109TM Home & Living Magazine - Summer 2015

www.109tm.com | issue 002 | Summer 2015 | FREE

HOME&LIVING

MAGAZINE

FENG SHUI

your Garden, Patio, and Bedroom

Three Cycles of Life!

FIND THE PERFECT VACATION PLACE USING

ELEMENTS

HOME&LIVING DIRECTORS Buddy Huang Evan Yanagi DESIGNERS Mark Yang Qiannan Zhao Sharon Li WRITERS Jacqueline Liao Bret Taylor Roy E. Colbert ROY SPECIAL THANKS TO: Charlene Huang Charles Bonsignore Marianne Ventrone Russell Taylor Bret Taylor Scott Stankey Sidney Chu Vincent Bonsignore HOME & LIVING MAGAZINE SUMMER 2015 | ISSUE 2 109TM Magazine is published 4 times a year.

WWW.109TM.COM

GET IN TOUCH info@109tm.com 1.905.709.1109

Published by:

Š 2015 WMH109

The publisher accepts no responsibility for advertiser claims, or unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or other materials. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or by any means, whether electronic, mechanical or photographic, without written permission of the publisher. Copyright 2015 WMH109 Corporation. All rights reserved. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is accurate and complete on publication date. The publisher cannot be held liable for errors or omissions.

CONTENTS SUMMER 2015

109TM Reno

Travel

6 How to Feng Shui your Garden & Patio 12 Bedroom Feng Shui

34 Travel with the Elements

Core Concepts

Real Estate

22 AC & DC Energy in Feng Shui 25 Reading the 9-Sector Grid 28 The Three Cycles of Life

42 Spring Home Buying Season Looks Promising

EVERYONE HAS A DREAM HOME IN MIND To ensure your home is a unique fit to your personal lifestyle, we offer customized interior design services that involve the expert art of Feng Shui and other methods.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO

www.h109realty.com

353 San Jon Road, Ventura, CA 93001, USA

7822 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON L4J 1W3, Canada

Tel: 1-805-641-1109

Tel: 1-905-709-1109

INVEST IN YOUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION AND SECURE IMMIGRATION Super Able is an investment company working in conjunction with the WMH109 International Education Network (IEN). Our mission is to help you manage your funds for your children’s education in Canada as well as for Canadian Immigration.

PREPAID VISA CARD

MUTUAL FUNDS

OTHER SERVICES

The Super Able Prepaid Card has all the same functions as a Visa credit card: use it for purchases at retailers and online shopping.

Use the card until the prepaid funds are depleted, the card can be reloaded anytime. The card can be used immediately after signing the back of the card, there is no need for a PIN number or password.

These mutual funds and bonds are issued by Super Able Investments Ltd, each unit valued at $10,000 USD, minimum investment of 1 unit, maximum investment amount of $1,000,000 USD, each month fixed interest, paid dividends 6 times a year, investment term minimum 3 years, maturity in 6 years.

Other services include Personal and Corporate Tax Returns, Residential Mortgage, Personal Finanaces, Business Mortgage, Currency Exchange,and more.

Please speak to a representative for more information.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO www.superableinvest.com

109TM RENO

6

109TM.com Building your life with 109TM

Home & Living Summer 2015

Building your life with 109TM 109TM.com

109TM RENO

How to Feng Shui Your

GARDEN & PATIO Text By JACQUELINE LIAO

G

etting ready for the summer usually means prepping your outdoor area. Preparation for the long nights and amazing conversations had around the fire pit. This summer bring up the energies in your garden and patio using the five elements and feng shui theories.

Using the following compass derived from the Zeus Sensor system you can confidently map out the areas of your garden to promote positive energies.

Home & Living Summer 2015

7

109TM RENO

109TM.com Building your life with 109TM

Understanding the five elements will allow you to strengthen specific parts of your outdoor area.

Implementing this map with your garden will show you the allotted areas for the elements. Using the tips and tricks provided in this article, you are bound to bring up the energy levels.

01 8

Home & Living Summer 2015

NORTHEAST AREA [Earth Element]

This specific area is one belonging to the earth element, thus it supports personal growth and strengthens stability in your life. This is definitely the area to add more aspects of the earth element.

Zen gardens are a great choice and beautiful addition to this section. Also, adding rock formations or stones will bring up the auspicious energy levels helping you promote supportive and nurturing emotions into your home.

