Inexpensive project - brick and pavers path to repair an entry, backdoor, $1 dollar each (Home Depot), total cost $4, Seattle, Washington, USA

This back entry to an older apartment rental used to be a jumbled, unsightly and confusing nightmare, especially dangerous to people using canes to walk, those with bad eyesight, and even to the cat or dog. Using the existing brick dug out of the old walkway, purchasing the 4 larger brick pavers (concrete), we restructured the area for $4.00 using existing materials. This project was accomplished in 2 four-hour sessions with two people.

Between sessions the area was cleared of the materials and the ground was leveled to make walking here easy to do, even when the project was not finished. All tools were put away.

We added drainage using all the small pebbles and rocks we could round up from the yard. These rocks are no longer in view in the finished project because they form the foundation for the left, right and front areas so water drains from the left to the right and away from the entry.

Entryways, paths, exits, stairs and all transition places, such as hallways, and driveways should always be kept as clean and free of debris as possible.

There are multiple reasons for keeping transition areas clean and clear.

First is safety, and safety is aways the first consideration in walkways and staircases. The last thing anyone wants is a disabled or older person falling down a staircase, or tripping over stuff left in a transistion zone.

In my own case, my mother fell over a bag of potatos left on the staircase of her house, onto the landing where she cried out for help for 4 hours until a passerby on the street heard her. After that she always wore an emergency call necklace just in case. If we all followed the simple rule not to leave anything on a stairway, it just simply would not have happened.

Second is the energy or spiritual quality of any location. To keep energy flowing and clear, entryways, exits, hallways, paths and similar transition areas are the veins and arteries of physical places especially around the house.

Anything which blocks the flow of energy often is a safety risk as well.

The desire to place things in such transition zones that block their use, may be reviewed and considered as physical manifestations of energy and psychological problems such as the desire to hide, not deal with personal or professional problems, or other similar energy flow issues.

Now both the people and the cat enjoy walking through this area because they don't even notice it any more. Not noticing a transition zone is a good place to begin with a redesign - the best result is to notice the beauty of such an area, because its usefulness is a given.