This week we are talking about a really important element in biophilic design...water.
We are made up of about 55-60% water (depending on if you are male or female), and our planet is about 71% water (96.5% is in our oceans!).
Studies show that our daily water consumption should be about half our body weight in ounces (more if you are an athlete or avid fitness participant).
We'll pause here, as this is where most of us need to get up right now and have a glass of water!
Having access to water, be it from engaging in the outdoors (always preferable), views, or welcoming it into your home, has numerous health benefits.
Ocean water has 2000 negative ions per cubic centimeter, compared with just 100 in city life. These negative ions are responsible for mood stabilizing and anti microbial properties for healing.
Water also helps to relax your prefrontal cortex and improves memory, cognitive function, stress regulation, and attention.
~ If you have access to water by living near it or having a view of it, take full advantage of that. Get outside and play! Opening windows and letting the view in is ideal.
~ Workspaces near a view of the water are great productivity boosters.
~ If you don't have access to a view of water, many alternatives still exist. Try setting up a fountain nearby so you can see and hear the sound of water.
Here are a few of our favorites:
~ If Feng Shui is an important part of your routine, you can check out this article on how and where to place your fountain for maximum Chi Flow:
~ We love to bring diffusers into our space. It's easy to recreate the smell of the ocean or create a combination of water and forest.
~ The good news is that our brains respond positively to even the suggestion of water. There are some great YouTube videos with oceans and rivers, as well as audio versions of lapping waves and babbling brooks. Try a white-noise device set on waves or the ocean. We like Sound + Sleep and the Calm app.
Bringing water-inspired decor and wall color into your space can also have a calming and centering effect on your body. Displaying photos of your favorite water-filled vacation can promote a sense of wellness and relaxation.
Need some design inspo? We have created a board of some of our favorite watery items right here:
So we invite you to bring water in and surround yourself both from within and all around.
Until next week!
In good design,
Renee
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee is an absolutely wonderful designer. Very talented and easy to work with! She will transform your room or outdoor space into exactly what you want, only better!
Talented, creative, dedicated, great communicator. Renee is such a special person.
We have worked with Renee Carman at this company for almost 2 years. Renee is professional, personable, and a pleasure to know. She is very helpful and will go the extra mile to please her clients. Renee has excellent expertise and knowledge of interior design. We have a beautiful home and highly recommend her.
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee was a pleasure to work with and has great vision. We were doing a total rehab of a recently purchased property and she was able to look at a gutted out '50s cottage and turn it into a beautiful mid-century modern home. She understood our budget and timeline and was good about narrowing all our options down to just a few choices. This expedited the process, made it less difficult and more enjoyable. Once the rehab is done, we look forward to working with her again and finish the rest of the rooms.
Renee at Mandeville Canyon Interior Design was simply wonderful to work with. She was able to understand what we were looking for in terms of color, function and design from the moment we first spoke. She's easy to work with, goes above and beyond and delivers an outstanding design.
I highly recommend Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design. I don't think I will attempt to decorate another room in my house without the help of Renee!
Love working with Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design ! I had the opportunity to collaborate on a large scale design project recently and the results were fantastic! Creative, resourceful and one of kind design ideas made this design opportunity with Renee "one of a kind" Have a large or small project? You won't be disappointed!!
Renee not only has an amazingly creative eye, she also directed a massive renovation for us this past year that included the challenges of operating during the pandemic. She put together a team that had an incredible work ethic and brought the project in on-time and on-budget. She's a great listener. When we threw ideas at her, she was never dismissive; quite the contrary, she made them better. Her patience, attention to detail combined with her whacky sense of humor meant we were all able to smile while producing a home that we love. A great talent and a great lady.
Rene is amazing! Great customer care and wonderful attention to detail.
