Australian-based feng shui expert Kelly McCloskey works alongside some of the best designers and architects, collaborating to create homes that feel warm and inviting.
For some, feng shui might seem like an unconventional path when designing or renovating a home. But it’s a collaborative tool that can bring balance and harmony to a space. Working with a feng shui expert can elevate the overall flow of energy (or qi) in a home, creating a space that feels both functional and inviting.
Kelly McCloskey, known as The Feng Shui Girl, has been advising on feng shui for over a decade, with many years in real estate prior to that. Her expertise lies in harmonising the existing architectural elements of a house with feng shui principles to ensure the flow of qi remains smooth and beneficial.
As McCloskey explains, “Feng shui is all about working with the constraints of a home, not against them. My role is to collaborate with architects and interior designers to enhance or help fix what’s already there, ensuring the space feels good and attracts positive energy.” At its most fundamental, good feng shui is good design.
One common misconception is that a feng shui expert will upend existing plans or dramatically change a home’s layout. But in reality, a good feng shui practitioner will offer solutions that support and strengthen the design. “I don’t want to change the entire plan,” McCloskey says. “Instead, I help overcome any potential energetic blockages. It’s about making adjustments that can have a big impact on how a home feels.”
Studio Goss founder David Goss has collaborated with McCloskey on several projects. He’s seen first-hand how feng shui can complement architectural design rather than complicate it. “Feng shui is more than just furniture placement or where to locate a mirror,” Goss notes. “It helps us to understand why some spaces feel more comfortable, safe or inviting and Kelly helps us articulate this. Kelly provides a different insight and helps create a balance where things aren’t working and navigate a way to make it the best it can be.”
McCloskey collaborates with many architects, designers and builders, including several projects that are underway with Studio Goss.
While Kelly didn’t work directly on Studio Goss’ Cape Schank house, she points out it has elements of good feng shui, such as placing furniture with walls behind to support and create a cosy atmosphere.
Kelly McCloskey and David Goss reviewed floorplans to bring balance and energy. Kelly uses traditional techniques including Form School, the Flying Star formulae and Eight Mansion.
There isn’t a strict set of rules, rather it’s about embracing feng shui’s flexible approach. A feng shui expert can work as an extension of the design team, and McCloskey is quick to point out that it can be applied to modern, minimalist designs as easily as more traditional homes.
In practice, feng shui adjustments might include rearranging furniture, introducing new art pieces, or even introducing specific colours or materials that encourage the flow of positive energy. But the goal remains the same—to create a home that supports its inhabitants, both in terms of functionality and overall well-being. As McCloskey puts it, “Feng shui isn’t just about trinkets, or superstition. It’s about creating a space that truly feels good to live in. When your home is in flow, so are its occupants, and that means life is easy.”
Feng shui enhances a home’s natural energy, working within the framework of existing designs to create spaces that feel welcoming, balanced and full of life. As Goss sums up poetically, “It’s about making the space work for you—not just aesthetically, but the sense of energy it creates and how it makes you feel.”
While Kelly didn’t work directly on Studio Goss’ Cape Schank house, she points out it has elements of good feng shui, for instance a meandering entry that steps up to the front door.