Building your life with 109TM 109TM.com

NORTH AREA [Water Element]

Water fountains and coy ponds would be an excellent addition in the north areas of your outdoor area. This location is responsible for the money and career areas of your life. You will want to consider even adding a pool in this area to bring about more communication energies in your home.

109TM RENO

02

Home & Living Summer 2015

9

109TM RENO

109TM.com Building your life with 109TM

When considering your feng shui garden keep in mind the chi pathways. You will want to remember that positive energies need space and a path to flow in the correct direction.

You want to consider the flow of your garden, imagine the general lines of our earth. These lines aren’t found in nature to be straightforward and linear, rather they have a curvature to them. Implementing these relaxing flowing curves into your outdoor space is important in promoting positive energies.

03 COLOURS in your GARDEN

Understanding the five elements will require you take a closer look at the colours in your garden.

Promoting positive energies can easily be done by adding the appropriate colours in the right elemental areas.

Emphasizing the colours in each section will allow you to increase the energy levels as well. For example, consider planting purple and pink roses in the southern area of your garden to increase creativity in your home. Simply planting the correct colored plants can easily produce auspicious energies in your life.

The summer season, brings about a time where time can be spent truly enjoying the outdoors and a great area to entertain your guests. Make this area extra special this season with these Feng shui tips and tricks.

Your guests will go home talking about what an amazing evening they had in your positive environment.

10

Home & Living Summer 2015

FENG SHUI ZEUS SENSOR MEASURING TAPE MAXIMIZED CHI FLOW • BODY SOURCE CODE • THE FIVE ELEMENTS • YIN & YANG

30ft 1.25” 9m width Tape Ruler Ruban Pour Mesurer Cinta Métrica

By

This measuring tape is optimized to be used with the Zeus Sensor and Body Source Code systems.

Visit www.109tm.com to learn more.

109TM RENO

109TM.com Building your life with 109TM

11 TIPS TO GET THE RIGHT FENG SHUI FOR YOUR

BEDROOM Text By JACQUELINE LIAO

T

he makings of a feng shui bedroom is one that continues to promote positive energy within the room with healing a nourishing energy. A great feng shui bedroom is one that draws you forward, where excitement and calming energies may be brought forth. It’s an area in your house where you visit for a quick nap, a good night sleep, or even to rekindle romances. These clashing energies may be hard to organise into a feng shui room, however these tips will make the process more enjoyable.

12

Home & Living Summer 2015

Building your life with 109TM 109TM.com

109TM RENO

/01

TIP Keep electronics out of the bedroom, everything from TV’s, computers to exercise equipment.

Keeping these items out of the bedroom will help encourage positive energy within the bedroom, the items above often disrupt and destroy positive energy that build within your bedroom.

Home & Living Summer 2015

13

109TM RENO

109TM.com Building your life with 109TM

/02

TIP

Keep the windows open or opt for an air- purifier that will help to keep the air in your bedroom fresh and full of invigorating oxygen.

Keep in mind that the quality of the air in the bedroom is very important, you can’t have positive feng shui energies while breathing in stale air full of toxins. However, introducing plants in the bedroom is also a bad idea, plants in this instance will disrupt energies in the bedroom. Unless your bedroom is fairly large with your plants located as far as possible from your bed.

/03

TIP

Including different types of lighting in your bedroom will help with the flow of energy within your bedrooms.

Incorporating a dimmer switch to control your lighting will be a positive change in the bedroom energy levels. Introducing candles in the bedroom will also help to promote positive healing energies within this room, just remember to purchase candles that won’t introduce toxins into the air.

14

Home & Living Summer 2015

Building your life with 109TM 109TM.com

109TM RENO

/04

TIP

The artwork in your bedroom also impacts the feng shui energies within the room.

When choosing bedroom art you will want to consider the art you choose to be a reflection of energies that you want to promote within your life.

Choosing a side gloomy picture will only promote more negative energy within your life. The art you choose will be directly reflecting in the energies that you want.

/05

TIP

Always remember to close all the doors in the bedroom at night, whether it's a closet door or the en-suite bathroom as well as the bedroom door.

Keeping these doors closed will help to promote a positive energy within your bedroom, as well as to strengthen your health as well as promote the flow of energies.

Within your closet, keeping this area organized will additionally add supplementary positive sense of peace and serenity in the bedroom.

Home & Living Summer 2015

15

109TM RENO

109TM.com Building your life with 109TM

/06

TIP

The basic guidelines of your bed location is as follows: • Allow your bed to be approachable from both sides • Include a bedside table on each side on your bed • If possible, avoid having the bed located directly in front of the door. The alignment of the two will promote negative energies within your bedroom.

