This Feng Shui Consultant’s Quebec Home Is a Calming, Organized Zen Paradise

Name: Sachiko Kiyooka
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Type of home: Apartment in 1910 brick walk-up
Size: 750 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: When I bought my home it had been on the market for six months and had no offers. The living room, dining room, and kitchen were an intense lime green. One room had two red walls and two blue walls, another bedroom was peach and had a washer and dryer in it, everything was rather neglected ⁠— you get the picture. But underneath all that crazy color was a really beautiful space: good flow/layout, great light, windows on three sides, high ceilings, two balconies, and it was beautifully situated in the neighborhood I wanted to stay in, which I love for all the trees and proximity to Mont-Royal.

I made simple changes on a modest budget, which transformed it into the Zen nest I imagined! I love my home and people always tell me how good they feel in it. My home will be featured in Shira Gill’s upcoming book on professional organizers (I’m a professional organizer and Feng Shui consultant).

[I love] boho, Zen, slow living, simplicity. White walls, natural woods, natural materials, lots of plants (I love Pencil cacti!), and art made by my artist daughter and DIY’d myself. White + wood + earthy tones (ochre, tan, cream, gray) + small hits of color here and there in a textile or object.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Simplicity, wabi sabi, cozy minimal, soulful

What is your favorite room and why? Probably my living room because of the light and it’s where everyone hangs out when my girls are over.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? A second-hand IKEA bookshelf from a Facebook seller.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Notice what makes you feel happy! That will guide you to the expression of your own style.

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity. 
Share Your Style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form