A unique tile statement that says: why not?
Over the past year I’ve noticed a growing number of bathrooms with white tile and dark grout. Traditionally, that was a no-no except on floors. But this is the first time I’ve seen bright-color grout used to ramp up the decorative value of plain white tile. I think it’s fabulous and budget friendly – look how it jazzes up standard 4 x 4 glazed tile! True, grout is permanent but a carefully chosen flamboyant color insures that no bathroom tile will ever suffers from “the blands” we see too often.
A collection of handcrafted custom gate ideas.
Then along came Larry. I emailed him pictures of rustic garden gates, and he promised he could build us a sturdy and safe gate using salvaged wood and copper piping that would keep Baby J upstairs, but still be pet-friendly allowing our three cats slip downstairs for their daily naps. A perfect gate would have been able to slide to the left when opened, in front of the wall. As luck would have it, the wall is not quite wide enough. Larry came up with a great solution – build a gate that appears to be a pair of gates when closed, but is hinged so it folds against the wall when open. He used old hinges for their patina. It’s mounted just above the baseboards to give the cats space to slip under. We’ve gotten in the habit of leaving it closed 24/7 and I really like the secure feeling it gives when going out to the garage. I’ve already started watching etsy for the perfect set of vintage strap hinges and/or decorative handles. The hunt is part of the fun and I’ll update the post when they are discovered. Dubya and Coco [top] approve of Larry’s handiwork. Baby J will be walking soon, and our first granddaughter, Baby E, is due in June.
Here is custom pet-friendly iron gate that keeps the dog out of the cat food bowls. We contemplated a similar design that spaced the copper pipes to allow the cats to walk-thru… but two of ours are rather large and we decided the gate would not be baby friendly.
Custom gates are an easy addition to new construction and pre-built homes. This gate features a small wheel underneath the end that swings open, which helps keep the weight evenly distributed. The sliding hinge mechanism on the gate allows it to be easily removed when not in use.
This homeowner simply cut down a wood panel door, similar to a Dutch door but without the top half. We had a stairway like this in our last home. Stairs that led to an attic eventually led the way to an added master suite. The door was removed and the stairway was left open. Be sure to check your local building codes, as we were told this was considered a hazard during a fire emergency and, therefore, against code. That said, it is a charming option in the right location.
A more rustic version looks like a simple panel that swings open. Knowing the owner, none other than Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic, she spotted it during one of her antique outings when shopping for The Prairie B&B.
This contemporary wooden slat gate is reminiscent of a MCM slat bench.
The wrought iron motif of the hand railing is repeated in this custom wood and iron gate. Designing a gate might take awhile with all the hand forged metal art and decorative parts, balusters, and panels available.
This one is very simple, and lays against the wall when not in use. One concern I had in our space was that no one coming in or out be fooled by the gate. I didn’t want it too low – afraid that someone might lean to far and tumble over the top. We found that chest high was much better than wast high.
Great example of modern, yet traditional. If you can dream it, someone can build it.
Continuing staircases need more than one gate, and sometimes adjustments to the existing railing as well. Here, blackened steel tubing and mesh panels were created and attached with custom hardware.
While I like this design, they must have dogs instead of children… as the first thing I think of is a child climbing up and over the horizontal bars. This gate also has a wheel for operational ease.
A colorful Partridge Family bus style design is sure to please kids and the kids at heart. This could be fashioned from painted wood or transparent colored plexiglass sheets.
It’s easy being green when materials are as attractive as Elements by Durcon.
(Source: Elements by Durcon)
More clever ideas to make life comfy for our fur family.
The base cabinet next to a doorway puts doggie in prime position for meeting and greeting. Notice this cabinet was designed with him in mind, as there is no knob on the front panel. A washable curtain makes his den more private.
Non-pet owners won’t understand all the beds in eating areas, but pet peeps know (and understand) they are always close by.
Animals love and crave attention, but it’s nice to have a safe place for them to be contained when guests drop by. Here, a window bench at the kitchen table is nestled against a custom crate. Spindle doors not only allow much needed airflow, but still gives them a visual connection to those nearby.
This arched niche is big enough for two. Custom cushions can be fabricated from fast dry foam and outdoor fabrics for easy cleaning.
Out of sight, out of mind? We love our feline friends, but decorating obsessed humans despise the dreaded litter box. This blogger repurposed a vintage chest into a hidden space with an idea and a sharp saw. The drawer boxes were removed and the drawer fronts were attached and hinged. A pet door was placed on the side.
Similar to the cat cut-out in 
A modern cat cut-out graces this pair of cabinet doors. Notice these two examples extend to the bottom from the door as well (no frame).
Not handy? You can still have a base cabinet litter box – just not as fancy. This one takes up more real estate but gives them the top left shelf for a litter catching mat and storage below. For those with cats that like to push littler out of the box, using a large plastic container solves that problem.
Last, but not least, an under the stair way space gives pets room to roam. A custom iron door adds a decorative touch, as does the heartfelt script above.