/07

TIP

When it comes your actual bed, keep in mind that an attractive sleeping area is important, as well as a well-balanced bed.

Purchasing a strong headboard as well as investing in quality bed sheets is a first step in a balanced bed. You will want the natural fibers from a high quality sheet to create an auspicious energy within your bedroom.

16

Home & Living Summer 2015

Building your life with 109TM 109TM.com

109TM RENO

/08

TIP

Mirrors and the position of your bed When it comes to a mirror in your bedroom, you definitely don’t want this piece of furniture to face your bed. The reflection of your bed in the mirror is a huge no-no in the Feng Shui books. Whether it is a reflection that may be from your closet door or even your vanity table. A mirror with the reflection of your bed will bring about negative energy in the bedroom.

/09

TIP

The door and windows in relation to your bed The location of your bed in reference to the doorways in your bedroom must be taken note of. When it comes to these furnishings remember to keep these two out of alignment. You don’t want your bed to be in line with any doors, whether it be the door to the en-suite bathroom or even something as small as your closet doors.

Home & Living Summer 2015

17

109TM RENO

109TM.com Building your life with 109TM

/10

TIP

Positioning of the fixtures above your bed You spend about a third of your life in the comfort of your bed therefore, one of the most important factors about the bedroom feng shui is what is directly above you when you slumber. In those hours that you are sound asleep you ultimately want the only thing above your bed to be a soft canopy, nothing that may dangle from your ceiling (fans, chandeliers etc.).

Take care to remember not to hang wind chimes above your bed either for that will bring about negative feng shui energy as well.

/11

TIP

“Harsh” energy directing at your bed in the bedroom You may be thinking what categorizes as “harsh” energy, it can be anything from a nightstand to a piece of furniture such as drawers. You will want to remember to keep all those sharp corners facing away from your bed. Make sure these corners are neutralised in order to promote good feng shui energy.

18

Home & Living Summer 2015

Building your life with 109TM 109TM.com

109TM RENO

Bedroom feng shui may be a hard task to achieve, however following the above steps will quickly allow you to bring about positive energies within your revitalising bedroom. Your bedroom will contain the energies that allow you to reflect healing, relaxation and love.

Home & Living Summer 2015

19

The 109TM Collection features beautiful contemporary pieces, specially curated by using the metaphysical laws of Yin & Yang along with the Five Elements to balance the energies and blend functionality with aesthetics.

109TM’s approach involves careful selection of furniture pieches to precisely match your unique elemental energies and promote a balanced energy flow in yourself and the space around you. All the furniture pieces in the 109TM Collection is crafted by experienced artisans and exude a high level of masterwork craftsmanship, using the best quality materials and sustainable methods. The finished product brings luxury and class, while our philosophy brings balance and harmony.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO www.109tm.com

USA 353 San Jon Road, Ventura, CA, 93001 1-805-641-1109

CANADA 16 Esna Park Drive, Unit 3 Markham, ON L3R 1E1 1-905-944-8108

Custom space saving

solutions Wardrobes

+ Storage

• Sliding/hinged door system • Pull down hanging rail • Adjustable shelving system • Pull out rack/shelf • Jewellery drawer • Vertical scarf/accessory rack • and more...

Call Today For Your Free In-Home Consultation!

CANADA

1-905-944-8108 16 Esna Park Dr. Unit 3 Markham, ON L3R 1E1

USA

1-805-641-1109 353 San Jon Road Ventura, CA 93001

16 Esna Park Drive, Unit 3, Markham, ON L3R 5X1 www.yanagidesign.com | 1-905-944-8828

CORE CONCEPT

109TM.com Elements for success with Bret Taylor

AC & DC ENERGY in Feng Shui Text By BRET TAYLOR

22

Home & Living Summer 2015

Elements for success with Bret Talor 109TM.com

CORE CONCEPTS

A

biding by the philosophy of Yin and Yang, it is a given that there are two different aspects to energy in an environment: the movable, changeable DC energy brought in by a person or living thing, and the immovable, fixed AC energy of the space or location they occupy.

The timing aspects of both energies also play an important role when matching the two in order to create balance and harmony. The two energies are ever changing, and are different when existing together as opposed to alone.

