Embrace the elements. These homeowners are nature and animal lovers, and designer Marie Burgos felt it was important to choose art that made them happy and comfortable. This work by Patrick Wright is called "Passing By.""I use the principles of feng shui in all of my designs regardless of whether I'm adopting a contemporary, eclectic, modern, tropical or rustic look. In order to apply feng shui, I use the bagua, which is an energy map. It gets applied to the floor plan, and I always place the emphasis on using a great open layout for the chi energy to circulate freely. I also utilize the two opposite forces of yin and yang to create balance, and the five natural elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) to create harmony," Burgos says."Animal art is a way to integrate a natural element in a stylish way. In this case, the horses, which are a noble animal with great energy, bring a spirit of openness and freedom," she adds. "In this
family room, I opened the wall on either side to make the space flow better but wanted to keep the original brick wall for more texture and authenticity. The horses give this room life and a unique character."