“If you needed a catchall word for my spaces now, it would be ‘clutterless.’” —Alexis Doyle, feng shui expert and interior designer to the stars

GN: How did you come to develop your style?

Alexis: My sense of style developed at an early age. I spent my childhood living among traditional furnishings and antiques. By the 1980s, which was the era of chintz and English Country, my homes and designs were influenced by this style.

As we moved closer to the new millennium, I was teaching interior design at a four-year college. One of the requirements in the curriculum was teaching feng shui. So, by 1997, my design spaces had a minimalist sensibility. Today, my design projects range from traditional to modern. If you needed a catchall word for my spaces now, it would be “clutterless.”

GN: Tell us about your latest project.

Alexis: The current project I’m working on is a house in Bayport, New York. My clients, who are well versed in design themselves, opted for neutral tones with feng shui principles applied in a fresh traditional style—elegant surroundings that allow energy to flow freely in the space.

Another project I worked on recently was a Manhattan apartment. This apartment reflects a contemporary modern flair that uses bright colors rather than neutral hues to enhance the feng shui chi (energy). The uses of red and yellow colors energize the space for good luck and health, respectively.

GN: What advice would you have for homeowners about hiring and managing contractors?

Alexis: For a small job such as a leaky faucet, a homeowner can be the middle guy. For more substantial renovation and design projects, it behooves a homeowner to hire a professional designer/feng shui consultant to work in tandem with the contractors and subcontractors.

Let the designer handle the headaches. He or she is well-equipped to deal with the arduous tasks. The money will be well spent to achieve a professionally designed and decorated space.

[photo credit: Alexis Doyle]

GN: What elements account for a comfortable home?

Alexis: A comfortable home is where a stranger can walk in and immediately feel at home and at ease.

GN: What’s your philosophy on how to create meaning in the home?

Alexis: If your home is beautiful and pleasing to the senses, your life will flow more easily and your home will reflect a sacred sanctuary.

Alexis Doyle is a member of the International Feng Shui Guild with more than 20 years of experience in both interior design and feng shui for residential and professional environments. Her extraordinary educational and design background opens venues for new clients and ideas. Alexis has worked on design projects that include office spaces and residences for a myriad of celebrities. Visit her studio online at spacesbyalexis.com.

[main image: iStockphoto | Thinkstock]