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The leaves are changing colors, the nights are cooler, kids are back in school, and our thoughts are turning to our home interiors. Whether it's getting that kitchen remodel done before the holidays or re-doing a college-bound youngster's room into a study, fall is the time we research and start these projects. As we are contemplating these large or small changes, please consider "healthy or eco-friendly alternatives when painting, buying furniture and accessories, or just rearranging how your home is set up. You'll have amazing results when employing healthy home design, and even feng shui; it will uplift your entire family's mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. Healthy home design is especially important for those who suffer from upper respiratory ailments, asthma, and allergies and headaches, and it is beneficial for those who have or are expecting babies and the elderly.

Let's take a quick look at feng shui. Feng shui is a 5,000-year-old practice that translates in English as wind and water. It's the Chinese art (some would say "science") of placement in that you are working in harmony with your environment, no matter what that is (cubicle, individual room, house, etc.). Feng shui utilizes the 5 Elements (fire, water, earth, wood, metal), color, and personal auspicious symbols. Personal auspicious symbols are defined as any items that are used and/or have positive attachments or "good fortune." There are 9 Life Areas that are identified in feng shui and the Bagua board, which can be activated by color, shape, and element.

I would suggest reading some books, or finding a feng shui master in your area for a consultation. Feng shui works with Mother Nature in that you want a flowing traffic pattern, utilizing the Elements and organic shapes and the realization that energy is a moving force in nature as well as in our living and work spaces. Once we acknowledge this and understand the flow of energy or chi in our home and how to activate or reduce it in the various Life Areas, we will live more centered, balanced lives. Feng shui incorporates space-planning, color, and accessorizing just like we were taught in design school; it's all just coming from another design philosophy.

Consider having a feng shui master or consultant visit your home so that you can get your house in order for this coming holiday season.

The real push for healthy home or eco-friendly design started in Europe about 30 years ago in studies done on Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and Bau-biology. SBS is caused by our vacuum-sealed, no-ventilation buildings that are filled with products (paint, carpet, furniture, cleaners) which emit toxins and poisons into the air. Frequent migraines, fatigue, upper respiratory ailments, and sore throats are only a few of the symptoms of SBS. Bau-biology is the study of design and construction of homes that fulfill all health/holistic requirements. This school of design helps create spaces that are built with natural materials, utilize natural light, avoid the negative effects of EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies), and use energy and resource-efficient systems. Slowly we are catching up to Europe in our views towards green design and healthy home design choices.

How do you start to migrate over to a healthy home makeover this fall? I always suggest that my clients start by doing a MAJOR de-clutter and purge. It's okay to start small, but you must go through each room, closet, drawer, and cabinet and ask yourself: Do I LOVE it? Do I USE it? Do I NEED it? If you don't answer with a yes to any of the questions, you must get rid of it. If you have a hard time with this, you aren't alone. I teach workshops on getting rid of clutter, and there is always a wait list with men and women, young and old. After your purge, do a general house cleaning, and use natural household cleaners. Sun and Earth, Seventh Generation, and Natural Choices are all wonderful products that are available in mainstream channels. There are also some great books out there if you have the time and energy to make your own cleaners (Green Clean is one of my favs!). Here are some other tips to help you to detox your home as you prepare this fall for healthier winter hibernation:

• Use natural hygiene products and cleaners. The alternative is chemicals that, when made, pollute the environment, our homes, and our bodies.
• Go organic when possible. Food (buy local and in season), clothing (man-made fibers are petroleum based and also include formaldehyde -- that new smell)), and linens.
• Buy no-VOC paints and finishes. All major paint manufacturers now make low- or no-VOC paint. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are the chemicals and toxins used to inhibit mold and quicken dry time, or that "new paint smell.
• Eliminate plastics and vinyls from your home. Studies have shown that PVC also off-gases like VOCs and have been shown to cause certain types of cancers. Yes, this includes your shower curtain!
• Candles are a leading cause of indoor air pollution (which studies have shown to be worse than outdoor air), and with the fall and winter holidays coming up, you will be burning more candles when you entertain. The big offender here is the wick. Wicks in most inexpensive candles are made with lead. Lead has been shown to cause a variety of illness. When purchasing candles for ambience, look at the wick, and if you see a metal core, DO NOT BUY IT! Some wicks will be made with zinc, which is okay, however the best choice is cotton. Wicks with metal are the cause of sooting and black smoke that can stain walls. Look for candles made from beeswax, palm or soy wax, and scented with natural botanicals and/or essential oils.

Each room in your house is fair game this fall for a makeover that maximizes your family's health. Start systematically and work with one room at a time. Stay focused. Once you've completed your reorganization, remodeling, or healthy reorienting in one room, you can tackle the next. These are perfect projects for the cold-weather months, and will help you and your family to a healthier hibernation during the winter months when you spend most of your time indoors.

DeAnna Radaj, owner of Bante Design LLC and its production division Eden Place Productions, is a designer who specializes in Integrative Lifestyle Design (the fusion of Eastern and Western interior design philosophies incorporating feng shui and healthy home principles).

Emer Schlosser
		About the author:
		Always a fan of words in various glorious forms – novels, dialogue, lyrics, etc – Emer translated her passion into a writing career in 2005. She has since supplied gossip on celebrities to Canadian Press, interviewed individuals from the arts for Inside Entertainment, expressed her fondness for food for Cheese Boutique’s blog, & co-founded, edited and contributed to iheartthemusic.com. At the moment she’s taking the mystery out of Green Living and providing some great tips on Home Renovation, Decorating & Design and Curb Appeal to the members of casaGURU.com. casaGURU, “the homeowner’s home online”, is a free web community that connects homeowners and local house experts.
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