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17 January 2013

IKEA Welcomes the Water Snake’s Homecoming Presenting the Art of Auspicious Living

As Chinese New Year is just around the corner, it is time to de-clutter, redecorate and refresh the home, preparing towards an auspicious welcome for the Water Snake’s arrival! IKEA, the home furnishing specialist unites with renowned Feng Shui master Kenny Hoo as they bring together contemporary design and Chinese geomancy to provide valuable home furnishing tips and ideas that will enable a prosperous, harmonious 2013 ahead. “While Chinese New Year is the time for reunions and celebrations, we want to help our customers to create a better living home for the coming year and beyond. Here at IKEA, we provide affordable solutions to suit your needs – whether it is creating a comfortable living room for family, brightening up the bedroom while keeping space organised, or finishing items for your Feng Shui arrangements,” says Rudy Ariff, Interior Designer, IKEA. According to Kenny Hoo, Founder and Chief Researcher of GOOD FENG SHUI® Geomantic Research, 2013 is a good year for renovation and refurnishing to accumulate better luck and stronger energy for the whole year. “This year, families are encouraged to combine purple elements and decorative items to amplify positive energy at home as purple has been identified as the lucky colour of the year. It is also important to spring clean your home to get rid of clutter that has been accumulating negative Qi by removing unwanted items and reorganizing your storage space in order to allow new things from coming into your life,” explains Hoo. Rudy adds, “At IKEA, we offer the affordable BESTÅ storage solutions to help you de-clutter and reorganize your space. With over 9,000 combinations, you will be able to customize to fit even the most unique living space to welcome the New Year.” “Feng Shui is a way of life. It involves the science and art of managing and harmonising Qi or energies in order to achieve a healthier, happier, wealthier life, and thus a better quality of life. Good Feng Shui is not a restriction at home, but instead it is a multi-dimensional practice that also allows for flexibility and creativity to enjoy the effects, without compromising on personal preference,” says Hoo.

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Spring Storing the IKEA way with IKEA BESTÅ storage solutions

Having enough storage for the family makes a huge difference at home. Pack away all your old stuff and give space to your home for new beginnings this Chinese New Year. BESTÅ storage solutions give you the flexibility to create your own combination to fit your home, your family and your reunion. Combine open and closed storage to hide or display your things according to your needs with the range below.

BESTÅ storage combination with doors RM 1,874 Foil finish, tempered glass W120xD40, H192cm For more inspiration from the BESTÅ storage combination, kindly visit http://onlinecatalogue.ikea.com/MY/en/Range_Brochure_BESTA/

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Because spring storing is faster than spring cleaning

We all know that Chinese New Year is all about welcoming the new, good and the prosperous. Here at IKEA, we understand your need to make space and help you clean up.

BRIMNES chest of 3 drawer RM329 Particleboard, ABS plastic, foil. W78xD41, H95cm. Red.

EXPEDIT shelving unit RM499 Particleboard, ABS plastic, foil. W149xD39, H149cm. Birch effect.

KUSINER box RM22.90 100% polyester. L26xW36, H26cm. Red/orange.

For the recipes that bring the whole family home While family reunions are always the highlights of Chinese New Year, there are a lot of ways to add some flavour to your reunion dinner at IKEA. From spicy-hot colour combinations to the tasteful decorations, IKEA will help you bring to life to your reunion this Chinese New Year with the GYRID product range. GYRID pot stand RM7.90 100% polyester. Ø25cm. Red.

GYRID coaster RM12.90/4pcs 100% polyester. Ø9cm. Red.

GYRID bowl RM5.90/each Stoneware, glaze. Ø10, H5cm. Assorted patterns.

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Irresistible Chinese New Year Promotions

BESTÅ Promotion Get 10% rebate in an IKEA Gift Card with minimum purchase of RM1200 of BESTÅ/INREDA storage in a single receipt from 10 January to 3 March 2013. IKEA FAMILY offer Present your IKEA FAMILY Temporary Card or Permanent Card at check-outs purchase DILLKÖTT pressure cooker at RM199 (NP: RM249) and ORDNING dish drainer at RM79 (NP: RM99) and more. Offer starts from 10 January to 30 April 2013 and while stocks last. For more information on our Chinese New Year Campaign, kindly contact Customer Service at 03-7726 7777 or visit www.IKEA.com.my

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Good Feng Shui Tips for 2013

by Master Kenny Hoo, GOOD FENG SHUI® Geomantic Research

1. 2013: The Year of Correction

2013, the year of the Water Snake is filled with much excitement and energy. The beginning of Spring (Li Chun 立春) is scheduled to start on 4 February 2013, before the Lunar New Year (10 February 2013). The year of the Water Snake will not carry any negative omens to the New Year. The year of Water Snake is the perfect period to move into a new house and/or renovate the existing place, especially when these activities are performed at an auspicious time as advised by a Feng Shui Master.

2. The lucky Purple The Good Feng Shui lucky colour for 2013 is Purple. Purple signifies the awakening morning mist that powers the ability to rejuvenate the body, mind and soul. Purple also reflects intuition and spirituality which in reality calms the mind, triggers creativity and idea development. Clever application of purple in auspicious sectors would certainly present the beginning of a brighter and promising future.

