Dog Grooming Shop Decorating Ideas

Ray Kachatorian

What advice do you give to people who live with animals — particularly, large dogs? I'm looking for advice on flooring and furniture options that don't attract dog hair, etc.

Lynda Hopkins

Dear Lynda,
Sharing your home with a canine companion has its ups and downs. While the love, loyalty, and affection are so rewarding, clusters of dog hair and dried drool have a tendency to diminish the elegance of a damask chair. To answer your question, I asked a dedicated bunch of designers — and pet lovers — for their suggestions for pet-friendly home-furnishing products.

Performance fabrics, formerly the domain of outdoor fabric houses, have come indoors. Crypton Super Fabrics (cryptonfabric.com) is one good example. The brainchild of two dog-loving entrepreneurs, Crypton offers a range of fabrics from washable twills to suede. Weimaraner photographer William Wegman has his own Crypton collection of comfy textures, many featuring dog motifs. Designer Annie Selke of Pine Cone Hill Linens (pineconehill.com) is enthusiastic about Sunbrella Fabrics' range of stain-resistant fabrics (sunbrella.com) for her slipcovers and upholstery. Waverly's Sun-N-Shade collection (waverly.com) is another group that caters to the demand for high durability and easy care.

Carpeting is another complicated issue when you live with dogs. Margo and Shelley Tantau like to coordinate the colors of their carpets with the colors of their dogs so that the dog hair isn't as noticeable. Margo, creative director for Midwest of Cannon Falls and owner of a lovable Wheaton named Bosco, lives with cream carpet and light upholstery, while her sister Shelley has discovered that a bright red rug is a good foundation for darker-haired dogs.

Although hardwood floors and tile may be easier to maintain, with a little common sense, a reliable vacuum cleaner and an arsenal of stain remover and deodorizer, you can live with both your carpeting and your pets. Margo suggests keeping a paw towel by the door to wipe your dogs' paws when they come back from exploring. Ernie Sesskin and Brian Foster, designers and owners of the Groundwork Group (4groundwork.com), depend on Oreck's dry powder and spray-on treatment. Annie Selke keeps Nature's Miracle within reach. Bissell (bissell.com) also makes a line of stain- and odor-removing products, and Febreze Fabric Refresher (febreze.com) is safe for use around pets.

Last, to keep the bed free of dog hair, Margo recommends spreading a throw on top that can be quickly washed or changed. Annie Selke, a designer of bedding, says that she chooses white bedding that can be easily bleached.

Just as with a new baby, safety-proofing your home for a pet is an important step in decorating. You can learn about pet-proofing at americanhumane.org, but a good place to start is by taking breakable objects off of tabletops and low-lying shelves, removing poisonous plants, locking up chemicals, and organizing wires and cables. It's also a good idea to install locks on low cabinets and add baby gates to any off-limits areas. Plus, chew toys and quality pet beds make great alternatives to your chair legs and fine upholstery.

Good luck!

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