Grace and Matthew Madden are seeking to leave their city life in Chicago in return for life in the small town of Spring Green, Wisconsin. They are seeking an atmosphere in which they can relax and calmly enjoy the rest of their lives. The design of their new apartment was created around not only their wishes and guidelines, but around the basic principles of Feng Shui. An approach that seemed an appropriate way to create the atmosphere they seek. The Bagua is a general outline of the layout of a home or built environment in Feng Shui, and the basis of the layout of this apartment.
The front middle sector, called k’an,  is associated with the color black and promotes a healthy career, therefore the entry way of the apartment is lined with black furniture. It is a place of coming and going, and greeting guests and is therefore large and comfortable, and like a career is an everyday part of life, not just a pass through.
The back –left area of the Bagua, chien, is associated with the color purple and promotes wealth and abundance. The master suite, located on the middle-left side of the apartment, is associated with this sector of the Bagua and will have many purple elements. The furniture and fixtures here will be very comfortable and easily accessible so that the clients will have the chance to age gracefully without much adaptation. This space and these principles extend into the living room space located in the back-left of the apartment.
The center of the Bagua is the space associated with health, and the color yellow. Health, is very much associated with food in our culture and therefore the dining room of the apartment is located in this area. Also, a fireplace has been placed here, going along with another principle of Feng Shui that stresses the hearth as a central fixture of a built living environment.
A bit out of place is the kitchen located in the back center of the space. The Bagua refers to this space as li, and it is usually associated with the color red. However, I am tweaking this idea a bit and making it more of an extension of the dining room. Combining yellow and red, the walls of this space will be a burnt orange. Elements of green, associated with family health in Feng Shui will also be added.
The middle-right sector of the Bagua is associated with white and metallic colors and children and creativity. All of these things come together in the space of the second bathroom located in the middle-right sector of the apartment. The couple has grandchildren nearby that will hopefully frequent their home, and this will be the space they use to wash. As far as creativity goes, some people believe that a bathtub is a great place to think and be creative, and included in the design is a comfortable, distinguished bathtub.
The front-right of the Bagua, ch’ien, is associated with travel and helpful people. The apartment’s front-right sector consists of the second bedroom. Again, the couple’s family will most likely be the main users. The association and promotion of helpful people relates to the upbringing of the couple’s grandchildren. The association and promotion of travel is associated with the visitors who may stay here and their safe travels.
The overall layout is based on the idea of the circle and square, which is very important in Feng Shui. The square represents strength and earthliness and the foundation for building; the outer region of the apartment is square. Inscribed within the square is a circle which represents heaven, and the two together bring balacnce. The interior of the apartment, although made of squares was meant to have a circular like flow.