Resource Day: A. Rudin

When I was a kid my mother used to tell me that the ability to spell is what separates us from the animals. Now that I am a bit older (and have mastered spellcheck), I beg to differ, I think it's the ability to appreciate good upholstery. There are a lot of elements that go into making that perfect piece and I find them all at A.Rudin, a national company, that is based in Los Angeles.

For further info about what to look for in upholstery, refer to my previous article "What Makes Upholstery Good?" http://markcutlerdesign.blogspot.com/2007/05/what-makes-upholstery-good.html.

But back to A. Rudin, this is a third generation company, that has a 120,000 sf factory in downtown Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to go to the factory a few months ago and it was amazing; clean, organised and it was astonishing to see the amount of product they are able to produce, at a quality that leaves most people scratching their heads.

The basics of a great piece are all addressed here, hand-tied, hand-tufted, kiln dried wood, it's even glued, doweled and screwed, these pieces are made to last. But good construction is only part of it, the designs too are classic and timeless. They have a Dining Chair (pictured above) that is a staple for me and one of the most comfortable chairs I use.

Aside from their standard designs, they will work with you on custom pieces, which is great for me as I always want to be tweaking something:).

Anyway, check out their website http://www.arudin.com/ I think you will become as great a fan as I have.

Designing with Pets in Mind

There is a line that is now notorious in my office, and it was uttered by Margaret Russell, Editor of Elle Decor, during one of the first episodes of Top Design, "you can't design a room around a cat." While that statement may be true, for those of us with cats, or dogs; designing with a pet in mind, can produce its own unique challenges, I hope that this helps:

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  If your pet has access to the outdoors, then traipsing dirt back into the house is always going to be a problem. Try to make the access point somewhere with a hard surface, such as wood or stone, rather than carpet, as that will make it easier to keep clean.


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  Provide a textured mat, both inside and out, it will help capture some of the dirt.


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  Slipcovers are an excellent idea for furniture pieces that are frequented by pets. Using a natural material, such as cotton or linen, will hold up well to regular washing (remember to wash the fabric first, before you have the slip covers made).


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  I have heard people give the advice that you should create furniture the color of your pet so you don't see the shedded hair. I don't know about you, but I would dread not knowing whether my furniture was clean or not. This is not an argument for all white, but a warm neutral I think provides some relief, but also early warning of dirt.


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  Clean the rugs at least twice a year. So many times rugs, to their own detriment are ignored and not deep cleaned regularly. If you have pets this is crucial to keeping a home that will feel fresh all the time.


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  This one may seem self-evident, but groom your pet regularly. Regular washing and more regular brushing will keep your home fresher and cleaner than almost anything else.

Most of all, enjoy your pets, and let them enjoy your home too.