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3. South, the most auspicious sector of 2013 South is the most auspicious sector and direction in the year of Water Snake. The love and relationship star will be located at the South sector of a home. Occupants who have their house facing South or their bedroom located in this sector will experience a bountiful love life. Hopeful occupants will also likely to attain love and marriage proposals in 2013 especially during the months of May, June, August and September. Purple elements like vase, painting, curtain, bed-sheet, lamp shade, sofa, or blanket can be added at the South sector to enhance your love luck and conceiving rate.

4. The cautious sectors and elements

The inauspicious sectors in 2013 are Southwest, Southeast and the Centre. You are advised to avoid making any renovation in these sectors from 4 February 2013 to 3 February 2014.

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Do avoid decorating and painting these areas in red or yellow. You may soothe the negative energy by applying white or blue elements in these sectors. There is a general Feng Shui belief that Water in the Southwest sector brings immense wealth luck. However, this year we should avoid installing any water feature such as aquariums or water fountains in the Southwest sector of the house to avoid triggering unintended negative Qi located in the Southwest sector in 2013.

4. Reenergizing the living room

Clever application of the year’s lucky colour in the living room would amplify the positive energy and encourage better well-being. Placing purple e l ements such as sofa, pi l lows, vase and decorative items in a living room that is situated in the Northeast, East and South sectors will create positive energy and greater fortune that will in turn bring about good health, wealth, harmony and prosperity.

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5. Setting your bedroom right

The bedroom is important for maintaining a good spouse relationship. A wedding portrait is a powerful source of romance energy in Feng Shui. However, one should not hang in front of the bed. Mirrors in the bedroom should not face any windows as it may attract negative energy from outside. Television screens act like mirrors too, and therefore should not face the bed directly. Do not paint the room in red, pink, brown or yellow as these colours represent fire and earth elements that may invite sickness.

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6. Kitchen, the heart of our home

The stove in the kitchen represents the fire element, an important element in a home as it directly relates to the health, wealth and harmony amongst the family members living within the household. Good Feng Shui always refers to the stove as the "heart" of the house. Therefore, one should avoid installing the stove within the Northwest sector of the house. Also, do ensure that the stove is not facing the door, mirror, sink or a washing machine. On top of that, the stove should not be installed right below the sewerage pipe.

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8. Spring cleaning strategy

The auspicious dates for spring cleaning to attract better luck throughout the year of 2013 are as follows: • Jan 18 (with exception for people who are born in the year of Tiger) • Jan 22 (with exception for people who are born in the year of Horse) • Jan 25 (with exception for people who are born in the year of Rooster) • Jan 27 (with exception for people who are born in the year of Boar) • Jan 28 (with exception for people who are born in the year of Rat) • Jan 30 (with exception for people who are born in the year of Tiger) • Feb 5 (with exception for people who are born in the year of Monkey) • Feb 6 (with exception for people who are born in the year of Rooster) • Feb 7 (with exception for people who are born in the year of Dog)

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About the Spokespersons

Rudy Ariff Interior Designer, IKEA

Rudy Fariz Bin Mohd Ariff joined IKEA as an interior designer in May 2011. His responsibilities include understanding people’s life at home that are relevant to the local market and showcasing different functions using product range from IKEA to create solutions for a sustainable, better everyday life at home. Rudy is a graduate in Architecture from UiTM Shah Alam and Robert Gordon’s University, United Kingdom. He was previously in charge of Living Room Storage and Workspace departments. Master Kenny Hoo GOOD FENG SHUI® Geomantic Research Master Kenny Hoo is the Founder & Chief Researcher of GOOD FENG SHUI® Geomantic Research, a research-based company that actively involves in providing professional Feng Shui (Geomantic science) research, authoring, branding, seminars and consultancy services. Kenny combines the traditional Feng Shui methodology with modern, scientific tools & technologies in his unique Geomantic research, study and implementation through his very own Good Feng Shui Converge Water Technique®. His scientific approach and teaching in Good Feng Shui always avoid the infusion of superstitious or misleading elements or information. Kenny is the regular and annual panel guest speaker for many multi-national & public listed corporations locally and internationally. He was appointed as the spokesperson and ambassadors for Akzo Nobel’s MBG Fruits and Washington Apples from USA, and serves as the professional consultant with some international brands including AIA, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, The Four Seasons Resorts, Kaspersky, Bentley Music and many other international brands. Kenny holds a Bachelor Degree (Hons) in Computer Science from National University of Malaysia.

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About IKEA

Home is the most important place in the world. A personal space and comforting spot where family and friends gather, where children learn and grow. A place where everyone is welcomed to just hang out daily. IKEA aims to help to create a better everyday life at home for the many people. Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered a wide range of well-designed home furnishings and functional living solutions at prices so low that the many people can afford them. IKEA believes that showing responsibility for people and the environment is a condition for doing good business. This means that the IKEA low prices must not be at the expense of people or the environment – low price but not at any price. IKEA incorporates environmentally friendly efforts into its day-to-day business and continuously supports initiatives benefiting causes such as children and the environment. Read about the IKEA sustainability efforts at www.IKEA.com.my/sustainability. To date, there are more than 337 IKEA stores in 40 countries, including 1 in Malaysia.

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Text100 Malaysia

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Email: jessica.kan@text100.com.my / helene.gomez@text100.com.my

IKEA

Yeong Tze Kuen Deputy Regional Marketing Manager, IKEA Tel: 03-7720 7273 Email: tzekuen.yeong@ikano.asia