Your pet probably has as much a run of your house as you do. In most homes, pets are treated as members of the family. However this does present some décor and cleaning issues.

Let’s look at your home décor from your pet’s perspective and try to find ways to overcome the challenges your pet creates.

Pet: I love the comfort of the sofa, the couch and everything else that’s cushioned.

There should be some boundaries as to what you allow your pet to lounge upon. If you allow your pet to lounge on the sofa, your bed, etc., you are allowing your pet to think they are your equal. For a better behaved pet, you should be the dominant or authoritative figure. By not allowing your pet on the furniture, your pet will respect you and the rules you make for them. It is ok to have a pet bed in your living space. By creating separate spaces for you and your pet, you will have cleaner furniture and your pet will see you as the authoritative figure. Just to be on the safe side, only have fabrics and upholstery that are washable. Pets will get on the furniture when you are not around, unless you block off certain spaces while you are away.

Pet: *shake shake* I’ll shed where I like.

Your pet’s hair will sometimes be difficult to clean up. Invest in a good vacuum with strong suction power and try to vacuum daily; at least vacuum two to three times a week, in order to maintain a grasp on shedding.

Pet: A carpeted floor! Ooh la la!

There are some things you’ll have to deny yourself and your pet, if you want to stay within the same premises. A carpeted floor is one of them. Pet stains can be quite stubborn and a wall-to-wall carpet is not always a good idea. If you do want to have the feel of carpet beneath your feet, opt for an area rug, which is relatively low-maintenance and easy to clean (because you can remove them from the space for a deep clean; unlike wall to wall carpet).

Pet: Can you get me a toy? Please…

Get attractive wicker baskets or containers for your pet’s toys. These will help keep them in one place and blend in with other décor. Particularly opt for a container with a lid that can be open or closed per your discretion.

Would you like to update your home without spending a lot of time or money? Consider thinking about your home’s lighting. Whether it’s permanent fixtures or lamps, lighting is critical to the mood and look of your home. Here are some ideas.

When were your light fixtures chosen and installed? If it’s been more than 10-20 years, their style may date your house. Take a good look at them. Do they present the style you want? Do they provide the right kind of light for your home?

For example, does the light fixture in your dining room illuminate the table without glaring? Does it complement your furniture? Do your light fixtures coordinate well throughout your home or are you dealing with a hodge-podge of styles? It may be time to shop.

Using a tape measure, determine the preferred size of each fixture. Consider issues such as style and common metal choices in your home. Don’t feel obliged to replace them all at once. Take your time, prioritizing those that are most visible.

If you need more light, look at floor and table lamps. Or you could just take a small directional light and position it behind a piece of furniture aimed up to lighten a dark corner unobtrusively. You may want to be able to turn an overhead light off and have enough ambient light available from lamps placed strategically around the room.

Light is as much a design tool as color and space. Use it to make your home bright and inviting.

When you’re working to get one or more children off to school in the morning, do you find yourself searching for gloves, hats and homework almost every morning? This may be the solution for you.

Whether you have a mudroom or not, you can create an organized place for everyone to put away their outdoor gear and school supplies.

Start with one or more rugs to absorb the results of winter weather and place damp boots or shoes for drying. Cubbies like these are a fun way to help everyone stay organized, or you may want to shop for actual school lockers for a special look. Want something simpler? How about a series of hooks with a shelf over each so family members have their own special space assigned to help keep everything together. You could stencil everyone’s name over their specific area to avoid confusion and arguments.

You may have a closet for this purpose, but it seems as though children can’t find a way to open a door. Setting their things on a hook or two is almost as easy as throwing them on the floor, so this idea may make you more successful at getting them to straighten up their things.

Have a few extra hooks? Adults can also benefit from this easy-to-use set up. One place for coat, gloves, keys, and purse or wallet can make mornings easier for everyone in the family.

Do you relish the opportunity to try new recipes and experiment to duplicate an entrée or side dish from your favorite restaurant? If so, this kitchen is for you.

From the generous amount of granite counter space to the amazing appliances, clearly this kitchen was designed with a serious cook in mind.

Between the large footprint surrounded by granite counters, the oversized island, and the additional generous peninsula with seating, this kitchen can handle multiple cooks, even if they like to spread out – particularly nice when family comes in for the holidays.

Appliances are also top of the line. The range is a classic cook’s dream, with six burners, the option of inside grilling, a stainless backsplash and a powerful vent to waft all smells outside immediately. In addition to the oven and warming drawer with the range, this kitchen also sports a double wall oven, providing the ability to cook the main dish, dessert and a loaf or two of bread at the same time.

The custom cabinets have just enough personality to give the kitchen a farmhouse feel. The natural wood floor (not visible in this photo) adds warmth to the space. This is supported by the lighting. Ceiling lights, task lighting under the upper cabinets, and even a table lamp provide the varied lighting so useful when multitasking.

Notice the second sink in the island for vegetables or bar service. Both kitchen faucets have the high profile that proves so useful when filling or cleaning large pots. It appears as if everything in this kitchen was specifically designed as the perfect space for someone who loves to cook.

Do you have trouble visualizing colors when deciding what to add to a room design? Think of this still life as a lesson in planning your own space.

There are two permanent color choices in this room – the leaf green of the wall and the rich dark honey pine of the rustic buffet. With that as a starting point, how do you get to this color-perfect finish?

