The world of interior design can appear to be all about perfection all of the time, but beyond the flawlessly styled images, there’s often a furry friend draping itself across a velvet ottoman or perching atop an antique dresser. Afterall, it’s their home too.
Having a pet in your life doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the look of your home. Done right, pet-friendly spaces have a place in even the most impeccably-styled homes. Indeed, a playful pooch or a nonchalant kitty can add personality and playfulness to a space; there is nothing more irresistible than the combination of an immaculate, luxurious home and the furry friend that resides inside it. All it takes is a bit of thought, some cleverly worked joinery and a not-too-precious attitude – here are our top tips.
Create a dedicated pet space
Pets can and should be given the same consideration as all family members when designing their dedicated spaces. It’s as much their home as it is yours, so don’t forget about factoring in their specific needs just as you would your own requirements.
When working with clients who have animal friends or fur babies, we approach their spaces in the same way as any human client – by understanding their specific needs and coming up with clever and unique ways to make them feel truly nurtured and at home.
At Knox Street, our client brought home a French Bulldog puppy during the decoration process. We gave thought and attention to how the new additon would live in and around the home. We designed and commissioned a custom dog pen at the study which allowed unlimited access to the adjacent balcony, providing an indoor/outdoor flow for him, independently engaging interior and exterior spaces. Confined to a very limited variety of off-the-shelf dog gates, we further designed a complimentary custom gate for the hallway to perfectly blend into the neighbouring wall colour.
Opt for built-ins
Anyone who owns a four-legged friend knows just how much paraphernalia they require, from beds to food bowls to collars and toys. For better or for worse, these pet accessories become an unavoidable part of everyday life, but if you want a place for them that will seamlessly blend into your home’s design, built-in options work well and save space. Cosy cat beds and litter trays can be built into the cabinetry of laundry rooms and dog beds can be integrated into the joinery of home offices, libraries or TV rooms.
At Edgecliff Road, we designed a custom cat cupboard to house our clients’ beloved cats. Conscious of not wanting their furry friends to be an afterthought, we literally check-measured the cats to design a perfectly-sized ‘room’ just for them. This pair of kitties now have their own comfortably nurturing individual space to relax and unwind after a tough day of lounging across the dining room banquette seating (aka the best seat in the house!).
Select Stylish options
Even if built-ins aren’t an option, you don’t need to put up with a slobber-stained bulk of a bed or pawprint motifs in garish colours (the likes of which we would prefer to hide away before guests arrive). There are plenty of stylish options available, from trendy boucle beds and basket designs to litter boxes designed to look like beautiful sideboards.
The thoughtfulness put into your furniture should extend to your pet pieces; select items that complement your home’s décor and that you enjoy looking at every day (your fur baby deserves the best afterall!).
Tackle the pet-HATED PET hair
Pet hair is all part of the package of having a fluffy friend! Unfortunately, there aren’t many options for disguising the inevitable shedding. Flecked or two-tone fabrics are better at hiding fur than solid colours so consider the colour of your pet when selecting upholstery (a dark velvet lounge is no friend to the fluffiest pure white kitty!).
Your new best friend (next to your furry friend of course) is a high-powered vacuum cleaner. Opt for the Dyson ‘Animal’ vacuum or the iRobot Roomba that can continually clean up the mess so you don’t have to! Removable and machine-washable lounge covers that can be easily unzipped off and on as required is also a great option.
