6 Kitchen “Rules” You Can Break Right Now, According to an Interior Designer

Guest User February 19, 2020

Anjie Cho was featured on Apartment Therapy

A lot of good things came out of the 2010s, but there are some things we’re eager to leave behind when it comes to design—specifically when it comes to the kitchen. If you’ve decided 2020 is the year you’ll finally redo your cook space, make sure it fits the new decade. We talked with New York-based designer and architect Anjie Cho to identify six kitchen design rules that you don’t need to feel obligated to follow anymore, just as these forward-thinking homeowners already did in these inspirational kitchens.

The Work Triangle

The work triangle (aka the idea that your sink, refrigerator, and stove should be spaced equilaterally apart) has long been held as the gold standard of efficient kitchen layouts, but it’s not always possible—or necessary. In small spaces, Cho says you should worry less about achieving that perfect cooktop-sink-refrigerator configuration and more on maximizing your work surfaces in general. Everything in a small kitchen is already pretty close together as it is, so focus on what you can do to make your room feel bigger.

Opt for some open-front cabinets rather than the expensive custom ones packed with drawers and dividers, which might seem like they increase space, but actually ultimately limit the flexibility of your storage, according to Cho. Feel free to skip the pull-out trash can, too.

“Pull-out trash cans take up lots of room, and you can use the area under your sink for so much more.” A small trash can strategically placed in a corner or next to your island actually forces you to take the trash out more often, which will keep the kitchen smelling better. And don’t choose a huge apron-front sink just for the sake of having it. “Lots of people make sinks too large, which takes up precious counter space,” Cho says.

…read full article

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui check out the Mindful Design Feng Shui certification program. Laura Morris and I launched our program in September 2018. To get on the list about it, sign up at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com.

Dive deeper into feng shui to transform your life!

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Create sacred spaces that support, and nourish.

Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui Adjustments for Powerlines and Manholes

Anjie Cho February 16, 2020

Anjie, I listen to your podcasts as soon as they come out, while driving to work. Very cool! Thank you for doing those. You had a phone consultation with a woman that you aired on the podcast. She asked about gas pipes in the back yard. I have something even worse (I think) - a sewer manhole in the middle of the back yard, and front of house looking at high voltage electric lines. How do you think those two effect us and what can be done to remedy them if they have a negative effect?

Alex Y., Gaithersburg, MD

Hi Alex

Thank you for listening to my podcasts! I’m happy you are listening to them.

The first part of your question is about manholes in your backyard. A manhole is like a drain of sorts, where resources can become depleted. In BTB feng shui we use a ritual called “sealing of the drains” using cinnabar and a mantra to close off and seal the drain energetically and with intention. It’s a cure that’s shared through a consultation - so unfortunately I’m not able to post it publicly online. However, you can contact me for a consultation. Otherwise you can try placing a pot with a flowering green plant on top of the manhole to bring more positive life energy to the drain.

SUBSCRIBE to Above Average: http://bit.ly/LlHUTM The Headcrusher crushes businessmen's heads on Wall Street Like us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AboveAverageProductions Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/AboveAv The Kids in the Hall is a Canadian sketch comedy group formed in 1984, consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson.

Now on to the second part, the issue of high voltage electric lines in front of your house. High voltage lines may impact your environment because of the EMFs (electromagnetic forces). Energetically you can try to cut those lines by taking a pair of scissors and symbolically cutting them with the intention that they are not harming you. Now you’re not really cutting anything. It’s kind of like that Kids in the Hall skit, “Head Crusher,” where Mark McKinney "crushes" the heads of random people from several feet away with his fingers.

Another way to deflect this negative qi is to use a bagua mirror, the kind you find in Chinatown. You can place this on the outside of your home facing the electric lines. However, be careful as this may also deflect opportunities from your life.

As with many conditions requiring feng shui adjustments, each of these issues, and the circumstances surrounding them, can be different on an individual basis. These basic remedies should work, especially with good intentions, but if you're really worried about the adjustments, I would definitely recommend finding an expert who works well with you.

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday" . We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui questions!

Visit the Holistic Spaces Store

Feng Shui Plants: Greenery that Goes the Extra Mile

Guest User February 12, 2020

featured on Léon & George

Indoor plants do so much for us. They add beauty to our space, clean our air, and come with a myriad of mental health benefits to boot. But what if they could do even more? According to the teachings of Feng Shui, they can.

We asked expert Anjie Cho of Holistic Spaces to give us the scoop on how plants can bring us good Feng Shui, which plants are particularly impactful, and where to place them in our homes to maximize the benefits.

“Plants are a way to bring nature’s energy into our homes and interior environments. Nowadays, we spend more and more time indoors, and having plants in our homes is a way to reconnect with nature and ground us,” says Cho. “In an energetic sense, they are very healing for us, and in a practical sense, they improve the air quality, provide soft surfaces, and beautify our home.”

What Is Feng Shui?

In a nutshell, Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy which uses energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment and the natural world. Translating to “wind” (feng) and "water” (shui), the basic principles of Feng Shui lie in the belief that we can live more harmonious and fulfilling lives if we connect and flow with the space around us.

…read full article