Sometimes we find ourselves sighing a little while looking through house porn images: Does anyone really live in these spaces or was everything selected by a paid decorator? Past the magazine-styled photography, sometimes we can't see evidence of actual unique human life. But while cruising our favorite Friday blog, Desire to Inspire, we stumbled across three subtle specimens of individual expression beyond the slick put-togetherness.
From Left to Right:
1. Doggie Bed Built Into Kitchen Island. Come on, this had to have been a pointed request by the owners who clearly have a dog that loves to be in the kitchen — yummy scraps — but tires of lying on the hard floor and is always in the way. Bacon would be so jealous...
2. Old Beam Inset as Built-in Headboard. We can't guarantee that this is a personal touch but it feels like a genuine move to bring the warmth of age and history to an otherwise "new" space. Our romantic idea is that this was a beam from an old/previous home. Lovely.
3. Built-in Art to Cover Unused Door. Again, can't say for sure that this wasn't a decorator's idea but we love seeing personal adaptations inside of old and/or defunct architectural elements. Using this existing doorframe as a large, built-in frame for artwork is just delightful. We cannot imagine this happening in a newly-built space.
Via: Desire to Inspire.
The dog bed is hysterical!!! Nothing, I mean NOTHING, would ever reach the floor if my basset hound had the same set up.
view GreatFriend's profile
A built-in kitchen scraps disposal!
view slowdown's profile
Smart people. Some people would try to keep the dog out of the kitchen. This way, the dog thinks he won (important to so many dogs) and the people with whom the dog lives thinks they won. (important to so many people.)
view LauraE's profile
"Does anyone really live in these spaces or was everything selected by a paid decorator?"
You think these are mutually exclusive?
view Indy Jeffrey's profile
Love the dog bed in the island -- haven't gotten that client request yet. Here are some other Sensible Style kitchen ideas:
http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2009/08/sensible-style-six-small-kitchen-tips.html.
view JG_Kitchens's profile
hahaha this really seems like an excuse to post that awesome dog picture...which is reason enough.
view ec05's profile
ec05, I was thinking the same thing. Although it is a great idea--and it would get the dogs out from underfoot, which is where mine are whenever I am cooking!
view sally305's profile
A dog bed in the kitchen island. Really? Because that grosses me out just a little.
My dog avoids the kitchen like the plague, unless invited, a fact for which I am utterly thankful.
I have enough to think about in the kitchen, the last thing I need is to be worried about stepping on the dog. Or whatever.
His highness contributes enough to that space as it is. The saying "pet hair is a condiment", sadly, is much too true at my house.
view splatgirl's profile
ohhh, back in my apartment days, I found hanging art a great way to conceal the circuit breaker panel that some genius, regardless of the apartment, always decided to put front and center in the entrance hall.
view splatgirl's profile
I've just had a kitchen island built and I like the dog bed idea. But what I need more is a place (apart from the kitchen counter) where the cat could eat without interference from the dog. I wish I'd thought of designing that into my island.
view Dulcibella's profile
Wait...do you (author) have a dog named Bacon?! The two loves of my life are my boys Bacon and Sausage (black lab and dachshund).
Best name for a dog. Ever.
view LAtoNY's profile
Also - that kitchen island is genius because Bacon is always napping in the kitchen either in front of the stove/sink/trash can/fridge/wherever you need to walk.
view LAtoNY's profile
So when is "our" Bacon getting his island bed? You folks know he is the official AT dog of choice.
view hippyvieja's profile
Dog bed is very cute but would never work at my house. My Corgi sheds like there is no tomorrow (despite frequent brushing) and the pet hair is bad enough when he's sleeping at the far end of the kitchen. Put him that close to the food and dog hair will be the main ingredient in every dish. It just refuses to leave the house now matter how hard I clean.
view bkk's profile