Home Improver - The Feng Shui Edition Nov 2020

Improver

FE N G SH U I

Breathe &relax

E D I T I O N

PICTURES KAROLINA GRABOWSKA, EVELINA ZHU

T H E

CONTACT US

PUBLISHER: Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR PROPERTY: Vivian Warby EDITOR HOME IMPROVER: Vivian Warby vivian.warby@inl.co.za DESIGN: Kim Stone kim.stone@inl.co.za PRODUCTION: Renata Ford Renata.ford@inl.co.za BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Keshni Odayan Keshni.odayan@inl.co.za SALES: Charl Reineke charl@africannewsagency.com Kyle Villet kyle.villet@africannewsagency.com GENERAL INQUIRIES info@anapublishing.com

DO JOIN US ON: @homeimproverZA

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR OVER the centuries, we have always had the need for some sort of sanctuary or retreat. Never more so than the past few months has it been so clear that it is our home that provides us with this space. Move over island holiday, our abode wins hands down when choosing where to be in a time of global pandemic.

Today, growing evidence from architects, designers, professional organisers and environmental psychologists shows the space we live in is as integral to our mental 0 2

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well-being as sleep, diet and exercise.

With this in mind, this month’s issue takes you, the reader, on a gentle meander through each room of the home to give you ideas, tricks and tips, plus the psychology behind them, to enable you to set up spaces of calm, tranquillity and mindfulness.

Do not forget your own “environmental biography” as you go through these pages. As one designer says: “There is no use being told light green is calming if it triggers a bad memory for the person living in

the house.”

See the magazine as a road map to creating a slice of heaven, consult in different ways with the people with whom you share space, and together create an oasis.

Let us know how it goes!

Warm regards

by Vivian War

If you would like to subscribe to this magazine’s newsletter please email me at vivian.warby@inl.co.za.

contents

NOVEMBER 2020

23 32 18 2 Letter

20

Tech-free areas

3 Contents

21

Indoor plants

4 Sense-sation

23

Clifton gem

5 The art of decluttering

27

Small spaces

7 Feng Shui

29

Bathroom delight

12 Colour palette

30

Embrace curves

15 Trending:

31

Kitchen: Heart of the home

Self-care nooks

16 Trending:

32

and sensibilities

Divide and rule

17 Couple’s home survival 18 The lightness of being

Gardening: Scents

35

Get outdoors and breathe N O V E M B E R

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A sense of self Our spaces should be arranged and decorated in a way that is not just attractive to look at but appeals to all our senses: sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste W O R D S

B O N N Y

F O U R I E

IT IS important to engage the senses when designing and furnishing your little piece of heaven.

Appealing to sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste can influence our moods, enhance our atmosphere, and calm us.

Sight: Choose colours that are pleasing to you and use lights and candles to invoke the feelings you want in your home. Decor and furnishings should create a focal point, while moving objects, such as lava lamps, can help you focus and relax.

Touch: Incorporate a variety of textures and fabrics, such as soft and fluffy rugs, blankets and pillows that can be felt with your hands or feet. Having a grounding object to hold and feel, such as a piece of rock or crystal or a sculpture, can ease anxiety.

Scents: Aromas have a powerful ability to create a mood. Natural aromas in small doses – such as flowers or fragrant plants – can do wonders for your home and mental state. Oil burners or diffusers with your choice of fragrance have the same effect.

Hearing: A playlist of soothing sounds is a must, even if through headphones.

The sound of water can be brought inside through a small fountain or furniture can be placed near open windows. Wind chimes can also help to relax you.

Taste: Home decor can appeal to this sense. Bowls of fruit can add a pop of colour as well as remind us of their taste. The same can be said for a jar of sweets or biscuits or even a bottle of pickles. Drinking herbal teas in our sanctuaries can help settle anxiety.

PICTURE ANDREA PIACQUADIO 4

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Come in & calm down Feng shui can be applied in all areas of life, including how we plan, organise and decorate our homes

THE CONCEPT of feng shui comes from an ancient poem which talks about human life being connected to, and flowing with, the environment around it.

Feng is Chinese for wind, shui for water.

Wind and water – vital for life – flow and swirl and eddy around our homes,

our gardens, our lives, our countries and the world, and the term – pronounced “fung shway” – refers to optimising “chi” or energy.

