2010-03-12T13:27:10Z Gwen Williams Copyright 2010, Gwen Williams SPHPBLOG

The sight and feeling that greets us upon entering our house strongly affects our experience of arriving home, as well as our mood and comfort as we settle into and live in our space. When a front door enters directly into a living room, as in this project, it's very important that the room be arranged with sensitivity to this factor, as well as to its overall comfort, function, and beauty.

The previous layout of this room "welcomed" its guests and inhabitants with the back of a couch, giving way to a table of clutter, finally settling onto the TV cabinet -- not the most inspiring array. My client was complaining about feeling 'stuck' in her home and life. I set out to help her by transforming this room to feel wonderful, positively affecting her experience of arriving and being home.

By flipping the room layout around, people and energy now flow through the front door and into a cozy and lovely "conversation area," a place to truly relax and revitalize. To support this, the TV went to live on the opposite wall, clutter was given a home, and lighting and accessories were optimized to support the new vision.

These changes instantly transformed the look and feel of the room and of the overall home experience. My client tells me that not only is she in love with the changes, but that her home has become a nourishing space for her guests. What a gift for everyone!

It's amazing what re-thinking your existing things can do for your home and life...

]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090921-121354 2009-09-21T00:00:00Z 2009-09-21T00:00:00Z

I'm proud to announce that the new and improved SpaceTransform web site is up and running. It's got a new look and feel, refined message, and enhanced layout of project photos. Please check it out, and send me your feedback. Also note that there is now a box on the "Contact" page to sign up for my shiny new email newsletter, which will be coming soon. Enjoy! ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090604-013735 2009-06-04T00:00:00Z 2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

A couple of months back I ran into my friend Dominic at a coffee shop and he told me what he was working on: a website where business owners could offer services during otherwise unbooked hours for "dibits" instead of dollars, and other business owners on the site could purchase those services using dibits that they had earned. Brilliant! It wasn't long after that when Dibspace was launched, and I became a happy member offering my services in interior redesign and feng shui.

Dominic asked me if I'd be willing to get some press on one of my dibbed offers and of course I accepted; the first of these pieces is an article in the Seattle Times today. Enjoy! ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090413-074846 2009-04-13T00:00:00Z 2009-04-13T00:00:00Z

I was lucky enough to spend one month exploring Thailand this winter. What an amazing journey it was... Thailand is a tremendous place to travel -- friendly, warm, colorful, delicious, and inexpensive -- and being away from winter and worries was incredibly rejuvenating.

I split my time between Bangkok, the beaches in the south of Thailand, and Chiang Mai -- a city in the northern hills. Each was very different, and very wonderful.

I spent a significant amount of time visiting Buddhist temples, of which there are 20,000 in Thailand -- they are everywhere. Ornately designed, filled with Buddhas and altars, smelling of incense, with monks in their bright orange robes... sacred and stunning.

Thailand has a bustling market culture... there are daytime markets and nighttime markets, where vendors set up stations to sell delicious food and beautiful wares. Wandering amongst these vibrant scenes was a favorite pastime of mine, which always involved eating, and often included a stop for a market-side foot massage (30 minutes for under $2).

Time on the beaches was relaxing and balmy... and gorgeous. Stunning cliffs rising out of warm emerald green water. Tropical, alien-looking fish. Staying in a bungalow perched in the jungle. I lost track of time and days. I read and napped and swam. I watched sunrises and sunsets. I ate fresh mango and pineapple every day. I breathed deeply...

I returned to Seattle feeling chilled out and inspired... happy that spring is finally here, happy to keep expressing myself through my work and art, and happy to be back to my amazing friends and clients.

Please enjoy looking through my Thailand photos.

Sawatdee!]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090320-182346 2009-03-21T00:00:00Z 2009-03-21T00:00:00Z "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain

I just returned from an amazing month in Thailand. Pictures and stories to come. Stay tuned...
]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090302-121010 2009-03-02T00:00:00Z 2009-03-02T00:00:00Z

Last week I gave a presentation on Feng Shui to The National Association of Professional Organizers (Seattle area chapter). They had invited me to talk to their members so that I could share my expertise on an issue that has relevance to their services.

