Feng Shui, pronounced as Fung-Shway or Fung Shwee is a Chinese geomantic practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it. It is an ancient practice believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy) and earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi. see Wikipedia.

Feng shui’s history starts way back the B.C. era where Zhou Dynasty leaders used the certain practice including indicating an appropriate time to build a capital city.

In modern times, architectures and interior designers in Asia are very much influenced by this. They design, orient, create placements or arrangements in accordance to the percepts of feng shui. It is said that a good environment brings in positive forces that enhances our well being while a bad environment causes illness. One belief is that a landscape and water flowing (perhaps a fish pond or a river flow at the back of your house) affect the flow of a healthy or a bad life force (chi or energy). However, if a ‘good’ environment or a home’ structure and/or design is not in alignment with with the principles of feng shui, then it would still cause bad luck, one way or another. May it be health, family, or financial problems, designs that do not correspond may cause any of that.

You can now take a look at your surroundings at home, perhaps the position of your bed brings in negative forces that causes your frequent depression. Meanwhile, office spaces situated at the basement of buildings are believed to bring in bad luck to the firm.

If you want to be successful in business, everything in your house, from the location to the direction it faces must comply to the rules of feng shui.

A highly successful entertainment figure in Asia is claiming that her prosperity was brought in by her obedient correspondence to feng shui. Every corner, furniture, piece you’ll see in her house has a meaning to it.

Would you believe it or leave it?

There are hundreds of information websites about feng shui. Anyone intrigued can research more about this said belief.

Linly Designs, a Chicago-area interior design and luxury home products company, is launching a new online storefront this week showcasing fine furniture and home accessories. Despite rumblings of a weakening US economy, the company expects to see increased sales and says an active online presence may be the solution for other luxury retailers.

Fine Furniture Sales Expected to Increase Through Online Presence for Linly Designs Logic may tell us that when the economy is slowing, consumers are less likely to spend money on luxury products. Yet the Illinois-based interior design specialists at Linly Designs expect to see increased sales of their fine furniture and home accessory offerings through the opening of a new online storefront launching this week.

“We’ve enjoyed a successful run in our Westmont store, and decided that it was time for Linly Designs to expand,” says Janet Linly, the company’s President and namesake. “Opening an online storefront was a natural move to make. It will give us reach beyond the Chicago area, while also giving our customers a better and more interactive shopping experience, letting us increase business without having to build more brick and mortar showrooms.”

Customers in the Chicago area have an added benefit – they can order their fine furniture or upscale items for their home online, and then pick them up at the Westmont store to avoid waiting for (and paying for) shipping.

“The added reach isn’t the only reason we expect our product sales to increase,” says Linly. “When consumers start to worry about the economy and costs, they also often gain a greater appreciation for quality that can come with luxury products like our fine furniture lines. They understand that ‘cheap’ home products may end up costing them more in the long run through replacements, and when they start looking for value, they don’t want to purchase things like furniture that will have to be replaced every few months to every few years. That means finding high-quality merchandise at reasonable prices becomes a priority, and that’s what we aim to give our customers both online and in our showroom.”

Linly isn’t alone in feeling the growth potential for luxury markets on the Web. Nielsen research reported that, around this time last year, less than 10% of consumers were using online shopping as a way to counter rising costs. This year, that number is closer to 20%.

The new online showroom is expected to be a hit not only with homeowners, but also other interior designers. While Linly Designs offers interior design services locally, their new Web presence will allow designers/decorators from all across the country to obtain access to their unique merchandise and one-of-a-kind pieces for their own clients. By viewing items online, the designers and customers can get a feel for what specific pieces will look like within their design concepts without the cost of added face-to-face meetings to review each product or gas costs of trips to showrooms. The product pages and details can be sent to design clients, who can then review each item 24-7 from the comfort of their own home.

Linly Designs is a Chicago-area interior design firm launched in 2002 by Janet Linly. The company opened its first showroom in Westmont, IL in the fall of 2007, and an online showroom in the summer of 2008. Linly Designs offers interior design services, fine furniture home accessories and lighting, faux finishes and murals, custom bedding, floral arrangements and specializes is Window Treatments and Real estate staging.The new Linly Designs online storefront for fine furniture and luxury home accessories will be located at www.LinlyDesignsOnline.com

David Chase Rugs & Furniture, formerly Chase Oriental Rug Co., is the only showroom of its size in Colorado featuring hand-woven area rugs, textiles and furniture. The 12,000 square foot showroom, located in Steamboat Springs, Colo., offers pieces reflective of western-transitional and mountain-contemporary styles.