Our Body Source Code is an elemental life code and is critical in this process. It is given to us at birth, at a time when our DC and AC energies first merge. The Chinese use two different units of measurement to arrive at this code, the Ten Heavenly Stems (DC) and Twelve Earthly Branches (AC). When we are born, our energy is marked by one stem and one branch, creating a unique pairing that represent our birth year, month, day and hour. This combination creates eight characters that symbolize our inner structure. This is like our DNA, therefore it is called the Body Source Code. This code is symbolized through the use of the five elements and their Yin and Yang polarity. It tells us which, and how much of the five elements make up our unique structure. The main idea is to match our unique energy with the energy in our environment to create harmony.

From that point on, these characters continually rotate like a clock, with a complete rotation of the 10 stems and 12 branches creating 60 unique pairs. A complete cycle of 60 units is perpetual and represented in years, months, hours, minutes and seconds and ref lected in our personality, where we live, career choices, and relationships.

Home & Living Summer 2015

23

CORE CONCEPT

109TM.com Elements for success with Bret Taylor

Traditionally, this is known as the Four Pillars of our personality or Bazi.

Our Body Source Code is a western interpretation of these stems and branches translated into simple singular numbers and colors. The two mobile apps, Lucky Color & Living Style and Color & Emotion, calculate our unique birth information revealing our Body Source Code.

BODY SOURCE CODE PLUGIN

Allows you to make constructive choices in your life's direction. Combining the theories of Zi Wei Dou Shu, the Five Elements and Yin-Yang, this app helps you to chart out the blueprint of your life.

Lucky Colour & Living Style

Balancing our personal elements with the elements in our environment creates an optimal living style.

COLOUR & EMOTION

Utilizing the Five Element Theory and analyzing the amount of metal, water, wood, fire and earth in your chart you can identify your most favorable colors.

24

Home & Living Summer 2015

Our Personal Element is the key indicator of our personality characteristics, and is revealed by our Day Stem. For instance, if you look at Lady Gaga’s Body Source Code from our Color & Emotion app, you’ll see her personal element is yang metal. It is the character in the left column in the Day row.

Therefore, Lady Gaga is made up of an element that will thrive in a fire area or environment. Fire areas consist of red colors, round shapes, would be bright, and south facing. She should have the foot of her bed facing the south, and spend most of her day at a desk or work area facing south. In her personality, rigid determination and independence has allowed her to achieve prestige and prominence in the music industry. In her career, she has endured the glare of the spotlight and attention brought on by her talent and success, and used it to her advantage in forwarding causes that are important in her life. Like a good conductor of electricity, Yang metal people are adept at handling power.

Yang metal personalities are like rigid metal, akin to the iron of a sword. This indicates a rugged, forthright, swift and decisive personality trait. Yang metal people have the stamina and endurance to survive trials and tribulations, and like to do things on their own. Yang Metal people become stronger after enduring pressure packed situations.

Body Source Code attaches a specific number (0-9) and color to each element and its Yin & Yang polarity.

While DC energy is personal, movable and relates to numbers (09), AC energy is external, fixed, and relates to directions or directional orientation. Additionally, DC and AC energies are symbolized by particular colors as well.

Images showing Lady Gaga's Body Source Code from Color & Emotion app.

Elements for success with Bret Talor 109TM.com

CORE CONCEPTS

READING THE

9-Sector Grid The diagram below shows how these two energies interact. The colors represent the directional orientation of the 9 spaces (AC), and the numbers represent the energies of the occupants that would thrive in those areas (DC).

Lady Gaga brings a 9 personality to an environment. As you can see on the 9-sector grid below, the number 9 is in the square sitting directly South. As mentioned before, South symbolizes fire, therefore, Yang Metal people benefit from fire related décor and direction.

The key to successful Feng-Shui analysis would include a matching of both energies; the numbers representing the occupant’s energy, and the colors representing the environment’s energy. Use the study of the Creative, Complimentary, and Trade-off cycles to balance the energies you are lacking or have in abundance.

Home & Living Summer 2015

25

ZEUS SENSOR A WESTERN GUIDE TO EASTERN ASTROLOGY

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE? DO OUR LIVES HAVE A MISSION OR PURPOSE? THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE ALL SEEK ANSWERS TO.

The Zeus Sensor book is based on the ancient Chinese astrology system of Zi Wei Dou Shu. Its main component is the Life Chart, akin to a road map and/or weather forecast combined that helps you to discover virtually everything you need to know about yourself. The information is derived from over 100 points in the celestial sky known as stars and their locations during your exact moment of birth. As a result, the Zeus Sensor is a complex and detailed system of interpretation that allows us to view the blueprint of our lives by accurately describing our past, present, and future.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO www. evanyanagi.com

zeus sensor 3 Destiny Paths

DIGITAL TOOLS for the modern Soul Searcher

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO www. evanyanagi.com

CORE CONCEPT

109TM.com Elements for success with Bret Taylor

THE THREE

CYCLES of LIFE Text By BRET TAYLOR

As we go through life, our compatibility with others will be revealed in our Body Source Code. An energetic connection is symbolized by plugging in to people or environments that make us balanced or whole. For example, if we have a yin earth outlet, we are looking for yang earth people to plug into.