Professional Organizers help people get their surroundings under control, especially when it comes to clutter, storage, organizational systems, and the like. In this modern day when we are constantly bombarded by stuff that needs to be put somewhere, more and more people are looking for help in this area. A Professional Organizer can come in to a home or office and objectively make sense of better ways to process the work and life flow and places to store things, and then can actively help implement the systems to make that happen.

At this meeting I met several amazing people from NAPO, and recommend their members to anyone looking for a little organizing help. ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080910-082849 2008-09-10T00:00:00Z 2008-09-10T00:00:00Z My year of good press continues. A couple of weeks ago I did a redesign with a Seattle Times editor and photographer observing. The article and photos from that project are in the paper and in the online version today. Check it out!

Seattle Times article: "Redesign at the ready"]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry071110-085032 2007-11-10T00:00:00Z 2007-11-10T00:00:00Z
I had no idea how profound this work would be! It is incredibly moving and rewarding to be invited into peoples' homes, to get a glimpse of their lives, and to lend assistance and inspiration by creating supportive and comfortable spaces, by teaching and encouraging, and by infusing their environments with intention and energy. It has turned out that my *design* work is also *healing* work. I am honored and grateful for that; this services is enriching on many levels -- for my clients, and for myself. I am happy to strive to offer the best of my self in order to help people live more beautiful lives.


"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us."
-Winston Churchill
]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry071109-005134 2007-11-09T00:00:00Z 2007-11-09T00:00:00Z
]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070911-204624 2007-09-12T00:00:00Z 2007-09-12T00:00:00Z

I'm about to make my annual pilgrimage to the Burning Man Arts Festival, and this time I'll be bringing sixteen sculptural lanterns that I made as part of the Tree Spires art installation. I and my fellow Tree Spires crew, who go by the name "Iron Monkeys", spent the summer constructing four 15'-tall steel trees with benches built around the bases, and the lanterns which will hang in the trees.

For those of you who don't know, Burning Man is an event which takes place at this time every year in a remote location outside of Gerlach, Nevada. The festival, which calls itself an "experiment in temporary community," gathers tens of thousands of participants from all over the world who co-create "Black Rock City" together. The city, raised on the blank canvas of an ancient seabed, is devoted to art, and all forms of personal expression. It functions as a gift economy; there is no vending or advertising. It is pure human creativity, ingenuity, generosity, and interaction. After Labor Day the event ends and all traces of it are removed. At least the physical ones... Burning Man is a powerful cultural force which has transformed many lives, including mine. It encourages personal empowerment and creative expression, provides a community of inspired people from all walks of life, and infuses a sense of joy and wonder at the possibilities that exist. I highly recommend visiting the web site, reading a bit more, and looking through the image gallery -- a picture is worth 1000 words!

I look forward to installing and sharing the art that I and my friends have created. I will share pictures after I return! Happy end-of-summer!]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070823-234643 2007-08-24T00:00:00Z 2007-08-24T00:00:00Z
"Interior Designers Use Your Own Furnishings"]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070719-092401 2007-07-19T00:00:00Z 2007-07-19T00:00:00Z

Did you know: when I'm not transforming spaces, I'm designing and building sculptural lamps. It all started about 6 years ago with a vision of creating gorgeous, transcendent light art that would remind people of their nature, which *is* nature. Lights that are beautiful and alive, like us! I am finally manifesting my creations and installing them at events, sharing their magic. Soon I will be offering them for special event rental, taking orders for fine art commissioned pieces, and offering a line of mesmerizing designs. It's another way for me to help make the world more beautiful. That is one of the things I'm here to do!