“Changing the name of the business best represents what customers will find in our showroom,” said David Chase Scully, founder and owner. “In addition to fine rugs, we offer distinctive furniture, unique tribal art and architectural pieces. Our rugs are only the beginning, the expansive showroom elevates the presentation of the design elements we offer.”

David Chase Scully has held a prominent position in Steamboat’s home-furnishing business for more than 14 years. In 1994, he started Nandu Imports, specializing in ethno graphic art and central Asian tribal rugs. Five years later Scully focused exclusively on area rugs opening Chase Oriental Rug Company. In late fall 2006, Chase Oriental Rug Company moved to downtown Steamboat Springs, where David Chase Rugs & Furniture is located today.

David travels extensively to hand select extraordinary rugs from around the globe, working with established importers such as Woven Legends, Michaelian & Kohlberg, and Odegard. Notably, a Kilim rug of Romanian origin was recently featured anchoring the great room of Steamboat home profiled in LUXE Magazine. Additional design projects have appeared in Architectural Digest (twice), SKI Magazine and Steamboat Magazine.

David Chase Rugs & Furniture is the only dealer in the region to offer furniture pieces from both American Leather and Environment Furniture. Both company’s designs provide elegance through simplicity and are well known for their environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices.

David Chase Scully has established an experienced and knowledgeable sales team who are available to provide inspiration, helping fulfill client’s interior design visions. In addition to personalized service, David Chase Rugs & Furniture offers: in-home design consultation; special orders, delivery and instillation; custom rug pad fitting; rug cleaning, repairs, restoration, appraisals; and global shipping. To preview the extensive rug collection, visit www.davidchaserugsandfurniture.com.

Source: PR.com

Photos: www.davidchaserugsandfurniture.com

There are things that you should consider in buying a dining table.

Photo Credit: Average Jane

First consider your budget - that is how much you are willing to spend for a dining table.

Second is the space of your dining area, if your dining area is in the kitchen which is limited in space, go for a small dinning table.

Third, is the shape of your dining table. You can go with the traditional rectangular shape, rectangular maintain the customary dining table look., while there are also square dining table which ideal for 2 persons(like couples).Or perhaps a circular table would more suit your needs. A circular table, although not able to seat as many people as a rectangular table, can give the diners a more relaxed, conversational feel.

Photo Credit: shortfatkid

Finally, what type of dinning table, do you prefer dining table that is made up of wood or glass, modern or antique dining table? If you are looking to transform your dining room from a boring, typical space to a gorgeous, attractive oasis, consider going with a table top that will suit the pattern of your dining room.

Purebathrooms.net the UK based leading bathroom supplier and retailer announced the start of its bathroom summer sale 2008. The summer sale is said to offer up to 50% discount on essential bathroom items. This offer applies till 31st July 2008. The home owners and bathroom designers based in Birmingham, UK will be greatly benefited by this greater discount offers.

Photo Credit: daniel spils

The leading online bathroom supplier with 35 years of experience announced that many of its bathroom items are available at discount prices. The idea of this bathroom summer sale 2008 is to cater the bathroom products at reduced costs so that the home owners can get pleasure from their bathrooms the most of this summertime.

Purebathrooms.net is a leading online bathroom super store with massive collection of up to date bathroom furniture, accessories, taps, showers and many more sourced from all over the world.

“This is a great opportunity for the home owners to save this summer with discount bathroom products”, said Mr.Virdi, Managing Director of purebathrooms.net. Enjoy the summer today and save up to 50% discount on bathroom products and this summer bathroom sale will continue till 31st July 2008.

For trouble-free bathroom shopping home owners can purchase online or visit the online bathroom shop based in Birmingham, UK.

Read full article at www.PR.com

Knoend’s lite2go lamp is not just an ordinary lamp. It has been remarkable from winning an international design excellence award from International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) that is co-sponsored by Business Week and IDSA (Industrial Design Society of America). Out of 1517 entries 207 were given, Knoend’s lite2go lamp won a Bronze eco-design award and shares the stage with 5 other silver and bronze winners in this category.

The packaging itself of the lite2go becomes the shade for the energy saving light bulb and fixture contained within. It is intended to be flexible in use, be it a pendant or a table lamp. Not like other lamps, lite2go is a one-step ready to use since the item contains the electric cord and light bulb. The lite2go offers astonishment and sophistication in an uncomplicated, inexpensive and lightweight package. From its original price of $65, lite2go lamps are now on sale until August 31 for a discount of 20% off. The lamp measures 10″ x 11″ x 10″ when assembled. The materials used includes Recyclable Polypropylene Shades, 7 W CFL light bulb, standard electric cord and socket, recycled paper label and manual, hemp twine for assembly.

