Living with our four legged children brings happiness and some unique challenges when it comes to the way our homes look and smell. With some upfront planning and smart choices, you can minimize the potential stress of keeping your home looking and smelling great.
Here are 5 secrets for interior design with pets in mind:
1.Skip the wall to wall carpeting-pet fur gets trapped and pet oils get embedded
2.Don't use flat finish paint-when your pets rub against the walls-the paint will come off with the dirt you are trying to clean off
3.Match the color of your upholstery and bedding to your pets fur color-yes, the fur will still be there, but it won't show as much 4.Buy attractive, patterned area rugs that are easy to clean-the pattern in the rug will hide the fur better. This isn't an excuse not to vacuum regularly, but it may reduce the frequency.
5.Most importantly, make sure your pets have places and spaces to hang out in. For example, give your kitty a good view of the outdoors in a sunny preferably high up spot. Make sure your dog has appropriate chew toys (all dogs need to chew) so your furniture legs aren't tempting.
Pawprint Design™ Case Study #1
S Interior Design was asked to complete a total makeover of a busy families’ living room and adjoining dining room. The makeover included replacing all of the 25 year old furnishings in the rooms. The homeowner was concerned that Hunter, their 8 year old Beagle would have a negative reaction to the fact that his favorite ‘nesting and resting’ place, an old barrel style chair, was going away. Recognizing that Hunter’s world is dominated by the sense of smell (dogs smell 20 times better than people), S Interior Design placed the seat cushion from the old chair in an out of the way corner in the family room. Hunter adjusted with ease since his favorite cushion wasn’t gone, but rather put in the room where his human pack members spend the majority of their waking hours. Over time, the cushion was replaced with a more aesthetically pleasing dog bed and fleece throw. We made sure that the family imprinted their scent on the fleece throw so Hunter would accept it. Happy Hunter, happy home!
Pawprint Design™ Case Study #2
S Interior Design was asked to assist in the remodel of a kitchen and adjoining family room. The family in this case includes two small dogs; Diego and Barry. In the old kitchen design, Diego and Barry’s food bowls were placed in a corner near the dining table and had the tendency to get knocked over when the chairs around the table were moved too quickly. Their dog food was stored in the kitchen under a small desk area in a functional but unattractive plastic container. To address these challenges, S Interior Design customized the toe kick (the area under the cabinetry) at the far end of the kitchen so it slides in and out and the dog bowls can be placed inside of it. When the bowls aren’t in use, they can slide in and out of site. A custom hinged bin cabinet that flows seamlessly with the rest of the cabinetry was included to store the dry dog food in. Diego and Barry also got new dog beds upholstered in high performing Cryptonite fabric that coordinates beautifully with the new window treatments and seat cushions.
About the author: Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID is the owner of S Interior Design. S Interior Design makes homes harmonious, functional and beautiful for families with 2-legged and 4-legged members. Suzanne has an M.B.A. and an A.A.S. degree in Interior Design. Suzanne offers years of real world experience, giving her clients the peace of mind to know that their projects will be professionally handled from start to finish. She is an experienced residential and small commercial interior designer and is the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™ ‘Stunning Interiors with Pets in Mind’.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Design Beautiful Windows
What are Windows?
Designed to allow light and air in through solid walls, windows are a staple of any basic architecture. Most homes and businesses have windows for both practical purposes of light, as well as for aesthetic value. Windows can be made from a variety of material, including glass, plexi-glass, plastics, and more.
How and Why Do Windows Allow Light In?
Daylight needs to be both allowed and controlled, and many windows are designed to allow for customization of the amount of light that goes through. Skylights and open windows allow for the radiance of the sun to get into the room, while sills and overhangs often prevent daylight from getting into the structure.
Commercial contractors often struggle with allowing ample daylight through the window. This is because many local and national governments have established minimum energy codes that contractors must meet. The preservation of energy is important to most established nations, and it is often much more difficult - and energy deficient - to maintain temperatures in rooms with large windows that allow a lot of light in.
How Do We Use Windows for Décor?
Whether or not most homeowners realize it, windows play a pivotal role in the overall décor and atmosphere of their home. Although even standard square windows can act as a design element, many windows are of a unique design and composition. When establishing the décor for a room, the room layout and the windows are a great place from which to start. Living room windows are often great décor elements if they are designed horizontally to allow ample light and to take up plenty of design space on an otherwise empty wall. In bedrooms, many people choose to place sitting areas and furniture near windows for reading, writing, and relaxing.
Why Did We Ever Start Designing Windows?
Warmth and safety were the two main reasons why windows were established on housing designs. Allowing the sun through the windows provided warmth in the home, while the window also provided a way to watch for potential attackers. Early on, windows were nothing more than holes cut out of the structure. Eventually, people began added an early shutter system that allowed the windows to be opened or closed to allow or prohibit light from getting in.
