Modern Interior Design Home

Elke of International Feng Shui shares more feng shui tips with P4D readers!

In feng shui the main entrance is very important and is known as the "chi mouth" which translates as the entrance of chi (energy) into the property. The main door is like the mouth of the structure and is generally defined as the door that is most frequently used to enter the home or building. Here are some tips in the form of feng shui no-no's to help the flow of good chi into your home.

No-no #1- Steep straight stairs to/from the main door.

I can imagine in the property developers mind that this was a good idea based on maximizing living square footage based on limited land availability, but from a feng shui perspective this is known as "Pulling Nose Sha Chi". The effects of the steep decline from the main door created by the stairs are that all the chi inside the home will eventually drain out. Additionally the garage is located under the living quarters. This is also to be avoided if you seek good feng shui as unstable energy is generated from the in and out entrance right under the home.

No-no #2- Having a drain directly outside the main door.
is known as a "chi puncture" problem. In this situation chi will not be able to accumulate in front of the door. Chi accumulation is associated to prosperity. In feng shui it is believed that a feature like this drains wealth from the house.

No-no #3 - A pole, tree or lamp post directly across from the main door.
Now standing in the main entrance to your home look out from the inside and in from the outside. For good feng shui you want to see a clear open path in both directions. Nothing should create an obstacle to the entrance of your home. The worst example is if there is a light post or telephone pole directly opposite your main door. Likewise, if there is a column inside the home that is visible directly across from the main door looking in. This feature is always avoided as it is detrimental to any occupants of the building. This photo from Istock Photo perfectly demonstrates a blocked main door with a tree.

Good morning everyone! Before we head off this week to stuff our faces full of turkey, we wanted to leave you with some DIY Gift Ideas! It's never to early to get started on presents for the holidays, and many of us are very budget conscious these days. I've also found that gifts I receive that have creative thought and time put into them are always better than something store bought. So get creative this holiday season:

1. DIY Baking Kits, herb & spice oils, body scrubs, etc. ~ Check out this great video and list from Good Morning America & Lifestyle guru Nancy Soriano. So easy and customizable!


{Photo by Aspen Spa on Flickr)

Body scrub is surprisingly easy to make at home. Start with sugar or salt in a bowl, add jojoba oil, almond oil or lavendar oil, which are available at many health food and grocery stores, like Whole Foods. Mix in other herbs like lavender sprigs or dried rosemary, and give the scrub along with a loofah sponge. See specific recipes below.

LAVENDER SUGAR SCRUB
*1/2 cup of jojoba oil
*3/4 cup of white cane sugar
*1 teaspoon Vitamin E
*1/4 cup almond oil
*6 drops of lavender essential oil
*Dried lavender to your preference (optional)
Directions: Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Mix until combined, then pour into desired container.



2. Vintage Prints ~ Print these out from Vintage Printable, frame and give them as gifts! It really doesn't get much easier! Beach, Botanial, Science, Animals, Art & Design, I bet you could find a print for each person in your family!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! WE WILL RETURN ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 30th!

All I can say is Yes! to this moulin chandelier in cocoa from Brocade Home.

Whether you work in a window office or a cube, here are some easy and affordable tips on how to make your space comfortable but still professional and reflective of your personality despite the company issued furniture and bad lighting.

Accessorize - Bring in your own desk top organizing set, interesting push pins for your bulletin boards, and a calendar with images you love.

The Container Store's Brocade Desktop Accessories are fun with a touch of elegance.

And we love the dual function magnetic/cork bulletin board!


Decorative push pins, buy or make your own like these from Better Homes and Garden



Add some green - for low light offices a calthea plant is a good option, for good direct sun light go for an orchid or a rubber plant.



Fill your blank walls - travel posters or pictures from your own travels are a great way to add some of your own character to the office while still maintaining a professional look. You can buy inexpensive poster sized or large frames from a craft store.





Bring in good light - both standing and table lamps can bring in light you enjoy rather than having to use the fluorescent over head lighting. These table lamps from Ikea are only $14.99 for a set of two!