Source: www.knoend.com

When you have a big room in your home and you need a space for some other uses. Why not try placing a divider.

Photo Credit: thisnext.com

There are several types of dividers for you to choose. If you want something for privacy or just for decorative purposes, Room dividers is an inexpensive way to separate a large room into small rooms or private areas.

If you are looking for a way to separate a large room into small private areas, then it is advisable to use dividers that are sliding or “sliding room dividers” this gives you more flexibility by allowing more options.

Or perhaps, you might need something that is just smaller room to separate. You can choose different type of dividers which comes in four panel screens. Unlike the sliding room dividers, room divider for smaller rooms are comes in different type of design to compliment the rest of the room.

The general design of room dividers is portable, these is to increase the usefulness of a room by turning a large area of your home into smaller rooms. Good thing is, installation of room dividers doesn’t require any skills to install them. Just unfold them and put it into place.

Room dividers are much cheaper rather constructing a wall. So if you need privacy and versatility from your large area, then room dividers are the way to go.

Tahoe Seating, of Carrollton, Texas, announces move to new manufacturing facility due to consistent growth.

When asked about the consistent growth and upcoming move, Adam Cox, Principal of Tahoe Seating, said, “We have been frugal over the past 5 years staying in a smaller facility as Rick and I believe in taking small, fiscally responsible steps, but the limited space began to hinder our productivity. The new manufacturing facility is twice the space, conveniently located and a cleaner presentation for our dealers and reps. The move was well overdue, the transition was seamless, and our Manufacturing Director never missed a beat in production.”

“Just look at me, 6’7” and 300 lbs, bigger is better!” said Rick Neverdousky, National Sales Director of Tahoe Seating. Mr. Neverdousky also concurred with Mr. Cox stating, “with some anticipated growth in commercial markets, this space is greatly needed.”

Tahoe Seating’s hair on hide and cowhide furniture is hand built per order and inspected at every production point during manufacturing, making this a true custom built product. Available from our e-commerce site and authorized Tahoe Seating dealers in North America, customers should allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery from order.

As the manufacturer, Tahoe Seating offers custom cowhide furniture and seating, hair on hide furniture, southwest furniture and fine southwest style furniture through e-commerce and our network authorized dealers. Tahoe Seating’s Collection cowhide furniture, hair on hide furniture and fine southwest furniture has over leather grades from the world’s finest tanneries. Tahoe Seating’s manufacturing facility is based out of Carrollton, Texas just North of Dallas.

Source: www.tahoeseating.com

Woods may visually be hard but can be soft in the illusion. Aswoon, by Susan Woods, focuses in highly original well-designed pieces that cross the line between design, form and function. Form meets its function with her sleek and eco-chic masterpieces.

Aswoon also offers consultation and cooperation with their clients when creating custom or limited edition works with different materials such as metal, wood, plaster, paper and other associated materials. Her project, the “New Wave” line, is made of made of bent plywood; each piece is designed and handcrafted by Susan Woods to the client’s specifications. So much more than a chair, it is a work of art destined to be a conversation piece for a lifetime.

Undulating panels of molded poplar plywood turn elegant space dividers into architectural additions, though some see them purely as sculpture. These rippling partitions stand up to ten feet, imbuing any room with an effusive earthy air. Some serve as multi-use functional objects.

In addition, the New Wave Line comprises of artistic furniture such as lounge chairs, public seating, wooden couches and tables.

The pieces shown, partially prototypes, can be custom-reproduced in any size and with different finishes or coatings. Others already shape the interior of public spaces or private living environments.

Visit www.aswoon.com to see more of their eco-chic designs.

Come to think of it these lamps are not made from the usual materials people would first think of. If you’d ask how, you might be surprised that these trendy lamps came from discarded materials. What kind? Simply these are made of discarded banners that explain why it’s called Bannerina lamps. More and more advertisers use banner mesh situated on different buildings and when you speak about the size just imagine how huge these buildings are in a commercial sites. Notwithstanding the waste it will create it has been increasingly utilized by different companies and normally these banners only have an estimated lifespan of around six months. And since Bannerina was born, the short life duration of these banner-mesh fabrics prolonged its life as an innovative chic design!

Bannerina leading lights has made an advantage from its durability, suppleness and structural rigidity of the mesh and basically don’t need superfluous construction element to keep their shape. They are also easy to assemble. You will never be bothered about the packaging fees since these shades can be stored flat when being transported.

Behind these eco friendly project was Katarzyna Okinczyc whose zeal for design was inspired from the ideas of modern issues and styles. Check out all her sophisticated design of light and mesh combo on Bannerina.com and add a stylish eco-friendly shades in your homes.

Source: www.bannerina.com