Stain Stories | The Cat, The Rug, and The Turning Point
By Studio KC Interiors, in partnership with FiberSeal
Every designer has a moment that changes the way they work. For Katie Canfield of Studio KC Interiors, that moment came in a client’s home almost a decade ago, and it had four legs and the sweetest disposition.
Her name was Snowflake.
An older cat. A gentle cat.
A cat who, unfortunately, was sick. A lot.
Katie still laughs about it now, but at the time, it was one of those moments that sticks with you forever. Every time she’d visit the client—whether it was to check a delivery, install hardware, or handle something small—there it was.
Cat vomit.
Always on one of their custom rugs.
And every time she saw it, she cleaned it.
Because, as she put it,
“Our job is to leave a home better than we found it.”
Eventually, the entire house was treated with FiberSeal because with multiple cats and three kids, it wasn’t a matter of if something would happen, but how soon.
That experience changed everything for her.
Designing for Real Life, Not Just Beautiful Photos
“Clients always say they want performance fabrics,” Katie explained. “But most performance fabrics are basically plastic. If you only specify safe materials, the whole design becomes limited.”
Katie says FiberSeal is a “cheat code” for her because it allows her to use wool, velvet, linen, leather—the beautiful stuff—and still sleep at night knowing her work will stand up to real life. It gives her the freedom to design fearlessly, without steering clients toward stiff or synthetic alternatives.
One of her favorite examples is a floral chair she reupholstered for a longtime client. The fabric tag warned that the dyes might bleed when treated, so she mailed a sample to FiberSeal, had it tested, and then literally put salsa on it in her kitchen just to make sure it held up. It passed.
That’s peace of mind you can feel.
Curious How This Plays Out in a Real Project?
Her Brushy Ridge living room project is the perfect example of how she brings this philosophy to life. Architectural, atmospheric, moody, and layered with gorgeous materials, it’s a space full of textures that deserve to be lived on, not avoided.
And yes, it was protected.
Explore the full Brushy Ridge story here.
Upholstery + Carpet Cleaning for Homes With Pets You Love
Snowflake’s story is a reminder of something every pet owner knows.
Even the sweetest pets, the well-trained pets, the older pets, the anxious pets, the excited pets, they all leave their mark somewhere. That is simply part of living with animals, and part of why our Upholstery and Carpet Cleaning service exists.
When your home is protected, ongoing care becomes simple. When life happens, you have a plan.
Here is what that looks like for homes with pets:
Cleaning tailored specifically to high-end fabrics, rugs, and upholstery that pets love to sit on
Wet or dry methods based on the fiber, the dye, and the type of pet accident
Eco-responsible products that are safe for your home, your textiles, and your animals
Your pet’s age, energy level, or quirks should not dictate the design choices you make. And when accidents happen, you should not have to panic.
We help you maintain the pieces you love so you can enjoy your home and your pets without choosing between the two.