Sunny Homes offers guidance and expert consultants for clients interested in incorporating ancient elements of Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra into their home design. Photo: Sunny Homes.
When it comes to building homes, Sunny Malhotra lives by a simple mantra – let there be light.
The founder of Canberra-based building company Sunny Homes believes our relationship with the sun and its energy deeply influences how we live, connect, and design the spaces we call home.
“No matter where we come from or what we believe in, many of our shared traditions aim to enhance our health, happiness and prosperity,” he says.
That belief is at the heart of Sunny Homes’ approach. With more than 12 years of experience in custom homebuilding, Sunny also offers consultancy in Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra, ancient design philosophies that prioritise energy flow, orientation and harmony within the home.
Sunny says many of the principles of these ancient practices are subtly “a part of our Aussie culture” and embedded in modern architecture, building and planning laws.
Like the fact residential planning standards require homes to have a minimum three hours of sunlight in living areas from 9 am to 3 pm on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.
But Sunny believes there’s great value in going further, by consciously applying the principles of Vastu and Feng Shui during the design process.
“There are specific elements relating to Vastu and Feng Shui that are worth explaining to better understand how they can be incorporated into home design,” Sunny says.
Vastu Shastra, the traditional Indian science of architecture, is particularly focussed on directional alignment.
It is more directional than Feng Shui, although both systems emphasise the importance of energy flow, according to Sunny.
He says with Vastu, the placement of rooms and spaces in the house are associated with different things and the design should reflect this.
“Homes should ideally face east or northeast, with the main entrance positioned to welcome the rising sun and positive energy,” Sunny says.
“The kitchen, symbolic of the fire element, should be located in the southeast to foster health and abundance.
“Living areas should face north or northeast to create a light-filled and inviting space, while toilets are typically placed in the northwest or southeast to minimise negative influence.”
He says the master bedroom is best placed in the southwest for strength and stability, and a prayer room, if included, should face northeast to enhance spiritual energy.
Materials and colours matter too. “Lighter tones combined with natural wood and stone help promote tranquillity and balance,” Sunny says.
Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of spatial harmony, is grounded in the concept of chi, a life force that flows through every environment.
Its five elements: fire, water, metal, earth and wood are balanced throughout the home to promote wellbeing.
Central to Feng Shui is the Bagua map, which divides a home into nine zones, each linked to a different area of life such as health, wealth or relationships.
“A big part of Feng Shui is removing clutter to encourage energy flow,” Sunny says.
Thoughtful placement of mirrors, indoor plants such as bamboo or money plants and symbolic objects including wind chimes or crystals play a role in enhancing energy and harmony.
When it comes to furniture placement, beds, desks and major items should be placed diagonally across from doors – not directly in line with them, according to Sunny.
“This helps foster security and stability,” he says.
“While Vastu emphasises architectural alignment, Feng Shui often incorporates symbolic gestures.
“But ultimately, both aim to create harmonious, balanced homes.”
Sunny Homes offers guidance and expert consultants for clients interested in incorporating these elements into their home design.
“What makes a house truly feel like home is when it reflects the people who live in it,” Sunny says.
“For many clients, that means embedding their cultural roots and traditions into the design, whether through principles of Vastu Shastra, Feng Shui, or other meaningful elements.
“For us at Sunny Homes, it’s about creating spaces that honour those values while delivering timeless, functional design.”
For more information visit Sunny Homes.
Original Article published by Jodie O’Sullivan on Region Canberra.
