Living in a small house or apartment reduces our environmental impact, but it can have its challenges. One thing I've learned over the years is that while it's easy to think you need more space, usually you just need better space. During a recent kitchen remodel, my husband and I came up with a creative solution to two common small kitchen conundrums - the microwave and the dog bowls.
For aesthetic and space-saving reasons, we didn't want a countertop microwave (and yes, we considered not having one at all). An over-the-range option would have solved this problem, but for us it was more important to improve our indoor air quality with the higher venting capacity of a dedicated hood. By incorporating the microwave into our island, it's easy to use and accessible without being an eyesore. (We also bought one of the smallest models we could find.)
The other clutter issue to deal with was dog bowls. With limited wall space and a large golden retriever, we needed something that was easy for him to get to without being a tripping hazard for humans. By installing recessed dog bowls at the end of our island (and below the microwave), we eliminated the visual clutter and improved the efficiency of our space.
For the cabinet itself, we considered buying a shelving unit and modifying it, but it had to be an exact size to work with the rest of the island so we built our own. The cabinet is made of fir plywood with an upper shelf for the microwave and a lower shelf with cutouts for two stainless steel bowls (which can easily be popped out and put in the dishwasher). The wood is treated with a non-toxic polyurethane to protect from spills and doggie dribble.
This solution may not work for everyone, but it's a small gesture that's made it a little easier for two humans and one dog to live happily in a small house.
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It is best not to feed dogs from elevated bowls. It has been shown to increase the risk for a deadly disease: gastric dilatation and volvulus (bloat). This looks really great and I would certainly like to have our dog's water bowl incorporated into a piece of furniture, but it is not safe, especially with large deep chested dogs.
Good to know, but in this case it looks like the bowls are only a couple of extra inches off the floor.
Actually, our vet said we should only let our dog eat/drink from elevated bowls.
On another note, an added con to having the microwave over the stove is that if one of you is cooking and the other wants access to the microwave, you get in each other's way.
Yes, I'd like to add that many people recommend elevated bowls for reducing bloat. I'm sure someone concocted a study recently to confuse everyone. I would get more details on it all before buying into the study.
Hmmm. If you have a Golden Retriever, the bowls are still lower than his/her head even if they're off the floor, yes? Whereas, if you have little dogs like mine, Shih Tzus, it's a horse (dog) of a different color! I think if you concentrate on making sure the dog has a clean bowl and clean water, the rest is a matter of what works for your dog(s)!
My daughter is a veterinarian and she recommends elevated bowls for some dogs. You should consult with your vet. I think it looks pretty nice myself. I think there are a lot of pieces of furniture like old tv stands, etc., that could be converted to conceal pet supplies in the upper part and mount the bowls like this in the bottom. Thanks for sharing this tip!!
I think it's a wonderfully elegant solution! You also have a very VERY adorable doggie...he looks sooo soft and sweet.
I love how the doggy supervised the production of his bowl holding cabinet. So cute! The finished product looks great.
Regarding bloat prevention, its the opposite, to prevent bloat in a deep chested dog, you should feed them from an elevated bowl slightly below their snout so they can stand naturally while eating without bending or reaching.
And, oh yes, nice DIY, I always hate the sight of a microwave so like an undercounter space. Plus at 5" tall, its much easier to clean than mounted under the cabinet. Instead of taking up more counter space, you added!
What a smart and handy husband you have. Lucky girl!
Actually, I am a vet. The website, Veterinarypartner.com is maintained by VIN.com a world wide group of veterinarians. The most recent study showed an increase risk in large breed deep chested dogs fed from elevated bowls when compared to their breed cohorts (ie a great dane was compared to a great dane). The article is under "Bloat: the mother of all emergencies.