This image shows the piece I am currently working on right now... it is about 6' tall, and filled with color-changing LEDs. I call it "Luminous Tease". ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070614-071425 2007-06-14T00:00:00Z 2007-06-14T00:00:00Z
Change your world with an interior 're-designer']]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070423-124225 2007-04-23T00:00:00Z 2007-04-23T00:00:00Z

Ah... sweet spring!

Growing up in Minnesota, where winters were long and frozen, I developed a deep appreciation for the return of spring. During the painfully cold and grey winters it would seem almost incomprehensible that the season would again change to one of warmth and life. But of course it always would, eventually. Sunny days in March (or April) would feel like a miracle, a surprise blessing from the universe. Spring's ecstatic return after a dark winter would remind me of the reliability of the change in seasons. That I could trust in nature! That change was inevitable. That new life wants to emerge... and that we all are given opportunities to renew ourselves, to grow and transform. Even now, living in temperate Seattle I am deeply moved by this time of transition and the energy it carries.

The Chinese theory of Yin/Yang complementary balance explains the normal change of the seasons in this way: winters show the Yin aspects of darkness, passivity, and coldness. The cycle in spring then naturally changes to the Yang conditions of brightness, activity, and expansion. This is why we are in harmony with nature when we rest and go inward in winter, and when in spring our energy raises and we grow and express ourselves.

Spring is here again, for the land and for us. What new discoveries will you find within yourself, what new activities will you begin, how will you grow and transform in this exciting, revitalizing time?]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070322-170826 2007-03-23T00:00:00Z 2007-03-23T00:00:00Z

Healthy indoor plants are incredibly beneficial to the beauty and energy of a home.

* They clean the air, taking in carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.

* Plants in potting soil bring both wood and earth elements into a space, which represent growth and stability.

* If placed in appropriate locations, plants will always have an extremely profound positive effect on the beauty and power of a space.

Following a few guidelines will help you best integrate plants into your home.

* In terms of plant shapes to choose, keep in mind that form defines energy. Which plant would you imagine would have more harmonious energy -- one with sharp spiky leaves, or one with soft rounded clusters? In general, choose plants that have rounded or oval leaves rather than spiky leaves or cacti.

* Choose plants that are appropriate to the light levels and other conditions in your home.

* Place plants in pretty pots that are big enough (but not too big) for their roots to grow and expand. Repot them when necessary for their continued radiance.

* If well cared-for and healthy, plants' vitality will generate chi (life-energy) for their environment. If they're unhealthy or contain dead plant-matter, they will actually have a negative effect on the energy of the space. It is therefore important to take good care of your plants, to pay close attention to their health, and to trim off dead bits when necessary.

Life is better with plants!]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070219-221004 2007-02-20T00:00:00Z 2007-02-20T00:00:00Z

From a Feng Shui perspective, the front entrance is one of the most important features of a home, strongly affecting the experience of its inhabitants as well as its guests.

The front entrance (or the entrance used mainly) is the face of the house, and in that sense it represents a home's image and character. It greets you as you return after each excursion. It greets guests as they enter. And it leaves the final imprint as we depart into the world. It is the window between the inside sanctuary and the outside environment, the vital passageway through which chi energy flows. The entrance therefore has a very important role and should be given appropriate care and attention.

The following should be considered:

* The entrance should be clear, visible, confident. It should not hide behind overgrown bushes or plantings.

* The front porch is not a good place to store clutter or belongings which don't have a place inside the house. Many people spend time and energy carefully arranging the interiors of their houses to create a good feeling, but if the front entrance is cluttered then the experience will still suffer; by the time they and guests have arrived in to that space, they have already been negatively affected by the entrance's first impression.

* The flow of energy into the house is affected by the objects in its way. So in addition to affecting humans' perception of the home, clutter and overgrown foliage will hamper the ability for chi to enter and vitalize the space.

* Design front entrances with care and intention: clear of clutter, with a few beautiful objects arranged in a simple, balanced, harmonious way. This will provide a positive first impression, visually and energetically, for you and your guests.

* The area just inside the entrance should also be arranged well, providing a welcoming and spacious place for us to transition between the outside and inside.

