Living Gracefully with the Pets -- in a Condo
Posted December 9, 2009  |  No Comments  | 

Those of us who live with pets at Vantage Pointe know it can be a challenge to keep a beautiful home. Spills, dirt, and mess are a fact of life. The number one rule, says Julia Szabo, author of "Animal House Style" and self-proclaimed foremost expert of living stylishly with pets, is keep things easy to clean. "Children and pets are little magnets of entropy. Mess follows them around. You have to be able to just wipe it, vacuum it, and forget it."

So, she says, choose washable fabric like denim or durable upholstery like ultrasuede. "Slipcovers are a fashion trend born of necessity," says Szabo. Another solution is woven fabrics. The knit back to them gives extra body. As for color, says Szabo, try to match your shedder.

Flooring like tile, linoleum, and wood are easy to wipe, Szabo adds. Keep hardwood floors light in color to mask scratches. You can also use carpet tiles with durable natural fibers that protect wood and look good, too. She prefers easily vacuumed sea grass area rugs for households with long-hair dogs and sisal for cats.

Don't forget the walls. Low VOC paints are recommended since it keeps it healthy for pets who are forever licking at things.

And, keep it safe--no sharp edges that can harm pets, no glass tables that can break during roughhousing, and no bowls of chocolates on the coffee table; they're toxic to pets.

As pets have claimed more of our hearts, they also claim more home real estate. Fortunately, a number of companies have realized the business potential and offer design solutions that are both functional and beautiful. 

Baby gates for rambling puppies can be less than attractive, but increasingly pet supply companies like Orvis, Dog Gates.com, and jbpet.com are offering gates made of hardwood with oak finishes to blend in with home décor.

You may love the inexpensive dog beds at Costco, but if you want something a little more stylish for your home for your dog or cat, check out beds sold online at Orvis, CatsPlay.com,  Calling All Dogs, and West Paw Design,or locally at Pet People, Target, or City Dog on Park Blvd.

Finally, you can do some quick fixes yourself. If you have pets whose size or age keeps them from easily jumping up on your bed (and you want them there), you can buy little stairs at Pet People and other stores, then cover them with matching fabric. Or pick up a solid wood stepstool and paint or stain it. Other ways you can create creature comforts? Wrap a four-by-four post in sisal fabric for a natural scratching post for the cat. If your cat enjoys hanging out on your desk and acting as a paperweight, buy a simple wood serving tray and a remnant of a soft, washable fabric that will fit in the tray for a makeshift cat bed away from your papers. Pick up inexpensive fleece throws. They're perfect for short hair dogs who may get cold overnight, they come in all sorts of colors and designs to work with your decor and protect your furniture,and, very important, they wash easily.