Pets are notorious for using spaces that they are not supposed to. Cats love to hang out in high-up spaces, and dogs always seem to scratch and bite things they aren’t supposed to. A home remodel provides you the opportunity to design a space with your pets in mind, without sacrificing style. At LaBonte Construction we’ve gathered a few pet-friendly ideas that we can incorporate into your next home remodeling project.
Built-In Feeding Stations
Finding the right spot to place your pet’s food bowls can be tricky. Most people typically place pet food bowls in the kitchen or garage. However, no matter where you place the food bowls, they always seem to be in the way. Many of our clients avoid this hazard by having their pet’s food station incorporated into their remodel.
We can do this few different ways. One of the most common, effective and stylish ways to hide your pets food bowls, is to have them built into the kitchen cabinetry or mudroom. Others may opt to have the bowls built into pullout drawers, allowing you to stow them when not in use.
As well as housing food bowls, some built-in food stations can incorporate a faucet. This helps you avoid having to constantly bend down to refill the water bowl, and provides your pets with a consistent, clean water supply.
Mudrooms
Mudrooms have long been commonplace in American homes. They were typically a small hallway-like space between the garage and kitchen. Because mudrooms are often the first thing a guest sees when entering a home, many of our clients have opted to have a larger, more stylish mudroom installed in their home remodel.
Typically used to store shoes and other outwear, many mudrooms that we remodel also make for a great space to store pet accessories like leashes, toys, food and treats. Additionally, many of the mudrooms we do for dog owners incorporate other pet-friendly features such as a dog washing station or built-in kennels.
Dog Washing Stations
One of the fastest-growing trends in pet-friendly home remodeling is washing stations for dogs. Many pet owners wash their dogs in the bathtub, while others may take them to the groomers. A dog washing station adds convenience and style to your home, and can save money on grooming costs.
Most dog washing stations look like a shower, but are about half the height. Many stations are commonly equipped with the same functions a typical shower has, like hot and cold water, a spray nozzle and a recessed tile niche for shampoos and other toiletries. Typically, clients who incorporate a dog washing station into their remodeling project, build it in the mudroom. They do this to avoid their dog tracking dirt and pests into the rest of the home.
Dog washing stations can help with home resale value. Several reports from realtors show that you can recoup the investment if you sell your home to another dog owner.
Built-In Bed Or Kennels
Many experts say that it is important to give your pet a dedicated place to sleep. Most dogs sleep for upwards of twelve hours a day, so the right bed is important. Many dog owners use crates or kennels to give their dog a place to sleep, but crates or kennels are not always attractive and can take up a lot of space. Instead, you can incorporate pet beds or kennels into cabinets in the mudroom of your home. Additionally, incorporating a shower drain under the built-in kennel or bed can help you clean out your pet’s sleeping area.
Central Vacuum
Whether it’s dirt or hair, pets can often leave your home a mess. Vacuuming after your pet can be tedious, especially if it sheds a lot. A central vacuum cleaner helps make the cleanup process a little easier.
Typically installed in a basement, garage, or storage room, a central vacuum system is a vacuum built directly into your home. Inlets are strategically installed in the walls throughout your home where you can attach hoses and other vacuum accessories. These inlets feed directly back to the main tank, and can store more dirt and debris than a traditional vacuum cleaner. Central vacuum systems allow pet owners to not have to drag a vacuum around the house.
Make Your Home Safe and Pet-Friendly!
Over 60 million U.S. households have a dog, and over 40 million households have a cat. To save space and maintain style, many clients now ask us to include built-in pet features to their home remodeling project. If you would like to incorporate any of these ideas into your next home remodel, please contact us at LaBonte Construction.