A good flow of energy is believed in Chinese philosophy to lead to physical and mental health, success and good relationships.

It should never be blocked.

WORDS VIVIEN HORLER PICTURE JEAN VAN DER MEULEN

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FENG SHUI can be applied in all areas of life.

We want the chi to flow into our homes and energise us, and we certainly don’t want to block it, because this represents blocking areas of our lives.

The five main elements of feng shui are wood, metal, earth, fire and water.

Wood also represents growth and creativity, metal stands for logic and intelligence, earth is stability and balance, fire is passion and energy and water is wisdom and serenity.

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We have the basic elements of feng shui in our homes: wooden furniture, metal frames; earth in the form of stones or landscape paintings; fire as candle flames and water in the form of ponds, pools and even mirrors.

Here are some tip to cultivate good feng shui: Entrance: The chi flows in through the front door, so the hall should not be cluttered with jackets or shoes or bags. It should be light and bright. The front door should also make a good

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impression to attract energy.

Commanding position: This is the spot in a room furthest from the door and not in direct line with it. It puts you diagonal to the door. Ideally, you should have a clear line of sight to the door. Three major elements of the home that need to be in commanding positions are : the bed – which represents us; the desk, which represents our career or purpose; and the stove, which represents our wealth.

Flow: Walk through your home looking for anything that could stop the flow of energy – occasional tables in the wrong place, doors that don’t open properly.

Windows should be clean to let in the sunshine.

Plants: Introduce green plants, plants that connect us to nature and bring freshness into our homes. A natural element such as a house plant – or several – will improve our home’s energy and purify the air we breathe.

OTHER CALMING TIPS • Use crystals, such as rose quartz for love, tourmaline for protection or citrine for healing and wealth.

• Ensure air and light can get in.

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VIVIEN HORLER

Clutter affects our mood, our ability to focus and can even affect our weight, say experts. Disorganisation and mess act on our brains and our emotions THE PSYCHOLOGY Your home is a portrait of yourself.

So says Elizabeth Gilbert, American traveller and author of the best-selling memoir Eat Pray Love.

When she went off on a year-long journey following a divorce, she took a single carry-on rucksack with her. Her rule was, if she got something new, an item in the rucksack had to go.

In an interview with the Japanese doyenne of decluttering Marie Kondo, Gilbert said: “Your home is a portrait of yourself... So if you’re too afraid to look into the scary attic in your mind, look into the scary attic in your 0 8

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home. It will be a portal, a doorway, that will take you into the parts of yourself that you’ve been afraid to look at.”

All a bit airy-fairy for you? Australian academic Libby Sander says clutter can affect our anxiety levels, sleep and ability to focus.

It can even make us fat.

Sander, assistant professor of organisational behaviour at Bond University in Queensland, wrote in an article in The Conversation saying clutter can also make us less productive. “It can trigger coping and avoidance strategies that make us more likely to snack on junk food and watch TV.” And her research shows our physical

environments significantly influence our cognition, emotions and behaviour, including our relationships.

“Bursting cupboards and piles of paper stacked around the house may seem harmless enough. But research shows disorganisation and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains.

“Our brains like order and constant visual reminders of disorganisation reduce our ability to focus.”

And if none of this convinces you, here’s the clincher: Sander says studies show people with extremely cluttered homes are 77% more likely to be overweight.

PICTURES MELANIE MARTIN, BEAZY TT

The art of decluttering

P I C T U R E S A S H I M D S I LV A , H U Y P H A N

THE HOW TO Decluttering can feel overwhelming. Where to start? What to do? You don’t have to follow Marie Kondo’s system of decluttering but when you’re deciding what to keep and what to shed, her trademark question is useful: “Does it spark joy?”

Or as she puts it: “What you should be doing is finding the things you want to keep.

Identifying the things that make you happy; that is the work of tidying.”

If an item doesn’t make you happy it must go. One argument against this might be: “Well how much joy does an egg lifter spark?”

The answer is an egg lifter that does its job well, looks good and fits comfortably into the hand is worth keeping rather than one that does none of those things.

The KonMari method is to go through your possessions not room by room but in categories. First, all the clothes in the house, then books, papers, miscellany and finally precious items.

And once you’ve decided to keep something, it must have its own place.

