Design Tips for Pet Lovers at the PDC

Los Angeles Designer Christopher Grubb was not only a runway star in last month’s Patterns For Paws event at the PDC, he was asked to share his ‘Design Tips For Pet Lovers’ recently on Martha Stewart Radio. Check out his great advice...

Design Tips For Pet Lovers
By Christopher Grubb
http://www.archinteriors.com

People spend literally billions of dollars a year on their pets in America and nearly 50% of homes are residences of a cat or dog.  Design tips for considering if you are creating a room for your prized pet(s).

Paint. Use semi gloss for ease of cleaning.  And a faux finish as well creates a pattern and isn’t as susceptible to dirt.
Wainscoting- Do wainscot of a beautiful vinyl Wallcovering or wall paper the entire wall. It is easy to Windex and clean and has great longevity
Carpet tiles are great.  You can create a fun pattern or replace any that get damaged. Flor makes a great product that is easy to install and it’s more like felt so your pet won’t dig at the carpet with loop weave and it’s easier to clean than cut pile carpeting. Carpet / carpet tile can also be used as a wainscot on the walls perfect for scratching area for cats and easy to change out.
Fabrics. For upholstered pieces there are great fabrics that we use in health care with Crypton.   Liquid literally “pills” up on the fabric and does not absorb into the material.  Also, there are some amazing outdoor fabrics that you can use as well as faux leather.   Or if you are wanting to use existing pieces of furniture, slip covers are great.  You can make them yourself and they are easy to launder.
Tile flooring. Whether is it vinyl or porcelain, It’s easy to clean and there are even porcelain tiles that look like wood but are tile.  Keep the grout lines tight.  And if you really want to pamper your pet-radiant heated floors are the ultimate luxury.  If it’s a warmer climate, the tile is cool and dogs like to lay on it to stay cool.  And if worried about slipping, and area rug is ideal.  If you want a true wood look, a product like Pergo will suffice.
Area rug. If you use tile there are options for area rugs.  One is Artificial lawn.  At the Pattern for Paws event I spoke with many pet owners use an outdoor artificial lawn as area rugs.  It is functional and they rave it can easily be hosed down and hung to dry.  An outdoor area rug as well can be a nice accessory and is easy to clean.
Soft sleeping area. Make sure you have a bed for your pet or a lounging stool.  They need a soft surface to be comfortable and warm on.
Ceiling fan for room circulation and additional heating and cooling affect.
Accessories. We have literally had a client take a fire hydrant and put it next to their dog’s bed as a touch of whimsy.  Have fun with accessories that make you and your pet smile.
Litter box. We like to hide these.  We have done them in large base cabinets or in a closet in a room with a “doggie door” for easy access for the cat.
Food storage. If you have dry food, you can have a drawer with the box plastic instead of wood or a fit plastic liner for storage needs.
Storage. A fun book case with some of the fronts with a circular pattern can be great because it provides storage and cats will love to adventure into the openings and hide within the box.  Or one large section can be custom done with a cage like front that acts as a “kennel” if you are “crating” or “crate training”.  Also small dressers are idea for storage of toys, outfits etc.
Colors. Have as much fun with color as you want BUT if you have a pet who sheds a lot, try and keep the color scheme one that matches as close as possible to your pets hair color.
View. If your room has a low enough window, create a bench so your pet can sit and watch the outside world go by.
Pet Gear. For leashes, collars, etc, a belt rack on the back of the door or wall behind the door is a great storage option and will mostly be hidden from view.
Avoid using any expensive wood pieces in the room that can be scratched or chewed.  Metal, plastic or laminated furnishings are better choices.
And don’t forget...Automatic Room Freshener. ‘Nuff said.