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Feng Shui Your Environment                                            February 2011 
In this month's newsletter, learn a little bit about Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese system of aesthetics. The theories of Feng Shui revolve around the use of the five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal and water. We hope this edition inspires you to rearrange a room, buy some new accessories, or totally remodel!
Feature Article
Feng Shui Made Simplerunning water
Improve your environment and improve your life! That is the simplified idea of what Feng Shui can do for you. We know that we feel better and operate more effectively in the right atmosphere. Becoming aware of the basics of Feng Shui will help you correct areas in your home or office that aren't working for you, and allow you to create the right environment for you and your family.

Feng Shui incorporates five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each element invokes a different mood or attribute. When you incorporate all five elements into every room design - enhancing specific elements according to your unique objectives, you can create a customized space that is beneficial for your family's personal needs and goals.
  • Wood represents the rising sun. It has an active energy and evokes the power of creativity and expansion. You can use wooden objects to promote motivation, inspiration, and passion. To add more wood energy to a room, use vertical shapes.
  • Fire is seen as the most powerful of all the elements. Fire represents energy and passion. To increase the fire element in your space, add candles, animal prints, and shades of red, pink, and purple.
  • Earth / Soil resembles the secure energy of the setting sun. It generates an overall feeling of balance and stability. If you feel disorganized or unfocused, your space could use some earth elements. Look for anything in earth tones and use images of calm landscapes.
  • Metal affects mental clarity and logic. The right amount of metal in a room can help you feel organized and focused. To enhance a space with the metal element, choose round or oval shapes; use white, gray, or silver colors; use metal materials, like steel, iron, and aluminum.
  • Water influences spirituality and emotions. A balance of water brings about inspiration, wisdom, and insightfulness. For water energy, add deep colors, reflective surfaces, and wavy shapes. Water features, such as aquariums and fountains, also work well.
With the understanding of the basic characteristics of the Feng Shui elements, you can begin to design your home in a balanced, comfortable way. Play around a little, adjusting your rooms until you create the perfect atmosphere for you.   

Interested in creating a beautiful and functional space for 2011?  Contact Decor by Denise today at 703-714-7343 or email [email protected] to learn how we can help you transform your home or office.   

Saturday Event: The DC Design House Bare Bones Tour!
D HouseThis year, Decor by Denise is proud to participate in the 2011 DC Design House, an incredible opportunity to redesign a space while raising money for Children's National Medical Center.

This weekend is the first big event open to the public - the Bare Bones Tour! Come out and see the gorgeous 1925 English Tutor style home "as-is," before any of the makeovers begin! The event kicks off this Saturday, 2/26, at 10am. The Tour closes at 4pm. Tickets are $20, but you will receive a $5 discount if you buy a ticket for the final viewing at the same time. The 'after' house is open from April 9th to May 8th! For more information about tickets, please click here. Denise will be there for a portion of the day on Saturday so please stop by the main level powder room and say "hi." 
Sunday Event: How to Buy Art!

HabatatIf you enjoy art and are interested in learning more about how to buy art and maintain it in your home, come join Denise and Lindsey Scott this Sunday, February 27th at Habatat Gallery in Tysons.

Habatat Gallery specializes in showcasing contemporary glass pieces and other contemporary art in many mediums throughout the 5000 sf. space. Gallery owners Lindsey & Jay Scott have collected pieces created by world-renown artists. Represented artists can be found in the White House Collection of American Crafts, Washington, DC; The Smithsonian Museum of American History, NY; The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA.

Featured speaker Lindsey Scott will talk about the basics of collecting art and Denise Willard, as the guest speaker, will be discussing "How to Use the Psychology of Color to Select Artwork for Your Home." For more information about this weekend's event, check out the description on ThingsToDoDC.com under 'seminars and classes'. Admission is $15 and includes brunch. RSVP today to reserve your space!

 

The Details:

Sunday, February 27th, 11:45AM-1:30PM   

$15 Admission includes Brunch  

Habatat Gallery

8020 Towers Crescent Drive #125

Vienna, VA 22182

(703) 989-7110

 
Meet Denise Willard, Owner, Decor by Denise 
Denise Willard has over a decade of experience transforming the homes of clients in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Her work has been showcased on ABC Affiliate, News Channel 8 and in Washington Home & Garden, The Washingtonian, Elan, The Washington Post, JavaTown and From House to Home Magazine. Denise is a regular columnist for Viva Tysons Magazine and is part of the Design Diva team for Ask Miss A, a national lifestyle eMagazine that reaches a growing subscription base of 70,000 visitors each month.

Denise and her team were selected to participate in the 2011 DC Design House Designer Showhouse and are published in Home and Design's 2011 "Top 100 Interior Designers." Denise sits on the board and is President-Elect of the DC Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA), is a member of the leadership team for the McLean Business Forum and an active member of the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Denise specializes in creating simple, but elegant transitional interiors that are reflective of her clients' personalities and lifestyles. The combination of her southern roots and urban lifestyle can be seen in her personal design style, which combines the comfort and hospitality of the south with the flair of the big city. Denise's interior design philosophy is that everyone deserves a beautiful home-no matter how small the interior or how large the budget. Therefore, she welcomes projects of all sizes-from one bedroom condos to 15,000 square foot homes.

To learn more about Denise and her team, check out her online portfolio at DecorbyDenise.com, visit her weekly blog posts at DreamDesignLive.com or contact her directly at 703-714-7343 or email her at[email protected].
  
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