Another way of decluttering is to go through a room with three boxes labelled “Keep”, “Discard” and “Maybe”. The “Maybe” box is to stop analysis paralysis, so that you can get on with things, and make a final decision on the maybe items later.

One of the good things about decluttering is that items that no longer give you joy may well make someone else happy.

So think of that when you’re taking your “Discard” box to a charity shop or an NGO. You’ll feel thinner, joyful and virtuous.

The art of decluttering is not throwing things out – it’s deciding what you want to keep. The work of tidying is identifying the things that make you happy.

– Marie Kondo

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Celebrate the outdoors

O

utdoor areas are as equally important as interior spaces And an important trick is to ensure your home’s indoor theme flows into your exterior entertainment area.

See it as an extension that should enhance your home’s style as a whole.

Here are some tips From Patio Warehouse to begin your outdoor styling adventure on the right foot:

PURPOSE OF AN AREA Once you decide what your area will be used for the most important aspect is the furniture. It sounds like simple advice, but some people make the mistake of putting style over practicality. Ask yourself:“What do I want to do on my patio?” If your answer involves relaxing, then a lounge set would be most ideal. If entertaining is your thing, then a dining set would work best.

MATCH THE THEME Always opt for a furniture set that blends and matched the look and feel of the exterior of your house.

LESS IS MORE When it comes to décor, less is more, so be careful of creating clutter.

OPTIONS The furniture items that are best suited for a patio are those that are low maintenance, lightweight, and easy to move around.

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Paint your palette

cool & calm WORDS VIVIEN HORLER

Colour has a strong effect on our emotions and can influence our moods. It is important to give thought to the shades you choose for your home

THE PSYCHOLOGY

PICTURE DAN COOK

THE COLOURS with which we surround ourselves can have an enormous effect on how we feel. Without even realising it, our emotions can be dictated by the colour of a room.

Yellow can make us feel bright and sunny, dishwater beige can feel dreary. Knowing this, you can use colour

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to change a room’s energy: cheerful, cosy, calm or restful.

Violet and purply shades are associated with wisdom and the mind. They can be wonderfully soothing and calming for bedrooms, helping us to sleep.

Soft blues inspire creativity and communication, both of which make

them suitable for a home office. Blues are cool, and not distracting, and also introduce the restless energy of the sea.

Creamy pinks are the colour of love. They invoke the beauty of garden roses and are calming and restful.

Pink is such a powerfully soothing colour that it has

been used in prisons to calm inmates.

Yellows and oranges are vibrant, stimulating and cheerful. They are lovely for home offices but are not so great for small spaces as they can be overwhelming.

Yellow is a good colour for southfacing rooms that get little sun as it will brighten them up.

THE HOW TO

PICTURE JOSHUA POYER

Different colours evoke different moods. When decorating a room, you need a combination of colours to rescue the eye from monochrome boredom.

Paint is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to transform a space, so start there.

“Research suggests we feel cooler in coolertoned rooms and warmer in warmer-toned rooms, so this is a way to steer a space to your comfort zone,” says Toby Israel, an expert in the field of environmental psychology.

Mine your memory for colours that have sentimental value and steer clear of those that trigger negative emotional responses.

Relaxing colours are not very saturated and relatively bright. Glossy paint is generally more stimulating than matt.

Here are three tips for home decorators when

it comes to selecting suitable colours.

Colours fall into two groups, warm and cool.

This means that it makes sense to pair colours with similar temperatures.

Cool hues, such as greens and blues, work well; and so do a mix of warm neutrals, like soft beige with rich brown.

Monochrome works if you think tone on tone.

Colours within the same hue but slightly different tones – for example baby blue with a deep blue – will always look stunning.

Complementary colours – those opposite each other on the colour wheel – are always a win.

These would include, for example, coral with blue-green tones; turquoise and cream; copper-green and purple; light blue and pearly pink; and coral and lilac.

And then, of course, there’s pink and khaki – because as we all know, khaki goes with everything.

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Your piece of peace

A quiet space doesn’t have to be big to provide spiritual regeneration WORDS HOME IMPROVER AND WASHINGTON POST PICTURE COTTONBRO

INTERIOR designer and author Nate Berkus says many of his clients are devoting spaces in their homes to “wellness, tranquillity and serenity”.