Once a certain level of balance is achieved, new energy is created which can be described as development. With each cycle of life we can chart our growth by starting with our original Body Source Code and adding elements of creation and reflection at each stage.

28

Home & Living Summer 2015

Elements for success with Bret Talor 109TM.com

CORE CONCEPTS

HEAVEN PATH As we actively experience life, our Body Source Code goes through changes. Life rotates in 15-year cycles, and two cycles complete one path. Our Body Source Code at birth dictates our behavior for the first stage, or first third, of life (0-30 years old).

This stage is called "tian" or the heaven path, and is for fulfilling the Body's innate desire for nutritional and emotional needs. The electricity builds the plugs and outlets that we were given at birth. Cognitive thought is still developing, and we make choices in our life based on natural instincts and reactions. Once we complete this stage, and fulfill basic needs physically and mentally, we create a greater variety of energies enabling us to better plug in to our environment.

Home & Living Summer 2015

29

CORE CONCEPT

109TM.com Elements for success with Bret Taylor

EARTH PATH The second stage is known as "di" or earth path, and occurs at ages 30-60. At this stage, or second third of life, we take our innate electricity in order to “plug-in�, or experience the different aspects of our life: dating, pursuing a job, pursuing an education, developing a sense of morality, and developing spirituality etc. We should utilize our elements and related polarities to search for the opposite polarity to plugin with in order to achieve optimum energy. We are searching for the reflection of our Body Source Code. We may not plug-in to certain people or environments right away, which causes us to "work" or look for the right match. Plugging-in to certain areas of our life changes our structure as we grow, and creates even more diverse energies for our third stage of life.

30

Home & Living Summer 2015

Elements for success with Bret Talor 109TM.com

CORE CONCEPTS

HUMAN PATH The “ren� period (60+ years) combines the natural elements from our tian stage with the active experiences of our di stage.

Adding life experiences create more opportunities for connections or plug-ins because experiences add knowledge, reflection, and perspective. So, at the third and final stage of the cycle, we approach life with a new structure. Not only do we use our original Body Source Code, we now add our life experiences and knowledge in order to find the right plugs and outlets.

This is not only the last stage of life, but the first stage of the next rotation.

Home & Living Summer 2015

31

BODY SOURCE CODE PROVIDING YOU WITH A BROAD SENSE OF DIRECTION

In Body Source Code Book, the 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches are characteristics used to calculate time periods in the Chinese calendar. The heavenly stems were created to represent days. The earthly branches were created to represent months. One symbol from each set creates a pair that characterizes our energy at our particular time of birth. These pairs constitute our Body Source Code, which reveals our personality. Knowing and utilizing our talents gives us direction. It is like a vision, plan or blueprint of what a building will be. Identifying our innate strengths and weaknesses will help guide us daily in making decisions by revealing not only OUR emotions, but the emotions in our environment as well.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO www. evanyanagi.com

Discover how your elemental energies

INTERACT WITH OTHERS

Body Source Code Plugin EVAN YANAGI CORPORATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO www. evanyanagi.com

TRAVEL

34

109TM.com Travel with the elements

Home & Living Summer 2015

Travel with the elements 109TM.com

TRAVEL

Travel with the

ELEMENTS Text By ROY E. Colbert, Architect

The very personal experience of architecture exists upon the dynamic interplay of the five elements: earth, metal, water, wood and fire. Successful architecture considers the human behaviors and emotions influenced by modifying and manipulating these elements in design. It is the conscious altering by the architect of the energy flow of these elements within design that manage the dynamic intensity levels with the passage of time, distance and evolving human activity. The very intimate collaboration of client and architect results in a unique blending of art and technology combined with both time and motion that exerts a profound effect on people. It is the result of human behavior.

Home & Living Summer 2015

35

TRAVEL

109TM.com Travel with the elements

U

pon securing a commission we architects embrace the euphoria of design. The client’s program parameters that define the overview of purpose are overlaid upon the site survey, view analysis, orientation, slope, physiography, native vegetation, geology, circulation patterns and other environmental considerations such as climate, wind, storm/ disaster potential and noise, etc. Then, of course, the reality of government regulations, policies and code interpretations result in bringing the architect out of the previously mentioned euphoria and into the real world.

