A Feng Shui Consultant's Home in New York.
Many of you have asked about the progress of my home in Long Island in doing some major renovations to it. If you don't know, last year while on vacation my basement flooded. Despite many calls and letters by myself and my neighbors, the Village of Farmingdale did not clean out the storm indrains---for a very long time.
I had no idea that it had created mold in my basement and that's why I had been sick and on shots for an entire year. I wasn't the only one: Village of Farmingdale Long Island New York--A must read for a resident of Farmingdale New York
My lovely finished basement was demolished; I lost many things that you can not put a price tag on (photos and old school books) as well. I finally decided since there is nothing I can do downstairs, to focus on the upstairs of my home and make it lovely!
My home was built over 100 years ago as a bungalow....one of two on the block. It had tiny rooms and DOORS. Not including the front door or my closet doors, my home had a total of 11 OTHER doors in what was then a 2 bedroom home. I felt claustrophobic! So this isn't really about the progress of my home (although you will see some of it), IT IS A LESSON ON DOORS. The Different thoughts and Perspectives from a Feng Shui point of view on DOORS.
Having graduated from the very first school that is licensed and accredited in Feng Shui Studies The Metropolitan Institute of Interior Design in it's very first graduating class, our Feng Shui coordinator Pamela Laurence Face Your Self - About Us - Who Is Pamela Laurence? - Upcoming ...sought out the BEST Feng Shui mentors she could from from all over the world. Her vision was to give us knowledge in ALL the different schools of Feng Shui. In addition there were many "intensives" we could elect to take with many of the teachers to further our study-I took almost all of them!
Our first three instructors taught from The Black Sect Method of Feng Shui. DOORS in Feng Shui relate to the "VOICES." I asked each and every instructor about removing some of MY doors that bothered me SO much---and was told absolutely NOT to remove them.
Particularly with children in the house, it may "shut off their voices." The doors were to stay. Our fourth instructor practiced Western Feng Shui Methods and brought a new light and ideas and perspectives to us. I asked him how HE felt about the doors. He turned the question back to me: "Carole, how do YOU feel about them?" Claustrophobic was my answer. "I think you have your answer" he replied. "Your home is YOUR sanctuary...it is the way it makes YOU feel. Remove the doors and see how you FEEL."
It was a defining moment for me. And one of the reason I incorporate many different methods of Feng Shui into a consultation. Removing some of the doors was like a breath of fresh air in my home---and the children were as "voiceful" as ever : )
Feng Shui Methods have to make sense to you AND your CLIENT.
"Blanket" cures do not always work....we are ALL individuals and we all need to FEEL comfort in our homes and businesses. Thank you to ALL my instructors and to Mr. William Spear Willam Spear - Feng Shui Alliance for the life lessons we all learned from him.
Since Newsday http://www.Newsday.com has expressed an interest about a Feng Shui Long Island Consultant's own makeover, I can only show a few shots...but you'll get the idea : )
Carole Provenzale & Laura Cerrano Feng Shui Consultants http://www.FengShuiLI.com
Carole, The different perspectives are interesting, just like most industries are not one sized fits all. I think your friend who asked you directly how you feel has the best answer. I took doors out of my house, I personally like the openess of my home.
Carole, I really like the open feeling you got with removing the doors. I could feel it as well from your photos. Very good read on this one!!
Carole,
The renovations look lovely! How exciting that Newsday might do an article on your home's transformation....I can't wait to see the before and afters.
I remember the post you wrote about doors. I'm glad you removed them and were no longer feeling claustrophobic. Perhaps they had so many doors back then as they were trying to keep the heat in certain rooms only, especially during the winter months.
Jo
Hi Carole,
I am so excited for you and Laura.....Newsday, that's big time! Like Jo, I too remember the post on doors. I do believe that people must find what works and makes sense for them and their life and go with that.
Looks like your house is finished, is it?
BTW, are you going to have time to pass the Friendship Ball on?
Carole - once again you have provided some very enlightening information. And, as with almost anything, there is no one size fits all in Feng Shui. It's all about matching the personality to the principle.
And I apologize for missing comments on your last couple bogs. Have been very scatterbrained lately, but as always ... they were great!
Looks like you're on your way Carole! Interesting how this mess has been turned into a positive! Can't wait to see and read more in Newsday!
Like so many other things in life, it sounds like Feng Shui is not "one size fits all"! I am so glad that you consulted others and went with what made you happy. I love that you included photos too. You explain so many things and it is so helpful when you give us the photos too. Thanks so much!
oh oh oh another celebrity - Newsday! Wow - anyhow love the pics of your home, the yellows and blues........my favorite home ever had those colours! (*hmmmm)...old character homes/heritage......oh i so love them............and love the story about doors.......and not making blanket type consults..........what a difference it makes without a door - if you don't need it for the privacy why not? Love it!
This is why a book on anything is not as valuable as having someone there to look and listen. Thanks for the insight into you and your practice. Individual needs are the most important. Great post Carole.
Carole ~ Very interesting, but I think the second instructor you spoke to was right - how does it make you feel? Love that color in the last picture (is that your living room)? Let us know when it hits Newsday. Hope you are well!