Celebrity patrons, including his friend Oprah Winfrey, often request

spaces for silence and reflection, such as craft places, reading nooks, writing corners and yoga, prayer and meditation rooms.

You can create one of these in a corner of a room by closing it off with a screen. Roller doors are also

popular in creating zones in homes.

If you have outdoor space, shesheds and man caves have made a big comeback – or a small space on a patio can become your yoga area.

Even a set of headphones and a chair in a quiet spot will do.

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T R E N D I N G

Divide and conquer

PICTURE ALEX PERZ

When rooms have several different functions, screens can cordon off areas ADAPTABLE and flexible home layout is an emerging trend.

But how do you change a house to accommodate different functions, as the need arises?

While open-plan homes are still with us, says interior designer Will Engelbrecht of WillDesign Solutions, being able to adapt a room quickly

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has become vital.

“I’m seeing a lot of open-plan designs with flexibility via pocket doors, roller doors, beautiful screens and the likes being used to create areas within areas.

“The beauty of this is when you no longer need a home office or a school room the partitioning can

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be easily opened to create one big room.

“I’m also seeing people convert garages and even laundries into offices or zoom rooms where you can chat away in private.”

Being able to do easy conversions without using solid bricks brings peace of mind, says Engelbrecht.

THE PSYCHOLOGY Opposites attract – and in many ways this phenomenon can work out well for a couple – but one area in which a couple’s differences can make living together less than harmonious is home organisation.

Unless couples find ways to deal with their organisational divide, the stress on their relationship can be immense – both for the neat one and the more laid-back, untidy one.

THE HOW TO Separate spaces While compromise is important, ultimately, it may just be better if one person sets up a desk in a shed or keeps their clothes in a spare bedroom. Arguing about what an office or cupboard “should” look like is usually not helpful. People function differently, and they’re rarely able to change ingrained habits dramatically. So, don’t waste years trying to get your spouse to come around to your way of thinking. You don’t have to share everything.

A willingness to take a different approach is a sign of respect.

Split the work In most homes there are areas that regularly become cluttered and disorganised. If one person is better at where things belong in a particular room, they can be responsible for straightening up that space, and their partner can take on another area. Split the work and set a deadline. Or agree to clean your designated space every Sunday evening or every two weeks. Resentment builds when one person is in charge, so divide the responsibility evenly.

Sorting out your spaces We all have different needs and skills, so it makes sense for couples to play to their individual strengths – you don’t have to share everything

P I C T U R E S I N I T TA L E U N E N

Get help Doing nothing when there is disagreement about how to live in and enjoy your home is not a viable option. If you can’t resolve your differences alone, call in a third party to offer objective advice. It doesn’t need to be a professional organiser, and a relative might not be ideal. A friend or neighbour could help you clean out or straighten up your wardrobe a couple of times a year or share ideas about how to process bills.

– Washington Post

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Perfect light Our natural circadian rhythms are affected by light and dark; how well we sleep can influence our entire day’s moods

WORDS VIVIEN HORLER PICTURE ANDREA PIACQUADIO

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THE PSYCHOLOGY EXPOSURE to natural light helps our bodies produce vitamin D, serotonin, and melatonin and can even increase productivity – but it can also have hidden stressors.

One of these is glare, which can cause eye strain. At night, do what you can to achieve full darkness. Disrupted sleep can throw off our serotonin levels which, in turn, interrupts mood regulation.

There are people in northern Europe, the US and Canada who suffer from a syndrome called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a condition characterised by depression which occurs in climates where in autumn and winter there is a considerable drop in levels of sunlight.

We are unlikely to have many cases of SAD in South Africa but even here our moods can be affected by the light.

We have all been into rooms flooded with sunshine which boost our mood or south-facing rooms that feel dark and a bit depressing.

If our home is our sanctuary, it needs to be a place where we can relax and recharge. One of the important elements of a supportive space is the right kind of lighting.

In 2014, a Journal of Consumer Psychology study found that the more intense the lighting, the more affected and intense the participants’ emotions were, both positive and negative.

The study included six experiments which examined the link between emotion and ambient brightness. Feelings of warmth increased when participants were exposed to bright light with hints of reddish hues. A sensation of angst increased when bluer light dominated.

The brighter the light, the more intense the participants’ emotions became.

