May Newsletter 2012
DECORATING FOR PETS
Creating an animal-friendly interior
Can you have a pet and a beautiful home? You bet! Read on to see how you can decorate fashionably while keeping your animal’s needs in mind.
Skip the carpet
Carpet absorbs odors, traps pet hair, and soaks up stains.It’s very difficult to keep clean with a pet in your home. If you must have carpet, a low pile is easier to clean. Avoid a continuous loop carpet because claws or toenails can get caught in a loop and unravel it.
Hardwood floors are easy to mop or vacuum, but some large dogs can scratch wood with their toenails. Ceramic tile flooring is the easiest to clean, and it is resistant to stains and scratches.
Protect against scratching
Cats love to claw at anything soft, and that includes your upholstered furniture, drapery panels, and pillows. Since cats are difficult to train, you’ll want to guard your decor against the inevitable. To minimize the possibility of scratches and tears, you can spray a natural cat repellent on your most important pieces. Also, purchase a scratching post so your cat has a safe place to stretch its claws. There are numerous styles of scratching posts available, and you can even get one that coordinates beautifully with your room’s design, so it becomes an attractive accessory in your home.
Don’t go flat
Walls with flat finish paint are very difficult to clean, and with pets in the home, you are sure to get some smudges and spots. Use a satin or eggshell paint for an elegant finish that is much easier to clean.
Vacuum regularly
Even if you don’t see hair on your furniture, it’s important to vacuum often. Pet hair has an odor, and it contains an oil that attracts dirt. Regular vacuuming will keep your home looking and smelling fresh.
Safeguard your collectibles
If you must have fragile accessories, protect them from your pets’ paws and tails. Display valuables in a cabinet with glass doors or on a high wall shelf so you can see and enjoy them, but your pet can’t break them.
Choose stain-resistant fabrics
Forget silk and velvet. Cover your furniture and bed with washable or stain-resistant fabrics, like leather, ultra-suede, cotton, or Crypton.
The great thing about creating a pet-friendly home is that it is also child-friendly - and it is more comfortable for adults, too!
COLOR OF THE MONTH: METALLIC
Add a touch of luxury to any room with metallic color. Metallics enhance a space with light and depth, creating a warm, cheerful feeling.
Walls: Liven up a room by covering your walls in a metallic paint. You can get metallic paint in almost any color. Paint all the walls to immerse yourself in lavish splendor. Or use a 
translucent metallic glaze over your existing paint to simply add a pretty luster. You can also create one beautiful accent wall.
Metallic wallpaper is another way to glam up your walls.They come in many patterns, colors, and textures, and will add depth and excitement.
Ceilings: Inject a dramatic punch to a room by covering the ceiling in a metallic paint or wallpaper. When light is focused up toward the ceiling, it glows beautifully and enhances the room with richness and dimension.
Fabrics: Nothing says luxury like metallic fabrics. A little bit goes a long way.
Accessories: Accessories are the quickest way to add metallic color to a space. Introduce a few pieces, and you’ll have a fresh look. Replacing cabinet hardware with metallic knobs is one of the simplest ways to transform an entire room.
