Your pet at home

The right fit
For years, easy-clean slipcovers have been the most popular option for protecting upholstery from pet wear and tear. Vancouver designer Donald Kirkby, who has a Brittany named Trio, is a fan. His are made with his favourite vintage – but washable – textiles.

Cat owner Eleanor Jungkind of Elle Maison in Toronto sells a line of furniture with slipcovers (Colexion Perez) because she knows first hand about the havoc that claws can wreak. “My cat, Teddy, terrorized and wrecked my whole place,” says Eleanor. (Teddy modelled for us without incident.)

Slick synthetics
If slipcovers aren't your style, high-tech synthetic fabrics -- one of the strongest trends in upholstery -- like faux suede and leather, are a fashionable option. New York-based fashion designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka chose white vinyl for their sofa, a chic perch for the duo and their two papillons. “Today's vinyl isn't like the vinyl of the past,” says Mark. “It looks and feels great and you can just wipe it clean.”

For the upholstered furniture they design for their retail store, Oni One, Toronto designers Elaine Cecconi and Anna Simone offer Not-a-Hide, a faux leather that stands up to pets (even the store's burly mascot, Sparky) in style. “Ultrasuede is also fantastic,” says Kimberley. “Because it's a little slicker than a natural fibre, pet hairs come right off.” Just run a rubber glove over the fabric – the fur sticks right to the glove.

Come clean
“No matter how well trained your animal is, there are going to be accidents,” says Stanley. He and his wife share their city and country homes with a beagle puppy named Darby, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever named Dancer and a cat named Loki, so keeping on top of accidents requires vigilant spot cleaning. Though Nature's Miracle or other enzyme cleaners are handy for cleanups, deal with messes before they happen. Store a towel at the door for wiping paws, provide toys for aggressive scratchers and chewers, and groom pets regularly.

Purrrrfect pet-cessories
Despite the growing selection of toys, coats, leashes and other products available, Katrina Herrndorf wasn't thrilled with what she found when shopping for a kennel for her puppy, Chester, a Bernese mountain dog. “Just because you have a dog doesn't mean you have to give up on style,” she says. Sensing a void in the market, Katrina used her training as an architect to design Haus, a kennel/end table, which was launched last spring. The Haus fits pets up to 20 pounds; a medium-size model is in the works.

Also jumping on the bandwagon is über-designer Karim Rashid with his Dxg Bxne line of doggy goodies for Canadian manufacturer For the Dogs. Even IKEA has introduced a full range of pet products, including beds, a scratching post and toys.

Puppy love
Things are looking up for those of us who enjoy cuddling up to a pet without worrying about the furniture or compromising on style. In our house, we opted for a seagrass mat and have gradually switched our colour palette from pale neutrals to black and white, which is also a good match for Lulu's fur. While we may have given up on some things – silk upholstery, having a spotless home 24/7 – what we've gained in comfort, companionship and sometimes pure joy is easily worth the small sacrifices. I'm sure all pet owners would agree.