Welcome to Valenchi Construction CGC1531626 - Call (352) 405-5445 or (352) 405-6450
Welcome to Valenchi Construction CGC1531626 - Call (352) 405-5445 or (352) 405-6450
Zen design embodies this minimalist philosophy, making use of natural materials, patterns of light and space, and a near-monastic rejection of clutter. A Zen home is meant to be relaxing, contemplative and visually balanced and appealing. The ideas for structuring a life work just as well for interior design.
Flow
Setting the energy free in a space means removing all obstacles. You can't tear down all your walls, but you can envision your home as a flow of clear water -- an open, unrestricted habitat in which rooms dissolve easily into each other, doorways are near-invisible portals, the eye is drawn forward into empty space. Where possible, polish bare wood or slate floors; remove all ornate door frames, ceiling medallions, insistently attention-grabbing drapes and wall art, and patterned wallpaper. Create a cloud to live in and set your imagination free. You will have to strip away more than fancy lintels. You'll have to lose a serious amount of your stuff.
Color
Zen is a path to enlightenment and a design theory based around light. Rely on daylighting, and artificial light that mimics sunlight and can be dimmed to create ambiance rather than illumination. The colors revealed by the light you invite into your home are most restful and harmonious when they're as natural as sunlight. Bamboo, stone or stripped plank floors; matte white or soft neutral walls; disappearing, light-reflecting white ceilings; upholstery and curtains of unbleached fibers or natural hues -- all of these undemanding colors blend into a relaxing symmetry that underscores an unfussy expanse of space. But nature has its kingfishers and pomegranates, so don't be afraid to drop a bright note of color into your understated surroundings. A red lacquered table in the entry, a vivid blue floor cushion in the den or a rust-colored pendant over the dining table can energize a room.
Storage
You don't have to be a monk to live like one. Keep enough stuff to run your life and venerate your ancestral tchotchkes -- just keep most of it out of sight most of the time. Storage is crucial to living with Zen style in the 21st century. Maybe you can't do without the flat screen, the sound system, your computer games and the family's collection of laptops, but they don't have to be on constant display. Built-in cabinets that disappear into matching walls hold collections of books, media, clothes, kitchenware and sports gear. Try a salvaged wabi-sabi-style cabinet in the mudroom for boots, sneakers, racquets, jackets and shopping bags. Store your china and cookware in floor-to-ceiling laminated kitchen cupboards as white as the walls. Edit your clothes to determine what you actually wear, and then hang them up in the closet.
Versatility
McMansions are the polar opposite of Zen design, but cramped space doesn't do much for your peaceful vibe either. Solve a missing-square-footage dilemma by committing your spaces to multitasking. That stretch of blond wood Scandinavian dresser can hold a single carved Buddha and a meditation tea light. Your meditation wedge masquerades as an extra chair cushion. The living room daybed, carved African stools and Shaker chairs push back to create a yoga space. A Murphy bed frees up the guest room for music practice with a full keyboard, wall-hung violins and a djembe that doubles as a sculpture. A braced tower of salvaged apple crates in a sunny corner of the kitchen is a green wall of potted herbs and miniature veggies for simple salads, as well as a focal point in the room.
The Japanese dry-landscape garden, often called a Zen garden, is a traditional garden design that originated centuries ago in Japan, but it has remained a popular design around the world thanks to its clean lines, which harmonize well with contemporary architecture. The aim of Zen gardens is to provide a space for meditation and contemplation, and the natural elements traditionally used in Zen garden design seek to emphasize the quiet power of nature.
History
The style of Japanese garden most often referred to as a Zen garden originated around the first third of the 14th century, at the end of the Kamakura period and the beginning of the Muromachi period. During this time the growing influence of Zen Buddhism and its emphasis on contemplation led to a change in garden design characterized by an increased use of stone, a focus on the definition of space within the garden and an increased awareness of how visitors experienced gardens.
Elements
The typical Zen garden is a dry landscape, with very few plants and no water included in the garden design. The natural elements usually incorporated into Zen gardens include sand, gravel, stones and wood. Man-made elements include bridges, lanterns, and an enclosing perimeter wall or fence. In a traditional Zen garden, the man-made elements are made from wood or stone rather than metal to emphasize the garden's connection to the natural world.