Light also affects our circadian rhythms – the natural cycle of physical, mental and behavioural changes that the body goes through in a 24-hour cycle. These rhythms are mostly affected by light and darkness.

THE HOW TO Lighting in the home can affect our moods, our sleep and how well we perform various tasks – try chopping an onion when the kitchen counter light is poor.

Here are some top tips to get home lighting right.

Invest in room-darkening curtains or blinds in your bedroom. Automated curtains are best because you can set them to open and close at certain times.

Let the sunshine in – through a window, glass door or skylight. Natural light makes spaces feel bigger and us feel happier. Even on overcast days, north-facing rooms are brighter than south-facing ones, which may need supplementary (and costly) lighting during the day.

Mirrors reflect both natural and artificial light and make a room feel bigger and brighter.

Good lighting improves a home’s functioning. As we get older, we need more light.

Try layering your light: ambient light for overall illumination; task lighting such as undercabinet lights in the kitchen for chopping those onions and accent lighting – pops of lighting to brighten a corner or a painting.

Choose the right bulb. When it comes to artificial light, most LED light bulbs deliver sharp, bluish hues (which keep us up), so it might be worth replacing them with smart bulbs or any home light bulb labelled “warm white”. Blue/white light makes us energetic and can interrupt sleep patterns, while red and yellow light in the evening can help improve mental health.

PICTURE KSENIIA LOPYREVA

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Happy to be tech free Time spent away from electronic devices is an important part of mental health care WORDS BONNY FOURIE PICTURE RF STUDIO

HERE are some tips on how to set up a space with which the family is enchanted enough to stay away from the constant pings of modern-day living.

Step 1 Find a convenient spot.

Many people believe the bedroom should be a tech-free space but which ever area you choose, make sure it is a place young people want to be in, even if it means leaving their mobile devices behind or no TV. Step 2 Have some rules of what is and is not allowed.

Step 3 Find alternative activities.

A successful tech-free space must appeal to all our senses. It must be a place to relax and have fun and enable children to do things that interest them. If it does not, they will become bored and want to leave to check their cellphones or watch their favourite series.

The more time that children and teens want to spend in these techfree spaces the more they will realise that they can enjoy time without their mobile devices.

Step 4 Decorate the space to match

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the zone. The space should look creative and relaxing. Get your children involved in creating this space.

You could even have an art wall painted with chalk paint where they can draw directly on the walls.

IDEAS Depending on your children’s personalities, these spaces could include: • Books and magazines if they enjoy reading.

• Musical instruments that they like, or would like, to play.

• Card or board games and puzzles, which the family can do alone, in pairs or in a group.

• Toys that may appeal to younger children and their imaginations – and even encourage interaction between family such as building blocks, doll’s houses, drawing materials or objects for pretend play.

• Remember when you would put on a play for the adults? Why not have your own mini theatre for kids?

Have fun writing a play together and then performing it.

• Provide healthy snacks, such as fruit, and maybe hot drinks or juice and water to keep them there and engaged in conversation with others in the room.

Indoor plants help you grow

You’re never alone when you share your space with plants – in your home, on a balcony or even in a few pots on your windowsill

WORDS VIVIEN HORLER AND ALAN SIMMONDS

THE PSYCHOLOGY HAVE YOU ever felt down and then gone for a walk? You almost always feel better afterwards.

That’s because we’re hardwired to be boosted by the beauty of nature. (The fresh air helps too.)

Sadly, we don’t all live near parks or even have gardens.

However, house plants, or even a few pots on a balcony, can make us feel better.

House plants boost our mood, productivity, concentration and creativity. They also help reduce stress, fatigue and colds.

The plants clean indoor air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity and producing oxygen.

They add life to a sterile space, give privacy, reduce noise levels and are therapeutic to care for.

Plants have organic, irregular shapes that are inherently relaxing to the eye. And they create a space in which you are never alone.

In between the mayhem of deadlines, indoor gardening teaches you the art of patience.

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THE HOW TO

Indoor gardeners should select plants with deep green leaves since they grow best in low light

Start with low-maintenance plants, such as aloe, ivy and jade plants. If you’re a more seasoned plant owner, try large, leafy plants.

Cactuses and plants with pointy leaves aren’t as relaxing as leafier plants, such as ficuses.

