Pet-Friendly Features to Customize your New Home

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Are you a lover of furry four-legged friends? If you have pets in your household, chances are they are truly part of the family. So why not consider their needs when designing your new custom home? More and more custom homes in Greensboro are being built with special pet-friendly features that make both pets and their owners happy. Here are some ideas. 

The Most Pet-Friendly Flooring Materials 

Choose your flooring carefully if you have pets. It may be the single most important decision you’ll make in your custom home design. Here are the flooring materials that hold up best under pet traffic. 

  • Bamboo. One of the hardest woods, bamboo is highly resistant to scratching and pet accidents.  
  • Laminate. A common flooring option, laminate is mostly scratch resistant and can handle moisture and pet accidents without much trouble.  
  • Vinyl. It might surprise you, but vinyl floors are quite durable and stain resistant. They are also quiet so you won’t hear the constant clicking of pets’ toenails.  
  • Stone. No reason to worry about moisture or scratching with stone floors. Granite is a common choice due to its strength and durability.  
  • Ceramic Tile. Porcelain or ceramic tiles are another strong flooring option for high pet traffic areas of your home. Be sure grout is sealed to prevent staining.  
  • Cork. Also sound absorbent like vinyl, cork is an environmentally-friendly option that is anti-microbial. It is mostly scratch and moisture resistant, so long as spills and accidents are cleaned up promptly.  

Area rugs are a good addition to any of these hard flooring options for pet comfort and ease of movement.  

Create a Designated Pet Feeding Zone 

The area where food and water bowls sit can be a mess. There are some creative ways to design a special area just for feeding that will hold up to the wear and tear.  

  • Add a designated food bowl area on the end of a kitchen island. A granite surface with built-in bowl spots holds up to moisture. 
  • A pull-out feeding drawer with built-in holes for removable bowls is a major space saver. It also allows you to hide the feeding area when not in use.  
  • Include a food storage space right next to the feeding area. Simply scoop food into bowls and feed pets in just seconds.  

Hidden Litter Box Solutions 

When you have a cat, the litter box is a necessary evil. But you can keep it completely out of sight with a built-in litter box cabinet. With a small door for the cat to enter and a larger door for cleaning access, your cat’s litterbox can be hidden from guests. Even the smell can be minimized or eliminated through this method.  

Custom Homes in Greensboro Can Have Pet-Centered Designs Incorporated 

If your pets are a priority in your family, keep them in mind when designing your new custom home. Don Mills listens to what families need and creates homes to meet those needs. Some of the finest custom homes in Greensboro in highly desired communities are original products of Don Mills Builders. Make sure your new home has everything your heart desires. Call (336)362-1777.

Patio Lighting Ideas

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One of the key elements that goes into a fabulous patio is the lighting. Whether you like to entertain friends and family or you prefer a private space to enjoy the fresh air, your lighting scheme will help to create the right atmosphere. When designing original custom homes in Greensboro, homeowners are putting as much focus on outdoor spaces as the home’s interior. If you plan to include a patio in your home design, consider these lighting ideas. 

String Lights. Whether large or small bulbs, strings of lights are an easy patio lighting concept that provides just the right balance between classy ambiance and sufficient lighting. String lights between poles, hang from a pergola, or drape along a fence to create a fun and inviting atmosphere.  

Garden Lights. These come in many different styles and shapes but are typically planted in the ground along walkways, in flower beds, and among bushes. Solar powered garden lights are popular because they can be placed anywhere without access to electricity, making them both convenient and green.  

Projected Lights. When you wish to highlight or draw attention to certain areas of your outdoor patio, projected lights shine in the direction you choose, creating a dynamic of light and shadow. 

Stair Lights. If your patio has steps it is a good idea to light them for safety as well as style. Small lights can be installed under or to the side of each step to light the way.  

LED Lights. Want to be on the cutting edge of style? LED lights are a popular trend for outdoor spaces. Install them under your outdoor furniture or under eaves and ledges for a contemporary look. Try neon colors to brighten up the space.  

Firelight. Nothing can compete with the natural beauty of firelight. Install a fireplace, fire pit, fire table, or any other type of wood burning or gas powered flame source. Your guests will naturally be drawn to its warmth and comfort.  

Candles. You can still enjoy the beauty of flickering candles outside when you use battery-powered types. A candle chandelier is convenient for outside where wiring can be a challenge. Place candles of different heights on tables and ledges around your patio.  

Lanterns. Old-fashioned lanterns, Japanese lanterns, railroad lanterns—any type of lantern creates a classic outdoor lighting concept that is comforting. A lantern always lights the way home.  

Don Mills Designs Beautiful Patios for Custom Homes in Greensboro 

If a fabulous patio is on your list of must-haves for your new home, design and build your new home with Don Mills Builders. When it comes to custom homes in Greensboro, Don Mills builds luxurious new homes in up and coming neighborhoods in the popular northern Guilford County area. You can have an amazing patio space for any intended use, from parties to an outdoor yoga studio. A beautiful lighting scheme puts the finishing touch on your patio design, creating the ambiance and style you wish to achieve. Call Don Mills Builders to help you design your new home, complete with a custom outdoor patio space: (336)362-1777.