Hey all!
I just found out that was featured in the Women Create newsletter back in September! Below is the newsletter in all it’s glory for all to see. Thank you for featuring me in this female forward magazine promoting creativity so beautifully. A special thanks to Lisa Haukom for my remote photo shoot pics feature here!
xo
Abby
Below is the work of Women Create Newsletter:
PREMIUM NEWSLETTER
Abby Lane describes herself as a House Therapist and a Holistic Designer. She has a keen appreciation for how people’s surroundings help define and shape their experiences. So she strives to help others build lives that they love—starting with their environments. Abby took the time to explain some of the ways in which her home, featured in the images below, reflects her creative process—as well as what she has come to understand about what Feng Shui is (and is not) in the course
of her work.
How would you introduce your aesthetic to someone?
My home clearly represents me, and that’s very intentional. That’s also a foundational principle in Feng Shui. If I had to label my aesthetic, I’d say it leans eclectic, maybe a little bohemian, definitely a bit country. I’ve seen the “Coastal Cowgirl” trend floating around lately and parts of it remind me a lot of my home.
What matters most to me is that my space feels welcoming, grounded, layered and personal. Almost everything in my home has meaning—collected from travel, memories, or through different seasons of life. I love when a space reflects who you were, who you are, and who you’re becoming. That’s what I aim to do for clients. What we surround ourselves with is important: not just visually, but energetically.
What were your earliest impressions of Feng Shui and how has your understanding of it evolved?
Feng Shui has really been in my life forever; I just didn’t know to call it that. And I think that’s true for a lot of people. We’re always in conversation with our spaces; Feng Shui just gives that conversation a vocabulary.
When I started studying it formally, it felt like discovering the science behind what I’d already been feeling for years. There are so many layers to this work, and you can always go deeper. I work in the visual realm as a designer, but I continue to study the energetic and emotional layers, so I can help my clients more meaningfully.
I’ve always loved bringing beauty into people’s homes, but what mattered most to me was helping them feel seen in their spaces. Feng Shui gave me the tools to do that—visually, energetically, intentionally. With the Five Elements, the Bagua Map, Yin and Yang, I can move beyond “beautiful” and into something that truly feels aligned.
Who needs House Therapy?
House Therapy is for everyone. If you have a space, you can benefit from House Therapy. My mentor Amanda Gibby Peters coined the term, and it’s the perfect way to describe how your space can either support or stall your growth.
Our homes are mirrors. They’re often our best teachers. Whether it’s your bedroom, office, or a shared space—if something feels off in your life, it usually shows up at home first. Feeling stuck? Chronically tired? Constantly clearing clutter? That’s your home sending you signals. trying to tell you something. House Therapy helps you listen—and then shift.
Can people appreciate what Feng Shui does for a space even if they don’t fully understand it?
Absolutely. You can 100% receive the benefits of Feng Shui without understanding all the principles behind it. Feng Shui is happening whether we’re aware of it or not. We’re constantly interacting with our environment, and it’s shaping our lives in seen and unseen ways.
Much of what I do is subtle but deeply intentional. A client who participates in the process is opening the door to real change. You can’t Shui for someone, but you can guide them.
I may guide a client through simple adjustments: maybe it’s placing two objects in a relationship corner, or removing something that’s been energetically blocking progress. It’s not about memorizing all the principles. It’s about partnering with someone who understands them and entering the process with your own intention. That’s when the magic happens.
Will you share something you feel others often misunderstand about your process?
One big misconception is that design and Feng Shui are the same thing. They’re not. They can go hand in hand, but they are two different things. Design is often about how a space looks and functions. Feng Shui is about how a space feels. It’s working with the energy behind your choices, not just the aesthetic.
Another key piece of wisdom I love to share with clients is: You can’t really get Feng Shui wrong. There’s so much fear-based content out there, the internet loves a dramatic “NEVER do this!” headline, and I just don’t believe in that. I invite people to try something small that feels good. Most shifts are reversible, and I always suggest trying changes for nine or 27 days and seeing what shows up. Move your bed. Change a rug. You’re allowed to play and see what works.
Where else do you direct your creative energy beyond providing
House Therapy?
Painting and crafting—especially with my kids. It’s fun to just be in pure creativity mode just for the sake of creating. Sometimes we make something for the house, but more often than not, it’s just about the process. There’s no pressure, no end goal. It’s fun, it’s messy, and it keeps me grounded in the joy of making something
from nothing.
Do you see a connection between your childhood creativity and the work you do today?
I’ve been drawn to color and art for as long as I can remember. My mom tells this story about me as a little kid—like five or six—talking about the color wheel, explaining complementary colors, what works together etc. She had no idea where I picked that up, but I was just fascinated. Color has always made sense to me on an emotional level—how color affects mood, memory, energy—and that’s a huge part of Feng Shui: matching colors to elements, using tones to shift energy. It all connects.
Would you name a teacher or mentor who had a profound effect on
your life?
Well, that’s easy Amanda Gibby Peters, without question. She’s my mentor and the person who opened the world of Feng Shui to me. I was lucky enough to be part of her first House Therapy cohort, and it’s still one of the most impactful learning experiences of my life. Her generosity, her knowledge, her clarity—it completely changed the course of my work. What I’ve learned from Amanda is that Feng Shui isn’t about perfection but presence: about listening, learning, and leaning into what’s already in your space.
Can you describe a place you have traveled or lived that inspired you?
Oh, I love this question. Travel is such a huge inspiration for me. I write about it all the time. The overlap with Feng Shui and travel is huge: how we feel in different environments. I adore Europe, and I would say one place that really stays with me is Croatia. The sea, the sun-bleached stone, the layers of history that you can literally walk through—it was all just incredibly moving. I love bringing that kind of energy back into my home.
For example, in my backyard, I have a fountain that a friend recently said reminded him of Italy. That’s exactly the goal. Living in California, I get to lean into a Mediterranean aesthetic that really aligns with my travels: lavender for Provence, olive trees for Tuscany, bougainvillea for Mexico. And of course my hometown of Ojai shows up in my space. I love infusing my home with pieces of places that have shaped me.
What is the best compliment someone could give you about a space that you helped shape?
Easy: “This space feels so good.” That’s the best one. Or maybe even better: “This feels like me now.” When someone says that their home finally feels like a reflection of themselves and their family—that’s the goal. Anyone can create a beautiful room. But when someone says, “This space feels like home”—that’s the deepest compliment I can receive.
Would you shout out another woman creator whose work you admire?
Sure! Liz Cohn here in Ojai. She’s a designer/multi-entrepreneur, and she runs Forage Ojai, and her florals are just stunning. She does weddings and events and recently opened a beautiful little shop. She’s creating these immersive, seasonal experiences and hosting creative workshops.
Can you share something from your creative to-do list?
Right now, I’m really loving my Substack. It’s become a space where I can put visuals into words and bring my ideas to life in a more intimate way than most social media allows. I’m writing about the intersection of travel and Feng Shui, a “Shui & Tell” series that dives into bite-sized Feng Shui ideas, and lots more in the works. It’s a creative space for exploring, storytelling, and sharing—and I’m really excited to see where it takes me.
Photography by Lisa Haukom of Goldenbrand
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If you enjoyed reading about my Women Create features creative women in their magazines: Where Women Create and What Women Create and through their newsletter… a lovely way to support other makers and peek into the lives of creative women.
Congratulations Abby! It’s a wonderful feature.
I love to see it! What a wonderful feature and I appreciate the local Ojai recommendations.