I haven’t been very active in writing the blog for a while. However, as a Feng Shui practitioner, I feel that it is important to address at least some issues relevant to the changes occurring starting February 4, 2018, the end of Yin and start of Yang season in the solar calendar. A good, thorough spring cleaning and clutter elimination should be completed by now. (I scrubbed my floors already in December of last year.) One of the most important Feng Shui locations is the entrance to a home or a business. That is where the Chi, energy or life force enters the premises. The front door needs to be in a good repair and operate smoothly. The entrance, inside and out, needs to be clean, easily accessible and clutter-free to allow and welcome the new energies and opportunities to arrive. In my example, the front entrance is facing North. Starting on February 4, 2017, it was fine to activate and energize the North section (associated with water, career and opportunities) with moving water such as a fountain, images of water, fish, sea beans, shells, dark colored accessories and other items associated with and supporting the water element as shown […] Read more!
Are you ready for a new beginning in your space and your life? Finn Design’s Feng Shui expert Riitta Ylonen says it’s not too early to prepare for the clean start of spring. Soon we’ll see the end of the Winter Yin season and the start of the Spring Yang season. As we are heading to the end of the exhausted winter (yin) energy cycle and approaching the new spring (yang) cycle, which is February 3 this year, it’s very important to clear, clean and remove old energies, Ylonen says. Then you’ll be able to welcome new energy for the start of the Chinese calendar’s Year of the Fire Rooster. A good spring cleaning is a must in all our spaces and offices. Part of the cleaning should include eliminating items that are broken and can’t be fixed or that you haven’t gotten fixed. Also, it’s time to let go of anything unused or not liked, or things that no longer serve you, including relationships that cannot be mended. Stagnant and/or negative energy, as well as vibrant and positive energy, have an effect on how our lives are going. Each of us has a personal element(s) and life situations that […] Read more!
Here at Melbourne’s Finn Design, we seem to be doing bathroom renovations and updates quite often. In this example, the “before” picture shows the original 16-year-old master bathroom vanity with inadequate and ineffectively located lighting, above overly sized cabinets without functionality, and with a cultured marble vanity top. Another challenge posed by the original layout was that the back mirror wall was angled on the right, and the right sink was too close to the wall. There wasn’t enough elbow room, and the person facing the mirror in that location had a distorted view, because the mirror was cut in 45 degrees to follow the back wall. Originally, our repeat client requested only an update to the cabinets, vanity top and plumbing fixtures. However, as often happens when creativity takes over, we came up with three different options, from a modest change to the most functional. Our client chose the third option, with side wall cabinets balancing the back wall angle. These cabinets – with storage, adjustable shelves and electrical outlets inside – now provide functionality for both users. For the left side, we integrated the space and power source for the attached, adjustable magnifying makeup/grooming mirror. Lighting now is […] Read more!
Did you know that licensed interior designers have studied and are tested on codes for safety, health and well-being of the occupants of buildings, as well as requirements for accessibility in ADA (the Americans for Disability Act)? As people age or something happens in their life that changes the requirements for their environment, they may need to renovate and/or move or downsize from their current residence. For example, each time Melbourne’s Finn Design creates a bathroom design, whether new construction, redesign or renovation, licensed interior designer Riitta Ylonen takes into account all the ways the company can make the space more accessible, safer and user-friendly — in addition to satisfying the aesthetic requirements of the clients for years to come. Some design elements we recommend for each shower are: A built-in or folding seat Nice grab bars for safety and support Eliminating the shower curb if possible as in universal design Non-slippery shower floor materials such as smaller tile or mosaic At least one hand-held shower on a slide Integrated niche or niches for shampoos, etc. Adequate lighting and ventilation Those practical features are in addition to pleasing color schemes, accessories and tile designs. Glass shower enclosures can be ordered […] Read more!
Beachy colors and modern style are hot in interior design in 2016, according to Finn Design’s Riitta Ylonen. Soft pink and light serene blue are trendy hues for 2016, says Riitta, a state licensed interior designer and certified Feng Shui consultant with the Melbourne firm. Deeper blues and beachy turquoises are also popping in color schemes this year. Rich beach tones and happy red work well with the still popular neutrals, such as gray and taupe browns. Sunny yellow and vibrant fresh green also play a role. Riitta recommends that people use colors that make them comfortable. Trendy colors make great accents if they aren’t used as principal colors. When it comes to style, chrome and metallics remain strong, now mixed with gold and clear lucite in accent pieces and furniture. Transitional, modern classic style in furnishings and overall design themes is still prevalent. Retro furniture pieces continue to gain in popularity, Riitta says. These are often combined with fresh, bright contemporary fabrics and prints. Finn Design offers a number of services that may be helpful to you and your customers, including full-service interior design, space planning, redesign, custom cabinetry, furniture design and creation, custom upholstery, and transformation of your […] Read more!
It’s time to start spring cleaning if you haven’t started it already. Finn Design’s Riitta Ylonen is a state licensed interior designer and certified Feng Shui consultant, and she has tips to help you make the most of your space and give yourself a fresh start this season. In Feng Shui, it’s important to eliminate clutter to give room for new energy to enter. It’s good to start by removing items that no longer serve you. If there is no meaning or use for them, get rid of them. Also, Riitta says, broken items should be fixed or eliminated. Start from one closet or a cabinet. Clean, reorganize and remove items that gather and hold stagnant energy. From there, it’s good to do a thorough cleaning in the whole room or space. By doing so, the old energy is cleared out, and the new fresh energy has room to step in to invigorate the space to be livelier and more energetic. This kind of thorough spring cleaning will have a direct effect on your well-being. Finn Design offers a number of services that may be helpful to you and your customers, including full-service interior design, space planning, redesign, renovation, and […] Read more!
Hello and welcome to our redesigned website for Finn Design Inc. Finn Design is a full service interior design and custom cabinetry company, owned and operated by a Finnish couple who immigrated to South Florida in the late 1980s. The company was established in 1994 and moved to Melbourne in 2001. Riitta Ylonen is a state licensed interior designer and certified Feng Shui consultant. She has expertise in virtually all aspects of interior design, taking a design from the space planning stage to completion of the project. The cabinetry department is run by Riitta’s husband, Juha. Their company designs and builds custom cabinetry for residential and commercial spaces, including spas, retail stores, kitchens, baths, libraries, home offices and custom pieces. Attention to detail and commitment to excellence have brought them referral after referral from their satisfied clients. Please visit us often for photos and updates from our latest projects! Read more!