These materials keep mother-of-four Jody Bretkelly’s house casual, beautiful, and stain-free—no matter how many kids are running through
Christine Ciarmello
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Australian spotted gum floor
Spotted gum, a type of eucalyptus, is the plank wood flooring throughout the house. The very hard wood is durable against heel marks and other abuse.
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Eurostone
The flecks in the quartz stone remind Jody of seashells, but it’s the way it resists scratches and stains that she loves.
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Synthetic materials
The more you have to fuss with materials, the less suitable they are for children. Jody looked for items that only needed wiping down: a vinyl sofa for the rec room and Lucite for the dining room chairs, for example.
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Dark carpet
Thick-pile charcoal carpet in the entry and bedrooms hides dirt.
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Faux grass
The infrastructure cost about three times as much as simple landscaping, but the yard is now maintenance free.
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Succulents
The backyard is bordered with succulents, which can handle a soccer ball in the face. Other border plants are tough pittosporum, agaves, euphorbia, and Australian tree ferns.