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In the old days, before dogs were treated like children or status symbols, Lassie ate out of an old bucket and slept in the barn. Poor Lassie. She may have known she was man's best friend (or at least Timmy's), but she didn't have a clue bout modern design for the well-heeled pet. |
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Today we've gone from buckets to ergonomic bowls (so that your pet doesn't suffer from back or whisker strain) and the barn to the Bowhaus (a high-design crate-cum-coffee table that comes in studio and loft sizes). In fact, companies like Wetnoz take their pet demographic so seriously that they conduct interviews (with the pet owners, we presume) and do experiential research with their own pets. Their product line, which includes sculptural serving dishes and toys, has won a score of design awards, including the latest, a Gold IDEA award for its Spring Roll dog toy. Even popular designers, such as Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and Cath Kidston, offer matching beds for the canine members of the family.
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| Sure today's pet products are pleasing to the dogs (mine have never been very picky about what they chew on or where they sleep), but this wouldn't be big business if the master or mistress weren't willing to whip out the wallet. The Wetnoz tagline "Pet products you can live with" reflects the company's desire to create items that accent the home of the human, says Mark Kimbrough, one of the design principals of parent company Design Edge. "We've received feedback that customers like the products so much that they are using the dog bowls for salad or fruit due to their unique design," he says. |
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Obviously, aesthetics play a big role here. Finding a bed that both she and her dog could live with is what got architect Barbara Beck of Artful Dogs into the doghouse business. "My dog Chopper has always liked small places, but I thought his crate was too ugly to put into my house," Beck says. "I decided to try to do something that we both would like." What she came up with is an architectural delight. With its spreading roof and horizontal lines, Chopper's home is reminiscent of the Prairie home of the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. "It has overhangs and windows for ventilation so he doesn't get too hot and he can watch us," Beck says. She also sells a Palladian-style house and a smaller House of Bones inspired by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. |
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Anne Krueger is the editor of HGTV.com's Decorating newsletter. She has written for In Style, This Old House, Martha Stewart Living and The New York Times. |
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