Best Flooring If You Have Pets
I’ve received quite a few emails seeking my suggestions and recommendations for the best flooring to install if you have pets. As a decorator and pet owner I tend to recommend hard surfaces such as laminate,real wood, engineered wood, stone or ceramic tile.
My experience coupled with the experiences of my clients have proven to me over and over again that carpet is the worst choice of all to have installed if you have cats or dogs. Aside from the problematic aspect of those sure to occur pet accidents there exists the very high probability that fluffy or fido are going to rip the carpet threads up creating bare spots across your carpeted floor. Another reason to say no to carpet is the build-up of animal dander and fur which may be a problem if there is someone in the household who suffers from allergies or asthma.
Linoleum or vinyl are better than carpet in that they can be cleaned easily when a pet accident occurs and/or if there is animal dander buildup. However, these types of flooring do tend to be soft and can be gouged and scratched. There are some high-end vinyls that are quite strong and will not scratch or gouge – those tend to cost on average about the same if not more than some woods and high-end ceramics.
Some woods also are susceptible to damage from pet generated scratching and gouging but in my experience it happens quite rarely. Laminates are impossible to scratch or gouge – recently a floor installer illustrated the indestructibility of a laminate stone floor by dragging a sharp knife across the laminate. Nothing – not even a faint scratch.
Nature Inspired Paint Color Palettes
Get inspired by these organically grown paint color palettes that will give your home an earthy, eco-friendly appeal.
Kitchen Remodeling with Universal Design
Designing kitchens that meet the needs of as many users as possible regardless of age and physical attributes such as height or ability is part of an emerging trend called universal design. This relatively new design trend embraces products that are accessible, comfortable, easy to use and safer.
I am 5 feet tall and the cabinets in my conventional kitchen are barely within my reach. The Universal Design solution would be to modify or purchase new cabinets that have a built in pull down mechanism that will bring the shelves down to me and back up when I’m done.
Roll out shelves make reaching items in the back of kitchen cabinets easier by bringing them forward. My new refrigerator uses that same concept and it does make accessing the food items so easy. In the past I would have to move lots of items out of the way before I could get to what I wanted. Now I just roll out the shelf, reach for the item, take it out, roll the shelf back and done.
A raised dishwasher or drawer dishwasher, another universal kitchen design solution, would be a welcome sight for those who have limited mobility and are unable to bend as would be required for conventional dishwashers.
A microwave placed at a lower height than the conventional above the range position will not only make accessing and using it easier for those who are not tall enough, wheelchair bound or suffering from arthritis but it will be safer when removing heavy (and often very hot) dishes.
Lower counter tops provide a work surface for those who are unable to stand for long periods of time such as is necessary when preparing some meals. The lower surface enables those in wheel chairs or those who need to be seated the freedom and comfort to work on the meal preparation or even to pay bills.
Stove top controls placed at the front of the range make cooking easier and safer for those who are unable to reach back placed controls. At first I was a bit concerned about this universal design solution – I worried about possible injury to children. I later learned that most stove/range front based controls have safety mechanisms that will prevent children from accidentally turning on the range or stove.
Flooring should be a non-skid material to prevent injury. The recommended flooring material is cork. It is a sustainable natural product that lends itself beautifully to Green design. Cork has wonderful shock absorbing qualities. To me it feels like walking on clouds – that soft. Those with joint or orthopedic injuries will certainly appreciate having cork underfoot.
D shaped cabinet hardware is a smart universal design solution which will make opening cabinet doors easier for those suffering from arthritis while still being a very easy to use opening mechanism for the rest of the household.
Keep counter corners rounded – same goes for table corners. This universal design solution takes into account the reality of children running and playing in the kitchen as well as the every day possibility that adults can trip and fall and sustain injuries. The rounded corners in effect help minimize injuries to all those who use the kitchen.
Remote control devices to operate window treatments, lighting and fans. This takes the reach, stretch and possible injury out of the equation. Remote operation are perfect for all kitchen users whether it’s the wheelchair bound grandfather, the arthritic mom who can no longer use her hands to adjust the blinds or the 5 foot tall decorator who has to reach for the step ladder to operate the ceiling fan. The remote works for everyone and that’s what makes it a smart universal design solution.
Related: Aging in Place: Kitchen & Bath Design, Jamie Goldberg, CAPS, AKBD Aging in Place Expert on Kitchen and Bath Design
Read More »Best Bathroom Floor
Several “The Decorating Diva” readers have emailed me with the same question: “What’s the best bath room flooring?” The answer is varied depending on who you talk to, but in my experience I’ve found that the best flooring for bath rooms is hands down ceramic tile or a sealed natural stone like marble.
Carpet is a major no-no material for bath room floors. Amazingly, I’ve seen carpet in several bathrooms and I can’t help but ask “Why” and “What were they thinking?”. Bathrooms are rooms that tend to be moist if not down right wet and when carpet gets wet and doesn’t dry thoroughly mold appears and that simply is a health hazard that no homeowner should be saddled with. So carpet in the bathroom is a no-no. Small bath rugs are okay since they are removable and washable – and that should be the only type of “carpet” material in your bath room.
I am not a fan of vinyl or acrylic tiles in the bathroom because if they are not sealed super tight and water seepage occurs the vinyl will bubble and peel back. In the worst case scenario you may also be faced with mold development under the vinyl that has been exposed to water on a continuous basis.
Wood can be used in the bathroom ONLY if the wood floors receive an after install finish that literally seals every crack or seam in the wood. If this seal isn’t used your wood floors will suffer damage and you will be faced with wood rot which can lead to a weakened floor structure.
