Posts from — April 2008

It’s a topic discussed in most major lifestyle magazines and on your favorite home decorating shows—feng shui. While enjoying new found popularity on this half of the globe, feng shui is an ancient art that has been practiced for centuries in China. Meaning “wind” (feng) and “water” (shui), this ancient discipline is used by many to create a harmonious home environment, and its principles can be applied to almost any decorating style. In addition, using feng shui techniques can attract potential buyers by increasing the perceived value of your home. Below are a few tips on how to harness the energy and vitality of feng shui within your own home.

Reflecting disharmony. Remove or cover large mirrors in the bedroom if you don’t sleep well.

Room with a view. Place your bed to give you the widest view of the room. Your bed shouldn’t be in direct line with the door. Paint the bedroom walls in a color scheme that is both pleasant and inviting.

Calming sounds. Hang wind chimes outside your front door to create a soothing environment for occupants and guests.

Writing on the wall. Try to avoid having completely bare walls. Group together non-personal pictures or hang up interesting art pieces in a diagonal or staggered pattern.

Go with the flow. Place a blue or black doormat at your front door to encourage good things to flow in like water.

The color of love. Include the romance colors–white, pink and red–in your room. But don’t overdose with a red wall because too much red can trigger anger.

Plants for energy. Healthy plants generate positive energy. Avoid dried flowers because they have no energy left.

Look overhead. Move beds, couches and desks from under any overhead beams to keep energy flowing.

Less is more. When arranging furniture,less is better. Too much clutter can restrict the potential of a great room.

Create positive impressions. Keep counters clean, closets organized and clutter concealed in order to project an organized and stress-free environment for you and your guests.

Reprinted with permission from Buffini & Company.

When was the last time you communed with nature? I had the opportunity to explore a hidden gem on the shores of Lake Maggiore recently called Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, FL. It is a 245 acre park featuring many walking trails and tons of wildlife viewing. My real estate team has a couple of listings at Banyan Bay in the vicinity and I had passed the signs which led to the park many times without noticing them. I only discovered the nature park after reading a Florida trail guide book I picked up at a yard sale. In my 2.5 hour adventure through the park, I was able to see a Raccoon, an Alligator, Egrets, a Gopher Tortoise, many birds, and an Osprey soar through the sky carrying a fish to its nest. It is a great place to go and escape the city and still see the skyline in the periphery.

The baby alligator photo is courtesy of John Jacobsen. John is a regular participant in the photography contest Boyd Hill Nature Preserve hosts on an annual basis.

CLEARWATER,FLORIDA - One of the best features about living in Clearwater, Florida is the Pinellas Trail. The Pinellas Trail is a 34 mile paved bicycle trail from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg. The trail cuts through Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo, and Seminole along the way. The Pinellas Trail was converted to a biking and recreational trail from an abandoned CSX Railroad right of way in the 1990’s. It is an ongoing project and the county plans to connect other local destinations to the trail in the future. Whether you are biking, running, walking, or roller blading, it is a great place to get out and enjoy nature and make some friends along the way. Here are some photographs I took while bicycling on the Pinellas Trail.