Bubble diagrams evolve into preliminary concepts. Lines and arrowheads describe the relationship of affinities. The search for originality in design considers the existing context, scale, functionality, composition and unity, proportion, and the rhythm and sequences that relate to scale and proportion.

Since the product of architecture is constructed, used and, ideally, appreciated by man, it is imperative that the process consider the inherent human psychological and physiological characteristics. This is where the architect must consciously travel with the elements and allow them to be integral within the design process.

Ill-advisedly, in design the metaphysics of the five elements are too often randomly applied, resulting in an uncomfortable and unsuccessful place. Think of the holistic understanding of the five elements as the simple basic lubricant, an essential tool. When the architect respects these elements as a fundamental paradigm, he will arrive at a holistic approach.

01EARTH

Architecture touches the ground. What is the access to and from the building? Does the building appear to have its balance? Or, is it purposely designed to appear to be in imbalance? Depending on the design, the building will either be well founded to contain the earth’s energy, or conversely, allow this energy to dissipate. Metaphorically, the earth supports and nurtures. The earth as the root of things instills an inexorable strength, a naturally instinctive sense of balance. In short earth is at the center supporting the other elements.

Slate, terrazzo and stone flooring, granite and marble counters are examples introduced to anchor a design to the earth. Browns, grays are indicative of the earth, as are squat and sturdy shapes.

36

Home & Living Summer 2015

Travel with the elements 109TM.com

TRAVEL

02METAL

Metal bearing ore mined from the earth is transformed through the use of fire into billets that are extruded into standard structural shapes. Water is then used to cure and strengthen steel. Creating new directions in design by employing the relevant materials, resources, fabricating processes, and, of course, the finances required is represented by the element metal. Structural steel framing is, first and foremost, a highly organized linear system that solidly carries heavy loading that frees the designer to conceive ever more innovative architecture.

Steel frame systems are often either expressed as a visual component of the design or hidden within a building envelope. Nonetheless, its use is characterized as the ability to both contain, and yet lead to more independently creative solutions.

It is of particular note that metal handles, levers, handrails and guardrails are where we touch a building. Physically, the shapes associated with metal are smooth, sometimes round, sometimes sharp edged, generally crisp and uniform.

03WATER

Water resonates in our perception of life itself.

Without it, life and growth does not exist. Equally as important, water is best experienced as flowing.

Indeed, the sight and sound of moving water is magical. Ironically, in terms of the metaphor of electrical current, water in gently flowing stream or river can be characterized as stable and predictable AC. The drama of an immense water fall is symbolized as more dynamic DC. Water has a direct chemical effect on us, as well. Flowing water alters the ions in the atmosphere. In either scenario water nurtures each of us physically and spiritually.

Interestingly, in architecture water both reflects and refracts light, and there is the discernable sensory color and aroma. The duality of these seemingly contrasting intrinsic characteristics reinforces the magic. For the architect the inclusion of ponds, fountains and landscape streams becomes a reassuring symbol of welcome and delights us with the magic. Our subconscious reads water as inexorably persuasive, fostering our intuition, as well as encouraging flexibility and an adaptive approach to changing parameters. The blue and black colors tend to reinforce the symbolic presence of water.

Home & Living Summer 2015

37

TRAVEL

109TM.com Travel with the elements

04WOOD

Trees through photosynthesis provide the clean air we breathe. When harvested and milled, wood becomes transformed into shelter, furnishings and as a source of heat. Interestingly, during the act of harvesting tree rings were recognized as an archive of the planet’s history. Wood in architecture is understood as a living thing to be respected and employed with the appropriate focus on joinery.

Wood handles and handrails are where we literally touch a building.

Wood grows in earth and is nurtured by water.

Its intrinsic qualities can be quantified by growth, expansion, flexible strength and versatility. The designer celebrates wood as tall slender vertical grain columns resisting compressive axial loads; as beams capable of spanning open space resisting loads in bending; struts and diagonal braces acting in compression. Artisans who work with wood will reinforce the mantra that wood as a living organism speaks to them. This should not be underestimated.

05FIRE

Fire is the dynamic representation of energy, and ironically growth. Although not directly employed as a part of building systems, fire in fireplaces speaks of the warmth and comfort. Fire in a hearth will stir the atmosphere through conductivity. Since open flames are no longer required for light and warmth, the hearth based fire is largely spiritually symbolic, while representing the omnipresent power of the sun.