You want softly rounded leaves with branches that bend a little under the weight of the leaves.

Blogger Connor B of the website plants.com suggests indoor gardeners select plants with deep green leaves since they grow best in low light. If your plant’s leaves start wilting, or the soil is pulling away from the sides of the pot, it needs more water. But be careful not to over-water.

These are also ideas: Orchids: The dainty plants that bloom a few times a year are elegant and tend to create a sense of calm.

The peace lily: With its broad, dark green leaves and charming white flowers, the peace lily fits in everywhere.

Palms: A “plant it and forget it” choice because it needs little attention. As long as you don’t over-water, this plant is indestructible. It’s a slow grower and perfect for just about any room of the home.

Aloes: They love heat and sun but require little maintenance. Bonus: you can soothe sunburn by snapping off one of the leaves and applying the cooling gel to your skin.

Monstera deliciosa or delicious monster: This stylish plant is one of the easiest house plants ever. You can find it in a range of shapes and sizes. They

PICTURE ROSANA SOLI

are relatively slow growers.

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The light fantastic The horizontals and verticals of this Clifton home, aptly titled Beyond, beckon the eye towards the serenity of the sea, mountainside and the glowing rim-flow pool P I C T U R E S A D A M L E T C H , S T E FA N A N T O N I

Sunset bathes the outdoor dining pavilion in a golden glow, offering diners panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

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The multi-level house, with its clean, minimalist lines, has mountain and sea views.

“REMEMBER interiors should support the architecture and not try to dominate or compete with it, especially when trying to create tranquillity,” says renowned architect Stefan Antoni, when discussing the architecture behind this Clifton home, aptly named Beyond.

This Cape Town home with its elevated, uninterrupted views from Clifton’s white beaches all the way to the Twelve Apostles mountains in the distance and out across the Atlantic, is by virtue of its setting calming – a sanctuary.

The interior design – where simplicity and minimal fuss are the order of the day – follows the lines of the architecture and introduces a calm and serene feel into the family home.

Maximising indooroutdoor living, and blurring the boundaries via glazed lines that allow you to peel back a layer, gives a feeling

The kitchen, dining room, lounge and bar lounge are on the fourth floor. The courtyard garden is on the mountain side facing Lion’s Head with distant views of the Atlantic Ocean.

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On the living level, the front of the house integrates the kitchen and dining room areas. The French oak dining table is by Pierre Cronje and the Etch Bar stools are by OKHA. The mask wall features a collection of Central and West African masks.

The double-volume entrance foyer with a rusted steel and glass staircase. Artworks: ‘Three Blind Mice’ by Kevin Brand on the wall and on the landing ledge is a totem by David Brown.

ABOVE: The spectacular entrance is framed by the crisp horizontals and verticals of the timber and paving.

A Greek rug in the games room. A tapestry from Joburg’s President Hotel

by Cecil Skotnes and ‘Blowfish’ by Porky Hefer hang on the wall.

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LEFT: In the cinema and games room ‘Blowfish’

by Porky Hefer is hanging in the double-volume space. The STM chair and Barbuja coffee tables are

by OKHA and are strategically placed next to the fireplace. The Central African makoro dugout boat and African baskets sit below a Cecil Skotnes tapestry.

BELOW: The main bedroom incorporates a Bird chair by Harry Bertoia and Jada couch by OKHA, over the Flokati rug.

‘Carnival’ artwork

by Yvonne van der Heul.

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of a transparent space which allows you to exhale.

Without the boundaries, the expansiveness allows for a feeling of calm.

The indoor spaces link to a generous back garden opening on to the forested slopes of Lion’s Head and, in front, to a pool that stretches towards the sea.

Antoni says it is important to get your cue from your surroundings when designing and decorating a home.

“Understanding the site, the sun path and the views for a home is crucial when designing a space.

“Controlling the amount of light and

the position of the furniture to maximise the views, all play a role in creating the aesthetics of a room or space.”

He advises you to remove clutter and noise and opt for a minimalist feel in order to turn your home into a sanctuary.

The spatial experience allows the home to feel like a robust, seamless form whose functions are defined by intersecting planes, ceilings and floor treatments.