Carole--I used to live in a 100+ year old home with a flooding basement (unfinished thankfully) so I really understand your pain. We had removed several doors too. One door was a swinging door to block the kitchen and dining areas. We had a hook to hold it open all of the time. It gave a flow to the home. Your home looks lovely and open....much like the owner. :)
Carole~ I am with you on taking the doors off. We have very few interior doors in our home. I love the light and the openess. It makes me feel free, creative and like a breath of fresh air! I can't wait to see you makeover!
Carole- I think Jo said it best......keeping the heat in a zoned area was important a long time ago beforre they had central heat. I love your color scheme.....and as for your 11 doors, I had 9 in my small house, but I tore out a whole wall which included a closet and 2 doors :) This opened up my house, as I too get claustrophobic, and left me with 7 doors :) In my mind there are still too many, but hey without doing another major renovation they have to stay :)
Hope you're back in your home soon......
I can't wait to hear about you and read the article in Newsday! Great job!
Hello Carole - Your home is coming along beautifully! I love the colors and the doors being off make it much more open! Sweeping generalizations ( blanket approach to doors ) are illogical. Aren't you glad you went with your 'gut' and sought another opinion!
Congrats on the upcoming article too!
Happy Fall
Sincerely,
Grace
Audrey, That question that he turned back to me made me be able to see different perspectives. I felt SO much better after the doors were down and have never been sorry.
Gary, There were SO many! A door into every single hallway and room....I have to wonder what they were thinking when they built the house :)
Jo, They are doing the floors now and it will be done soon. Then I'm on to cleaning!! I thought about heat but there is NO fireplace! It can't be that, I don't know what it was :)
Cynthia, It is almost finished except for the intense cleaning and some outside work....and THANK YOU for the Friendship Ball, I forgot all about it! I promise to do that soon my firend!
Carol, Don't apologize, there are many days I can't get to everything and everybody especially with the Error message I'm getting so often! The house is looking much better!
Debbie, It would be my second time in a year if Newsday does it! First one showed me making over a client's home, then my own :) So much fun :)
Cristal, My son was complaining that it's all yellows and blues---makes perfect sense to me, I love the beach! I'll have to add seashells :)
Liz, The people that did my house did a fabulous job! I chose all those colors because I love the beach--the two blues are very different and so are the yellows from light to gold and there is some RED up on certain walls.
Paddy, It's also one of the reasons that some people are afraid to make changes in their home....I was! As much as I love and use Black Sect Methods I was so glad to get a Western method for my issue.
Kathy, They are thinking of it...Newsday....and the home is far from done. Now the old, heavy furniture looks old and heavy. So 'discount' girl, if you find any on furniture, please let me know :) I'd love to get some new for at least some of the rooms.
Teri, My basement was SO beautiful, it was nicer then the upstairs! I waited years to get it done so I could get the BEST...sigh. But I'm glad I put the energy into the upstairs, it doesn't feel like my home (maybe that's what I needed!).
Joan, There were doors everywhere including lovely french doors from the living room to the dining room. But they are small rooms and it took up the only wall space I have. They are all carefully stored for the next owner if they should want them.
Kathy, I don't understand. Without a fireplace in a home that is (about) 120 years old, what did they use? There was a doorway to go into the hallway which has two bedrooms and a bathroom---I never SAW so many doors :)
Sal, It's still an "If." They do a makeover section and I had mentioned it when they did a makeover I did for a client and said they'd like to do my house---it will be fun if they do!
Hi Grace! I am glad I had the house done and always glad I had Western Methods to learn as well...I love the feeling with the doors OFF. It's so open and just feels better! Happy Fall to you as well :)
Carole - the photos look great. That is very interesting about the "doors" and the "voices". I have much to learn ! Always learn something from reading your posts. Glad to hear that things are going well at your house and sorry to hear about the basement !
Hi Carole! That's really interesting about the doors. That's terrible about all the things being ruined in your basement. I hope everything works out well.
Christopher & Stephanie, It's been over a year with the basement....very tiring fight. So I put my energy into upstairs and it is looking lovely!
Lizette, I'm glad to hear Chanel is better--with all the prayers that came your way I thought she would be!
Hi Carole,
Your home looks like it is coming along quite nicely!
Carole- Wonderful update and pictures. I am not a great study of Feng Shui but to me it means making your home feel right for you.
Carole: I loved it without the doors. Beautiful colors that you chose for your home.
Trace, It is...hopefully I can get home soon, it's been longer then expected.
Kim, Boy, you're good! Some day I'll put up a Feng Shui test, that would be fun :)
Dianne, It makes a big difference to have those doors down. I sometimes also take off the extra one in the kitchen...it's up in the photo. These colors do not look the same as in my home...maybe the lighting. The blues are very different and so are the yellows and golds but they are lovely, thank you!
While I am not a fan of pastel colors for myself, they do look nice. I love all the white trim; it really accentuates the height of the ceiling. Thanks for sharing such a private space.
Hi Carole, another wonderful post by one of the one's I've missed the most. I had the feeling today that I needed to blog, so here I am. It's a wonderful day and it's wonderful to take a glimpse into the lives of the people that I've been away from. GREAT to SEE YOU!!!