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FURNISHINGS

DIGS FOR DOGS

Redesign your home with Fido in mind

by LIS KING ↓

Of course, you love your dog to distraction.

But, when guests are expected, you probably scurry to remove messy feeding bowls, pick up chew toys and Febreze the sofa.

You’ll be glad to learn that designers are hard at work coming up with concepts that pamper our pooch, as well as simplify the job of caring for them.

Kitchen and bath designers are often at the forefront of innovative pet designs, including feeding centers that can roll out of sight, cozy indoor snooze centers and doggy wash stations.

They claim that such design features can be beautiful, and of course, a happy and healthy pet also means a happy pet owner.

The National Association of Kitchens and Baths (NKBA) says that pet-friendly design is on the rise, and the American Institute of Architects reports a sharp spike in client interest in built-in pet rooms and kennels.

For dogs, mudrooms and laundry rooms are considered the best locations for built-in feeding, sleeping and bathing centers. When designing these spaces, you should consider your pet’s size, age, health and temperament.

For example, while a pull-out, lower cabinet drawer outfitted with water and kibble bowls is fine for smaller dogs, a long-legged Great Dane needs a taller unit.

← Mudrooms and laundry rooms are ideal locations for built-in feeding, sleeping and bathing stations for dogs. Spaniel, your bath is ready!

←→ Available at Chewy.com: Frisco Broadway dog crate credenza and mat kit, left, and Frisco loveseat pet bed with removable cover, right.

For most large dogs, dining seat height is about right.

Too, keep your dog’s size in mind for a sleep center. While decompressing, most dogs like to feel snug. The space can be minimal, just large enough for them to comfortably turn.

Sleeping quarters might be a cabinet with an opening, a rollaway bed or a bench with a cushy pad. The space beneath a staircase, often used as a closet, is many designers’ pick for a canine bedroom.

“If you’re outfitting a mudroom as a safe space for your dog to curl up or play in while you’re out, add a compartment for his toys,” said Sarah Barnard, one of NKBA’s pet-friendly designers. “Outfit dog cushions with washable duvet covers, and avoid toxic materials. Puppies, especially, are prone to tastetesting items within reach, including rugs and pillows.”

A dog tub/shower is an item at the top of many pet owners’ lists, and pet pros approve. They say this feature saves owners time, money and stress, and most pets seem more comfortable at home than at the groomer.

Indoor kennels and crates have also gone luxe. These days, they’re often designed to do double duty as a coffee or end table and sometimes stand in for cabinets and sideboards.

Then, there are dog doors.

These take the form of doors with cutouts, through which the family dog

DOGSCAPING As an animal lover, you may be inclined to plant milkweed, a plant relied upon by monarch butterflies in their life cycles. But be mindful that milkweed is among plants that are toxic to dogs. Others, in addition to those pictured here are: sago palms, tomato plants, aloe vera, amaryllis, gladiolas, daffodils, baby’s breath, chrysanthemums, begonias and oleanders.

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↑ When arriving at a house for your dog, prioritize size over cutesiness. The house should be large enough to allow its occupant to stretch out and lie down, and the floor should be slanted to provide for drainage.

can go in and out at will, as well as for special in-house doors that, when necessary, may keep him at bay.

The latter are a far cry from typical, rickety baby gates. Boasting fine wood, they may even be pocket doors.

Interest in outdoor pet living is also on the rise.

While no dog lover will ever advocate letting a dog live outside, a dog house can sometimes be a necessity. Kathy Mullen, a dog trainer and owner of Kalero Dog Obedience in Panama City Beach, recommends dog houses serve as an outdoor haven for Fido but not a home.

Dog house doors should always be open, said Mullen, so your pet may enter and exit as they please.

“Dog houses can provide shelter for a dog that is outside, but you don’t want to leave them out there 24/7,” Mullen said. “Dogs are pack animals and like to feel enclosed, and dog houses provide that for them outside. During extreme weather, though, they need to be inside the house with you.”

Popular styles range from tiny, Snoopy-esque homes to classic log cabins with roof decks, but you should prioritize its size and comfortability over aesthetics.