Declutter with an eye catching organizing system - document boxes and magazine files are a nice way to add some color and stack on your bookcases or lateral file cabinets. Like Ikea's inexpensive magazine files and boxes that come in tons of colors and are under 5 bucks for a set!

Today we kick-off answering your design dilemma comments from our contest that ended a few days ago. Let's start with Francesca who said "I'd love to learn some easy/quick tips for adding an Art Deco feel to a bedroom and bathroom (or any room of the house.)" We're hear to the rescue Francesca!

Art Deco was a popular international art design movement from 1925 until the 1940s, affecting the decorative arts such as architecture, interior design, and industrial design, as well as the visual arts such as fashion, painting, the graphic arts, and film. At the time, this style was seen as elegant, glamorous, functional, and modern. The movement was a mixture of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, Art Nouveau, and Futurism.


{Click on photo above for larger view}

A very quick and easy way to add some art deco flair to a room is to accessorize with pieces like vases, posters, lamps, and books. Above is a Decor Board we put together featuring:

1. Lighting. This Nial Table Lamp is a great mix of masculine & feminine ~ streamlined Art Deco look with the steel, black, and cubes on the shades, and feminine in the curves of the shades.

2. Travel Posters. Travel Posters. Travel Posters! Very popular in the Art Deco style, like this French PLM Railroad poster - Calvi Beach on the Island of Corsica. This poster is one of my personal favorites from the Art Deco period. Many European & American Travel Posters were done in the Art Deco Style- here are a ton more to peruse through.

3 & 4. Art Deco Books & Book Ends. Yet another super easy (and budget friendly way) to add some Art Deco flair is to accessorize your room with Art Deco Books and Bookends. Art books always have the most interesting covers, so just laying around your house or stacked they will add Deco style. The Cubist/Deco Men bookends are also modern and fun.

5. Riedel Vivant Medium Art Deco Vase. A beautiful clear vase (FOR $20.00!!!) etched in the Art Deco Style. It's simple, clean style is a subtle nod to Art Deco, and would look great anywhere in your home.

6. Wallpaper! Ok, wallpapering is not quite an easy fix, but doing just one wall would look fantastic with the feminine Art Nouveau/Deco look to this wallpaper with the more masculine accessories like the lamp and book ends. Also, instead of wallpapering~buy this wallpaper, cut 3 large panels of the paper and frame them in huge black frames (can find cheap from A.C. Moore, etc). It will still give you a great way to add a deco feel to your walls without having to cover a full wall.

This was a fun project to research~ I'm feeling like I want to Deco my home! Good luck and we hope this gets you inspired! :)

{Drink Your Milk Magnet Set}

Good Morning! Perusing through etsy and found these super cute one of a kind collaged magnets from AgentMermaid's etsy shop. Really fun magnets throughout her shop.

We're making it a point to find all you artists/designers/crafters in the DC area and feature your art/decorations on our site! :)

(#5 counting from the top) who said..."This blog is fantastic! I love your ideas :) Keep them coming! I'd love a post about tall furniture! I'm searching for an affordable "hutch" if you will that can replace a broom closet and provide a lot of storage in a small space! Thanks so much- you girls have opened my eyes!"


Congratulations Caitlin!!! The Comfortable Home is very fun and inspiring...and autographed by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams! Please contact us @ primed4design@gmail.com to claim your prize!

Thanks to all those that entered, and we promise to have more fun contests in the near future! Also, to those of you that entered, we will address each and every one of your inquires about decorating and design in posts in the future~send us your emails at primed4design@gmail.com and we will give you a heads up when we post your decorating dilemma! :)

GIVEAWAY CONTEST ENDS TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT!! Win your very own autographed copy of The Comfortable Home, signed by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams for us to give to one of our lucky P4D Fan's!

So how do you win? EASY! Click HERE and leave a comment with an idea for a future P4D post. We love to hear from our readers and learn about what they are interested in. So please post a comment and your name on the post with a topic/idea of a posting we can do to make you happy! :)