Next time you enter your front entrance, pay attention to the subtle impressions it creates. What simple changes could you make to optimize this facet of your home?


[photo: front door designed by Morris Sheppard]]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070129-100654 2007-01-29T00:00:00Z 2007-01-29T00:00:00Z
Our mechanical world of electric lights, alarm clocks, and year-round availability of all manners of food has confused our bodies' instinctual alignment with natural principles. However, becoming conscious of this fact we can make choices to better honor nature's seasonal intelligence. We should not necessarily try to keep a constant and unchanging state of work, rest, and eating throughout the year.

Many people I've been encountering lately (myself included) complain of being tired due to the winter weather. Instead of seeing this tiredness as a problem to be resisted, why not simply respond to it with more sleep?

As nature finds in winter a time of rest and renewal, so should we. So give yourself permission to go to bed a bit earlier or to sleep a bit later. It's OK to take a brief nap in the afternoon. It's just fine to spend Saturday night snuggled up with a book. We are simply flowing with natural principles when we subtly allow our energies to cycle seasonally.

Spring and its burst of new energy and life will be here soon enough, joyfully pulling us with it... so let's all help each other remember to delight in the calm inward restful nature of winter. ]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry070108-184544 2007-01-09T00:00:00Z 2007-01-09T00:00:00Z

The pictures above are from a Redesign I did today... I'll let them tell the story of the incredible feeling a room gets as soon as it has a place to gather, a "conversation area".
]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry061228-225742 2006-12-29T00:00:00Z 2006-12-29T00:00:00Z
It is important to keep in mind that authentic Feng Shui is not about products, it is about principles. It is also not about seemingly arbitrary remedies. Feng Shui makes sense, it is intuitive, and it is practical.

So what does that mean for mirror placement? For the most part, mirrors are appropriate under four conditions:

1. To see yourself for grooming and dressing. Of course!
2. To artificially extend a space, to make it feel larger.
3. To create more light.
4. To reflect something beautiful.

Be sure that when hanging a mirror you do so with intention and purpose, and know which of these conditions you're satisfying. I also always try to satisfy #4, regardless of the original purpose of a mirror. That is because mirrors are essentially amplifying whatever they reflect -- why give yourself two of an unattractive area of your home when you could double the effect of something beautiful instead?

It is also important to use extra care when placing mirrors in bedrooms and at entrances. Mirrors are dynamic and create some chaotic energy, so in bedrooms they need to be used sparingly (or large ones covered at night), and placed in such a way that we're not forced to look at them as soon as we get out of bed. And at our front entrances we want to draw the energy and attention into our homes rather than reflect it back out, so that means that mirrors should not directly face the front door.

In other words: What do you want to see?

]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry061218-231539 2006-12-19T00:00:00Z 2006-12-19T00:00:00Z
It makes sense, then, that our bedroom would affect us significantly. And it does -- it sets the tone for the end and start of our days, and directly contributes to the degree to which we're nourished by the nights in between. That impacts our physical and mental health, our energy level, our relationships -- everything.

It is therefore very beneficial to arrange our bedrooms in accordance with some basic principles of Feng Shui.

The first is that the bedroom is essentially a Yin room, as opposed to a Yang room. Yin is the quiet, calm aspect relative to the bright, dynamic Yang. We should do our best to create a room that is tranquil and nourishing at night by covering up large windows and mirrors, keeping the lights low, and decorating simply and subtly with soothing objects and colors.

The other basic consideration in the bedroom is that of the bed placement. It is important that the head of the bed is against a solid wall, not against a window or floating in the room. If possible the bed should be placed such that the entrance to the room is visible across the room, but not directly in front of the feet -- ideally at a diagonal. This placement makes us feel the most supported and safe and comfortable in our rooms.

Try it and you'll see!

]]> http://www.spacetransform.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry061214-234407 2006-12-15T00:00:00Z 2006-12-15T00:00:00Z