‘Pawsable’ Interiors Creating Pet-friendly Spaces without Sacrificing Style By Olga Adler I’ve always loved black dogs.  I had one as a teen-ager.  They’re so pretty, and practical too.  I often wear black, and a few stray dog hairs on my outfit simply disappear.  So when my husband and I decided to adopt a dog last year we knew she would be black.  He even came up with a brilliantly creative name – Blackie. And then we went to R.O.A.R., the local animal shelter… anyway, now I have a white dog.  I mean, snow white.  And she sheds like she knows fur is going out of style.  Always looking for the bright side, I thought, “Good thing we have those white sofas in the family room – the dog will match.”  And you know what?  I was right! Even though Gloria (not “Blackie,” thank you) isn’t allowed on furniture, and she actually obeys the rules (until guests encourage her onto the living room furniture – you know who you are!), dog hair is pretty much everywhere.  My husband told me that some day I will cut an apple in half and one of her hairs will already be inside.   Anyway, dog hair is everywhere, paws prints are everywhere, and so are those little wet marks a curious loving nose leaves while exploring the world.  So, how do you plan a great design for your home, which after all should be about beauty and function, while still accounting for the limitations caused by family pets? If you have these concerns, you’re not alone.  These days, my clients often ask me to create spaces that are pet-friendly.  This no longer means just designed for pet impact but also beautiful, practical and fun for the whole family.  More and more, homeowners want spaces that can accommodate family gatherings without leaving anybody out – including Fifi or Fido. I design pet-friendly homes with all the bells and whistles including special pet rooms with everything a dog or cat may wish for, like heated floors, elevated beds as well as special bathtubs and showers.  You and your four-footed friend can have it all, thanks to available special design features, materials, lighting and safety accessories. Fabric ‘Double Agents’ Crypton is a fabric of choice while designing dog beds or pillows.  Its unique qualities make it resistant to moisture and odor-causing bacteria, easy to clean, and it comes in many colors and patterns.  Outdoor/indoor fabrics are another option, and with the popularity of casual living spaces I often use outdoor fabrics like Sunbrella for family rooms, sunrooms and kitchen furniture.  If it can survive the elements, what could hurt it indoors?  Ultrasuede is another good choice of fabric, and with its 200 colors and stain- resistant qualities it is great for casual or contemporary spaces.   If you want to incorporate your dog or cat’s accessories into your décor I recommend creating your pet’s bed or pillow using the same fabrics as your furniture or window treatments.  When renovating my mudroom to create a space for Gloria, I used the same fabric for my window treatments and my dog’s bed except I reversed it.  This created an interesting, coherent look without being too “matchy.”  Trying to relate your fabrics (or your rugs) to your pet’s fur color is another idea worth implementing. Flooring When choosing a floor material for a home full of pets you pretty much have to decide what scares you more: scratches, moisture stains or your dog’s bad hips.  Hardwood seems ideal for its durability and undisputed beauty, but the issue of hip displaesia kicks in pretty soon (Gloria was diagnosed when she was just six months old) so you may decide to use some multicolored area rugs that will hide potential sins of running in the rain and mud.  Tile is also great, especially if it is natural tumbled stone. Pet Rooms Sending your pet to her room doesn’t mean she’s in the doghouse – quite the opposite.  A designated area can be the best thing that can happen to a dog or cat.  It can keep her nearby, but not under foot, while giving her a sense of space and safety.  I like to create a comfortable area for pets near an entry, so your friend is always ready to greet you when you come home from work or running errands.  I’ve created “dog stations” in mudrooms, near kitchens and family rooms where family life happens these days.  This can consist of a raised bed, elevated feeding station, heated floor and a basket full of toys.  Or you can have elaborate grooming stations with special elevated bathtubs and showers mostly to ease the pain in the groomer’s back. Olga Adler is an interior designer with a design studio in Ridgefield. Her company Olga Adler Interiors is dedicated to lifestyle driven design. You can email your questions or comments to: olga@olgaadlerinteriors.com.