A Pet Friendly New Home

Posted by FieldStone Homes on August 10, 2010

Pets are more than just animals, they are part of the family. Our furry, feathered and finned friends require time, attention and a safe and comfortable home. Over half of all households have pets living with them, but animals are still an afterthought when it comes to buying a new home in Southern California. Here are some tips for designing and finding a pet friendly home:

Pets need space of their own.
It’s important to have a designated spot just for them, for comfort, function and to feel safe. A great example of this is the mudroom included in the Vistas plan 3335 at Rancho Santalina in San Marcos, California. This provides space for a cozy bed, storage for food & treats and a place to wipe dirty paws before entering the main living area. You could also add a sink to the mudroom for quick clean-ups and to rinse out your pets’ food and water dishes separately from your own.

Choose hard surface floors in your new home.
Hardwood floors are simple to mop or vacuum and add warmth to a room, but keep in mind that large dogs can scratch wood. The best floor for pets is ceramic tile because it’s easy to clean and resistant to stains, plus it gives furry animals a cool place to nap during the summer months. If you are a carpet person, that’s OK , just make sure it is stain resistant and vacuum regularly.

Put washable fabrics on your bed.
If your dog or cat sleeps with you there will be hair and an occasional accident. Use cotton bed sheets, preferably in a matching color of your pet or a pattern that can hide the pet hair between washings. For bedspreads, duvet covers work well because you can take them off and wash them regularly.

Bathe and groom your pet often.
Keeping your dog or cat clean will help your new home stay cleaner, longer. Regularly trimming their nails will help keep upholstery from snags and cut down on scratches on your floors. Brushing and bathing removes loose hair before it ends up on your floor, beds and pillows. Furniture and rugs will last longer if they don’t need to be washed as often. It’s easier and more fun to wash your best friend than your upholstery.

Create a pet –friendly back yard.
Create a “potty” area for your pet and use gentle hardscapes (like pea gravel) for paths. If you’ll be planting beds, you might want to elevate them or add a border to dissuade dogs from running through your flowers. Also, be sure to check out www.aspca.com/toxicplants for a list of foliage to stay away from.

Exercise your pet regularly.
Your pets love to be home with you but they also need exercise and to socialize with others like them. Cats enjoy playing indoors with you and fun toys they can chase and hunt for exercise, dogs on the other hand enjoy being outdoors, running and socializing with other dogs. San Marcos is a family-friendly city, and may be the dog-friendliest in the county. There are three dog parks within San Marcos, all providing safe places for our best friends to run and play off-leash. A fourth is under construction.

Montiel Park – is on the east side of town

San Elijo Park – in San Elijo Hills

Hollandia Park – the newest

There is a fourth park, scheduled to open in winter of 2010, called Sunset Park, on the west side at La Mirada Drive and Poinsettia Avenue.

Decorating Your New Home in Southern California

Posted by FieldStone Homes on July 30, 2010

When buying a newly constructed home in a development or community, sign on the dotted line as soon as possible. Purchasing a new home in Southern California early allows you more choices, not only in the room configurations but also cabinets, counter-tops, appliances, lighting, fixtures and color selections.

This expands your decorating options and eliminates the expense of replacing those materials later; you know, the ones you would have never chosen. Buyers don’t like pre-selected options. Decorating the interior of a new home can be a daunting task, but also fun to get the whole family involved while watching your new home being constructed.

The challenge of decorating what effectively is a blank canvas in the easiest and most cost-effective way can be met with a few simple steps.

First choose the theme or style you want your home to portray. Select paint colors for the interior walls. Painting the rooms of your new home is the quickest and least expensive way to give it personality and style. The color scheme throughout your home should be consistent with your visual aesthetic and compliment your possessions. A general rule of thumb is the lighter the shade of color, the more open and airy the room will feel; the darker the shade, the cozier it will seem. It’s a good idea to plan a couple days between your escrow closing and moving in to your new home to paint. It’s much easier to paint before your furniture is in place.

Define your family’s lifestyle. Build on furniture you already own. When purchasing upholstered furniture for your new home, the simplest yet most forward-thinking thing you can do is to choose timeless pieces that fit into your color scheme. By doing this, you will ensure that the furniture will not become outdated quickly.

Last, don’t forget the accessories! Unlike furniture, they do not have to be user friendly. Rugs, artwork, vases, draperies and the like are objects with which you may be your most creative. If you love it, use it. The most important principal of decorating a new home is to reflect the true you.