Many of us are familiar with the concept of Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement to create a harmonious home and workspace.

But, equally, many would agree that the well-known ‘fixes’ for bad luck or energy; bulbous-leaved money plants, bamboo pipes or pairs of ducks simply don’t work in a Western-style home.

Gillingham-based interior designer Helen Lickerish understands this problem.

“If you really don’t like something then it probably won’t work for you,” she says.

“If you can’t abide the idea of lucky coins hanging down or you have a professional business you don’t want people saying; ‘ooh this has been feng shuied’, you just want people to feel comfortable and happy.”

And that’s where she comes in. Because Helen is not only an expert in feng shui, she’s also a trained interior designer, and combines both skills when assisting clients in their homes.

“I was born with a paintbrush in my hand,” she says, describing her lifelong interest in interior design. However, she only took it up professionally after spending 15 years working in the mental health sector.

“In that work you are easily able to see the effect that people’s surroundings can have on them,” she says.

After learning about feng shui; “It all made sense,” she says.

“I just couldn’t understand why people would want to re-design their home without making sure it worked for them on every level so that’s what I decided to offer.”

Helen will work on single rooms or whole houses and businesses, either as a straight-up interior designer or, for an additional fee, will incorporate the principles of feng shui.

“I was doing a bed and breakfast the other day which was just not getting enough people through the doors,” she says.

“I looked at the room and immediately I could see one of the problems. I asked the owner if we could move the chairs and tables and immediately the energy in the room just seemed to flow better. The owner told me that she had never thought of doing that before I suggested it.”

She also dowses for geopathic stress – disturbance caused by underground water or electricity which is generally ignored in the UK but which, in Germany, forms part of the checks which must be made as part of a home-moving package.

“Geopathic stress is an important part of my work which I’m really hot on because I’ve known too many people become seriously ill and die following illnesses caused by it,” she says.

“Most people don’t know what it is and don’t even look for it.”

Her core belief is that a well-designed, workable house is much better to live in and believes interior designers should not be seen as a frivolous indulgence.

“We have a weird attitude to interior designers,” she says.

“I think designers have a higher level of awareness for what works in a property and for that reason we can save time and money, helping people think about how they’ll really use a new room, or house or extension, and get the basics in place before they’ve got it all done.”

She has helped clients re-design kitchens where the sink was ‘miles from the hob’ and assisted a couple who felt there was something wrong with their new cottage.

“I discovered that the people who lived there before had left after the husband had apparently had an affair with someone from outside the village,” says Helen.

After studying the property’s feng shui she was able to suggest ‘cures’ which should ensure that adverse influences don’t affect the new owners.

Her most successful client was the lady who: “Had very bad health and was out of work. I did her house up for her and advised her on the feng shui side and she implemented everything.”

Within months the lady had re-trained, landed a new job and her high blood pressure – which had been causing her illness – had dramatically improved.

“I love it when I know it has worked so well,” she says.

“But, even if a client is just looking for an update, it’s great to know that new fabrics and colours can give you a fantastic lift.”

maiadesign.co.uk