Everyone needs interior decorating help... sometimes even a cat.
In the field of decorating and design, clients come to you because they want a stylish, comfortable, yet functional home. More often then not, they also come to you because they have some sort of limitation or special consideration that needs to be looked at during the design of the space. Maybe the arrival of a new baby, possibly a change from working out of the home to working at home, or even the unexpected arrival of teenagers back from University when they run out of money. The possibilities are truly endless.
 |
| Chloe, the million dollar cat |
So let me introduce you to my latest design dilemma, Chloe (name changed to protect identity of the cat). She is a very unique cat. Along with all the usual kitten shenanigans, Chloe likes to chew on blind cords. So that is where I came in. Fortunately, there is quite a few products on the market that are kid and pet friendly. Looking to balance function and style, we decided to do a combination of window coverings throughout the house.
 |
| SHADE-O-MATIC polysatin shutters in white |
Shutters at the front of the house provided great variance of function, as well as further enhancing the curb appeal of the house. The large windows were installed with a divider rail, which allowed for the top half of the window to be left open while the bottom half could be closed. The shutters were also installed in the two-storey entryway and stairway. With the help of a six foot extension pole, the shutters can be easily operated from below. The customization and overall style of the shutters turned out perfect for the master bedroom, staircase, entry and home office. As it turns out Chloe even likes them. She has already figured out how to open them with her paws so she can check out what's the latest on the street.
 |
| Hunter Douglas Silhouette window shadings in white |
When designing window coverings for the rest of the house we had to consider the need for privacy to address the close proximity of neighbours, the desire for different levels of light control for all the multipurpose spaces, and the craving for softness in a space that already has a lot of hard lines and surfaces. Silhouette window shadings helped us achieve everything on our list. As you can see by the attached photo, they can give sunlight a style of it's own. Additionally, they can be fully raised to disappear into the fabric-covered headrail or lowered and tilted to accomplish virtual room darkness and privacy. All the Silhouettes were installed with a PowerRise motor system to allow for easy operation with absolutely no cords. As of today, Chloe has not figured out how to operate the remotes, but I'm sure that phone call will eventually come.
I am looking forward to working with Chloe again in the future, while she continues to drive her owners to redecorate their home while also considering the needs of their million dollar cat.
