It’s no secret among my friends and family that I am nuts about pups.  I love dogs in all shapes and sizes.  They have such a good vibe and for the most part bring you nothing but joy (if properly trained :-).  Recently, I ran across a few companies that are taking a cue from our pets to create decorative solutions that pamper your pet and work with your decor.  Since pets are a part of the family, I think it’s a very cool idea.  Let me know what you think!

Crates and pet houses can take up a lot of space.  Denhaus has created pieces that do double duty as end tables and pet houses.  They’re available in Classic and Modern Styles.  Tres chic!

I really like the Asian feel to the Saigon Day Bed from Dog Bed Works.  It would be at home with your Modern or Exotic Decor.

The Beverley Hills Black and White Dog Bed from AdorableDogBeds.com will fit right in with Classic decor.  You pup will sit atop his or her rightful throne.

Please take these last two with the humor that is intended.  I don’t dress-up my dog Emma (well maybe on Halloween) nor does she require her own sleeping quarters.  I just thought they would make you smile.

Rachel Hunter apparently hired La Petite Maison to craft a mansion for her dog.  In this case, they replicated the client’s home for Fido.

And if you do dress up your pet, then where are you going to put all the frocks and feathers?  Why an armoire of course!

Shop for your spoiled pet on a semi-reasonable level in My Secret Database!

Are you ready to unleash your creativity?  I know, I know…your half-finished scrapbook sits up on the shelf and somehow that inanimate object has the ability to make you feel guilty.  Well, worry no more.  I have an easy project for you that makes the most of family photos by transforming them into clever artwork to hang on your walls.  The fantastic and fool-proof website, Picnik, will guide you through the process step-by-step.  Actually, it’s so much fun that I bet you will spend a lot more time than you need to! 

Go to www.picnik.com and easily upload your photo.  You then can Edit the photo by cropping, rotating or removing red-eye.  Now comes the fun part: Create.  Here you can apply any number of effects to make-over your photo. I chose a photo of my dog, Emma, and applied some technicolor.  You could also go with a simple black and white or sepia tone for an old-fashioned or “gallery” look.

At the end of the process you can save your photo to work on later, print it, email it or make a slide show.  It’s fun to apply different effects or colors to the same photo.  Or if you have several photos, it would be nice to apply the same effect to three different photos and hang them up in a group.  By using the same style, it will unify them.

To finish off these photos I would recommend a simple black frame with a large white mat that you can pick up from several vendors in My Secret Database.  Your friends will be impressed, your photos will come out of the box and your walls will be fashionably decorated.  Who could ask for anything else?

Calling all dog park devotees!  Good news on the furnishings front.  Crypton makes a line of “everything” resistant fabrics and furnishings that won’t get Fido kicked off the couch.  Fabulous sofas, chairs, dog beds and fabrics by the yard.  Choose among many styles and colors.  There is something to please everyone.

This is their promise to you and it’s pretty brave…

“It is the only textile that offers stain, moisture, mold, mildew, bacteria, and odor-resistant protection coupled with an integrated barrier that ensures nothing will ever penetrate the fabric…ever. “

Bravo for the husband and wife team of Craig and Randy Rubin.  They are making things a bit easier for those of us who unapologetically allow canines on the couch.

Come Visit Crypton!

I thought it was a great innovation when they started making the synthetic “sisal look” rugs that you could use outdoors. It adds friendly warmth to your patio. In the past I have recommended that clients also use these rugs indoors for pet and children friendly areas. They give you the sisal look without the worry. Real sisal is a nightmare to clean and it does not feel good on bare feet and knees (for the crawlers). But now there are all-weather rugs that look just like the tufted rugs that you would use in your living room. Here are a couple of fabulous ones from Grandin Road.