It was not uncommon to see paper windows in most lower class homes around the world until the dawn of the 17th century. Until that time, it was mostly nobility alone who had glass windows.
How are Windows Classified?
As previously mentioned, windows come in a variety of styles and designs. These include casement windows, which are cranked to open and close them. A user turns the crank to open the window, and turns it the other way back to close the window. Most casement windows also feature locks so that, once fully closed, the window can be secured against being opened from the outside. The hinges on these types of windows are designed to allow for easy operation of the crank handle.
Gliding windows are, as their name suggests, windows that glide along a horizontal system. The ease with which these open and close make them quite popular in residences. While gliding windows are popular for their functionality, other windows are popular for their design. These include bay windows, which feature angles at the wall and ceiling to provide an additional design element.
Other popular windows include sash windows, round top windows, polygon windows, and others.
What Color Are Windows?
Although most windows come in standard neutral colors like white and beige, more and more windows are featuring a wide spectrum of colors. These windows allow homeowners and business owners to design their rooms around the décor of the window. If, for instance, a bold room is desired, the window may be painted bright red or black. These allow the designer to then create the rest of the décor of the room around the color of the window. Whether you are seeking cool colors or hot passion in your décor, the windows that will complement your designs are available.
What Design Styles Are Available for Windows?
The style of the window largely depends on the architectural design of the structure. For instance, a modern, contemporary home or business would likely feature contemporary windows with straight lines, few or no panes, and clear class. Colonial homes, likewise, would feature many-paned sash windows. And grandiose homes might include windows with remarkable embellishments and lavish designs such as stained glass or unique shapes and colors.
Designed to allow light and air in through solid walls, windows are a staple of any basic architecture. Most homes and businesses have windows for both practical purposes of light, as well as for aesthetic value. Windows can be made from a variety of material, including glass, plexi-glass, plastics, and more.
How and Why Do Windows Allow Light In?
Daylight needs to be both allowed and controlled, and many windows are designed to allow for customization of the amount of light that goes through. Skylights and open windows allow for the radiance of the sun to get into the room, while sills and overhangs often prevent daylight from getting into the structure.
Commercial contractors often struggle with allowing ample daylight through the window. This is because many local and national governments have established minimum energy codes that contractors must meet. The preservation of energy is important to most established nations, and it is often much more difficult - and energy deficient - to maintain temperatures in rooms with large windows that allow a lot of light in.
How Do We Use Windows for Décor?
Whether or not most homeowners realize it, windows play a pivotal role in the overall décor and atmosphere of their home. Although even standard square windows can act as a design element, many windows are of a unique design and composition. When establishing the décor for a room, the room layout and the windows are a great place from which to start. Living room windows are often great décor elements if they are designed horizontally to allow ample light and to take up plenty of design space on an otherwise empty wall. In bedrooms, many people choose to place sitting areas and furniture near windows for reading, writing, and relaxing.
Why Did We Ever Start Designing Windows?
Warmth and safety were the two main reasons why windows were established on housing designs. Allowing the sun through the windows provided warmth in the home, while the window also provided a way to watch for potential attackers. Early on, windows were nothing more than holes cut out of the structure. Eventually, people began added an early shutter system that allowed the windows to be opened or closed to allow or prohibit light from getting in.
It was not uncommon to see paper windows in most lower class homes around the world until the dawn of the 17th century. Until that time, it was mostly nobility alone who had glass windows.
How are Windows Classified?
As previously mentioned, windows come in a variety of styles and designs. These include casement windows, which are cranked to open and close them. A user turns the crank to open the window, and turns it the other way back to close the window. Most casement windows also feature locks so that, once fully closed, the window can be secured against being opened from the outside. The hinges on these types of windows are designed to allow for easy operation of the crank handle.
Gliding windows are, as their name suggests, windows that glide along a horizontal system. The ease with which these open and close make them quite popular in residences. While gliding windows are popular for their functionality, other windows are popular for their design. These include bay windows, which feature angles at the wall and ceiling to provide an additional design element.
Other popular windows include sash windows, round top windows, polygon windows, and others.
What Color Are Windows?
Although most windows come in standard neutral colors like white and beige, more and more windows are featuring a wide spectrum of colors. These windows allow homeowners and business owners to design their rooms around the décor of the window. If, for instance, a bold room is desired, the window may be painted bright red or black. These allow the designer to then create the rest of the décor of the room around the color of the window. Whether you are seeking cool colors or hot passion in your décor, the windows that will complement your designs are available.
What Design Styles Are Available for Windows?
The style of the window largely depends on the architectural design of the structure. For instance, a modern, contemporary home or business would likely feature contemporary windows with straight lines, few or no panes, and clear class. Colonial homes, likewise, would feature many-paned sash windows. And grandiose homes might include windows with remarkable embellishments and lavish designs such as stained glass or unique shapes and colors.
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