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Wall Street Journal
6 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Has Your Dream Renovation Become a Nightmare? Maybe You Need a ‘House Therapist'
A few years ago, I embarked on the renovation of a Brooklyn brownstone whose interior hadn't been touched since the Charleston was the rage. Acquaintances offered all sorts of advice. Interview at least six architects! Be on site before breakfast every day! And while you're at it, they joked, save up for couples counseling, too. Miraculously, my marriage survived the project, despite pandemic delays, thousands of dollars of botched work and a bogus lien. My relationship with the house, however? That was a different story. Two years after I evicted our contractor, clashing paint chips still freckled my newly plastered walls. Our mismatched furniture looked like the leftovers from a church basement rummage sale. I'd begun with Instagram-fueled design visions, but in the wake of the cursed renovation, they fizzled and I was left feeling stuck and sad. Maybe counseling wasn't a bad idea after all. These days you can hire financial therapists, family therapists, career therapists. But who do you hire when you need to get over your house hang-ups? An in-the-know colleague suggested I look up Olga Naiman, a former stylist for Domino, Real Simple and Anthropologie who was raised by two psychiatrists and studied clinical psychology at college. The author of the new design manual, 'Spatial Alchemy,' Naiman has pioneered an unconventional approach to interiors that combines cognitive behavioral therapy, Kabbalistic mysticism and more. The premise: Beyond beautifying your home, intentional design can heal traumas (say, the pain of being bilked out of $25,000 by a contractor), disrupt destructive patterns and foster transformation in every aspect of your life. Did it sound super woo-woo? You bet. But testimonials from those who'd tried Naiman's techniques swayed me. Take Catherine Burns, a consultant and former artistic director of the storytelling organization the Moth, who felt stalled by impostor syndrome after moving to a 'dream apartment' in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Naiman urged Burns to trek to North Carolina to retrieve an antique table from her grandfather's painting studio. A symbol of success and creativity, it's been Burns' dining table ever since. 'Installing it front and center was a way of telling the universe—but more importantly, myself—that I did belong there,' she said. If 'house therapy' could make me stop cringing when I walked through my door, I supposed it was worth a shot. Conversations with other battle-scarred remodelers only deepened my conviction that, although practitioners are now scarce, therapy-informed home design has serious growth potential. (Class of '25, take note!) As one of the biggest financial risks people can take, home improvements come with steep psychological stakes. According to Clever Real Estate's 2024 Home Renovation Survey, about 78% of homeowners went over budget on their last renovation and 74% of remodelers reported regrets. Social media may be chockablock with drool-worthy 'reveals'—but for most of us, real life looks nothing like that. In 2020, Christine Chitnis and her husband bought a 1,600-square-foot lake house in northern Michigan. The plan: to complete a 'refresh' in eight months. Instead, three years later, the project still wasn't finished and, thanks to faulty construction and legal costs, the original budget of $150,000 had ballooned to over $500,000. 'For the first year after, I felt like [expletive] this place—I never want to see it again,' Chitnis said. While she has not gone in search of a 'house therapist,' she did recently come home to find her husband organizing a puja, or Hindu cleansing ceremony, in hopes of exorcising the bad vibes. 'When we invite someone to come in and alter our home we are also inviting them into our psychological life,' explained Joseph R. Lee, a Jungian analyst based in Virginia Beach, Va., and co-creator of the popular podcast 'This Jungian Life.' A veteran of his own construction nightmares, Lee likens the 'educative' process of renovation to falling in love. 'When that fantasy or honeymoon period falls away, you have to confront a new reality on the other side.' Even when people get changes they thought they wanted, the resulting grief can take them aback. When I shared my predicament with Naiman, she wasn't surprised. 'Our relationships with our homes are intimate, and they can be wounded the way all intimate relationships can be,' she explained—adding that many of the techniques she now uses with clients were forged in her own traumatic Covid-era renovation. Her rates start at $450 an hour and range from Zoom strategy sessions to full-service designs; her book and online class, which launches soon, offer much of her wisdom for less of an investment. She agreed to come by and give me a primer. Did her guidance erase all the stress that came before? Nope. But it did leave me with a buzzy energy I hadn't felt in years—and a spreadsheet that sketched out a forward vision for every room in my house. (For a breakdown of one room, read on.) If you need a kick-start too, consider these steps in a 'house therapy' approach. Just as it's unwise to jump right into a new relationship post-breakup, taking a deliberate pause after a bad renovation can be an act of power. 'It's actually good to do nothing for a bit,' said Naiman. 'The nervous system needs time to rest and get a clearer picture of how you hope to live—and feel—in your space.' Emotionally, says Lee, it takes 6-9 months of living in a new place for the psyche to begin thinking of it as home. Central to Naiman's work is the idea of tapping into an idealized 'Future Self,' who's survived challenges and emerged thriving. When it's time for clients to pick up the reins again, she encourages them to let that vision be their north star rather than getting lost in incoherent impulse purchases or decision fatigue. Your home is your laboratory: What styling choices make your Future Self feel supported? What colors turn your Future Self on? 