To begin, don’t worry if your collection of fabric samples or color chips is limited. This image shows that you can use almost anything to consider color coordination. Shop your pantry or closet to get various color possibilities.

Second, think dark and light. You have two mid-tones, so it’s important to add a dark color, a light color or both. In this case, the light cream bowls and the flour provide a good tonal contrast. The darker features on the buffet invite dark brown or black into the room also.

Now you need a color that pops. Red is almost always a good choice. It comes down to finding just the right shade of red. This rich classic color works perfectly with the other hues in the space.

Put together your own still life. Does it work on a small scale the way this image does? Then chances are very good that it will work just as well when you expand your own choices to room size.

Are you puzzled about what window coverings to choose? One factor to keep in mind is how your choices will look outside as well as inside.

For the front of the house at least, curb appeal is strongly affected by the wrong choice. Mixing color and pattern from one room to the next can lead to a confusing look from outside.

This homeowner chose to put plain white shades on all the upstairs windows, allowing curtains to be added later. This gives a clean appearance on the outside, but standard blinds don’t really have a finished interior look by themselves. Instead, how about two-inch wood blinds? Whether these are painted or stained, the blinds can stand alone. Some of the custom tapes along the front can add another decorative element.

Custom shutters are another inviting option. For a home like this, they can work very well. In fact, the upper window would look better with shutters. The custom styling would fill in the arch that is currently cut across with the shade.

Another issue to consider is privacy options with any windows around the front door. This surround has reflective glass which reduces the ability to see inside. Stained glass or various types of decorator glass can also enhance privacy while still letting in light.

As you install new window coverings, remember that windows can be seen from outside as well as in, and plan for both views!

Do you want to step through this room to the window, or would you rather stand back and enjoy the shadows of the room itself?

Both choices have their appeal. This room is not afraid of its shadows, and the design takes full advantage of them. Color is minimized and lines draw the eye.

There are two important secrets to why this room works so well with only natural light. One is the large window covering most of one wall. This gives plenty of opportunity for light to reach into the room as well as providing a view better than any art that could cover a wall.

The flooring provides the second reason. You know this wood is dark as dark – possibly even an ebony, yet the window’s reflection on the glossy surface brings the light well into the room.

Without the flooring, you would lose the silhouette effect of the furniture, and the unusual lines of pieces such as the curved chair by the zebra-patterned rug would be lost in the darkness. Look at how the chair and sofa show reflections against the floor. These help define the space as shadows help define light.

Color has a minimal effect in this room. We are unable to distinguish color without light, and there is not much light here. The only visible element of color appears on the sofa’s arm where a couple of orange stripes could be a throw or some sort of pattern. This room doesn’t need color. There’s enough interest in the light, shadow and lines.

Are your shadows interesting? Do they add personality and a special flavor to your home? Think about it.  Visit one of our Design Centers and let us help you design around the best features of your home!

Ready for the ultimate in modern bath design? Take a look at this one.

Red, white and black present a dramatic and contemporary look immediately. These colors are sharp and demanding. No gentle touches in this palette. Just a splash of green comes from the plants in the space, providing a spark of natural color. Six stones lined up on the black shelves surrounding the walls provide the only other natural element.

It takes courage to use red on the floor. This choice works. The backsplash draws that same red up into the room but with an additional textural element adding interest. By incorporating the red and black, white – normally a pretty bland bathroom fixture choice – looks exciting and attractive. The vanity, sink and floor container definitely pick up points through the dramatic shaping of each piece. White towels, another normally boring selection, pop against their red background.

Is this bathroom comfy? Well, not exactly. The goal here is drama and this room reaches and exceeds that goal. Here’s the really interesting aspect of this bathroom. Those black rectangles in the lower half of the bathroom and the white ones above the backsplash may be hiding storage. While on the surface this doesn’t look like a bath focused on function, in reality this room offers more storage than most bathrooms, as well as a vanity with plenty of room for needed items topped by a large medicine cabinet with a generous spread of mirror.

Modern, dramatic, and functional: you really can’t ask more from a bathroom design.

At the end of a long work day walking into the comfort of your home is a treat. Nothing is better than the look and smell of freshly washed hardwood floors, free of dirt, stains and pet hair.  Whether you just installed hardwood floors or purchased a home with them, here is a list of tips to help you maintain and keep your hardwood floors looking brand new.

Remember to wipe your feet before walking on your hardwood floors. Regularly shake out rugs and mats at each entrance to your home.

Water and hardwood floors do not mix. Avoid using large amounts of water on your flooring. Mop up spills quickly as wood expands with water, which can lead to cracking and splintering. Placing a mat or rug near sinks is also a good idea as splashing happens.

Floors with a urethane finish should not be waxed and require cleaning products that will not leave a residue.  Check with us before choosing a product if you are unsure.

Sweep often to pick up dirt and gritty particles that can scratch your floors.

Use a vacuum cleaner (with the brush attachment) to pick up dirt left behind by sweeping.

Spots can be removed by spraying floor cleaner on a soft cloth. Buff the spot away. For more stubborn stains use a damp cloth – just be sure you are not using too much water.

Buff your floors after sweeping with a soft mop. This will help keep your floors looking shiny and lusterous.

The time spent caring for your hardwood floors will ensure they stay looking beautiful for years to come.