Feng Shui Next Generation
Feng Shui is already old hat for you? Then pay attention: Interior designer Michael Morten Neumayr shows how Far Eastern spirituality can be stylish and still work at the same time.
The hallway area is kept bright, clean and cool. This is a friendly welcome, the opposite of a typical hallway, which can often be dreary and dark. This gives a lot of Chi, Energy, which begins from here and spreads throughout the entire apartment. A distinct arrangement of elements and shapes: the credenza enhances the female aspect of a traditionally masculine room through its proportions, materials and position. The female-organic design classic by Arne Jacobsen from 1955 substantiates this aspect.
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Here, bathing becomes a living experience. The harmony of the elements is discernable through the balanced selection of materials. One recognizes one's environment as a room to live in, rather than merely a functional cell. The details are classic and well-chosen, such as the shower floor, made out of frosted non-skid, illuminated glass. These appointments are included entirely in keeping with the Feng Shui principles regarding the water element. Water creates Chi, life energy, and negative-ionized air to an extremely high degree. The result is that one gets a strong dose of energy in the morning while taking a shower. Even after stepping out of the shower, warm earth colors and wooden fixtures treated with scented oils prevent optical shock and allow for a powerful start to the day. In this space, the ritual of bathing inspires wellness.
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In Feng Shui the bedroom is seen as a YIN-room, traditionally calm, soft, and gentle. A bedroom like this one creates a low frequency environment which encourages relaxation and regeneration. The fleecy carpet, the Feng Shui bed made from American walnut, the lush cushions and the soft curtains in muted tones, all create a gentle and calm ambience to relax and recoup energy. The magenta colored bedspread may have its place in the future of this bedroom, after a couple decides to start a family. However, this powerful color represents the fire element, and it should be handled with care in a bedroom. In general, bedrooms should be kept clear and calm. Too many knickknacks, or wild colors and patterns should be avoided. Good colors for wall coverings are pure white, or very light shades of blue or light green. Soft and warm materials and shapes are better than those that are hard and cold. Natural fiber carpet is better than a parquet or stone floor. Steel framed beds and "pocket spring" mattresses should not be allowed in your bedroom. They can be extremely detrimental to your health.
Dining:
All custom made furniture such as dining tables are made to exact specifications using ancient Feng Shui measurements.
Living:
In the living room, the two lights symbolize partnership. In their duality they enhance the power of partnership.
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Eating and communicating. The dining table has a great meaning in Feng Shui. It is the place one replenishes one's body with energy, meets with friends, discusses and sometimes also argues. Therefore, a dining room tabletop should never be made out of glass because such a table doesn't have any substance. It should radiate solidity, intimacy and of course be made according to Feng Shui measurements that represent harmony, luck and wealth.
Living:
A special emphasis was put on the power of relationships in this living room. This focus caused Neumayr to design a sideboard according to relevant Feng Shui measurements. Partnership is based on duality, which is why one sees two lamps or flowers. The symbol out of plexiglass and stainless steel is called "the double luck mandala" and stands for harmony and double good fortune in partnerships.
The Feng Shui Consultant.
When Michael Morten Neumayr designs private homes, retail environments, or office spaces he follows the rules of Feng Shui and the results look chic and modern.
All of these interiors are designed following the rules of Feng Shui and Neumayr feels compelled to mention that "Most people automatically associate Feng Shui with obscure, secret practices, incense sticks and mandalas. That is the classical Asian version, but that isn't necessarily the correct approach for Europeans. The negative influences in our high-tech society need a different kind of Feng Shui to create a healthy and harmonious way of life," says the 35 year old, who specializes in fusing Feng Shui with modern design.
The Chinese doctrine of harmony about the correct flow of energy has become more acceptable to Westerners. More and more companies including insurance agencies, publishers, airlines and retail businesses hire Feng Shui experts as consultants. The reason is simple: If the environment is in balance, employees feel at ease and will accomplish better results for the company. Using a Feng Shui Consultant is like performing acupuncture on an environment. He or she looks at the flow of energy, making certain that it is in order so that the result is harmony. What makes a balanced Feng Shui interior? First, the balance of Yin and Yang, the male and female forms of energy, materials, colors and surfaces, explains the U.S. educated designer.
This becomes all clear in his bathroom design, "Cuvellier." Here, the balance is achieved by the mix of cold Yang materials like steel and glass with warm Yin materials like wood, cotton, and pebbles. Shapes as well as materials play a role. The long, flat shapes in the bathtub area have earth energy, female energy. The shower, on the contrary, is male, or Yang energy. Water stands for life-energy, which is being transported upwards through the shower's shape. The shower is completely built out of glass, even the floor. "Someone using this shower in the morning should be getting charged with energy," Neumayr says.
Furniture is created to exact specifications according to Feng Shui measurements that encourage prosperity, good fortune and health.
It doesn't always have to be total balance. Sometimes one needs a little more Yin or Yang aspects, to get the right energy level. "Cool Pink," an entry area, which the designer created for a friend, is a Yang room. The hallway is purposefully out of balance.
"It was very dark and had far too much Yin energy, and we wanted to fill it with more Yang, more active, lighter energy," Neumayr explains. He achieves this by using glass, aluminum, transparent shapes, and by using unique lighting.
A certain balance is kept by the use of very distinct, warm Palisander wood. The almost surreal credenza seems to float in front the wall. The contrasting colors of red and ice blue, and the use of soft shapes like the Arne Jacobsen chair, further bring the area together.
And then there is one other secret detail: "My friend desperately wanted to find her knight in shining armor, so I used an old Chinese sign signifying double good fortune in the relationship area of her apartment. She found her knight."
Contact USA:
neumayr design
569. N. Rossmore Ave #307
Los Angeles, CA, 90004
Tel: 323 369 78 88
Fax: 323 957 21 68
Email: laoffice@neumayr-design.com
Contact Germany:
Neumayr design
Frauenstrasse 20
D- 80469 München
Tel:+49 89 260 83 88
Fax:+49 89 260 93 88
Email: office@neumayr-design.com