Lines are blurred and calm descends. – Architects of this home SAOTA in partnership with ARRCC and OKHA

Creating an oasis in a small space

To make the best of a limited area, rein in your colour palette and try to keep things clean and tidy

EVERY design decision matters when space is limited, especially if you want to create a sense of calm. Interior designer Will Engelbrecht suggests you toss the cushions and keep the palette neutral. And he says because homes have become smaller there is an array of furniture now available that folds up or down or in to create space and hence calmness.

Here are some tips from Ina Baard, creator of Mother’s Love products and interior design fundi: • Keep visual clutter to a minimum.

I decided to stick with a mainly black and white colour scheme in my small apartment to keep things calm, with pops of colour to make it feel warm.

• Don’t underestimate the power of essential oils in your apartment. They create another layer of “decoration” and add to the sense of a homely space.

• Plants add a layer of warmth.

• A small space tends to get messy quickly. The good news is it can be quickly tidied again.

The most valuable tidying advice I ever got was to look for things that are not where they should be when you move between rooms.

For example, when I get up from the couch to go to the kitchen, I always check for cups and plates I can take with me. Also as I clean my flat and notice things are looking old and tired, chipped or outdated, I consider whether it is time to let go of them or fix them.

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A sensual sanctity Creating a master bathroom from scratch or renovating one can be an expensive exercise but you can provide an air of luxury and calm with accessories such as flowers, candles, good lighting and music

MASTER bathrooms have become a common place of respite, with trends toward personalisation and spainspired amenities in this room even more sumptuous than before.

For homeowners on a budget, an easy way to create bathroom serenity is

with candles, fresh flowers, relaxing music and recessed lighting.

There is also a growing trend toward upholstered bathroom furniture, such as quilted chaises and tufted settees next to the bath, to add another tier of warmth and relaxation.

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Embrace those curves Soft, rounded shapes and ovals in interior design are better for our mental health than sharp angles, say environmental psychologists

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MANY environmental psychology experts say sharp angles are more stimulating to the brain than round shapes or ovals, and that having too many rectilinear forms in a room can be stressful.

“A room that’s entirely rectilinear – that’s a horror movie,” Sally Augustin, an environmental psychologist, told the Washington Post.

Dak Kopec, who has written several books on the psychology of design, agrees: “Organic shapes tend to feel soothing.”

A 2011 study found rounded, curvy furniture evokes feelings such as relaxation and hope more than rectangular furniture.

Calm in the kitchen

How to bring peace to the very heart of the home

THE KITCHEN could in many ways be seen as the heart of your home.

It is the centre where food – nurturing, comforting, nourishing – is made and in its highest form is the place that keeps the household alive.

To bring peace to this part of the home may seem

almost impossible as it is often littered with dishes, groceries, homework, and bits of our everyday life, but it is possible.

Psychologists, however, say it is important to choose one room in which the “messy” rules are relaxed – and the kitchen is perfect for this – in fact this might actually create calm.

SOME QUICK WAYS TO BRING CALM TO THE KITCHEN:

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• Declutter the surfaces – ensure you have a clean working space.

• The sink is not the new cupboard – it is not for storing things. Use and wash.

• Purge your pantry and fridge. Use your about-to-expire groceries first.

Start your own compost with food that would normally end up in the bin – think banana peels, for instance.

• Include something green in the room. Plant seeds and grow your own herbs.

• Position items handily, so you don’t have to be scrambling around to find

things while cooking and chopping.

• Consider a designated and temporary space for clutter.

• Colour matters, so think of a lick of paint to rejuvenate the area. Soft and neutral colours have a calming effect and pastels can help here too. Consider also deep blues, light greens, greys and tans.

• Intersperse a hi-tech kitchen with a few homemade objects that make you smile when you look at them.

• Give your kitchen a rest. As summer approaches, think about doing more outdoor cooking.

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Scents of summer W O R D S K AY M O N T G O M E RY

Design your garden for the fragrances that encourage you to linger in the garden, and not just for colour and visual appeal SOME plants spread their scents far and wide, others are fragrant at certain times of the day or evening, recalling memories.

The scents we love are not only to pleasure us, of course, but to attract pollinators.

“Scents bring memories and memories bring nostalgic pleasure,” wrote gardening expert Thalassa Cruso.

The deaf and blind wise woman Helen Keller described the sense of smell as that of “a fallen 3 2

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angel” – for scent is intangible and subtle.

