WEALTH CORNER: A REAL FENG SHUI YIPES.

 

What sorts of creatures were peering back at us from the darkened corners of this room?

Sorry for the disposable camera quality. And the ghost on the right side doesn’t help either. Just kidding. (I think.)

Located at the back of the house – in the wealth corner of the bagua* – this kitchen won the prize for creepy. (Aesthetically and energetically.) A step down from the adjoining room, the erratic peaks and valleys of the common brick floor – set in a crushed granite bed – guaranteed uncertain footing. Between the dark wood cabinets and countertops, the 70’s brown appliances, and one small window, the room was way too dark.

It didn’t take more than a quick glance and a little imagination to see this room’s many Feng Shui challenges. Its energetic contribution to the previous owner’s bankruptcy was evident. Stepping down. Uncertain footing. Impaired vision. (And the list only grew after we moved in!)

This room was the first to get our attention for two reasons.

• From a Feng Shui perspective: We wanted no part of its ‘bad luck chi.’ Our financial resources had to remain stable because we had fully committed. We were living in this makeover project!

• From a layman’s perspective: It was just too icky to delay. We didn’t want to walk through the kitchen with our shoes on let alone prepare a nurturing meal here!

 

Overhead fluorescent lights reflecting against the greasy drop ceiling didn’t help the dingy ambience. (That’s Ray on the left.)

Well beyond a coat of paint working any kind of magic, a cosmetic facelift was out of the question. With no time to waste and crowbars in hand, the demolition duo started gutting out the kitchen the first night we were there. The removal of appliances and cabinets revealed a patchwork of scavenged, mismatched wood paneling. Scraps nailed, helter skelter, across trailer wallboard and concrete blocks. It’s amazing the cabinets didn’t fall off the walls!

From floor to ceiling, the wealth area required a total clearing and makeover. There was nothing in this room that energetically supported abundance. (Unless it fell under the category of abundant grime and creepy crawlies.) Bricks were removed, crushed granite hauled out, and cement floor was poured. The drop ceiling and fluorescent fixtures were taken down. (There was no insulation above. Just attic rafters!)

 

BEFORE: Looking from the kitchen into the dining room. Got to love the 70′s prefab papered wallboard, acoustic drop ceiling, dark trim, rickety old cabinets and brick floor.

 

AFTER: New drywall. (Walls and ceiling.) White trim. New oak cabinets and ceramic tile floor.

 

For those who know what home staging is, the photos you are seeing in this series are not home staged. (Too many personal items.) It’s just our stuff the way we live with it.

 

LET’S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK

 

 

Job done! What room we will go to next? (Hmmm. Maybe we should tackle the relationship area of the Bagua.)

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT • Before you spend a dime on your makeover project, step aside from impulse and start asking yourself questions.

How long do I intend to live here? Based on what I know about myself, will these upgrades support my current lifestyle? (Support and current are the key words here.) What’s my comfort threshold? Will I be comfortable going into debt for this? If not, can I do some of this myself? Am I upgrading beyond what this neighborhood is able to support in the next 5, 10, 15 years?

Example: Though residential for us, our mill house holds commercial potential. Upgrades that increase residential value make little difference to a commercial buyer who plans to convert the space to an office – or bulldoze it down. Normally, kitchens are high on the list of improvements that add to property value but in our case, not necessarily. Ray and I have to balance present comfort with future profit while remodeling. Though not our dream kitchen, it is a comfortable one and fits our current lifestyle. We were modest in our choices because we decided we’d rather have the money in our pocket when this property is sold than in cabinets and accessories that will more than likely be torn out. Get the idea?

 

If Walls Could Talk! I’m sharing before and after photos throughout this Extreme Makeover Series using my Enlightened Interiors eyes. Click here for more information on my Enlightened Interiors services. Our homes have a story to tell – even those just acquired. How we ‘stash our stuff’ reveals a lot – as this previous owner’s bankruptcy attests to. By paying attention and making mindful decisions, we were able to heal this old mill house (it so wanted to be happy) and lay the foundation for a home that supports our creative drives and passions.

Just joined the tour? Here’s a table of contents with links.

Part 1: The Adventure Begins

Part 2: A Kitchen Beyond Creepy

Part 3: A Relationship Maker (or Breaker?)

Definition: Bagua (bog-wa): The Bagua maps out nine areas of life that contribute to – or deplete from – wellness and joy. (Like career, health, love, creativity, etc.) Think of it as a blueprint for your home. But instead of showing you the location of a bedroom or closet, it reveals the area concerned with family, health, love, etc. In Feng Shui you adjust areas of the Bagua when you wish to encourage support of a specific intention or desire.

Tags: clutter, extreme makeover, feng shui

This entry was posted on Friday, August 21st, 2009 at 8:49 pm and is filed under Home: Feng Shui • Clutter • Makeovers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.