More about the Doggie Dream Home
 |
We’ve received quite a few queries about the 4′ by 4′ Doggie Dream Home (even a request for the building plans), so I thought I’d pick up the phone and have a quick chat with the builder himself, Ledson Construction superintendent and architectural design specialist Patrick Geary. After you read through the interview, don’t forget to enter the giveaway for your chance to win this amazing pooch palace … we’ll throw in the HGTV Dream Home, too!
What was your inspiration for the Doggie Dream Home?
We used the HGTV Dream Home plans and scaled them back. The footprint of the doghouse – everything from the porches to the perimeter foundation – is the exact footprint of the HGTV Dream Home. Any architectural plan can be scaled down the same way.
What materials did you use to construct the home?
Everything is constructed out of plywood. We cut grooves in 3/4-inch-plywood with a 1/8-inch saw blade to replicate the exterior siding.
And that amazing roof?
We took the exact roofing material from the HGTV Dream Home – the exact composition roofing – cut the material into 1 1/2-inch pieces and then grooved those pieces with a grinder to simulate smaller shingles.
Tell us about the exterior.
We painted the Doggie Dream Home with the same Sherwin-Williams® exterior paints used for the HGTV Dream Home. The burgundy window sashes were painted onto the Plexiglas windows, which were inserted into the plywood walls and secured in place with pieces of trim.
It looks like this project took forever to complete. Did it?
It took me and my assistant, Alfredo Garcia, five days to complete. It became a much larger project than we anticipated. Once we started with the project, we wanted to make it as realistic and accurate as possible.
Any funny stories along the way?
When we completed the doghouse, we loaded it on the back of a truck and transported it from Santa Rosa, where we live, to Sonoma. Folks were honking at us, and we were approached by many people who asked if we could build them doghouses. It was definitely a head turner on the road. We were also joking because we were doing 55 miles per hour on the highway, so we felt satisfied that the roof could withstand gale-force winds during a storm.
So how does it feel now that you’ve raised the Doggie Dream Home design bar?
Alfredo and I enjoyed coming up with the idea of scaling the home down from the original plan, and, as large a project as it was, it was really rewarding for us to see the results and compare it to the HGTV Dream Home. We were both able to work on and build the actual HGTV Dream Home, and it was rewarding for us to be a part of this process – to finally sit back and see them both completed.
-Mary
Great to know there are so many animal lovers out there, I too have 2 ruffs, wisker and willy pomeranians, think they would both fit in that fancy ruff house? I think so, they can’t live without each other, ha.
I look forward to living in the big house myself with my hubby, which i can’t live without, ha. looking forward to having that large wine selection, we currently have a tiny wine vault that is constantly being refilled, ha. also love that new suv in the deal, our cars are old and tattered, due to have a beautiful new car. the wrap around porch the house has is great, reminds me of my child hood years. althow nothing is ever everyones perfect choice, i think this house based in the middle of California is just about perfect. we have family just about an hour from there, so much closer than now, we don’t get to visit but once a year if that.
Dream big, Dream hard, someday your dreams are bound to come true, maybe this time it will be you.
Is it big enough that my dog could fit in it: Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier? It looks really small when you look at it from the tour and such.. Can the dogs actually go in it? And is it small, medium or large?
is it big enough for a britiany spanial to fit in?
Looks like HGTV thought of everything and everyone in the family! My boxer Mugsy would love his own home too! It’s a major upgrade from the crate he is living in now! We love it!
I LOVE THE DOGGIE DREAM HOME… MY TWO LITTLE BASSETT HOUNDS WOULD BE SO CUTE CUDDLING AND DREAMING AWAY IN THIS MINI HOUSE!
WE CURRENTLY LIVE IN OK, BUT MY HUSBAND AND I THINK ROSCO AND DAISY WOULD LOVE SOAKING UP THE SUN IN BEAUTIFUL CALIFORNIA. I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE HOW AMAZING IT WOULD FEEL TO WALK INTO THE DREAM HOME KNOWING IT WAS YOURS!!!!
Wow, the doggie house is so cute! I’ve always wanted a dog and this would be the perfect time for me to move in and look for the perfect dog for me.
i luv it
if i win my lil suzie would luv it so much
WOW! My siberian Huskies would love this house! Its their own little dream for themselves, hey if im dreaming big why cant they right? GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
That is a beautiful dog house. The only reason I would buy a dog for my kids is if there is a place for it outside. And with this home there certainly is a place for one. But how big of a dog would fit in that dog house? I know is a 4′ x 4′ dog house… but how big is entrance for the dog to go inside? I think the winner of the Dream Home would really need to know that little bit of information. Thanks HGTV.
My dog deserves this ! She – a maltese Toy suffered thru two hurrucaines and tornadoes. She is the sweetest trooper! She will give you five and waive HI!She loves to dance. She would Really make the Doggy Dream Home Worhtwhile and a true Dream! She has suffered so much ! Starfish is the sweetest, doggie ever. She wears Clothes and loves them too!