A Two-Bedroom Manhattan Apartment Receives a Mindful Renovation

featured this month on hunker by Kate Santos

When a family of three sought to bring cohesion to their post-war apartment on Manhattan's Lower East Side, they called on architect Anjie Cho to give the two-bedroom address a more modern look. But when Cho answered their request to streamline the property, she also set out to do so from a thoughtful perspective — she also happens to be a feng shui expert. The owners and Cho decided that a simple design for their home was best, and they made it a priority to maximize the layout with a calm aesthetic. And since the site views the East River, Cho looked at that vantage point's natural light as an architectural prize that also serves a mindful purpose. "It's so important," she said. "Every living thing grows toward the light." Once the framework was established, Cho then moved on to a second challenge: clutter. "Some clutter is perfectly fine," she noted. "[But] if you've thought of tossing it more than nine times, then it's time to let it go." Now that the property has been updated and cleared of all unnecessary things, the family finally has a place to peacefully come together.

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Q&A Sunday: Making Space for a Baby, But What About Storage?

In your post about pregnancy and feng shui, you mention making space as much as possible, but her closet is storage for our home too. Thoughts on how to handle?

Laurie E., Los Angeles, CA

Hi Laurie,

Thanks for reading our Q&A about pregnancy.

I actually do not suggest making as much space as possible in this post, nor would I necessarily recommend that. But maybe you read this post, where I suggest creating a space for a baby to come into your home. You don’t want it to be so full that there’s no room for the new little person.

However, it sounds like your situation is a little different. You do have a room for your baby, but you happen to have a storage closet in that room. Functionality is very important too when it comes to feng shui, as with most things in life. If that’s the storage closet and you have no other space for it, that’s totally okay. What you can do is make sure the closet is organized and what you do have stored there is necessary and in good condition. You can also use functional furniture that serves as storage as well!

I would also consider what sorts of things you have stored in the baby’s closet. Obviously things like knives and guns are not appropriate. If possible, store baby-related and soft things like pillows and linens. Do the best that you can and move things around if necessary. Just try to store objects with good energy around your new baby.

It would be wonderful if we could have completely separate spaces for each person in a home, but realistically that doesn't always happen. In this case, it seems you've definitely taken the time and intention to make some space for your new family member, so as long as you maintain a good, positive energy in her room, your feng shui should be fine. :)

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 or Green Design questions!

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Here's How to Bring This Kips Bay Co-Op Out of the 1960s - And Make The Most of Its Natural Light

featured this month on Brick Underground by Leah Hochbaum Rosner

The greatest thing this $879,000 Kips Bay one-bedroom at 300 East 33rd Street has going for it is an amenity you can't fake: natural light. “Those big windows are probably the best thing about this place,” says architect Anjie Cho, referring to the trio of floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the condo building’s private garden. “It looks like it gets a lot of light.”

Yet while it’s bright and sun-drenched, the 1960s-era unit is being sold in as-is original condition, which means it could use a ton of work in order to whip it into shape. “The worst thing is probably that kitchen,” says Cho. “It’s so small. And when you look closer and see that there’s a column [that takes up a lot of room], it’s even smaller!”

Cho has a lot of ideas as to how to modernize this space. Below, her recommendations:

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