my daughter sells real estate and says youre slightly mad if you dont get a feng shui consultant to rearrange your house before sale.

i note donald trump is a huge fan.

so superstiticious sorcery or a real phenomenom.

any thoughts?

I agree.
Some rooms/houses are just wrong.

Some years ago I rendered and painted our front retaining wall.
Of course I checked what Feng Shui thought, and agreed with it.
The wall looks 'right'.

I play bridge, they got new table covers recently. The wrong colour, it looks garish.

It's superstitious sorcery based on a real phenomenon. Feng Shui is about good design, light, direction, air circulation, dampness, height of furnishings, etc, but there are also lucky numbers and directions involved.

Nine Star Ki is an offshoot of Feng Shui, involving travel directions and numerology. John Lennon and Yoko Ono followed it to a tee. Boy George is a big fan too. He never travels at the wrong time and takes jobs and chooses destinations based on their directions.

a bit like sex really IT SELLS.. isnt that the point?

it doesnt do anything other than perhaps make your house look nicer. nothing wrong with that, but representing it as possessing mystical properties is a bit stupid.

I sold my house this week.

It took 2.5 weeks in total (and about 35 buyers coming through).

Bizarrely enough, the way you arrange things does matter.

1) Keep it minimum - people struggle to "de-clutter" what you have and imagine their own stuff

2) Minimal maximises the space

3) Clean, neat, tidy is obvious

It is still frustrating.
Some of the reports back from the real estate are ridiculous

"Really wants a garage" - well why fking turn up then you can see from the picture its a fking car port.

"Wants a north facing garden" - wtf

"Loves the house but would like bigger 4th bedroom" - what is he planning on fking having 12 people in the house?

Anyway it sold.

But some of the little things around the size and style truly baffled me about Australia.

In England the key thing is structure and position.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on May 1^st, 2013 at 4:16pm:

) Clean, neat, tidy is obvious

Not so obvious for many. It is unbelievable the number of photos I've seen on websites showing properties, where the owners haven't even attempted to clean up, many even fail to pick up their dirty clothes off the floor .... Not a good impression when you are trying to attract buyers, especially given that most people will click onto the next one as soon as they see that.

In my opinion four main points are declutter declutter and declutter , then make sure that it is clean and tidy ,.... especially when the photographer turns up.

wtf is the north facing garden comment about?

Is he planning on standing in the window all day or something?

How well developed is what we call your 'aesthetic sense'? If you have a good aesthetic sense you don't need an interior decorator.

Feng shui is just what the chinese call aesthetics, though they throw in some mumbo jumbo, mind you so do some western decorators.

As a garden designer a lot of people used to tell me they didn't have a clue, but were perfectly capable inside. In actual fact the same basics apply.

What we call an aesthetic sense, I think is hard wired. It's what we are comfortable with and expect to see in the natural world. When things are 'out of kilter' it jars, disturbs, makes you nervous.

If you want to step outside the box with colour, look at what occurs naturally, the more unusual are to be found in rocks, leaves, shells and twilight.

In a forest you'll find one dominant tree, two or three understory trees, five or six bushes... when you get down to the floor you'll find that things get eclectic.  You'll find rooms, different things growing in different locations. And you'll find transition, some things common perhaps to all locations. And you will always find paths, some places are best for sleeping, some for eating and some for drinking, (we're talking kangaroos, deer etc.) Getting between them quickly is as important for a kangaroo as a human.

So in your home you have one dominant style of furniture, especially in each room. On the mantlepiece you can have a more eclectic collection. Themes and repetition and transition are always good.

Simple is the word. Designing a garden I draw up paths following function from A to B and draw in the plants I want to use. Then I simplify both, then I simplify again.

NB. Modern landscaping takes that to an extreme They may only use three different species and plant them in blocks, I hate that, it works, (aesthetically) but it's just lazy and boring.

 

Andrei.Hicks wrote on May 1^st, 2013 at 4:59pm:

wtf is the north facing garden comment about? Is he planning on standing in the window all day or something?

It's about the amount of sunlight the living areas are exposed to during the day, the more sunlight the less heating in winter, or if you live up north, the more sunlight the more air conditioning you'll need to make those living areas confortable.

A north facing wall gets hit by the sun in winter. A south facing wall casts a shadow in winter. One side can be warm and dry, the other cool, dark and wet - great for moss, not so great for anything else. This is more pronounced as you get further from the equator (towards Tasmania). Near the equator it doesn't make much difference. You get baked all year. The directions are opposite north of the equator.

