Designing for Pets, Part I: Making Your Pets Feel at Home

Mar 5

Our pets are members of our families, and we want them to have cozy accommodations in our homes . . . but without overrunning the house!

According to a 2014 survey conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), it is becoming common for people to provide special features for their pets when launching a kitchen remodel. Some customization includes integrated pet beds, pet feeding stations, and hidden litter box cabinets. These features can be designed to please Fido and Fluffy without limiting your use of living space.

In a future blog post, Designing for Pets, Part II, I’ll discuss materials and fabrics that are most suitable for homes with pets. Meanwhile, here are some fun and creative ways to give your pets their own place in the kitchen.

One of my clients adores their two dogs but didn’t want to use kitchen floor space for their feeding dishes. This retractable feeding station slides out of the wall when it’s feeding time, but can be closed and out of sight when company is over.

We also built a retractable dog gate – much like a pocket door — into the kitchen design. While this gate can confine the dogs either in or out of the kitchen as needed, it also adds a striking accent to the kitchen décor.