Designing a pet-friendly home
There are over 29 million pets in Australia according to the RSPCA, approximately 61% of households in Australia own pets, with dogs being the most common (40%), followed by cats (27%). This is why we are delighted to now be building homes with pets in mind. To make sure your new home is ready for your furry friends, we’ve compiled a list of things to consider in your home design.
Pet Laundries
A number of our Country Living designs now have the option to include a space for your pets to sleep and bathe in the laundry space, hence the "pet laundry". You can see how great they look in two of our recently completed displays, The Hermitage Grande Encore in HomeWorld Thornton and the Bronte Executive Grande Manor One at Lochinvar.
Choose the right flooring material
Anyone who’s had their pet jump onto their lap and dig in can attest - their claws can be sharp. If your pet can scratch your leg, they can do some damage to your flooring too.
Hard-wearing materials like tiles are your best option, especially for heavier breeds. Timber flooring might be appropriate for smaller dogs and cats too, but you should be wary of playing with them inside. Both tiling and timber are low-maintenance and easy to clean if your dog or cat loses a lot of hair.
If you have your heart set on the carpet, opt for high-quality wool with no loops.
Are you going outside or not?
Dog and cat doors make your life much easier, but there’s no denying that they can be an eyesore. If you don’t want to install a doggy door into your beautiful new living room, we get it. However, another great option is the laundry room.
Designing your home so that the laundry has access to the yard makes it easy for your pet to go in and out – while you’re home, the door could be cracked open, or you could teach a smart pet how to let you know they’re ready to go outside. If you have a cat, the laundry is a great place to leave the kitty litter too – out of sight, out of mind!
This space will double as a mudroom with a hard-wearing floor, so after it’s rained you won’t have to worry about muddy paws walking through the living or dining area.
Shady spaces
Your pet shouldn’t have to take the brunt of the wild Australian climate if they’ve been left outside. That’s where an outdoor room saves the day.
An outdoor room allows you and your pet to enjoy the great outdoors while still being undercover and protected from the elements. It means you could comfortably leave your pup outside when you head off to work without feeling guilty – our customers adore outdoor spaces, and your pet will love it.
Hermitage Grande Encore
Experience our Hermitage display with its gorgeous puppy laundry upgrade at HomeWorld Thornton. Our experienced Building and Design Consultant, Andrew Dimovski and his team look forward to welcoming you to discover the beautiful HomeWorld Thornton homes and assist you to bring your dream home to life.
Bronte Executive Grande Manor One
Our gorgeous Bronte Display in Lochinvar has just recently re-opened its doors after getting a full refurbishment. You'll be sure to fall in love with the new classic country style that shows off the elegance of this acreage design. Our country living expert Leasa Stacey and her team in Lochinvar are always happy to speak with you and assist you in creating your dream home.
Browse Our Country Living Collection
McDonald Jones Homes provide excellence and affordability to realise your country home dream. With over 30 years of experience, our team will help to transform your life with our beautiful new country style homes. Check out our Country Living Collection to view our country style homes. Alternatively, contact us directly on 1300 555 382 to find out more.