In a valley with steep sides it can make a pronounced difference to temperature.

If somewhat counter-intuitively, you add a glasshouse to the North wall and a shade house with overhead misting sprinklers to the south, you can turn the whole house into an airconditioner.  :)

Grey wrote on May 2^nd, 2013 at 1:38am:

If somewhat counter-intuitively, you add a glasshouse to the North wall and a shade house with overhead misting sprinklers to the south, you can turn the whole house into an airconditioner.  :)

;) ;) ;)


do you think the 'design'  gene is something you are born with.

i once had the entrance quiz for the minnesota school of arts come across my desk.
you were asked to pick the more aestheticly pleasing out of 2 very similar designs.  often just squiggles or bunches of random numbers on a page (sort of like a ink blot test).

i got 10 out of 20 right.  2 of the girls who were artists got 17 and 18 out of 20 right.

i'm told if you get less than 15 , you should not consider a career as an artist.
;) ;)

Andrei.Hicks wrote on May 1^st, 2013 at 4:16pm:

I sold my house this week. It took 2.5 weeks in total (and about 35 buyers coming through). Bizarrely enough, the way you arrange things does matter. 1) Keep it minimum - people struggle to "de-clutter" what you have and imagine their own stuff 2) Minimal maximises the space 3) Clean, neat, tidy is obvious It is still frustrating. Some of the reports back from the real estate are ridiculous "Really wants a garage" - well why fking turn up then you can see from the picture its a fking car port. "Wants a north facing garden" - wtf "Loves the house but would like bigger 4th bedroom" - what is he planning on fking having 12 people in the house? Anyway it sold. But some of the little things around the size and style truly baffled me about Australia. In England the key thing is structure and position.

Dear Andrei,
I empathize with your annoyance at potential customers who buy things.
Similar ridiculous statements happen when you sell cars here.

Yes goes right along with the Ooga Booga philosophy.

aquascoot wrote on May 2^nd, 2013 at 5:56am:

Grey wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 1:38am: If somewhat counter-intuitively, you add a glasshouse to the North wall and a shade house with overhead misting sprinklers to the south, you can turn the whole house into an airconditioner.  :) ;) ;) ;) do you think the 'design'  gene is something you are born with. i once had the entrance quiz for the minnesota school of arts come across my desk. you were asked to pick the more aestheticly pleasing out of 2 very similar designs.  often just squiggles or bunches of random numbers on a page (sort of like a ink blot test). i got 10 out of 20 right.  2 of the girls who were artists got 17 and 18 out of 20 right. i'm told if you get less than 15 , you should not consider a career as an artist. ;) ;)

I think the world is full of successful singers, writers, painters, designers and violinists that some fool failed to discourage. Like the adage goes 10% inspiration, 90% perpiration, if you've got the enthusiasm and tenacity the pennies drop.

Grey wrote on May 2^nd, 2013 at 9:23am:

aquascoot wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 5:56am: Grey wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 1:38am: If somewhat counter-intuitively, you add a glasshouse to the North wall and a shade house with overhead misting sprinklers to the south, you can turn the whole house into an airconditioner.  :) ;) ;) ;) do you think the 'design'  gene is something you are born with. i once had the entrance quiz for the minnesota school of arts come across my desk. you were asked to pick the more aestheticly pleasing out of 2 very similar designs.  often just squiggles or bunches of random numbers on a page (sort of like a ink blot test). i got 10 out of 20 right.  2 of the girls who were artists got 17 and 18 out of 20 right. i'm told if you get less than 15 , you should not consider a career as an artist. ;) ;) I think the world is full of successful singers, writers, painters, designers and violinists that some fool failed to discourage. Like the adage goes 10% inspiration, 90% perpiration, if you've got the enthusiasm and tenacity the pennies drop.

;) ;)

aquascoot wrote on May 2^nd, 2013 at 5:56am:

Grey wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 1:38am: If somewhat counter-intuitively, you add a glasshouse to the North wall and a shade house with overhead misting sprinklers to the south, you can turn the whole house into an airconditioner.  :) ;) ;) ;) do you think the 'design'  gene is something you are born with. i once had the entrance quiz for the minnesota school of arts come across my desk. you were asked to pick the more aestheticly pleasing out of 2 very similar designs.  often just squiggles or bunches of random numbers on a page (sort of like a ink blot test). i got 10 out of 20 right.  2 of the girls who were artists got 17 and 18 out of 20 right. i'm told if you get less than 15 , you should not consider a career as an artist. ;) ;)

one of my brothers is 'anti-artistic'.
some people should not be allowed near an easel or to decide colours.