It is difficult to describe scent, as each person perceives and reacts to it differently. And while it can have a calming, stimulating or refreshing effect on one person, it may cause a different reaction in others.

Some scents can dominate those with more delicate perfume.

Too many scents in one place can be overpowering, so scented plants are best spread around the

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garden. Use non-fragrant plants to intermingle with scented varieties.

Place scented flowers and foliage at the entrance to the garden, near windows and doors and along pathways. Position containers of scented plants near entrances to welcome visitors and beneath windows to let the perfume drift indoors.

Pots of scented flowers on patios and near seating areas add to the enjoyment of sitting outside.

The beautiful red and yellow rose ‘Double Delight’ produces highly perfumed blooms with a spicy, citrus scent.

Often the name of a rose will tell you if it is richly scented or not, such as ‘Fragrant Cloud’ The sweetly scented white flowers of the gardenia (Gardenia augusta) are a delight of the summer garden.

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FAVOURITE SUMMER SCENTS Roses: Bourbon rose “Mme Isaac Pereire” has richly scented magenta-pink flowers, fragrant “Mme Alfred Carriere” has clusters of white-flushed, softpink blooms.

Hybrid musk roses are known for their fragrance. “Felicia” has clusters of silvery-pink flowers and “Penelope” has trusses of scented white flowers.

Englishman David Austin bred roses that combined the

charm and rich fragrance of old roses with the colour range and repeat-flowering of modern roses.

“Sharifa Asma” is citrus scented, “Clare Austin” myrrh, “The Lady Gardener” tea and vanilla.

Some rose names will tell you which are richly scented – “Addictive Allure”, “Perfume Passion”, “Dermalogica Passion”, “Scentsational”, “Sheila’s Perfume” and “Fragrant Cloud”.

Gardenia: The buds of gardenias open into satiny white flowers with an exotic scent.

Gardenia augusta from China and Japan has dark green shiny leaves and waxy white flowers and cultivar “Florida” has double white flowers.

Compact growing “Radicans” is ideal for pot culture.

Gardenias need moist, acid soil, good air circulation and morning sun.

Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) from China is not a jasmine species but is named so because of its starry white flowers and scent.

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At the end of a busy day, sit in the twilight garden and enjoy the night fragrances THE EVENING GARDEN Fragrance plays an important role in an evening garden, where scents drift on to patios and through open windows.

Lilies are a favourite for their elegant flowers and for their strong perfume.

White flowers often attract night-time pollinators, not only because they are visible in the dark but also if their blooms are scented.

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orchid with dainty arching sprays of scented white flowers.

For semi-shade and for beautiful twilight gardens try growing the tall tobacco plant (Nicotiana alata) with tubular white flowers.

Along with that, plant the metre-high woodland tobacco (N sylvestris) with long white tubular white flowers, both with an evening scent.

More evening scents include the dainty lilac stock (Matthiola bicornis), tuberose and hosta.

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SCENTED FOLIAGE For year-round scent and attractive silver-grey foliage, there is nothing better than lavender species and cultivars and lavender-scented santolina with finely cut leaves of silvery grey to edge a path or border.

Scented geraniums (pelargoniums) are grown for their attractive leaf shapes and scents, such as lemon, orange, rose, peppermint, nutmeg and balsam, which release their scent when crushed.

The white flowers of the indigenous orchid (Mystacidium capense) are highly scented at night and believed to be pollinated by moths.

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Stepping into nature The outdoors restores energy and mood, so cultivate yours

SIMPLY stepping into nature can restore your physical and mental energy, says Carolyn Rickard-Brideau, who studies building standards which affect well-being, citing a 1989 study.

If your patio or balcony is virtually unused, ask why. If it’s simply a matter of making it functional by adding furniture or floor tiles, it could be worth the investment.

Psychologists suggest spending time outdoors in the morning because early, fullspectrum sunlight helps regulate serotonin.

HOW TO: For the patio, invest in a folding table. You can use this for writing, journaling, crafts, for alfresco dining or just to get some time away from everyone.

Plants and a water feature will help dress your patio from top to bottom making even the smallest space feel like an inviting retreat.

Add lushness to the area with layered rugs, throws, cushions, greenery and string lights.

If privacy is lacking, you can hang up some flowing gauze curtains.

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