A New Concept: Household pets are playing an increasingly larger role in home design, and Wood-Mode’s Embassy Row Pet Parlor concept space highlights the brand’s commitment to accommodating the needs and desires of these valuable family members.

Born from the Embassy Row lifestyle theme, the Pet Parlor blends unique features with human and pet-friendly accessibility. The concept doubles as a laundry room, which gives many of the design details a dual purpose (see island, integrated lockers, storage solutions, etc.). The result is a beautiful and thoughtfully designed space that ads both value and convenience.

Features:

Island with Integrated Doors & Cabinets (Brushing & Grooming, Sorting & Folding)

Built-In Pet Fountain with Faucet System

Custom Hideaway Dog Dish Drawer with Adjacent Food Storage Bins

Storage Solutions for Bones, Toys & Biscuits

Integrated Lockers for Leash, Collar and Clothing Storage; Extra Large Sink for Bathing & Grooming; Integrated Appliances

Industry Trends: Wood-Mode’s newest concept space is part of a larger industry trend that is catering to America’s booming pet market. The American Pet Products Association reports that nearly 68% of Americans own pets, 70% of people looking to purchase a new home own pets, and these individuals help to contribute to an industry worth more than $58 billion annually (http://bit.ly/1lCH45j).

Homeowners are increasingly building and remodeling spaces that incorporate pet-friendly design details as well. This trend is especially popular with new-build construction projects, where pet spas and washrooms are often available as upgrades and options. As these spaces are normally incorporated into mudrooms and laundry rooms, they can easily be designed into a remodel as well. Whether new construction or remodel, they offer good return on investment, as multi-purpose rooms in the back of homes remain popular and attractive to buyers.

Designer Notes: Where will they eat? Where will their food be stored? Where will they sleep? According to Grace Kelly, nationally recognized kitchen designer and blogger of KitchenDesigns.com, these are the three most important questions when designing pet friendly kitchen and laundry spaces.

Kelly, who recently welcomed a new puppy into the home she shares with fellow designer and husband Ken Kelly, writes in her blog (http://bit.ly/1kNZa04), “if your pets are part of the family like ours are, then you will want to think about a few things to accommodate them when designing your new kitchen. If we think about our pets and keep them in mind during the kitchen design process, then they won’t remind us that we forgot to think of them.” Kelly also makes the following suggestions and recommendations:

A well-designed space will consider a feeding area where you don’t have to trip over food bowls.

Specifying an integrated pet food storage system or purchasing fashionable containers or canisters with built-in scoops help keep food organized.

Integrated storage bins, drawers and lockers for toys, leashes, and paperwork help prevent clutter.

Whether you have an animal big or small, don’t forget about custom beds, benches and nooks where they can sleep or relax.

More About Embassy Row:

Beautifully detailed craftsmanship, surprising hidden features and a traditional design aesthetic with contemporary flair combine to elevate Embassy Row by Wood-Mode to the international stage. Featured here in a “Pet Parlor,” the Embassy Row lifestyle theme is geared toward a professional couple with a penchant for entertaining. Beyond pet-friendly features, it features built-in linen racks, vertical bi-pass doors and an easy-to-use LeMans unit means that every sauté and saucepan is at arms length.

Regardless of location, this new lifestyle theme is the perfect combination of functionality and design, coupled with unique luxury features to satisfy any discerning homeowner.

About Wood-Mode, Inc.

Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry, founded in 1942, is the nation’s largest manufacturer of custom cabinetry for kitchens, baths and other rooms throughout the home. Its products are marketed through a network of over 600 independent dealers located throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.wood-mode.com.