'You can feel in your body when intentions become reality,' Naiman said. Pay attention to the choices that trigger that feeling and proceed accordingly. One of the most painful aspects of renovations gone wrong can be a lingering sense of powerlessness, says Lee. When you're ready to shake that cycle, Naiman says, sometimes it takes an active decision to 'exit complaint mode.' Even hokey rituals can give closure. After a botched roof caused catastrophic flooding in an apartment Burns relied on for crucial income, Naiman smudged the space with sage and the two spent time lightheartedly imagining who her 'dream tenant' would be. 'It seemed a little silly,' said Burns. 'But all I know is the next week that tenant appeared.' Unless you're on a reality TV show or are an actual billionaire, you can't redecorate a 3-bedroom house in a week. But you could arrange accessories on a mantel or plan a gallery wall in a powder room. Assign yourself short, focused 30- to 45-minute styling sessions a few times a week, advises Naiman. The feel-good boost of dopamine you'll get from completing them will help see you through thornier tasks. When a renovation goes wrong, it can be hard to remember your original goal: to make your house a place of pleasure. As a simple step toward reclaiming that purpose, says Naiman, tap back into sensual joys—invest in plush carpet underfoot or upgrade everyday pieces like clocks and coffee mugs with versions that channel the 'future' energy you want to embrace. Chitnis has found that filling her home with blooms from the wildflower garden she and her children planted helps offset some of the 'burning rage' she still feels for her contractor. 'It's a way of bringing joy back to the house.' After a painful renovation, I asked 'house therapist' Olga Naiman to help get my decor back on track. Here, how we healed a room in five targeted, budget-conscious moves. 1. Post-construction, I painted every wall in my house white, intending to add color 'later.' But three years on, later still hadn't come—and the blank surfaces just reminded me of everything I'd left unfinished. To dislodge my paint paralysis, Naiman suggested I find inspiration in one of the few things I had picked—a riotous turquoise-and-indigo wallpaper in the adjacent dining room. The watery shade I pulled out (Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball) unified the spaces and added satisfying polish. 2. I aspire to the 'collected' look, but a combination of impulsive Facebook Marketplace purchases and tattered furniture from our old home merely looked incoherent. 'Clutter is just stagnant energy in physical form,' Naiman said. To purge the room's chaotic vibes and foster a sense of balance, she pressed me to sell my mismatched chairs and exchange them for a set of pared-back love seats. I got lucky and scored the vintage Mortensen-style sofas affordably at an auction. 3. Investing in sturdy 'anchor' pieces can help you feel settled in a place where you're still unmoored, says Naiman. But an investment doesn't have to be only financial or extravagant: Committing time and effort also matters. I took a day off work to drive a van alone for seven hours to pick up a pair of lacquered Dorothy Draper-style Espana chests I'd found out of state—for a 10th of what they'd typically cost. Bingo: instant gravitas. 4. Naiman points out that brands constantly use iconography to direct our attention and communicate meaning—and we can do the same with symbols at home. I kept that in mind when choosing a pair of prints from Block Shop in Los Angeles for a prominent wall. The 'sailor's knot' motif they depict represents strength and resilience. 5. One of the first things Naiman noted was the undignified way my family had crammed our beloved piano against a wall. To give the instrument proper pride of place—and pianists a more pleasant, expansive vista—she proposed floating it in the middle of the space like a sofa table. I was skeptical at first, but now the piano feels like the room's creative command center.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Agastya Spotted at Nirmal's Home
'Living Nostradamus' Athos Salome Predicts Prince Harry's Next Big Move Brazilian psychic Athos Salomé, often called the 'Living Nostradamus,' has dropped a royal bombshell about Prince Harry. In an eerie new prophecy, Salomé says Harry feels "trapped" in California and is preparing to walk away from his current life. But don't expect him back at Buckingham, Athos insists 'that door is closed.' The mystic claims King Charles may forgive Harry, but Prince William never will. Instead of returning to the UK or staying in Hollywood, Harry could move to a third country, possibly South Africa or New Zealand. Athos also predicts a major spiritual awakening for Harry at age 42, calling it a 'Kabbalistic maturity' shift. This comes as Harry recently revealed to the BBC that he still hopes for peace, though his father allegedly won't even speak to him. The Duke added he won't bring Meghan or the kids to the UK without full protection. 862 views | 22 hours ago
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pakistan Navy Claims Tracking Indian Aircraft Amid High Alert, Releases Video
'Living Nostradamus' Athos Salome Predicts Prince Harry's Next Big Move Brazilian psychic Athos Salomé, often called the 'Living Nostradamus,' has dropped a royal bombshell about Prince Harry. In an eerie new prophecy, Salomé says Harry feels "trapped" in California and is preparing to walk away from his current life. But don't expect him back at Buckingham, Athos insists 'that door is closed.' The mystic claims King Charles may forgive Harry, but Prince William never will. Instead of returning to the UK or staying in Hollywood, Harry could move to a third country, possibly South Africa or New Zealand. Athos also predicts a major spiritual awakening for Harry at age 42, calling it a 'Kabbalistic maturity' shift. This comes as Harry recently revealed to the BBC that he still hopes for peace, though his father allegedly won't even speak to him. The Duke added he won't bring Meghan or the kids to the UK without full protection. 736 views | 17 hours ago
