Choices abound for pampering pooches
Angel and Nicole aren’t young any more, but to my wife and I they’ll always be our babies. I needn’t concern myself with what college they’ll be going to or who’ll pay for the wedding.
No, we’ve none of those worries. We love them madly despite their limitations of being able to talk to us only with their eyes and the fact that strangers often spook them — at least until they check them out and make sure they pass the sniff test.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Angel and Nicole are our pet Dalmatians who make up the family pack. We’ve all taken a silent vow to be together always — no matter who crosses over the Rainbow Bridge first, we’ll all eventually meet up on the other side.
And in case you’ve been living on some other planet, the overwhelming majority of dog owners (with as many as 60 million households in the U.S. alone) say that they regard their furry friends as family members. And as such, many of them share the joy of nesting in style with their pampered pets, just as my wife and I do.
What that often means is that we look upon it both as a privilege and a joy to bestow upon our little companions the best that is available today in pet housing and furniture. Really, it’s a great symbiotic arrangement. We can show them just how much we love them while indulging ourselves at the same time. Nowadays the old saying, “He’s in the dog house,” truly has taken on a new meaning as more and more of us attempt to provide our pets with the best that our money can buy, despite the economic challenges of the day.
On the upper end of the socio-economic scale there are those who want nothing less for their pets than a detailed facsimile of their own home, replete with spacious interiors, wall covering options and even faux painting. Cedar shingles, fixed Plexiglas windows, air conditioning, an operating front door, covered rear entrances, wood shutters, flower boxes and halogen lighting are just a few of the many options to choose from. I kid you not. (Are you already thinking about coming back in your next life as one of these pampered pooches?)
These are the kinds of custom luxury doggie homes that really are fit for your prince or princess — and just may go for a king’s ransom, as well. A Swiss chalet can retail for about $5,500 and a Colonial mansion for more than $6,000; both are offered by Ritzy Rover Pet Boutique. Custom beds may utilize only the finest exotic woods and veneers, such as Pamper Me Puppy’s Georgian four poster in solid mahogany with hand-embroidered fabric that retails for more than $23,000.
Meanwhile, back on planet Earth where most of us reside, there are more affordable options with which we can show our love to our canine kids and complement our surroundings at the same time.
Beds can be modern platforms, country French, ranch-style, Chinese, art nouveau or standard four-poster traditional. And these don’t have to cost a fortune, either, ranging from several hundred dollars to as much as $1,000. But no matter what style you choose, be sure to select one that fits your dog’s size and weight, bearing in mind any physical ailments it might have, such as an arthritic condition or any allergies.
There are also day beds available for use outside the home that are often made of sturdy wrought iron that can work with your own patio furniture.
When my own pet children come indoors, they enter our home from our backyard through custom French doors that feature their very own little insert door that I designed to be at the proper height so that Angel and Nicole don’t have to bend down too much and maybe injure their backs.
Meals can be served on a custom doggie dining table in whatever style works with your own design motif. And in reality, the elevated feeding table is much more than just a conversation piece; it is said to be a real benefit to the dog’s health and well-being as it helps promote proper digestion as well as comfortable eating posture.
And what better place for them to relax and take a snooze after dinner than on a sofa or chair built just like quality human furniture? These pieces are so well made that they can be reupholstered and literally last a lifetime. High-quality upholstery fabrics can be used; they will stand up beautifully to wear and tear and can be cleaned by brushing, hand-washing or dry cleaning.
Cushions and mattresses are now made with polyester “fabu-fill” that is extremely comfortable for your pet and allows the cushions to retain their original shapes. They’re made with cotton-zippered cases that can be removed for cleaning. As an extra safety precaution the interior cushion is waterproofed to stop accidents from soaking through.
Finally, box-pleated skirts and matching or coordinating throw pillows finish off the pieces for that designer look that will complement your living room furniture and add charm to your home.
And for those of you curious as to where and how Angel and Nicole sleep in our home, well can’t you guess? They snooze quite happily under the down comforter along with us in one of my king-size faux finished beds that I’ve designed and made for some of the fanciest and well-known celebrities in the world. A dog’s life, indeed!
Note: Our beloved Angel crossed over that Rainbow Bridge just as I finished this article. But I’ve no doubt that she’s running and playing and resting in a bed made especially for her by her heavenly hosts.
Stephen Leon is a licensed interior designer and president of Soleil Design International; he has been designing and manufacturing custom furniture and cabinetry for more than 25 years. He has served on the board of directors of the Central California/Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. Questions can be sent to stephen@soleildesigninternational.com.