The house needs to be big enough for the dog to lie out flat with his legs and head fully extended. It should be well-insulated, and the floor ought to be slightly slanted toward the rear to drain rainwater.

Your dog will also need a place to go potty. It could be a patch of artificial grass capable of being hosed off or a mulched area.

When landscaping around your dog’s area, be careful with graveled paths, as small stones can get caught in tender paws. Most importantly, keep toxic plants out of his yard. Common plants such as azalea, grassy palm, aloe and English ivy are no-nos.

Checking out the ASPCA website’s list of toxic plants for pets is a must. EC

INTERIORS

A RETURN TO REFINEMENT

Heirloom china is a hot commodity

by LIS KING

Not so long ago, most of us dreaded the moment when a downsizing granny would offer us her wedding china, so prized that she’d only bust it out for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Millennials, especially, didn’t want those floral, gold-rimmed plates, let alone archaic serving pieces such as soup tureens, gravy boats and lidded bowls.

Finding granny’s china too fussy and a bit comical, they swore by minimalistic plates that could clatter from table to sink to dishwasher without shattering.

But, things are changing.

Instagram, Etsy and Pinterest followers interested in food, restaurants and decorating are exposed to a steady diet of pretty, vintage plates. Professional and home chefs compete to show off their culinary masterpieces, and that often involves something other than the practical-but-clunky white restaurant china.

Meanwhile, people are creating imaginative tablescapes by using vintage patterns in contemporary ways.

With more than 11 million pieces in their inventory, Replacements in North Carolina is the world’s largest retailer of vintage and modern tableware. They report brisk business at their online “vintage shop.”

↑→ Styles tend to be cyclical, and vintage china’s time has come again. Restaurants and homeowners are setting tables with dishes that had been relegated to boxes and buried in storage closets.

Keith Winkler, the firm’s marketing specialist, said many restaurants now use vintage mixed tableware with spectacular results. Too, millennials are drawn to vintage tableware to create personal table settings.

“They mix patterns, color and styles,” said Winkler. “There is even a group called ‘Grand Millennials’ who create and share beautiful tablescapes on social media.”

Lisa Byrne, owner of Blue Moon Antique Mall in Pensacola, said that the trend is picking up traction in Northwest Florida.

“China, both antique and contemporary, is becoming more popular,” said Byrne. “Especially that of the ’60s and ’70s, midcentury style. Those tend to be more atomic and abstract.”

Byrne said customers tend to purchase pieces from different sets that adhere to the same color family. Turquoise or green, for example, can be recurring hues in various designs and make mismatched dishes more aesthetically cohesive.

“Classic blue-and-white patterns are the leaders in vintage china,” added Winkler. “But there is also an enormous interest in botanical patterns, and people continue to collect classic favorites from Spode, Wedgewood and Haviland.”

But complete sets of granny’s china are popular with wedding ceremonies, said Winkler. The reason is simple: Vintage china is sweet and romantic, just right for wedding receptions and dinners.

Tony eateries, too, are discovering old china. It’s amazing how delicious collard greens can look on a rosepatterned plate, and a cookie becomes all the sweeter when served on a goldrimmed grandma plate.

Of course, china can be purely decorative. They can accent fireplaces or serve as picture frames.

Crafters are snapping up old china, only to break them up for mosaics projects. Others recycle whole plates and cups for artsy lamp bases, bird feeders and wind chimes.

But, gallery walls of curated plates are the most popular way of decorating with vintage china. You can make one out of patterned pieces in various sizes or uniform white plates that look stunning on a boldly colored wall. Plate hangers will make this an easier process.

With all this newfound interest in old china, Winkler said you shouldn’t be too hasty about dumping an heirloom set of china. He is glad that people are beginning to appreciate family heirlooms.

“The challenge is that most of us simply don’t have room for a whole set of china,” Winkler said. “So, we suggest that you just keep the pieces you know you will use, and donate or sell the rest of the set. That way, you can still enjoy the memories the china evokes.

“If you’re lucky enough to be in possession of granny’s china, please use it all the time, and don’t let it languish on a shelf.” EC

←→ Vintage china may be used for purely practical purposes or it can serve as art, taking places on fireplace mantels and in wall galleries.