eHow.com video: Professional Interior Decorating Scaling Tools

Anjie Cho December 1, 2013

Watch my eHow.com video about how to use Professional Interior Decorating Scaling Tools, such as graph paper, T-square and architect's scale. These tools are indispensable to architects!

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Video Transcript:

Hi, I'm Anjie Cho, and today I'd like to talk about the main professional tools typically used in interior design. Common scaling tools include graph paper, architect scale, T square and measuring tape.

When generating scaled drawings it's important that they're proportional to the actual space. Here's an example of a scale drawing and it's at quarter inch equals one foot. So for every quarter inch drawn, it represents one foot in the actual room. Graph paper with quarter inch by quarter inch spacing is often the easiest to work with for interior spaces. The graph paper makes it easy to lay out straight and diagonal lines and because it's already measured out, it can make things easier to draw a scaled drawing without the need for a straight edge. If I had an eight foot wall I would draw a line that was the length of eight squares because quarter inch or one square equals one foot. Graph paper is easy to find at art and office supply stores.

This is an architect scale. Which looks basically like a triangular ruler. Sometimes you might find flat ones like this that look like a regular ruler. Just like a standard ruler you can use architect scale to measure inches but it can also be used to measure in different increments such as quarter inch, half inch, three eighths, etc. These are great for drawing out a scaled room or to determine measurements from the scale drawing that you might get from your designer or architect.

Next is a T square. This is a technical drawing instrument that is used in drafting scale drawings. A T square makes your life a whole lot easier when drawing straight and orthagonal lines because it has this guide that's built in, and it aligns with the edge of your table or pad of paper. This way you can always draw rectangles and squares with 90 degree corners.

Finally the measuring tape. This is probably the most important tool because you need to be able to measure the space in question. Get as precise as possible at least to the quarter inch. There are a few different types of measuring tapes. I have a long 25 foot tape measure that's pretty versatile, it's good for most interior spaces. I also have a travel 12 footer. I never leave home without this. It's much lighter. You would do best with a 25 foot or 30 foot tape. It's much easier to use a tape measure with a metal tape that's curved. They're rigid and allow for more accurate measurements. Nowadays you can also find the pricier laser distance measures. They're precise and great for long distances. I use both the laser and the 25 foot together.

I'm Anjie Cho, interior architect with Anjie Cho architect and founder of Holistic Spaces and this has been professional interior decorating scaling tools. Happy measuring.

by Anjie Cho

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eHow.com Video: Soothing Office Decor

Anjie Cho November 24, 2013

Watch my eHow.com video about how to create a soothing home office. As a Feng Shui Interior Designer, there are some key feng shui principles to keep in mind — so you can have a relaxing and supportive home office.

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Video Transcript:

Hi, I'm Anjie Cho, and I will share with you some simple tips to create a soothing home office using feng shui design principles. In feng shui, your home office represents your career and wealth. So this is an area to pay attention to.

The first thing to look at is where your desk is located in the relationship to the room's door. I often see clients in a situation like this one where their desk is facing the wall leaving their back or their side to the door. This is a major feng shui no-no. Ideally you should face your desk so you can see the door while not in line with the door. The most auspicious position for a desk is placed diagonally from the door. This desired orientation is called the command position. It's when you are facing the door and the expanse of the room. It means that you're in command of your life, your career and you can see what the universe has in store for you. The best opportunities will be available to you and you will be able to see them coming. This position minimizes stress and allows for the best work flow of energy.

This space is at a premium in your home and you cannot face the door, set up a mirror so that while sitting at your desk you can still easily see the door in the reflection. Small concave mirrors found in automobile shops are excellent for this job.

The second way to create a soothing home office is to separate the space. Many of us don't have an entire room for an office space in our homes. If you don't have a dedicated room for your office do your best to separate your desk from the space it occupies. Visual boundaries are very important in keeping your work and play times balanced. Some ways you can create visual boundaries is with free standing bookshelves or a room divider. Or even a fabric panel or drapes. This is especially important in a bedroom or a living room. If you overlook creating boundaries you may have difficulty focusing on working and disengaging when not working. At the very least you can get a beautiful piece of fabric or scarf and cover your desk when your office hours are closed.

Finally to create a soothing home office take a look at what you are facing when you are sitting at your desk. Are you staring at a wall? Besides being very unsoothing in the feng shui world we encourage you to face into the room with a good view of the door, while not right in line with the door. As I mentioned earlier this position puts you in command of your life and career. If this is not possible and you must face the wall there are a few ways to improve the situation.

You can put a mirror on the wall behind the desk like I've done here. So rather then looking at a wall that represents a block in your forward movement, the mirror will expand your view and allow you to move ahead in your career. You can also put an inspirational image, an image with depth. Or even a vision board. A vision board is simply a collage of words and images of where you see yourself in the future. And of course don't forget the mirror to see the door. Often people will orient their desk towards the window and outdoor view. In my experience although it's nice to face a view it's not the best position for someone who wants to advance in his or her career. Your energy goes out the window and does not stay with your work. And it's not really soothing because you will be really stressed out when you start putting off your work.

by Anjie Cho

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Children’s Room Design and Organization Tips

Anjie Cho November 18, 2013

featured today on Streeteasy.com

As a parent, one of your most important jobs is to make a positive environment in your home for your child. It goes without saying that kids should feel safe and loved – especially at home. One of the ways that you can ensure that they feel this way is by integrating a few simple feng shui organizational and design aspects into their bedrooms.

In feng shui design, it’s important to create to interior spaces that enhance the flow of energy and generate harmony in our lives. On average, we spend one third of our time sleeping in bed, so the bedroom is a great place to start making improvements. And since we recharge our minds and bodies during sleep, incorporating feng shui principles here will help create a more relaxing and stress free environment for your child to work, play, and rest.

Location of the Bedroom

The first thing to look at is where the child’s bedroom is located in relationship to the entry door of the entire home. It is best to locate bedrooms for all family members towards the back half of the residence. This places the inhabitants in a commanding position of the space. If possible, the parent’s room should be the furthest to the rear because this places them in the most control of the space. That said, the child’s bedroom should not be too close to the front half of the residence and very close to the front door because this could cause the child to feel easily divided from the parents and spend less time at home .

Bed Placement

The second element to look at is the placement of the bed in relationship to the door of the room. It is best to locate your child’s bed in what we call in feng shui, the “command position”. In feng shui, the concept of the command position locates your bed so that it has the most expansive view of the entry door. The bed should face the door, while not directly in line of the door. This typically means that you would be in command when placing your bed diagonally from the door, on the opposite side of the room and facing the door with the wall behind your headboard. This position allows your child to feel stress-free and relaxed while they are sleeping. If this position is not possible, you can correct by locating a mirror so that your child can see the door when lying in bed.

Bed Type

The best type of bed for a child is one with a sturdy headboard, representing stability in their life. The head should be attached securely to the rest of the bed. Beds should allow air to flow around it, so under bed storage is discouraged. If you must have storage, make sure the items are soft and sleep related, such as extra pillows and blankets. Bunk beds are popular, but in feng shui they are not the best choice as they generate physical and energetic pressure on the both persons sleeping above and below.

The energy and harmony in the bedroom can greatly impact the life of your child. By including these simple feng shui principles, you can improve the energy flow and harmony for your family.

by Anjie Cho