Home & Hearth

As a kitchen designer, my clients invite me into their homes to assist in the remodeling process. The exciting part of my job is the opportunity to see the “before” and to help attain the “after.” I truly enjoy going into a space and discovering solutions to real problems.

The sad part of the process is seeing the complete frustration my clients have in dealing with their current surroundings. I’ve seen it all in the 16 years I’ve been a kitchen designer. The challenge I have as a designer is to remedy the problems and to instigate change for the better.

A kitchen is the heart of a home. This should be the place where nurturing takes place through the preparation of food for yourself and others. In feng shui, food symbolizes health and wealth. Many people say they don’t enjoy cooking or baking, which is unfortunate. Working in the kitchen can be a revitalizing experience. If you find it boring to be in the kitchen, try changing your approach.

The senses should be stimulated in your kitchen. Thinking back on the kitchen of my youth, so many things stimulated my senses. The sound of my mom preparing a meal: clanging pans, water running, and cabinet doors being opened and shut. There was urgency to her movements. Her timing was impeccable, with everything magically coming together at the right time.

Sometimes a certain smell will trigger a childhood memory, bringing me right back home. My family always had trouble staying out of the kitchen. It was a gathering spot where we talked, laughed, and sometimes cried. Mostly though, we learned. The lessons I learned from my mother and three sisters about cooking and life are the same lessons I’m passing on to my children.

In relation to feng shui, the kitchen environment says a great deal about the person using it. A person who cooks without a recipe is usually adventurous in all areas. Someone who loves to cook is usually able to express emotions. It’s not as important what someone cooks, but their level of comfort when preparing a meal. Try something new in your kitchen. It just might revitalize your life. TPW