No, but I just saw an episode of "selling new york" on hgtv where they used it. Only thing I recall was that a person standing at the sink would have their back to the door. To address this "problem", they put a small mirror on a shelf next to the sink. Go figure.

Sort of by necessity, but I also did think about the principles, my cooktop will no longer be located so that my back is to the entry to the kitchen. I hated it even before I read the reasons why you shouldn't. I am going to have the sink and cooking next to each other, but couldn't avoid that :^(

Tell us a few of the principles?

HI Florantha, there's lots, depending what book you read sometimes the advice is contradicting, such as recommended colors for certain rooms. A few general household principles would be things like having front & back doors not aligning (chi moves through too fast), good lighting, clear of clutter, everything in good working order, fresh flowers not dried (dried have no healthy chi energy), etc. For the kitchen, what made me think to ask this question was the beautiful new kitchen featured with the knife drawer - that is a principle - no knives visible (cuts through chi), round/curved edges where possible (e.g. sharp corners send a "daggar" or "poison arrow" in that direction, stove/sink not opp. each other (fire competing with water), and as the posters above mentioned, stove/sink not positioned with your back to the door, and if so, use a mirror- don't think I've noticed any photos with mirrors at the sink or stove? Anyway, I'm no expert, but some of it makes sense, was wondering if anybody here is into it. I have a u shape kitchen. My back will be to the entry when I'm at the sink, and my back will be to the dining area when I'm at the stove - wasn't really planning on any mirrors...

I don't really know anything about Feng Shui. It wouldn't influence my layout though because my sink is centered on a nice big window and stove is on perpendicular wall--outside wall that should allow outside vent. My back is to the doorways--oh well.

Elba, Sounds like I'm low on chi. The one thing I have is plants. And lights. Sinks face each other--am I living soggy or flooded? Doors almost everywhere--good or bad? Can a closed door hold the chi in?

Do shiny things count as mirrors? I've got lots of twinkle from glass, countertops, old silver, chrome hardware and lights. Sabjimata has a mirror over her range and clocks over the sink, if I recall correctly. Good or bad?

What if the knife handle shows but not the blade? What if some corners are square and some rounded? And do all the rectangular items in "shaker" rooms shoot arrows in every direction? These are all new ideas for me.

On a tangent note, I liked reading the April 2012 House Beautiful article about colors for east-facing rooms. Interesting but not sure if anything was oriental in origin. I wish they'd discussed whether there are any grays for the east side of house. Can Feng Shui help me there?

Florantha, with all those doors and knives and sharp corners you're a feng shui mess. Just kidding :o).
When I searched this forum, the only feng shui post I came up with was a poster who had MANY repetative water problems in her house, and someone mentioned feng shui as a remedy, but any resolution if it occured was not posted.

Here on the West Coast, it is not unusual to have a feng Shui consultant look over a property before putting it on the market. My friend's realtor told her most high end (> $2M) properties in her area require the "wind and water man" to check the feng shui. Her fueng shui consulation recommended changing an entry alcove and a kitchen door placement. It was a pricey consultation, too.

Sorry to offend, but I'm not going to design my house around superstition. I don't believe a red envelope in the upper left corner of my house will make me rich or a toilet in the wrong location will make me poor. I'm not going to move my back door to the powder room so that it doesn't line up with the front door. There was a great episode of Penn & Teller's "Bull****" where they brought in multiple feng shui experts, all of whom insisted it was a "science" and all of whom gave diametrically opposed instructions for how to lay out a room.

That said, there are some interesting observations that you can draw from feng shui, and I think some of the ones people talk about most are the common-sense ones. It is really interesting to imagine a flow through your house and see where that flow is blocked--not because you're blocking "life force," but because human beings don't like being in spaces that feel constrained or hard to move around in. Probably a result of the days of running from saber-tooths or something.

I love having my cooktop opposite my cleanup sink thus allowing me to separate the Prep & Cooking Zones from the Cleanup Zone...it's been wonderful!

(Does that answer your question?)

dretutz, wow, really?!
marcolo, that's along the lines of what I was thinking - some things are common sense, and others seem a little far fetched (like putting a bowl of charcoal in a certain corner of the house to improve family relationships. Although there are days... :o))
buehl, sounds like it works for you!

Elbal
Yes, that is true in at least those areas of So Cal with a large Asian population and high end houses (San Marino, Arcadia, etc).

Hey all :)

I took the time to read all of the comments and I have to say, everyone is really on board with the concepts and Principles of Feng Shui. Elbal, for you and how you write, sounds like you have...what's we call "intuitive Feng Shui". You naturally understand when something feels off and than research how to address it...well done :)

Feng Shui can be viewed as a "superstition" but, remember it's a belief. The belief that that land you live on, is energetically connected to the house you live in, and how you address both will effect you psychically, emotionally, and spiritually. Feng Shui is a lifestyle.

For example, in America we feel the number 13 is unlucky, in China the number 4 is consider unlucky. Many say that is superstition, but you naturally avoid those numbers because depending on what you choose to believe :)

The comment about agents hiring Feng Shui consultants to assess a home before purchasing is starting to become part of the system. Thank you for bringing awareness to this fact. As a Feng Shui consultant in New York, I have received numerous calls for that service. The population is shifting in America to more of an Asian and Indian based population.

