Page 97 - Southern Oregon Magazine Fall 2022

THE WORST PART OF BUYING

A FENG SHUI BOOK…

i s t ry i n g to f i g u re o u t w h ere to p u t i t!

krissy millner, owner, terra firma home

Terra Firma Home | 309 E. Main St, Medford
541-770-2728 | www.terrafirmahome.com

his article is devoted to health and well-being, and for me, interior and
design is an integral part of the wellness equation. According to the
Global Wellness Institute: Our homes, communities and environment
Taffect our daily motivations, behaviors and lifestyle and these factors
determine 80-90 % of our health outcomes.

Wrap your head around that one! Isn’t it clear if you visit a home and the dog is
barking, the TV is on and there are dirty dishes spread across a counter, it can be
unsettling? Conversely, when you enter a home with light, open space, tidy and
clean, maybe even some great jazz on the radio, don’t you instantly feel in a good
mood? It’s not about the size or style of your home, it’s about creating a feeling and
an ambience that is nurturing and healthy in all ways.

Although I do not specifically practice feng shui or a particular school of holistic
design, I believe my 30 years of experience has made the process intuitive when
working with clients. I would love to share some guidelines and ways to make
your home healthier. We have enough stresses from the outside world, and the
importance to our health and well being has been well studied when it comes to
our environment.

HOW TO GET STARTED?

The first aspect in reviewing your space is to consider the four basic elements of
design – balance, symmetry, proportion, and harmony. These four elements must
synchronize. Take one room as a start and analyze the walls and furnishings in these
terms. Are items on bookshelves displayed with symmetry? Are bigger items with
more mass weighted toward the bottom, lighter, smaller on top? There’s nothing
worse than seeing an entire volume of books on a top bookshelf, and then thin glass
picture frames on the bottom, something I’ve seen many times.

There is a current trend to play with scale in light fixtures, bigger being better. I
love this, but I recommend hiring a designer if you are unsure how to achieve the
balance and proportion for this trend. A good designer will have the experience
and know the mathematical rules to achieve an amazing impact.

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