Pets are family, and for many of our clients, they are part of what makes a house feel like home. They follow the morning routine, settle into familiar corners, greet everyone at the door, and somehow know exactly when someone is opening a treat drawer. They are woven into the rhythms of daily life, and we believe good design should account for that.
Designing with pets in mind does not mean sacrificing a beautiful interior. It means thinking a little differently about the materials, storage, architecture and everyday details that make a home work. The goal is not a house that looks “pet-friendly,” but one that feels personal, polished and comfortable for everyone.
Here are a few ways we approach designing a home with the whole household in mind.
Floors take plenty of abuse in any home, and even more so with muddy paws and four-legged traffic.
When selecting flooring, we consider:
Durability: How will the material hold up to claws, dirt and daily traffic?
Finish: Will scratches and marks become part of the material’s character or require constant upkeep?
Pattern: Can natural movement in the material help disguise the occasional scuff?
Natural materials with variation and finishes that develop character over time can be wonderfully forgiving for active households.
Upholstery That Can Handle Real Life
Yes, you can have a beautifully tailored sofa and a shedding German shepherd. The trick is choosing fabrics that can handle everyday life while still feeling like they belong in the room.
A few of our go-to options:
Performance Textiles: From Crypton and Sunbrella to performance velvets and other high-performance fabrics, today’s options are durable, cleanable and surprisingly beautiful.
Leather: Top-grain leather is easy to clean and only gets better with age, developing a natural patina as it wears.
Slipcovers: A far cry from the casual slipcovers of the past. Today’s options can feel tailored and sophisticated while still offering the convenience of being removable and washable.
Pet Throws: When all else fails, a machine-washable throw can give your pet a favorite place to curl up while protecting the upholstery underneath.
Color and pattern can help, too. Mid-tones, subtle patterns and textured fabrics tend to be more forgiving of fur and the occasional mark than very light or very dark upholstery. The goal is not to hide the fact that pets live there. It is to choose materials that can live beautifully alongside them.
Pets have routines of their own. They know which door means a walk, which window gets the afternoon sun, and exactly where everyone gathers at the end of the day. Rather than working against those habits, we can design around them.
A few details worth keeping in mind:
Circulation: Keep their favorite paths through the home open and comfortable.
Transitions: Think about how they move between outdoor and indoor spaces, especially in areas prone to dirt and moisture.
Proximity: Place beds and resting spots near the rooms where the family naturally spends time.
The best design often begins with simply paying attention to how the household already lives. And, small considerations like these can make the daily transition from outside to inside feel effortless, while helping the rest of the home clean and organized.
Food, treats, toys, leashes, and grooming supplies have a way of multiplying. Thoughtful storage keeps those everyday necessities close at hand without allowing them to become visual clutter.
For everyday organization, consider:
Hooks for leashes, collars and walking essentials near the entry
Labeled bins for food, treats and feeding supplies in the laundry room or pantry
Baskets or dedicated drawers for toys, grooming supplies and pet medications throughout the home
It is a small luxury, but having a place for everything makes everyday life a little easier.
A Place in the Plans for Paws
When pet needs are considered alongside the architecture and millwork, practical solutions can become part of the home itself. This is where thoughtful planning can make a real difference.
Custom details might include:
Built-in feeding and water stations
Dog washes in mudrooms, laundry rooms or garages
Dedicated pet nooks within cabinetry or millwork
Custom tile, cabinetry and hardware that make these hardworking spaces feel special
These details do not have to feel utilitarian. In fact, they can be some of the most playful and personality-filled parts of a home.
A sweet dog room at our Player Bend Project with feeding stations built into the cabinetry, tucked-away kennels, a dedicated dog wash, and custom wallpaper featuring the beloved pets. And to top it off, durable finishes that will stand up to all the wash days ahead.
Pets experience a home differently than we do. They move close to the floor, investigate what is within reach and, particularly in the case of cats, have a talent for finding the one thing we forgot to consider. Designing with their perspective in mind means considering the small details that can make a home safer for curious paws and noses.
A few thoughtful precautions:
Use secure window screens where pets have access to windows
Store household products out of reach
Choose plants that are non-toxic to pets
Greenery brings so much life to an interior, and there is no reason to give it up. We simply look for varieties that allow pets (and plants) to coexist happily. Think spider plants, parlor palms, ferns, and peperomias.
At the end of the day, a home should work for the life happening inside it. The idea is not to create pet-centric spaces, but to make room for the ways they naturally use the home. So yes, there may be a little fur on the sofa, a toy under the coffee table, and a four-legged friend who has somehow claimed the best seat in the house.
And because we couldn’t resist, meet a few more furry clients who call some of our favorite projects home.
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