Very interesting topic and thanks for sharing :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Feng Shui Manhattan New York

I live in a city with a large Asian population and they are currently driving our real estate market. Feng shui is important and if your house is in an area where Asians like to live you had better pay attention to those beliefs.

O.T.
Actually, I'm more worried about the tomtes coming in and stealing socks. I was sure there wasn't anywhere under our new front step for them to lurk, but they seem to have moved in there somewhere. They also seem to knock our framed pieces off kilter and mess up the throw rugs. Could they be related to the chi somehow? too much life captured in this house?

Feng shui is important and if your house is in an area where Asians like to live you had better pay attention to those beliefs.

No. Sorry. I pay attention to what works for me. If anybody wants to consult a witch doctor, shaman, fortune teller, voodoo priestess or entrail reader before buying my house, it's their problem.

I agree it's important if you are needing to sell your home and Asians are a huge part of the buying market. Our last home when we sold it I looked up on how to improve our Feng Shui, to increase our chances. Our house number was 4103 and I knew the 4 meant bad luck but was hoping they would focus on 4+1+0+3= 8 as 8 is considered lucky. :)

I want to hear more about how the concept of putting a red envelope somewhere could make me rich.....? I'd settle for a moderate windfall at this point. :-) Just kidding, and no disrespect intended to anyone serious about their Feng Shui. Honestly, it's been a rather interesting read. I may not subscribe to the belief, but it's always interesting to learn something new about how others see things.

Cj

Ah, yes. The working man's champion.

As an appraiser in SoCal, I had to deal with issues of feng shui in neighborhoods with heavy Asian populations, very difficult to genuinely understand because it's a quasi-religious practice and very complex, not at all the restyled for pop-consumption version some people dabble in. Fortunately for my purposes, like any other community, understanding a typical buyer's general feelings about a property was enough, and neighbors, mail carriers, and realtors usually enjoyed explaining. Everyone knows homes with a view across a large ravine of the back of the temple are highly desirable, a home across the street from the door of the temple, being "viewed" by it, not good at all. :)

BTW, an amateur can cause himself a lot of mischief through ignorance. In cold climates FS might dictate hiding front and back entries from each other to outwit those pesky demons, but not necessarily in hot steamy ones. FS has a lot of mysticism and tradition to it, yes, but it's also meant to be very practical and down to earth.

very interesting points brought up again :) There are various forms of Feng Shui. Some that are more literal then others. Kate, I agree with you, coming in and knocking down homes as they have...I personally do not agree with that. Feng Shui is about respecting the land, not disturbing it, as it seems they have.

Many of the changes that would be suggested to those who hire a "expert Feng Shui consultant" will come from that consultants perspective. So, if they see extreme changes need to happen, that is what they will suggest. If your consultant says we can work around this situation...then that is how they will approach the issue.

The red envelope, that has a lot to do with your intention of why your addressing it. Traditionally it is to increase wealth. To help increase your finances means you have to act on your intention as well. Many times people think I just have to place this object over here and that will solve everything :) Remember, Feng Shui is 80% intention, why you are making changes and what it is your looking to achieve from those changes. 20% is taking action to make those changes happen.

The red envelope cure says to place 3 like coins inside and put the envelope in your "wealth" section according to the Bagua Theory of Feng Shui. The location will be in the furthest back left hand corner of your entire home from your front entrance, looking inward into your home.

As you place it there, think to yourself, why do I want to increase my wealth, is it to simply have enough money to pay my bills, maybe go on a trip...it can be anything.

xc60, I like the way you think :) yes having a four is not recommended by the Chinese culture, but utilizing your numerology skills and seeing that everything adds up to 8, very lucky, as well as 9 :)

Feng Shui is based on your own personal belief, if you feel it does not work for you, that is fine :) If it is not Feng Shui, perhaps you have another cultural belief system you choose to follow. It is recommended to find something that you belief in and that helps keep you grounded and happy :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Feng Shui Manhattan New York

Rosie,

well said :)
Feng Shui is about being easy going, and exactly..being Practical. Not everyone can make "grand expensive" changes as some may suggest, unless that is the clientele they target to.

The way my mother and I practiced is by suggesting to our clients to utilize what is already located in their home and yard. It's about making mindful, functional and as you have mentioned, practical changes to your lifestyle :)

Here is a link that might be useful: The Feng Shui Voice -Free tips and Advice

Thanks for your feedback Laura, good to know. I will read your tips & advice links when I have time. I'm obviously somewhat interested in the topic, or I wouldn't have initiated the post. I've read a couple books over the years (nothing recently), and as I said before, some makes sense (like choosing natural materials over plastics when able), but other advice is actually contradictory depending on who wrote the book. One example might have been something like red is a good color in a kitchen because it stimulates appetite, where the other book might say do not use red in a kitchen because it stimulates anger.
I know when my desk faces the wall, it's not ideal, as it is maybe even a subconscious discomfort about being approached from behind. Guess that translates to working at a sink or stove, but particularly in a small kitchen, the appliances often do have to be lined up along the walls.
Never heard about the red envelope...