Grey wrote on May 2^nd, 2013 at 9:23am:

aquascoot wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 5:56am: Grey wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 1:38am: If somewhat counter-intuitively, you add a glasshouse to the North wall and a shade house with overhead misting sprinklers to the south, you can turn the whole house into an airconditioner.  :) ;) ;) ;) do you think the 'design'  gene is something you are born with. i once had the entrance quiz for the minnesota school of arts come across my desk. you were asked to pick the more aestheticly pleasing out of 2 very similar designs.  often just squiggles or bunches of random numbers on a page (sort of like a ink blot test). i got 10 out of 20 right.  2 of the girls who were artists got 17 and 18 out of 20 right. i'm told if you get less than 15 , you should not consider a career as an artist. ;) ;) I think the world is full of successful singers, writers, painters, designers and violinists that some fool failed to discourage. Like the adage goes 10% inspiration, 90% perpiration, if you've got the enthusiasm and tenacity the pennies drop.

That's bullshit - some people could never be artists or musicians -
they just don't have it.

Bobby. wrote on May 2^nd, 2013 at 12:45pm:

Grey wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 9:23am: aquascoot wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 5:56am: Grey wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 1:38am: If somewhat counter-intuitively, you add a glasshouse to the North wall and a shade house with overhead misting sprinklers to the south, you can turn the whole house into an airconditioner.  :) ;) ;) ;) do you think the 'design'  gene is something you are born with. i once had the entrance quiz for the minnesota school of arts come across my desk. you were asked to pick the more aestheticly pleasing out of 2 very similar designs.  often just squiggles or bunches of random numbers on a page (sort of like a ink blot test). i got 10 out of 20 right.  2 of the girls who were artists got 17 and 18 out of 20 right. i'm told if you get less than 15 , you should not consider a career as an artist. ;) ;) I think the world is full of successful singers, writers, painters, designers and violinists that some fool failed to discourage. Like the adage goes 10% inspiration, 90% perpiration, if you've got the enthusiasm and tenacity the pennies drop. That's bullshit - some people could never be artists or musicians - they just don't have it.

Both the Stones and the Beatles were just cover bands that bullshit made great. After they became great self confidence turned them into song writing geniuses.

aquascoot wrote on May 1^st, 2013 at 6:30am:

my daughter sells real estate and says youre slightly mad if you dont get a feng shui consultant to rearrange your house before sale. i note donald trump is a huge fan. so superstiticious sorcery or a real phenomenom. any thoughts?

We USED to call it "sense of style" and "good taste"

Hire me.
My house in Melbourne sold this month for a profit so I got it right...

There are three dimensions to Feng Shui.

1. The aesthetic dimension. Trust your instincts if they are usually right.

2. The BS dimension - for example hanging hollow coins from trees to make you rich, or having a tree 木 (mu) in the middle of the yard 困  (kùn) is bad Feng Shui because that symbol means "problem" in Chinese.

3. If you are selling to somebody who believes in Feng Shui,  the BS dimension might just have some currency - it might get you a sale. 

Grey wrote on May 2^nd, 2013 at 1:13pm:

Bobby. wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 12:45pm: Grey wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 9:23am: aquascoot wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 5:56am: Grey wrote on May 2nd, 2013 at 1:38am: If somewhat counter-intuitively, you add a glasshouse to the North wall and a shade house with overhead misting sprinklers to the south, you can turn the whole house into an airconditioner.  :) ;) ;) ;) do you think the 'design'  gene is something you are born with. i once had the entrance quiz for the minnesota school of arts come across my desk. you were asked to pick the more aestheticly pleasing out of 2 very similar designs.  often just squiggles or bunches of random numbers on a page (sort of like a ink blot test). i got 10 out of 20 right.  2 of the girls who were artists got 17 and 18 out of 20 right. i'm told if you get less than 15 , you should not consider a career as an artist. ;) ;) I think the world is full of successful singers, writers, painters, designers and violinists that some fool failed to discourage. Like the adage goes 10% inspiration, 90% perpiration, if you've got the enthusiasm and tenacity the pennies drop. That's bullshit - some people could never be artists or musicians - they just don't have it. Both the Stones and the Beatles were just cover bands that bullshit made great. After they became great self confidence turned them into song writing geniuses.

Excellent point, Grey.

I think Bobbie’s quite artistic. He has great taste in guys..