When designing a home, it’s absolutely crucial to me to design with each and every member of the family in mind… and for about three-quarters of the clients I work with, that includes family members with four legs, wagging tails, and big hearts.
Designing for “real life” is about more than thoughtful floorplans and incorporating a homeowner’s personal taste — it’s also about maximizing durability and functionality, especially when pets are a part of the family. Here, I’m sharing a few ways I design with pets in mind. And in case you’re wondering, I promise you can trust me. I have a pup of my own — hi, Theo!
Getting started
Families with pets know their animals very well — so they’re usually able to tell me right off the bat what to prioritize or stay away from in terms of keeping their pets happy and their space clean. For example, one family knew their cat liked to eat in the kitchen with the rest of the family, but that their bowls were frequently being kicked over during the cooking process. To remedy this, we custom-created a kitchen island with a cutout specifically for the kitten’s bowls. These are the exact types of ways I love to get creative — you tell me a problem, and I can solve it in a beautiful yet functional way!
Other families want to find solutions for a pet’s sleeping arrangements or bathtime routine… but the one thing all pet owners have in common is a need for durable flooring and furniture.
From the Ground Up
It’s no secret that the flooring in any home can take a beating, whether your guests forget to take off their shoes or one of your kids drops their chocolate ice cream while running from the kitchen to the family room. With pets, of course, this is only exacerbated — and while many pet owners think the only solution to this is to cut out the use of any carpeting and opt for hardwood or tile floors instead, I actually love utilizing 100% wool or high-performance fabric rugs throughout the whole home. (I mean, pets’ nails can scratch wood, and grout doesn’t mix well with accidents. Rugs it is!)
When selecting a rug, I like to remind clients that wool is a natural fiber that contains lanolin, so stains are easy to remove with just a bit of elbow grease and the right ingredients (I also have a professional rug cleaner on speed dial. No shame in that.). Wool has major longevity and is resistant to soiling, so the fibers bounce back after being wet, unlike viscose.
If wool’s not an option or preferable for you but you still want to prioritize stain resistance and cleanability, high-performance rugs work too. Believe me, they’ve come a long way! Even bleach doesn’t ruin high-quality high-performance materials — which we can use in rugs as well as when selecting sofas, chairs, and more.
Materials Matter
It’s worth noting that many of these performance fabrics, for everything from rugs to the sofa, do utilize certain chemicals to maintain their durability, so some of my clients prefer a more natural route for their rugs (and window treatments, upholstery, and furnishings). As I said, wool is always my top choice, but alpaca and mohair are also both surprisingly soft and cleanable. Where wool can feel rougher and harsher, these add a texture of sophistication and comfort without sacrificing a preference for natural materials.
Like I mentioned, I’m here to solve your problems in a way that feels comfortable to you. Yes, you CAN have a home filled with an array of materials that are also pet-friendly — we just have to get creative. For example, there are some amazing stain-resistant sprays that we can use on your rugs and furniture to ensure they’re not ruined by pets (or a stray glass of red wine…).
The bad news? There’s a reason that Elvis warned against stepping on his blue suede shoes… and it’s because he knew how hard they were to clean! Silk, suede, and velvet are incredible, luxurious fabrics — but they don’t mix well with pets. Why is it that our pups and kittens always gravitate towards the least forgiving of fabrics when choosing where to lay their heads? In my experience, I recommend to clients that we keep those materials in pet-free zones.
In Conclusion
Pets bring so much joy to a home, but they also bring their own unique needs and challenges. If you ask me, those challenges are always worth it, and it’s fun to find ways to design your home with your pets in mind. A recent project even featured a custom basement tub for puppy bathtime… How sweet is that!?