Doggy Spots

December 14, 2011 — dog, pet design, sacramento

Most dog owners are like me, I keep the doggy dishes in the kitchen where everyone can kick them over.  It is always a challenge to find a place where the food and water dishes are available to the dog, but not in the way of its owners, and is also convenient to refill and clean.  I am seeing more and more requests to accommodate our little paw-footed friends in kitchen and bath design and beyond.  And a challenge it is.  Thanks to Houzz.com we can see examples of how designers are designing with Fido in mind.

The most logical way to integrate a “feeding station” into a kitchen remodel, is to leave some floor space open between cabinets.

traditional kitchen design by san francisco design-build Harrell Remodeling

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Or if you have some empty wall space underneath stairs or near a closet, you can build a niche into the wall.

traditional kitchen design by new york interior designer AMI Designs

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For our larger and older canine friends, a little boost in elevation is more comfortable.  You can build-in a toekick underneath the dish, to lift the dishes a few inches, which is helpful when cleaning floors.

eclectic kitchen design by boston kitchen and bath Artisan Kitchens LLC

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In the image below, the designer has lifted the dishes and installed a solid surface under the dishes for easy clean-up.

traditional spaces design by atlanta general contractor John Bynum

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If your dog is like mine, he likes to hang-out in the kitchen and wait for scraps.  Some homeowners have gone as far as having a doggie lounge built-in to their space (so they can relax while they wait for appetizers).  This kitchen features a window seat for the dog.

traditional kitchen design

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Or build a covered bed so you still have a surface on top.  This photo shows a bed that is built into a buffet area.

traditional kitchen design by chicago architect COOK ARCHITECTURAL Design Studio

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Another trend for dog lovers is to build-in a dog washing station in the Mudroom or Laundry.  A small, tub / shower with a pull-down shower head at a comfortable height for owners, can be ultra convenient and less stress on the doggies.

traditional laundry room design by burlington architect Smith & Vansant Architects PC

traditional laundry room design by burlington architect Smith & Vansant Architects PC

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Another fun way to integrate a sleeping area is to create an indoor dog house within the walls of the space.

traditional entry design by boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

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The dog house below is also a tunnel to the outdoors.  It doubles as a dog house and doggie door.

dining room design by atlanta general contractor FrontPorch

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Its clear that homeowners will go the mile to establish comfort in our homes for our pets, because they are truly part of the family.