui, plays a major role in creating
the appropriate ambiance. It should complement the activity in your quiet space. If yoga
is your passion, consider mounting a wall sconce shaped like a disc in the center of one
wall, to help you focus. The effect is mesmerizing, with the light filtering out from the
edges of the round shape — much like a total eclipse.
Embrace the joys of good design!
Joan Whelan Waddell, KY CID, Allied member ASID, is the owner of J. Waddell Interiors.
Ask her your decorating questions at joanwaddell@iamtodayswoman.com
By Joan Whelan Waddell
Photos by Ewa Wojtkowska
Visualize what evokes calmness and serenity for you, and build from there.During the
summer months, simply being outside in a tranquil setting provides a much-needed
sanctuary from the stresses of the day. When I finally arrive home in the evening, one of
the first things I do is walk around my yard to discover what’s blooming and hopefully
catch a glimpse of a gold finch or hummingbird at the feeder. The sights, sounds and
smells instantly lift my spirits.
You can create the same connection with the natural world through an inner sanctuary
inside your home — a quiet place where you can think or meditate, practice yoga or just
decompress.
With the trend toward open-floor plans, in which one room blends into the next, private
spaces are often hard to come by in today’s homes. It may be a challenge to carve out
the necessary space for your retreat, but remember, it doesn’t have to be large or
elaborate to be effective.
Visualize what evokes calmness and serenity for you, and build from there.
When designing a sanctuary for a client, I often apply the principles of Feng Shui. As
stated by Gina Lazenby in her book, The Feng Shui House Book, this ancient practice
“is about how the environments in which we live and work have an effect on our physical,
emotional and spiritual well-being.”
By implementing specific guidelines within Feng Shui, you can create an ideal meditative
environment that’s a pleasure to experience each time you enter it.
If tranquility and focus are your goals, it’s important to incorporate key Feng Shui
elements in the design of your inner sanctuary. These elements are water, earth,
thunder, wind, tai chi, heaven, lake, mountain, and fire. A true practitioner of this ancient
discipline would use these elements as a tool for measuring the health of an
environment. For our purposes, it’s useful to understand the integral role of nature in
creating calm surroundings.
For instance, I always find a way to incorporate a water feature in a meditation room. If
you’re lucky enough to have a babbling brook or waterfall outside your room, open the
window and enjoy it. Otherwise, think about other ways to duplicate those sounds.
Aaron Terry, sales manager for The Pond and Fountain Store, in Middletown, has some
ideas for creating a soothing water feature. Outside, he suggests a bird bath with a
small water reservoir that directs the stream onto pieces of flagstone below.
Alternatively, you could try a small pond with bubbling stones that makes a nice, calming
sound. Inside, the choices range from a slate wall fountain to wicker baskets that
cascade the water flow down to a planter at the bottom. You can even create a mystical
feeling with a fogger, an object similar to a floor lamp that produces a fine mist. Great for
opening up the sinuses! The point is to create the sound of rippling water, which
symbolizes our movement through life, or our journey.
Hanging a wind chime where it will catch the breeze is a great way to introduce the Wind
element. Test the chimes before buying them. There’s a huge disparity in quality, and
some sounds can be annoying, rather than soothing. Digs, in Chenoweth Square, has a
nice selection of chimes to choose from. Even in a windowless room, you can mimic the
sound you want with a CD player. Visit Barnes and Noble’s music section and find a
meditation CD that fits your style — from chimes to nature sounds.
The Earth element is strengthened by flowing lines and soft items, such as a deep,
comfortable chair or cushions on the floor. Yellow echoes the colors of the earth, as do
flowers, plants and organic artifacts like geodes or crystals. But resist the temptation to
add too many accessories. Serenity comes from keeping the environment clutter-free.
Since total relaxation is the desired result, choose carefully when it comes to seating.
For some, seating may mean a large chaise lounge. Others may find comfort in a flat
yoga mat. Regardless, keep the pieces to a minimum so the energy or Chi can flow
freely through the space. Your upholstery fabric should relate to nature, as well, either
in fiber (think cotton or linen) or in pattern — such as a soft leaf motif in pale neutrals.
Keep walls and flooring simple and organic in feel. Grass cloth on the walls and bare
hardwood floors create an instant Zen atmosphere. Or, if softness is key to your sense
of comfort, consider a neutral-colored wall-to-wall carpet in a short-cut pile or a tightly
looped Berber with a minimal pattern.
Lighting, which symbolizes the Fire element in Feng Shui, plays a major role in creating
the appropriate ambiance. It should complement the activity in your quiet space. If yoga
is your passion, consider mounting a wall sconce shaped like a disc in the center of one
wall, to help you focus. The effect is mesmerizing, with the light filtering out from the
edges of the round shape — much like a total eclipse.
Embrace the joys of good design!
Joan Whelan Waddell, KY CID, Allied member ASID, is the owner of J. Waddell Interiors.
Ask her your decorating questions at joanwaddell@iamtodayswoman.com