Fountains soothe the soul, add much-needed moisture to air

“Water, thou hast no taste; no color, no odor; canst not be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself, thou fillest me with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery, (1900-1944), French aviator and writer, “Wind, Sand, and Stars” (1939)

Q: Both my husband and I like the idea of having a water fountain in our home. We love the soothing sound and the appearance of the wall-mounted ones. Our home is more traditional, however, and usually when you see fountains in magazines, the homes are more contemporary. Is it OK to use a wall fountain with traditional décor; and where is the best place to display them? Also, is there a lot of maintenance involved?

A: Wall fountains are brilliant in any setting, and certainly go in traditional, as well as contemporary, country or “early attic.” Besides the wonderful look, who doesn’t relish the soothing and relaxing sound of falling water?

In addition to being beautiful to look at, the moisture they provide is helpful in a dry climate such as ours. There are many different styles and sizes of wall fountains and you should be able to find one appropriate for any space you have.

Actual placement of the fountain in your home is entirely up to you. They are self-contained, requiring no actual plumbing, only an electric outlet. Add water, plug them in and, voilá, instant atmosphere.

Fountains are glorious in a foyer, greeting you and your guests with their soothing sounds. They make extraordinary focal points in living or dining rooms and add a spa like feel to a bath or exercise room.

While fountains are not high maintenance, just like any other “possession,” there are several housekeeping tips for keeping your fountain in good working order. First and foremost, pay attention to the water. Always use distilled water, as tap water contains minerals that can damage the pump and can also cause ugly spotting on the surface.

The water should also be changed out completely about every six months. Maintain the proper water level in your fountain (there should be an indication from the manufacturer). In our climate, the water will evaporate quickly and should be checked on a daily basis. And, by all means, put nothing in your fountain except water. Anything such as oil, perfumes or dyes will damage the fountain and clog your pump.

A fountain inside your home will provide a calming, friendly addition for years to come. Don’t be afraid of them. They are very easy to live with.

Note: After last week’s column, I had a question about how to preserve lacquer furniture and prevent it from cracking in our dry climate. Unfortunately, that is one of the downsides to living in the desert. If you have a chest or cabinet, anything with a drawer or door, keep a glass or bowl of water in the cabinet. This will help to keep the moisture level up a little bit. Check it every few days because it will evaporate quickly. A humidifier in the room also would help.

Carolyn Muse Grant is the founding president of the Architectural & Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home section of the Review-Journal. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.