[quote author="icey" date=1248424922]Am I the only person who can't stand the half bathrooms that get built right next to the kitchen? It seems convenient, but these are often meant for guests, and I feel terribly uncomfortable using them, especially when every single one I've been in seems to have no noise dampening built in. Also there's the issue of bathroom smells mixing with kitchen smells, it just seems gross and potentially embarrassing for guests. It seems to be a popular standard feature in most houses from the past 10 years, but personally I think the toilet is something that should be built out of sight and out of mind, not right next to an eating and food preparation area lol.</blockquote>
Over the years having studied environmental psychology I learned that guests are reluctant to use the powder room because of the exact reasons Icey pointed out. Powder room must always have a small vestibule to shield it from sight. It should also be located at least 10' (minimal room length) away from the kitchen for buffering noise as well as smell. Foul water and clean water are important in feng shui.
Feng Shui also has grand scale application beyond the water in the toilet. Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Westin and Hyatt all consulted with feng shui master for their lobby and restroom locations. Prior to the 90's Vegas hotels were quite seedy and none seemed to established a grandeur statement. Steve Wynn consulted with a feng shui master and he recommended the element of water for his hotels as a focal point. First the Mirage and then Treasure Island. The water element in each scenario were shaped to promote wealth. Other hotels without the water feng shui element quickly faded such as NY NY, Luxor, Excalibur, Stratosphere and etc. Wynn continued to expand his water feng shui elements in the Bellagio, Wynn and Encore. Both Wynn, Encore, and the body of water in conjuction is a metaphor symbol of Ying and Yang.