I love my dogs. I also love decorating. Of course, I love my dogs more than decorating. Luckily, there is no need to sacrifice one for the other. You read the blog, you know the dogs are spoiled. They each have three beds to my one, they have a trunk full of sweaters and jackets and they have almost every collar made by Sirius Republic. But the thing is, I don’t LOVE dog stuff. I don’t like to see dog stuff that looks like dog stuff. Oddly, if I go to someone else’s house and they have dog stuff strewn all around, I don’t even notice. But in my house, it haunts me. So the compromise is, the dog stuff has to either blend in or make a bold statement.
Here are some tricks that work for me.
Treats as decoration:
Dog lounging that blends in:
A functional yet aesthetically pleasing mudroom:
Carpets that hide hair!
A teepee that takes people by surprise yet still work as a lounging area for Jake!
A sleeping area in the master bedroom that doesn’t make the room feel cluttered:
And storage for their stuff (I forgot to take the photo before I left this morning, but see that piece of furniture behind Jake):
It’s a darker version of this (below) and all their collars and sweaters are inside it:
Anyone have other tips for making dog and human decor blend??
I think you have a promising career in design for people with pets! I’m trying to formulate a functional, semi-fasionable, and affordable design plan for cat friendliness and it is NOT easy.
It is not easy indeed!
I love those ideas. Too much of my decor looks like “modern day dog flop house.”
I would love to flop there!
Gotta love the “carpets that hide dog hair” tip!
That is key to sanity!
I’ve always loved seeing glimpses of your home, and so excited that you showed even more! I completely agree…all of the dog-specific items they sell tend to be ugly or way expensive, so we too like using human products for your pups. And I love that Jake has a tepee too!
I feel the same way about your home!!! The funny thing about that TeePee is that it was first Melvin’s and he wanted nothing to do with it. I got it back out for Jake and he immediately adopted it! Jake must channel his inner Mr. B!
Very nice!
I have a collection of treat containers on the counter as well. Collars, leashes, and sweaters all have their own places…I think the most creative I got was with toy storage: http://queenofzoom.com/2013/02/17/toy-storage/
I love the toy storage idea! Organization is key!
I love your decorating style!!!! You should come do the house we’re renting in Colorado!
I love the glass jars!
Stop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com/