Pet projects
REQUESTS FOR ‘PET-FRIENDLY’ HOME DESIGNS ON THE RISE
There has “most definitely” been an increase in decorating homes with animals in mind, according to national designer Louis Duncan-he.
Duncan-he says he lucked out and decided to get his mini-golden doodle Archie the fall before the pandemic and has “noticed that the wait lists to get pets have either doubled or tripled in time — not to mention also the prices,” he says.
“It’s very normal that the more inward we’ve been and forced to adapt to, the more companionship we want,” he says. “The level of requests I get for ‘pet-friendly’ is starting to rival ‘kid-proof.’”
Duncan-he advises it’s important to think about the type of pet you have and design accordingly. “For example, if you have a cat, they love to dig their nails into anything with grit — rattan, a heavy weave, caning. Cats are way less likely to scratch something that has no grip; think suede, velvet and microsuedes. Dogs on the other hand can just be a lot more chaotic in general, and so I would focus more on durability and rub count.”
Designer Sascha Lafleur of West of Main in Ottawa agrees that when it comes to designing, you should plan ahead if you have pets, especially dogs. “Think about the functionality of each space and how your dog will also use the space,” says Lafleur. “For example, in your kitchen, where’s your dog’s bag of food going to be stored? Where are the feeding bowls going to go? You want these spaces to be easy to access and maintain but also not be an eyesore.”
In a current West of Main project, they’ve made sure to create a feeding space that is hidden and has a backsplash all the way down to make for easy cleanup. “Another incredibly practical element we’ve incorporated is a dog washing station just off the mud room,” says Lafleur. “It features raised flooring with a hand-held shower; perfect for easy washing after a day at the dog park. As for decor, there are tons of dog-friendly performance fabrics that are easy to maintain.”
Duncan-he adds that if you have a pet that tends to be “a little more slobbery,” then you want to think about treated fabrics that are easy to clean. In summary, there is no one solution that fits all approach with pets.
What can you do to prevent torn couches, chewed up furniture and damaged floors? “With having a pet, the overall responsibility is on the owner to create an environment that’s conducive to their pets,” he says.
“You want to make sure you’re firstly grooming your pet appropriately, making sure nails are trimmed regularly. And in addition to just getting more pet-friendly fabrics, you also have to consider the psychology of your pet. If a dog starts to act out, bite and chew up your furniture, 99 per cent of the time it’s because they aren’t getting enough stimulation. A well-exercised and stimulated pet is so much more likely to just chill out and follow their owner around.”
It’s possible to make the home beautiful as well as comfortable for both animal and human, he says, “you just need to be purposeful.”
“I kind of take the same approach as I would if I were designing a home with a lot of young children,” says Duncan-he. “You want the appropriate storage solutions to be able to house all of the toys/accessories for your pet.”