It is the transformative aspect of fire that is released under our control to serve our purposes. It is used to purify, to change the mined and harvested nature of raw materials into usable building components. As such it is incumbent on the architect to directly protect against the destructive effects of unrestrained fire. At the same time be understanding of the spiritual desire to see and experience the physical effect of fire in design. This is further manifest by the use of the color red and the triangular motif.

38

Home & Living Summer 2015

Travel with the elements 109TM.com

TRAVEL

The relationships between the five elements within the context of creativity are interdependent upon each other: light and shadow, warm and cold. The architect establishes his unique design parti to purposely elevate or subjugate the elements individually or in groupings to achieve a desired design solution. Even in a static building by means of the passage of time and seasons, the five elements are constantly and subtly in motion.

Home & Living Summer 2015

39

One Planet, Five Elements

LUCKY COLOR AND LIVING STYLE

In this book, we convert the elemental energies of the universe into numbers and colors, making it easier for us to manipulate them to bring about balance and harmony in our living and working environments. Identifying the activation of magnetic energy fields that interact at different times and in different locations is the simple theory of Feng Shui. We believe that different magnetic energy fields, which generate electricity continuously, surround our environment. They affect the development of our physical structure. The strength of the signals transmitted by these different elemental energies will vary, just like the strength of the wifi signal that we receive will also vary from place to place.

This book enables us to determine the Body Source Code of a building, so that we can match its suitability with ours.

It also uses the creation, complement, and trade-off relationship cycles of the Five Elements to interpret “Feng Shui�.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO www. evanyanagi.com

Stop living in dissonance

ACHIEVE BALANCED SPACES

Lucky Colour & Living Style EVAN YANAGI CORPORATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO www. evanyanagi.com

REAL ESTATE

109TM.com See what's hot MARKET SNAPSHOT

SPRING HOME BUYING SEASON LOOKS

PROMISING Brought to you By Charles Bonsignore

Despite a slow start in the first month of the year, sales continued to gain on a year-over-year basis for the second month in a row in March. The year-over-year growth in sales in March was the first back-to-back increase since December 2012 and it was also the largest increase observed since May 2012. The strong momentum in March elevated sales in the first quarter to 370,520 (seasonally adjusted and annualized), an increase of 2.3 percent when compared to the first quarter of last year. It was the first quarterly increase since the fourth quarter of 2012. Sales increase from the previous month was also much stronger than the long-run average of 0.5 percent increase from February to March recorded since 1979. In fact, it was the biggest February-to-March increase that we have seen since 2008.

42

Home & Living Summer 2015

See what's hot MARKET SNAPSHOT 109TM.com

REAL ESTATE

Sales surged in all regions when compared to March 2014, with the Central Valley region increasing 14.7 percent year-over-year, the Bay Area increasing 9.9 percent, and Southern California increasing 9.7 percent. Improved economic conditions and more job availability throughout the state benefit the housing market and continue to push sales higher. With pending sales jumping at a double-digits rate from a year ago, the California housing market is picking up its momentum, and should continue to have a solid home buying season in the upcoming months.

The statewide median home price, meanwhile, increased 7.2 percent from last year to $468,550, the highest level since August 2014. The yearly gain in price was the largest increase observed since September 2014.

While the strong increase in high-end home sales in the Bay Area in March might have exerted upward pressure on the statewide median price, tight housing supply conditions probably contributed to the price appreciation as well. The statewide unsold inventory index declined in March to 3.8 months from 5 months in February, and from 4.0 months in March 2014.

While housing supply has been improving in real terms in recent months, the demand for housing continued to grow at a faster pace than that of inventory. The discrepancy between sales and active listings was most obvious in the Bay Area, where sales increased from the previous year by double-digits but active listings fell by more than 10 percent. Six of nine counties in the region, in fact, experienced an increase in sales and a decline in active listings in March. Sales and active listings in the region have been going in opposite directions since late last year. While it is a welcome sign to see the growth in the housing demand continues, the lack of supply is a definitely a concern. The imbalance between the two sides not only intensifies market competition and pushes home prices higher, but also leads to housing affordability issues that ultimately lowers homeownership rate if the problem persists.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

DEMAND OUTPACED SUPPLY IN MARCH

Year-to-Year % Chg

Sales

Active Listings

20% 15%

10%

10%

10%

9% 5%

0%

Charles Bonsignore REALTOR速 Sun Coast R. E. Downtown 31 South California Street, Ventura, CA 93001 Office: 805-643-0000 Email: cbonsignore@sbcglobal.net

