Feel-good offices designed by Feng Shui

Depressed and tired at work? Having trouble staying energized? Try Feng Shui.

Feng Shui, or "wind and water" in Chinese, is the exchange of energy between objects and their environments, explains Adele Trebil, certified interior designer and Feng Shui consultant.

It was developed by the Chinese more than 2,000 years ago to align

themselves with their environment and the magnetic forces of the earth.

But in Western society, Feng Shui has become a trendy design motif, a quirky, superstitious folklore enjoying fad-like popularity.

Trebil and other Feng Shui practitioners are adamant: This is based in real, scientific principles.

"Have you ever been in a place and thought, 'I'm just not comfortable'? That's energy.

That's Feng Shui," says Kathie Ruward, interior designer, Feng Shui facilitator and owner of Zen de Zign Holistic Design Gallery.

Feng Shui involves five basic elements: metal, earth, fire, wood and water.

Each contains certain energy.

Through use of these elements, color and a compass, the idea is to correct and harmonize natural patterns of energy.

Adele Trebil first encountered Feng Shui when she was an operations manager at Hewlett-Packard Co.

Her job was to help enhance employee productivity by setting up workspaces for an 80,000- square-foot space.

She noticed certain areas of the building seemed to stimulate higher energy levels, while others stayed in a constant depressed state.

She looked into possible reasons, and discovered Feng Shui.

Trebil now puts her knowledge to work for businesses and individuals all over the country.

Approximately 40 to 50 percent of Trebil's business is consulting with builders and developers of residential and commercial properties.

She will lay out the project from the ground up according to Feng Shui principles.

Some business owners have called Trebil in the hopes of turning their businesses around.

Dr.

Lisa Boote, a local chiropractor, had been having trouble growing her business in Reno.

Her small office made maximizing her space difficult, and she was unable to make any significant structural changes.

Trebil made simple adjustments, such as adding a fountain, rearranging some furniture and moving the entrance.

Soon, Boote was so busy she could hardly keep up with the workload.

Harvard Square retirement home was in poor condition.

Tenants moved out, dissatisfied.

Trebil studied the building and its tenants for months, observing patterns in this depressed environment.

She adjusted the location of the building's main entrance, the flow of furniture and the colors of rooms.

She added a baby grand piano to a corridor, and certain design elements such as a water feature, carpet and walls were added or changed.

The results? Harvard Square became a vibrant, energetic community whose residents say they feel better.

The environment is sociable and physically active.

Most practitioners agree upon certain fundamental Feng Shui principles in the workplace.

"Electromagnetic radiation is the biggest problem I find," says Trebil.

"It's a big energy drain.

I try to clear those out, and I find that it improves energy levels about 35 to 40 percent."

She says no one should sit with their back to the door.

And office clutter is especially counterproductive, creating stagnant energy.

Ruward suggests bringing life and energy to "dead" parts of an office by adding plants and water.

Lighting is also important, and rather than relying on harsh fluorescents, Ruward suggests adding a desk lamp.

Working from home? Keep your work out of your bedroom; work-related concerns may disrupt sleep.

If you're serious about creating a Feng Shui workspace, Adele Trebil recommends taking a course or hiring a consultant.

Your average Feng Shui book is "cookiecutter and generic," she says, and she often finds errors in calculations in such books.

"I have had 15 years of experience in seeing results from this - even from skeptics," Trebil says.

"It's an inexpensive investment in improving the quality of your life."

For more information, contact Adele Trebil, Feng Shui Design Associates, (775) 746-4116, or Kathie Ruward, Zen de Zign, (775) 322-3422.