Mint
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Living Nostradamus' Athos Salome drops bombshell predictions about Prince Harry's future
Renowned Brazilian psychic Athos Salomé, often dubbed the 'Living Nostradamus,' has turned his foresight towards Prince Harry, suggesting the Duke of Sussex is on the cusp of a series of dramatic and personal upheavals. Salomé, 38, has previously claimed accurate predictions of the Covid pandemic, the Queen's death, and even the 2024 Microsoft global outage. 'Since resigning from the official duties of the British monarchy in 2020, Harry has lived under a constant hurricane of family tensions, legal battles and public controversy,' Salomé told The Sun, adding, 'But beyond what you see in the headlines, there is a deeper energetic layer.' Salomé warns of a potential security threat linked to a humanitarian mission between July and September 2025, urging Prince Harry to reconsider his travel plans. 'The Duke seems trapped between his new life and the ghosts of royalty,' he said, noting that while Harry may emerge unscathed, 'the situation will be serious enough to provoke a public reassessment of his vulnerability.' He further claimed secret UK documents will surface, allegedly exposing security negligence on the part of British authorities. A private and emotional reconciliation with King Charles III could be on the horizon in early 2026, prompted by the monarch's health struggles. 'It will be intimate, away from the cameras, and motivated by a sense of urgency and finitude,' Salomé predicted. However, he said Prince William is unlikely to be part of this reunion, describing the heir as 'bound by duty and resentment.' Salomé says a former Sussex staff member is preparing to leak damaging audio and documents that could spark renewed scrutiny of Harry and Meghan's relationship. 'Negotiations are underway,' he noted, suggesting the content points to 'Meghan exerting strong influence over Harry's decisions, often in conflict with his values.' The psychic says the fallout could lead to 'a new wave of empathy for the prince, but also an irreversible reputational loss for Meghan.' By the end of 2026, Salomé foresees Prince Harry devoting himself to a humanitarian mission focused on veterans' mental health, which he calls the Duke's 'life's mission.' 'Curiously, the project will have the informal support of the monarchy,' he said, adding that this could mark 'the beginning of redemption.' California may no longer be home. Salomé claims Harry will embark on a 'spiritual exile,' relocating to a third country—possibly South Africa or New Zealand. 'Neither Hollywood nor Buckingham,' he said. 'At 42, a number that symbolises Kabbalistic maturity, he will find a new purpose in life.' According to Salomé, Prince Harry is working on a new book, due out in 2027, which will differ sharply from his 2023 memoir Spare. 'It won't be an attack on the monarchy, but a profound reflection on identity and mission,' he said, predicting the book could 'help him regain global respect as an individual – not just as a royal figure.' Prince Harry has ignited fresh tensions with the Royal Family after delivering a surprise and emotionally charged interview with the BBC, following his legal defeat over UK security arrangements. The Duke of Sussex, who lost his High Court appeal to reinstate taxpayer-funded protection for his family during visits to the UK, used the platform to express both a desire for reconciliation and a sharp rebuke of the monarchy's role in his continued estrangement. 'I don't carry emotional wounds,' Harry said in the 30-minute sit-down, adding that he wanted to 'bury the hatchet' with the Royal Family. However, he admitted he is 'no longer in contact' with his father, King Charles III — confirming long-rumoured divisions. The timing and tone of the interview comes just days after the court's decision against Harry's appeal to receive Royal and state security while in Britain. Though Harry claimed he was ready to reconcile, the interview's content and delivery have been interpreted as reopening old wounds rather than healing them. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020, citing relentless media scrutiny and the constraints of royal life. Their decision led to their relocation to California. As a result of their departure, the couple's Royal security cover was withdrawn — a point of major contention that led Harry to pursue legal action against the British government. Now, with that battle lost, the family faces potential safety risks when travelling to the UK. The unannounced and unfiltered nature of the broadcast has fueled speculation that Harry remains combative despite gestures toward reconciliation. With the legal route closed and familial relations strained, Prince Harry's future visits to the UK — already rare — may become even more unlikely. First Published: 5 May 2025, 07:41 PM IST
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Heeramandi' Star Sanjeeda Shaikh Serves Up Kitchen Goals
'Living Nostradamus' Athos Salome Predicts Prince Harry's Next Big Move Brazilian psychic Athos Salomé, often called the 'Living Nostradamus,' has dropped a royal bombshell about Prince Harry. In an eerie new prophecy, Salomé says Harry feels "trapped" in California and is preparing to walk away from his current life. But don't expect him back at Buckingham, Athos insists 'that door is closed.' The mystic claims King Charles may forgive Harry, but Prince William never will. Instead of returning to the UK or staying in Hollywood, Harry could move to a third country, possibly South Africa or New Zealand. Athos also predicts a major spiritual awakening for Harry at age 42, calling it a 'Kabbalistic maturity' shift. This comes as Harry recently revealed to the BBC that he still hopes for peace, though his father allegedly won't even speak to him. The Duke added he won't bring Meghan or the kids to the UK without full protection. 11 views | 12 minutes ago