-10% -11%

Website: www.suncoastdowntown.com -20%

San Francisco Bay Area

Southern California

Central Valley

BRE License: 01007470

Home & Living Summer 2015

43

REAL ESTATE

109TM.com See what's hot MARKET SNAPSHOT

COUNTY MARKET UPDATE Source: Construction Industry Research Board, Freddie Mac, and the California Association of REALTORS速

Ventura County Sales Activity

Trends at a Glance for March 2015

Ventura

California

Ventura

California

YTD % Change in Sales

10.7%

2.3%

Unsold Inventory Index

4.5

3.8

YTY % Change in Sales

23.6%

7.3%

Median Time of Market

55.1

39.0

Price Activity

Ventura

California

New Housing Permits

Ventura

California

Median Home Price

$596,890

$468,550

Single Family

71

3,758

6.7%

7.2%

Multi-Family

17

6,066

YTY % Change in Price

Supply Indicators

Median Price of Existing Single-Family Homes

YTY% Change in Sales

Median Price of Existing Single-Family Homes

YTY% Change in Sales

$700,000 $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 $0

30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% -10.0% -20.0% -30.0% Mar-13

Sep-13

Mar-14

Sep-14

Mar-15

Unsold Inventory Index & Median Time of Market Unsold Inventory Index (right axis)

80

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

60 40 20 0 Mar-13

Sep-13

Mar-14

Sep-14

Mar-15

Single Family & Multi-Family New Housing Permits Single Family Permits

Multi-Family Permits

400 300 200 100 0 Mar-13

44

Home & Living Summer 2015

Sep-13

Mar-14

Sep-14

Mar-15

Months

Number of Days

Median Time On Market

See what's hot MARKET SNAPSHOT 109TM.com

REAL ESTATE

Weekly 30Y FRM & 1Y ARM Interest Rates 1Y ARM

30Y FRM

5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 Mar-13

Sep-13

Mar-14

Sep-14

Mar-15

2014 INVESTOR SURVEY C.A.R.'s 2014 Investor Survey was an online survey of REALTORS速 who closed a transaction with an investor between May 2013 and May 2014.

Investing More in Rural Areas

-10% Pts

Southern CA

-8% Pts

Compared to a year ago, investors bought in more remote areas where better deals can be found.

Northern CA

Other California

10% Pts

Top 5 Counties Invested

7% Sacramento County 6% San Joaquin County

14% Los Angeles County

8% Orange County

9% San Diego County

Home & Living Summer 2015

45

REAL ESTATE

109TM.com See what's hot MARKET SNAPSHOT

CALIFORNIA APRIL SALES www.car.org/marketdata

California's housing market accelerated in April as the spring home-buying season kicked off with both higher home sales and prices for the third straight month.

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS速

Single Family Sales 391K

391K

Median Price $449K

427K

$468K

$482K

Apr-14 Mar-15 Apr-15

Apr-14 Mar-15 Apr-15

REGIONAL SALES & MEDIAN PRICE

San Francisco Bay Area's median price of single family homes increased to $844,810, up 9.4 percent from last year. Sales in the Bay Area increased 7.7 percent from a year ago.

46

Home & Living Summer 2015

The median price in the Central Valley region increased 10.5 percent to $265,020. Sales of existing single family homes in the region increased 6.9 percent from last year.

In Southern California, the median price of single family homes increased 5.4 percent on a year-over-year basis to $456,536 and sales in the region increased by 9.2 percent from a year ago.

1925workbench.com info@1925workbench.com 30 Saint Marks Road Toronto, Ontario M6S 2H8 (By appointment only) 416-878-1869

North Hollywood Showroom Location

Toronto Showroom Location

St. Catharines Showroom Location

13506 Sherman Way Van Nuys, CA 91405 Toll Free: 1.877.389.7979 Tel: 626.699.0123

451 Alliance Avenue Toronto, ON M6N 2J1 Toll Free: 1.877.389.7979 Tel: 416.946.1676 Tel: 416.274.3244

Unit 4&5 20 Hartzel Road St. Catharines, ON L2P 1M3 Toll Free: 1.877.389.7979 Tel: 905.233.1108

SHOWROOM 30 St. Marks Road Toronto, ON M6S 2H8

By Appointment Only 416-878-1869

7310 Woodbine Ave., Markham, ON L3R 1A4 905-513-8585