Designing special spaces for kids and pets that will withstand the test of time will be enjoyed and appreciated by generations to come.
Shrieks, squeals, giggles, and barks⎯the sounds of a lively home. Legacy homes are built to be welcoming spaces for families to sit back, relax, and enjoy one another’s company. Keep your kids, grandkids, and four-legged friends happy with specialty spaces designed just for them.
FOR YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS
Playrooms
Give kids a space to play loud and get messy by building a playroom. A dedicated room helps keep toys out of high-traffic areas and lets kids have a space to call their own. If they’re old enough, invite the kids to help in the design process to foster their sense of creativity and responsibility.
You can keep the log and timber aesthetic throughout the play space. The theme encourages kids to use their imagination and pretend they are scouting the wilderness or building a shelter in the woods.
An indoor swing or a climbing wall can give the room an outdoor feel—especially in inclement weather. Whether you want to design a custom setup in a new home, or incorporate one into your existing home, consult your builder to make sure the play structures are anchored securely and meet any building code requirements.
Organize and store toys with built-in storage low enough so kids can access them and put their toys away. Ready-made shelves or chests of drawers should be secured to wall studs so they won’t fall over and cause injury—if kids can climb it, they probably will.
Game Rooms
Like it or not, kids grow up. When the inevitable happens, what should you do with their playroom? Keep making memories with the kids by converting the space into a family game room. Upgrade that play-kitchen to a mini fridge. Keep your room low-tech with a card table and comfy chairs or embrace the digital age with a video-game station consisting of a sectional, TV, surround sound, and their favorite gaming systems. Keep your storage solutions intact⎯you’ll need them for all the new cards, puzzles, and games. Play on!
Bunkrooms
Want your home to be the go-to place for sleepovers? Need extra beds to host Thanksgiving? Consider building a bunkroom. Create built-in bunks with the help of your builder or buy ready-made bunks to put in an existing room. For storage, build cubbies or buy an old set of lockers so that everyone has their own space to store belongings. Connect the bunk room and playroom so kids can easily go between, and their noise is confined to one area of the house.
Kid-friendly Design
Kids can be messy, so get out ahead of the game by choosing furnishings and floors that are easy to clean—a white linen sofa in a playroom is asking for trouble! For couches and comfy accent chairs, choose kid-friendly upholstery such as leather and engineered performance fabrics.
There are trade-offs when it comes to flooring. Hardwood is usually the go-to choice for log and timber homes. It’s strong, durable, and beautiful, but isn’t stain-proof. It also doesn’t provide much cushioning. Carpet offers a soft landing for toddlers, raucous wrestlers, and adult knees but it absorbs liquids and odors. Select a stain-resistant option for easier cleanup. Waterproof materials such as tile and vinyl plank can easily withstand spills, however, you should check to see if your selection is vulnerable to stains.
Whichever flooring you choose, you can elevate your play space with area rugs. Layer washable rugs on top of your flooring for extra padding, softness, and warmth, not to mention easier cleanup. For a cohesive look, stick with one color and layer small, long-fibered rugs over larger, short-fibered rugs.
FOR YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS
Pets are part of the family, and they deserve to be treated like it. Just like people, they have their own personalities, preferences, and needs, which should be considered when building or renovating your log or timber home.
Crate Solutions
Our pets love spending time with us, but sometimes, they need a break from people. Or they need to not bite the plumber. Pet crates are a necessity, but your typical metal or plastic crate doesn’t quite match the log aesthetic. There are three main solutions to this problem: 1) incorporate a stylish wood crate into your built-ins, 2) buy or build a double-duty crate/end table, or 3) place the crate in a low-traffic location. The first two allow for security, privacy, and cohesive design while keeping your pet close by.
Washing Station
Tired of cleaning muddy paw prints off the floor? What about cleaning your shower after washing your dog? Keep your pup—and your home—clean by building a washing station. Locating it near the door most used by your dog will eliminate muddy tracks in your living space. To minimize cost, choose a room where water and sewer pipes are already installed. Mudrooms, laundry rooms, and basements are typically the best candidates. Depending on the size of your pet(s) these stations range from a utility sink to an oversized shower. Choose a high-pressure removable spray head and waterproof surrounds. Don’t forget the drain and drain cover.
Pet-friendly Design
Many of the same rules that apply to kid-friendly design work for pets as well—such as stain-and- spill resistant flooring. However, there are a few things to keep in mind with pets. When picking upholstery, select fabrics in a similar color to your pet’s coat and avoid light fabrics to minimize the appearance of fur. Leather, especially distressed leather, is typically a fine choice for dogs, but not cats. Cats’ claws can puncture leather, ruining a couch in minutes. Microfiber and polyester don’t show puncture marks like leather does.
Typically, you want to avoid carpeting areas that pets are allowed in because carpets tend to trap pet odors. Once a pet soils carpeting, the scent lingers, even once it’s cleaned up. No matter what flooring you choose, make sure to keep an enzyme-based cleaner on hand to fight residual odors in case of accidents.
When you build a legacy home, you build a home for the whole family for generations to come. Welcome them in with specialty spaces designed for their comfort and happiness.