The word "zen" translates to "meditation" in Japanese, and refers to a school of Buddhism that values meditation and intuition. When applied to interior design, the zen style is somewhat open to interpretation, but the final product should emit a sense of peace, balance and rejuvenation. The element of color is especially important in creating a zen retreat in your home.
Walls and Floors
Go for earthy, natural colors for the walls, ceiling and floors. A monochromatic theme will lend to the sense of harmony throughout the room. For example, paint the walls white or light beige and hold off on the popular accent wall. Natural wood flooring would be ideal, but grey, cream or beige carpeting will suffice if this is what you have and are not ready for a flooring update. Mimic the simple grandeur of bamboo flooring with natural-colored bamboo rugs in colors ranging from light tan to rich brown. Bamboo is widely used in Asian interior design and is prized for its durability, natural shine and sustainability.
Furniture
Stick to muted tones for the furniture, but don't be afraid to add in dashes of your own style with custom-made pieces and family heirlooms. Grey, beige and white work best for upholstered pieces such as the couch and chairs. Choose from a range of wood grains for the coffee table, end tables, dining set and master bed. For example, combine a cream-colored window seat, light grey upholstered chairs and a beige couch with a bamboo and wrought-iron coffee table. Top it off with a stunning floating mantel of Douglas fir or reclaimed redwood. For an authentic zen Japanese bedroom design, purchase a tatami platform bed and install sweet-smelling, yellow rushstraw mats. Tatami beds are made of all-natural wood and assembled without nails or screws, using an ingenious slot-locking method. The clean lines, natural colors and simplicity of the design are a perfect complement to a zen bedroom.
Accents and Accessories
Add splashes of color while sticking to an overall monochromatic theme by choosing a consistent accent color for accessories. Sparingly use sunset orange, coral or shades of green to draw the eye around the room to decorative pillows, throws and artifacts. Simplicity is key in zen, so be careful not to overdo the decorative clutter. Choose a few meaningful, zen-inspired pieces and arrange them alone on furniture surfaces. For example, place a Japanese artifact, such as a mounted fan or a shibiyama box, on the mantelpiece and let it stand alone as it would in a museum. True zen style would eschew window draping for natural light, but this may not be practical in a populated area. Hang bamboo blinds or light brown or beige curtains that can be drawn for privacy.
Plants
Green is often used in interior design for a calming, relaxing effect that is very conducive to a zen atmosphere. It is difficult to replicate the green hues of nature with paint treatments, so one of the best ways to benefit from the shade is to bring in live plants. Scatter bonsai trees, palms (family Arecaceae) and white orchids (family Orchidaceae) throughout the space. If you have a patio or deck, plant a variety of locally hardy flowers, shrubs and small trees in floor and hanging pots and let this lush area be a focal point in the room. If tending live plants is too time-consuming or if you lack a green thumb, use ikebana, the traditional art of Japanese flower arranging, to display cut flowers, twigs and bamboo in vases and pots.
Symbolism
In Zen garden design, individual elements have specific symbolism meant to reinforce the contemplative character of the garden. The walls, fences and gates that define the garden symbolize the idea of the garden as a separate place, apart from the outside world, intended for meditation. Sand represents water, and stones of various shapes represent various aspects of nature; flat stones represent the earth, for example, and arching stones represent fire.
Viewer Experience
The viewer is often prevented from entering areas of the Zen garden by fences, walls or well-defined pathways. In many cases, sand or gravel in the garden is raked into patterns, and visitors are asked to avoid moving into these carefully arranged areas. The intent is to require the viewer to observe the garden from a specific vantage point so that the symbolism of the garden landscape is apparent and its meditative focus fully appreciated by the viewer.
A Japanese Zen garden is conceived and created from the meditative inspiration of the gardener, and contemplating one is a doorway to meditation for the viewer. While no rule exists against including plants and water features, many gardens omit them entirely and construct the garden from rocks and gravel to evoke emptiness through abstraction.
Perhaps more than any generation before, millennials love their canine companions. Dogs are not just pets, they are beloved family members that influence how people live, work, shop and socialize. Outside of work, nearly 50% of millennials view their first pet as a "starter child" and like it or not, this dedication to their dogs is crucial to consider when weighing the pros and cons of a pet-friendly work environment.
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