An Interview with Norma Lehmeier Hartie, Author of Harmonious Environment

Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet is a prize-winning self-published book which shows its readers how to create a beautiful, non-toxic and natural home and workspace; how to create a sanctuary that will support, invigorate and nourish the homeowner, enabling them to flourish in all aspects of their lives — while at the same time being kind to the environment.

Norma Lehmeier Hartie is the book’s author of and I was lucky to have an interview with her.

CM: How did you come up with the idea for this book? Did something suddenly spark it or were you ruminating about it all along and then suddenly you felt the book simply had to be done?

Norma Lehmeier Hartie: The work I was doing for my clients was unique and I wanted to spread the word. The book had to be done.

Could you tell me some of the major problems with American houses?

Since the seventies, homes have been built to be airtight. Good for saving energy, but not enough ventilation to clear air of toxic outgassing from environmentally unsafe products.

So what principles should a house-builder, a house decorator, or a homeowner be aware of?

Getting proper ventilation and using eco-friendly building materials, furniture, and other products in home.

How is your book different from other decorating books?

Harmonious Environment is unique in that it combines the best principles of Feng Shui, the application of the Four Elements, color, Vastu, creative visualization, energy work and good design. It first deals with removing the negative/harmful; toxic products, clutter, dirt and energy. Then it illustrates how to bring in the beautiful; non-toxic products, colors that suit your personality, Feng shui elements — all to make your home a sanctuary. It deals with far more than just physical beauty; it deals with the psychological aspects that make a home harmonious.

Harmonious Environment interconnects complex topics in a straightforward and easily comprehended manner to create a book that instructs and enlightens. Harmonious Environment:

* Suggests ways to create a beautiful, non-toxic, natural home and workspace; a sanctuary that will support, invigorate and nourish you to enable you to flourish in all aspects of your life — while being kind and respectful to the environment.
* Introduces Harmonious Adjustments™, in which selected principles of
Feng Shui, the Four Elements, color, energy, Vastu and good design are illuminated.
* Replacing the ‘bad stuff’ with safe and eco-friendly products
* Organizing the rest
* Honoring Mother Nature
* Bringing in the beautiful
* Placing objects with the intent to manifest your dreams

Article Author: Carole McDonnell

Carole McDonnell's short stories and essays appear online and in print, in speculative fiction, ethnic, and Christian publications. She lives in New York with her husband, two sons, and their pets. Wind Follower, published by Juno Books in June 2007, …

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