They may not pay the mortgage or sweep the floors, but sometimes they bring the newspaper in, and always they make you laugh and smile when they don’t even try. That’s the reason our four-legged furry, friends win our hearts. It’s also why some homeowners are remodeling for their pets.
Pet ownership is at an all-time high, and happy pets make happy homeowners. When pets are part of the home, it just makes sense to have a home that’s pet-friendly.
Dog-washing station makes it easy to clean your pet without the mess. This was a laundry room remodeled with some pet-friendly additions
Whether you’re remodeling your home to include a customized room that has a dog-washing station like this one or you’re interested in making the home the most functional, durable and stylish, as well as pet-friendly, we have tips and ideas for you to consider.
Flooring: opt for materials that can with stand pets paws and claws. Hardwood floors are beautiful but keep in mind they can show scratches and sometimes be difficult for pets to walk on. Other pet-friendly flooring options are hard surfaces like ceramic tiles, concrete, or Marmoleum, an imported Linoleum-like that is biodegradable. If you go with hardwood flooring, purchase some washable area rugs to place throughout the house.
Dog-Washing Station: this is truly a lifesaver in many ways. No more taking Fido through your house upstairs to the bathtub after he’s been rolling around in the sand at the beach. These stations are built to go easy on your back and keep your pet comfortable too during a bath. They can be designed with a handheld shower head, stainless steel shower pans, and walls for easy cleanup.
Before remodeling, it’s important to consider your pets size and any other special needs or future pet plans.
“We measured the height of the dog before we chose the height of the sink. The faucet was chosen for its versatility and ability to adjust to a different dog’s height,” says John Ryan, Director of Design, Marrokal Design & Remodeling.
Watch this video. But a word of caution, if you don’t have a pet, it may make you want to become a pet owner! If so, we have just the place to go, click here.
Catwalk: of course, we know that there are plenty of cat lovers out there too. So, maybe it’s time to add a feline favorite, the cat walk. Check out this incredible catwalk; it’s like an indoor Disneyland for your cat!
Kitty Litter Closet: this one is for you, the homeowner. You might also want to have a kitty litter station to help alleviate odors. In a pet-friendly remodel, you can have a closet turned into a private area for your cat’s litter box complete with a fan that can run 24/7 to ventilate the space and reduce offensive odors.
Feeding Stations: gone are the days when you have to just put out a couple of bowls of water and pet food. How about creating a pet feeding station that’s the ideal height for your pet? It looks stylish and helps keep the food contained to your pets area–their own private dining table!
The dog bowl cabinet was the idea of the homeowner. I suggested that we use the tile that matches the dog tub area. We will be using a white quartz remnant and likely recess the dog bowls into that so that when the water splashes it’s a sealed environment,” says Ryan.
“In this home, a partial kitchen remodel was done. The cabinets were repainted, and the countertop was changed to a granite material. The area where the dog bowl is now was just open space below. We added those cabinets there to make more storage space for things like dog food and other items,” says Ryan.
Remodeling for pets makes your home not only more comfortable for your animals but also for you by simplifying the basic everyday tasks, and that means happy pets, happy homeowners.
