”When you get that urge to move something in your home, it is your soul speaking to you,” says Donna Hunnicutt, a feng shui consultant. Her experience in both real estate and feng shui gives Hunnicutt an unusual perspective to recommend design changes for the home. She says these changes enhance the functionality and aesthetic of a space through the flow of balanced energy, resulting in a more harmonious environment to live, work and even sell a home.
Q: You mention in your website that Serenity by Design is a consulting, staging and spatial design firm that specializes in conscious design. What do you mean by conscious design?
A: Conscious design is being conscious of how we create the spaces we live and work in. It is an “intentional” way to design by becoming aware of what is in our surrounding environment and the energies that are brought into it. Energies are many, such as happy, sad, angry, peaceful and the gamut of feelings that can be sensed in a home. So what I do is create balance in a space so it becomes a positive experience with better energetic flow. The more “traditional” concept of conscious design is also known as feng shui.
Q: What is feng shui? What is its goal?
A: Feng shui is the study how our environment affects us. Wood, water, metal, fire and earth are the five elements in feng shui, which represent the seen and unseen forces in our environment, both indoors and outdoors. Besides the energy we have within us, it is also the same energy that makes up the physical things in our spaces. Objects and structures such as art, color, photographs, décor, architecture and landscape all have an energetic effect on how we feel.
Q: And its goal?
A: The goal of feng shui is to weed out those things in our lives and spaces that are no longer relevant to how we want to feel; to create an environment that is in alignment with what we want in our lives. This is accomplished utilizing specific design techniques to create only positive feelings, vibes, and energetic flow in the spaces where we live and work.
Q: Why feng shui or use conscious design in a home?
A: To bring the five elements into the home in a balanced way is akin to bringing nature inside. Right now biophilia is very big in the architectural field and basically means human beings need aspects of nature in their surroundings, including the indoors for health and well-being. Feng shui works on a more subtle influence of energies to promote well-being. In “good” feng shui design, the five elements are present in each visual area, as well as a balance between yin and yang. This energetic flow becomes aligned to help create what the homeowners want in their life. Whether it is love, happiness, work, friendship, health, feng shui/conscious design allows specific energies to enter a space, and works to eliminate the unwanted ones.
Q: Explain.
A: Think of a sterile environment, everything is stark white with lots of straight lines. There are no curves, color, or objects to define the space. Most people would not want to spend time in such a space. Energy flows in and out too fast, there is no “thing” to block it or make it linger, no colorful objects to attract our attention. We feel most comfortable, secure, safe, and supported when elements are present and balanced in our personal space.
Q: Are there some tips to help sell a home using conscious design?
A: Absolutely. But there is a difference between a home for sale and one to live in. When selling a home, we need to de-clutter and neutralize a space, keep the personal stuff away and empty the energies of the seller so the buyer can visualize the home as his or her own. Keep furniture at a minimum and have clear pathways for people and energy to flow. For someone living in the home, I’d want their personality to come out, like adding their favorite colors and many other aspects that are involved.
Q: What are the top three things you ask your clients in the initial consultation?
A: Why did you call me? They call because there are issues in their lives – could be financial, health or relationships – and they typically know something is not right in the feel of their home. I’ll also ask, “What is your goal?” and “Are you open to change in your space and your life?” The last one is very important because once we get started the changes can be quite dramatic and very effective.
Q: How did you get started in this?
A: I’ve been in the real estate business since 1999. In 1995 I read and dabbled in feng shui then rediscovered it again in 2001. I realized how well it fits with real estate. I got certified at the Western School of Feng Shui in San Diego and the skill has been successfully applied to my consultation business with new home builders, training their staff on the conscious design principles. I love it because it is the study and the art of subliminal influences present in our spaces- both the seen and the unseen. It can get really very deep, very spiritual. But I don’t necessarily do that since everyone has separate beliefs. But the effects are nevertheless apparent and make a difference in many people’s lives.
CONTACT INFO
Donna Hunnicutt
Serenity by Design Interiors
Cell: 949-533-9420
www.SerenityByDesignInteriors.com
Evergreen Realty, Real Estate Consultant
www.DonnaHunnicutt.com
By Gina Dostler
