Dogs | Design Happens

ALL POSTS TAGGED "[dogs]"

Daily Delight: Stylish Solutions for Unsightly Pet Crates

by Briana Mowrey April 5, 2012 4 Comments

As a dog owner, I’ve had a specific decor-related problem that I’ve been trying to solve for some time now. Namely, how do I disguise, hide or cover up my dog’s ugly crate? Getting rid of it seems like an obvious fix, but my dog was crate trained by a previous owner, and I think he likes having a little den of his own for sleeping (or chewing toys). Enter these crate covers by Bowhaus NYC.

dog crate covers

They come in a number of colors, patterns and styles and turn a sad wire mess into something that resembles a tiny tent, or perhaps a beach/pool cabana. Plus, matching bed inserts! I also love the way the crate cover flaps can be rolled up and down for easy access or sleepytime. My dog may not be as rich as Leona Helmsley’s Trouble once was, but at least he can live like a millionaire. (And I can get my bedroom back in order.)

Daily Delight: Kitchen Island Dog Bed

by Briana Mowrey November 15, 2011 16 Comments

As far as I’m concerned, my dog Chauncey is like Mary Poppins: Practically perfect in every way. Except his constant habit of getting under foot while I’m cooking. (Okay, that and a stinky breath thing, but we’re working on that with some poultry-flavored enzymatic toothpaste.) It’s actually endearing, but considering that he’s a mini dachshund and we own some serious chef’s knives, I’m always worried that one of us is going to get hurt. If only we had this kitchen island dog bed by Cook Architectural Design Studio, as featured on Houzz!

dog cubby in kitchen

Look at these two pooches, basking in the kitchen without causing any casualties. That’s the power of ingenious space-saving design. Now, if we could just address that breath…

Daily Delight: Cheeky Wallpaper

by Lili Zarghami February 17, 2011 8 Comments

Home design is serious business! Many of us scrimp and save to buy just the right piece of furniture, or scream at our loved ones for wearing their outdoor shoes on the Persian carpet [ahem, sorry family].

But it’s good to remember that this is fun stuff. This lighthearted wallpaper featured in an Apartment Therapy post with tips for removing some of the more stuck-on stuff reminded me of just that. Perfectly timed for the Westminster Dog Show, too.

Do you have any humorous things that decorate your home? I have a framed note from a friend at my front door that says presciently, “You forgot something” to our guests as they’re leaving.

Do Westminster Dog Show Dogs Have Couch Privileges?

by Anna Millman February 15, 2011 5 Comments

I love pictures of dogs in beautifully designed rooms…especially when they are on the furniture. So as I watched the 2011 Westminster Dog Show, I got to wondering…do the owners of those prize-winning pooches allow them on the couch? I bet the Pekingese that took home top prize for the toy group has sofa privileges. Certainly not the 85-pound Scottish Deerhound, right?

Dog on chaise - Emily Gilbert photographer

Photographer Emily Gilbert

Well, my three fur babies won’t win best in show at Madison Square Garden, but they are best in everything in our hearts and home, so they are allowed on the couch and in the bed. What about in your house? If you lived in these rooms, would you change your mind?

Jumping Allowed

Designing Your Home Around Pets

by Erin Loechner July 21, 2010 17 Comments

It’s time I introduce you to some integral members of my family: Bernard P. and George Michael Loechner. Wave hello, friends!

This is the darling duo on Halloween last year. Left: Bernard P., Right: George Michael. And also, if you'd like to know what the P. in Bernard P. stands for, I suggest you adopt a dog with a small bladder. It will become quite clear soon thereafter.

Bernard P. (Bernie) is a small Yorkipoo with a big attitude, and George Michael (George) is a soft-coated Wheaton terrier with an unhealthy affection for obedience. Seriously, the dog is perfection in a bucket. You’ll love him; come visit.
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Freebie Fridays: Potting Shed Creations

by Karli Sanders Cook July 2, 2010 22 Comments

Potting Shed Creations, located in Troy, Idaho, started as a garage business in 1998 and now sells its products worldwide. We like their goal of inspiring a fresh approach to gardening by offering well-designed, sustainable products.

design-happens-pottingshed483x400

In addition to bonsai gardens, gardens in a bag and scatter gardens, Potting Shed Creations offers an adorable line of pet products. This week four readers will win their choice of a dog grass bowl or a cat grass bowl.

For a chance to win, answer this week’s question before 12/11c, Monday, July 5.

This week’s question: How do you spoil your pets?

Click for official rules.

Design With Dooce

by ChadP February 24, 2010 208 Comments

A few weeks ago, we announced that Heather Armstrong would be joining the HGTV family. Since then, we’ve gotten lots of feedback asking what she’ll be doing around here. While we still have a lot of tricks up our sleeves, starting this week, Heather will post every week on Design Happens. (Yay!)

If you could have her post on any design-related topic, what would it be? What do you want to see HGTV and Heather tackle together?

What to Watch…

by April 7, 2009 7 Comments

My job rocks…I’ve been a huge HGTV fan ever since it first hit the airwaves, so when I started working here two years ago developing new shows for the network, you can imagine how excited I was. The excitement hasn’t died down, and I wanted to share it with you. This month I am looking forward to two big premieres on HGTV:

HGTV’s Top 10 is awesome for many reasons. Personally, I love looking at pretty spaces, even if they aren’t necessarily attainable for me, I find them inspiring. Each week we’ll showcase ten examples of stellar style from the nation’s leading designers and architects.

I Love that long Fireplace!

Is there anything better than an unobstructed view?

The tours of these beautiful spaces are intercut with an illustrious group of industry experts talking about what makes these rooms so unique. You can catch HGTV’s Top 10 at 8:30PM every Tuesday starting TONIGHT!

Home is about more than the furniture and paint color. What really makes it HOME is what goes on inside those beautifully decorated walls! That’s why I love Leader of the Pack. The cutest family ever is looking for the perfect dog, so we give them eight furry friends to choose from. The family of five has eight dogs move in with them! Through a series of challenges, each week the family votes to decide which pup goes (Don’t worry! Each dog gets placed in another loving home!). Meet my three favorites…

Meet Louie!

Meet Frannie!

Meet Piper!

The series ends when the family finally picks the Leader of The Pack, and that dog becomes part of their family. This show is so great. The entire programming team got SO into the competition, we all had bets on which dog would win! I promise you’ll fall in love with the family and the dogs! Leader of the Pack premieres on Sunday April 26th at 8:00PM.

What shows are you excited about and what do you want to see more of?

Best in Show

by admin November 14, 2006 2 Comments

Dog lovers, meet perfume lovers. As the owner of a particularly large <a href=”Golden Retriever called Carter (named after a fellow do-gooder and president), I am particularly pleased with HOTdog’s new Fruit & Passion collection. They’ve got the basics, shampoo with natural extracts and gentle shampoo for puppies or dogs with sensitive skin. But my heart skipped a beat when I saw the Fresh and Lustrous Spray, Eau de Toilette and Purifying Deodorizer (for house and home). According to their press info, these beautifully packaged goods include Aloe Vera, Chamomile Flower Extract, Orange-Blossom Water and other goodies to promote healthy, shiny skin and coats. What does this have to do with design? I can sum it up in one word, aroma. Think if it as design for the nose.

Carter and I live in close quarters (our Manhattan manse takes up about 400 square feet) but we’re also sharing the streets with other New Yorkers who, let’s face it, can be a persnickity bunch. Especially when they go out of their way to pet a dog only to have the dreaded Dog Smell on their hands for the rest of the day. Well, fear not citizens of Gotham. Carter’s spruced up, sprayed down and smelling great. Let the petting begin.