Feng Shui in Manhattan
I have been doing Feng Shui Consultations for so long now, it's rare for me to get "stuck" on what needs to be done. I can usually spot what's wrong almost immediately, I have no problems choosing paint colors (along with my client's tastes) and I redesign some spaces that look beautiful when they're done.
I had an appointment last week to help choose color choices and Feng Shui for a New York City Apartment.....Nothing unusual about that. As with all clients, I sat down first to speak to my client to see what she was hoping to achieve from the consultation. She had been feeling a bit "stuck" recently and had some recent health issues.
Her lovely expansive apartment faces The New York Stock Exchange. In downtown Manhattan all around Wall Street since 9/11 the streets have been closed to any vehicles. Her building and her views were directly facing that and I thought of the enormous amount of energy there---something we could address easily.
Since we were already sitting in the beautiful and very large living room/dining area I thought we would start there in choosing colors. It was all white and while I could see some of the elements missing, I didn't know if I thought painting such a big space would look good. We discussed different options: Different shades of the same color, an accent wall....possible rearrangement of the furniture but I was stuck---the room, I felt, would become much more "lively" with just adding the elements. Her placement of the furniture was lovely. Note to myself: NEVER start off anywhere except the front door!
So we did, we went to the front door and I could see some of the energy drain....directly opposite the Mouth of Chi was the bathroom, usually kept open. While opening the front door to see what was in the hallway, a HUGE mirror was facing her door---it was the architects' "imprint" that he puts in all his buildings. If you want to know how I feel about mirrors read here: Mirror, Mirror----WAIT! Don't Hang Me Yet!! by Feng Shui Long Island
On the right was her bedroom and that room DID need to be rearranged. There was no balance and she didn't have a "commanding" position of the bed placement. We easily chose some color choices for that room and moved on to what would either be a 2nd bedroom or an office. She had made the room into an office and it was located in the center of the apartment-the Health area. This is the room, that as my client later said to me, "spoke" to me. It was here I could see the issues and the stuck feeling. It had a heavy feeling which will, from a Feng Shui Perspective, "weigh you down in life." It felt dark as it was surrounded on three sides. Here's exactly where she could use the colors she had wanted to incorporate: Green and purple. Green would give her a "grounded" feeling and purple represents wealth. We needed to add plants and remove some of the books---I know everyone loves their books and I do as well but they ARE a heavy element.
Some could easily be put in a closet (for a Manhattan apartment there was so much closet space!). We moved on to the kitchen and chose some colors for there and ended back up to the expansive living room. Now I wasn't stuck....we had added colors all through the rest of the apartment, the furniture placement was fine and we just needed elements to give the room a warm feeling.
I am showing you the architects "imprint" and the lobby....and I was as far away from the New York Stock Exchange as I could get---I couldn't back up any further! Feng Shui in Manhattan is always a lesson for me----and for my clients. The diversity of New York City apartments and how they relate to Feng Shui are always different and unique.
I did not show the pictures of this lovely apartment to protect the innocent :)
http://www.FengShuiLI.com
**Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island providing on site Feng Shui Consultations for New York City (Manhattan) and all of Long Island for Homes, Apartments, Businesses, Corporations, Renovations and New Construction. Carole also provides Lectures and Workshops on Feng Shui Principles.
Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York 
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I am amazed how talented you are. You took on a challenging situation and had some great ideas on what to do next. It must be difficult right in New York City.