Kitchen Design & Feng Shui

WHERE IS YOUR KITCHEN?

The first thing to consider when looking at the kitchen is its placement in terms of the whole house.

We can't always decide where each room in a house or apartment will be in relation to the others, but if you're working with new construction or doing extensive renovations, ideally the kitchen will be in the back of the house, at least behind centerline of house.

In any case, it's better if you don't see the kitchen immediately upon entering the house, since it tends to make your life "all about food", which can lead to digestive, nutritional, and eating problems.

Having the kitchen at the entry point can also mean that guests will come over and eat and then leave immediately, and such a placement can also encourage the inhabitants to be obsessed with cooking and eating (of course some people don't find this to be a problem).

If your kitchen is in the front of the house, don't panic; there are always remedies. Try to hide the kitchen from the entrance - or at least "screen" it. You could hang sheer or beaded curtains over the kitchen door, or install louvered doors. Another idea is to provide something delightfully eye-catching across a hall or in a vestibule near the kitchen. That way, attention is diverted from the kitchen upon entering.

It is very important for the cook to be in a "commanding position" while cooking at the stove. The cook should be able to clearly see the doorway without turning around. Renovating a kitchen so this is achieved can be particularly challenging. Many modern kitchens have the range facing the wall.

Many Feng Shui consultants recommend hanging something reflective, such as a mirror or a shiny sheet of decorative aluminum, over the "backsplash" area of the stove. The reflective surface can be any size, but the bigger it is, the more powerful the correction will be.

In China, the number of burners on the stove represent the families' wealth. By adding a reflective item like a mirror behind the burners, you are effectively "doubling your wealth".

For a dramatic solution to the "back to the audience" dilemma, consider installing a cooking island. Placing the stove in a central island allows the cook to see the entire room, including the doorway.

Beyond the Feng Shui benefits, a cooking island is practical. The wider your view, the more you'll be able to comfortably talk with dinner guests or keep an eye on the kids as you prepare the meal.

This island has all the necessities, yet it exudes sophistication with a soapstone top, and rich wood with Craftsman detailing. What a gorgeous solution to a Feng Shui problem!

Instead of isolating the cook, families and guests often gather in the kitchen and participate in the meal preparation. Also, busy working couples use dinner preparation as an important time to unwind together.

In any room, fluorescent lights do not promote good health; they are constantly flickering, affecting the eyes and nervous system, and can cause hypertension, eyestrain and headaches.

Shadows should not be cast while preparing and cooking food. Ensure that your kitchen is well lit with incandescent bulbs or halogen lights.

There are a plethora of design solutions for lighting your kitchen. Check out the links below for some ideas.

Murray Feiss Three-Light Chandelier

The casual contemporary Fusion hanging ceiling fixture is inspired by Asian and Mission style motifs. Oval amber ribbed glass shade is the highlight of this uplight piece.

The center column and arms have a geometric pattern inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as classic Asian designs. Grecian Bronze makes this piece suitable for a contemporary or craftsmen space.

Measures 21" in diameter and 12.5" in height. Hang this beauty in your transitional styled kitchen.

Hanging Tiffany Light Fixture

Try this Victorian twist on pendant lighting. Tiffany Lamps are pieces of art. Each one is hand made and will add color and beauty to many different decors.

Ask me where to hang this to pump up your creativity, or bring children into your life!

Hanging Tiffany Style Lamp

One of the most popular Louis Comfort Tiffany styled lamps on the market today, recreating his famous favrile design from the early 1900s. Lily shades are suspended from gracefully curved arms in this fixture finished by hand in mahogany bronze. It would fit in nicely with classic kitchens, such as Craftsman, Victorian, etc. Ask me where to hang this to improve your relationship, or to make you feel more centered.

Hanging Star Pendant

An ancient European design, these handmade Moravian Star Lights will brighten your kitchen or foyer with distinctive charm. Made of copper and glass, with a mellow dark patina.

For extra Feng Shui credit, ask me specifically where to hang this fixture to pump up your Fame and Reputation....You can also balance out an imbalance of the 5 elements using this light fixture. Ask me how!

There are 5 Elements to consider when trying to achieve good Feng Shui: Water, Earth, Wood, Fire, and Metal. Each major appliance and major piece of furniture in the kitchen is considered one of these elements.

The fridge and sink are both water elements. The cabinets are usually wood, as well as the table or chairs. The stove and oven are fire elements. If people have a tile or terra cotta floor, that would be earth, along with granite and marble countertops.

The idea is to achieve a balance between all the elements, and to make sure that non-compatible elements are placed away from each other. For this reason, you would never want your stove right next to your sink. Specifically, the best place for the sink would be North (for Career), East (for Family and Health) or SouthEast (for Wealth).

This is why getting a full-blown Feng Shui consultation by a professional is more than just a good idea. If your sink was in the wrong area, you could potentially bring down your reputation. If your stove was in the wrong area, you could be burning up your wealth - literally.

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A good kitchen design is based on a traditional triangle model, with the sink, refrigerator and range making up each point of the triangle. There should be a 6-8 foot distance between each appliance; this allows for maximum convenience and a minimum of repeated moves.

Because you'll have that space between each of the major appliances, it should be easy to adhere to the Feng Shui principle of having fire elements separated from water elements.

A good way of separating fire and water is to add something made of wood in between, such as a plant or a painting of a plant.

"Patio with Martini" by Michael Leu

"VINTAGE Italian Cordial Campari LIQUOR"

Martini and Rossi: Vermouth Torino

Hotel de Paris: Trouville-sur-Mer

Chinese Peonies by Elizabeth Horning

Audrey Hepburn

The stove represents health and wealth, so you want to use the burners on the stove top equally, rotating their use rather than habitually using a particular one. This correlates with getting money from multiple sources.

A regular stove, as opposed to a microwave, is preferred because it is more in keeping with the Feng Shui belief that we should slow down, become more conscious of each activity, and do activities with intention.

Heating a quick meal in the microwave is certainly convenient, but doing this may not lead to the most serene state of mind.

Many Feng Shui consultants (including myself) are concerned with excess radiation and electromagnetic fields and advise against a microwave altogether. A steamer and a toaster oven can achieve everything that a microwave can, with better quality. Obviously, each home and family will have to find their own balance between modern conveniences and optimal Feng Shui practices.

The kitchen should be kept neat and uncluttered, and any broken appliances should be thrown out. It is better to have no toaster than one that doesn't work.

In Feng Shui, windows should not be placed over the stove because heat represents prosperity, and you don't want your prosperity flowing out the window.

Luckily, Feng Shui isn't only about having a room with good ch'i, or energy; it's also simply a practical guide for design. For this reason, Feng Shui can be used with any style of room. Some of the most popular trends include:

* a contemporary look, with solid colors, wood and granite, stone or marble
* a luxurious look, with carvings, corbels, and cabinets with legs
* a Craftsman or other simple style

Any of these styles can be successfully combined with the principles of Feng Shui to make for a kitchen that's functional, up-to-date, and easy on the eyes.