I have a large dog crate and a teeny-tiny NYC apartment and decided to turn the crate into a taller-than-usual coffee table by having the local hardware store cut a piece of plywood to size allowing a 1/2 inch overage on each side. Then take a smaller piece of wood and created a rail/bumper attached under the overhang. With a little foam, upholstery and a staple gun, you can create an attractive surface to go on top of the crate and use it as a sort of end table.

I have a friend who had the same problem. Lucky for her- her mother managed to sew a cover for it. something like this http://www.petcratesdirect.com/dog-crate-covers-canine-cabana.html
only it was in a fabric that matched her curtains. unfortunately- it is what it is....a dog crate. This is probably the cheapest concept- have fun with it- if you google this idea you will see lots of people go a bit crazy- pillows, blankets--depends what you like

when living in brooklyn, we took the legs off of our small kitchen table and set it on top of the big crate. Down side was that it wasnt really possible to sit at the table, but it certainly saved space.

Here are 3 links I found after a bit of googling:
Dog Crate as bench seat: http://www.hgtv.com/video/dog-crate-cover-bench-seat-video/index.html

Dog Crate that looks like a console: http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/dog-crate/39340.html

Custom dog crates from Denhaus: http://www.femaleways.com/pets-house-design/cool-dog-houseden-design-from-denhaus-homes-for-pets/
(which I guess you could get someone to copy if you didn't want to order theirs)

I also remember watching *some* show on *some* channel that incorporated a huge bird cage (almost floor to ceiling) into a kitchen. The surround for the cage was beautiful and the things they did to incorporate it into the room, so that it wasn't just a cage in the room but really part of the design, were so smart. But I can't remember anything (!) other than how the final kitchen looked and how much I wished it were my kitchen. :( Maybe someone else saw this and remembers it? There was lots of white, a kitchen door in the back wall, and silver and black accents.

We had a similar question when we got our mastiff, and although only a few comments are aimed at the crate, you may want to browse them for general ideas! (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/good-questions/keeping-a-clean-stylish-homewith-a-big-dog-good-questions-115905)

We keep our large crate behind the couch with a wooden drawing board on top to hold a lamp and some books. works like a (very wide) sofa table. maybe you could get a piece of wood cut to fit the top of the crate and use it as table?

This is the best idea ever.

looks really good!

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/04/before-after-dog-cratedesk-jens-laundry-room.html

I think the kitchen denisegk mentioned was a Divine Design show. Candace Olsen designed a really georgeous kitchen for a guy who had a beloved parrot that needed to see out the window. She made a little black and white striped cabana cover for it.

You could probably find it at HGTV.

I am so embarrassed that I know this. At least I don't remember the episode number.

I know you said you can't buy a wooden furniture crate (they are expensive, I know). I have 3 dog crates in my bedroom :). However the largest one was such a HUGE eyesore that I saved my pennies and bought a craft cover from Petsmart. It basically makes the crate look like a table, so there is a nice wooden surface on top that we set up like a media center. Tv, vases and a couple pictures make it much less an eyesore.

Frontgate catalog has some great ideas you might be able to copy and create a DIY version. Here's the link to their indoor pet houses:
(path in English in case the link doesnt work: Home > Pet Products > Pet Houses, Crates & Travel Accessories > Indoor Dog Houses)

http://www.frontgate.com/jump.jsp?itemID=5919&itemType=CATEGORY&prime=1&path=1%2C2%2C5873%2C5875%2C5919

What is the crate for? Do you really need it in the house at all? Can it be taken apart and stored in the garage?

Our family has St. Bernard's and we "disguise" our large crates with quilted blankets from Target (I think Woolworth brand) in colors that match the room. The blanket looks nicer than a sheet and provides a warm, cozy space for the dog inside. I think the blankets are queen size and are doubled over so they basically cover the top and sides. The back of the crate is against the wall, so only the door is showing.

mdorothy...the 100+ pound dog she owns...it says that in the question. So yeah...she needs it.

We did basically what everyone else is saying, cut a piece of wood for the top, made a fabric cover, and used it as a table. Our big dog has moved on :( but we're getting a smaller dog for christmas and plan to do something similar.

If you have a plastic crate (not a metal cage-type one), you can also prime it with spray paint and then either spray or hand-paint it to match your wall color. I've done that with my two large crates, and it helps blend them into the background visually.

I second the painting. We looked at a bunch of options for incorporating our dog's crate into our bedroom but eventually ruled them out due to restricted airflow. I'd check with your vet prior to covering a crate with a blanket like material...

As soon as my dog was potty trained and only-chewing-his-toys trained we retired his eyesore crate. How much time does your dog spend in its crate (if it's a lot, I agree that training will be a better option)? Does your dog really really even need the crate?

Thanks everyone for the great ideas! I love the table top suggestions and think we will go that route. As for needing the cage-it is a necessity. Even the vet has agreed we have an abnormally hyper-active pup and after he (accidently) sent my two year old's head into the corner of the wall we knew they needed to be separated until he is a little more mellow, and she is a little bigger to defend herself from his love. Really the backyard is his domain and the crate is used overnight and once in awhile during the day if the weather gets too much for him. Thanks again for the suggestions, I knew this was the place to ask!

What is your obsession with "hiding" stuff, people?

If you don't want something around just dispose of it and you're done.....

I sympathize with the need. Some people always need to keep a dog crate.

Our dog is trained, obedient and well behaved, but he also has separation anxiety so that every time we leave he scratches our door trim to pieces. Its not that he's a bad dog, he had just been through a lot before he came to us, so he has issues with us leaving and missing us a lot. He gets lots of exercise, walks, play time, etc... but putting him in his crate is something we have to do when we're gone.

If someone uses a dog crate it doesn't imply that they don't take the time, love and energy to train their pup. Different dogs, different people, different needs. The placement and look of the crate is a valid concern.

make a new one http://ana-white.com/2010/10/averys-house.html

"Does your dog LIVE in the crate??? If so, maybe you should ask dog-owner sites how to train him and/or dog-proof your house so that he doesn't have to."

******************

Um, almost every trainer I know recommends crate training. Many people use their crate all the time. No, they should not LIVE in the crate but my animals are crated during they day for their own safety. One has seizures and one has a herniated disc. I use the crate to make sure they don't injure themselves while I am not home. The third dog chooses her crate over the rest of the house. Dogs are den animals and many feel safer and more comfortable in their crate.

I'm not sure how much you use your dining table... we hide our crate by simply sliding it under the table. The dog loves it because it feels more "den-like", it doesn't take up any extra space, and I don't have to look at the thing all day.

The implication that crate-training is somehow harmful to a dog is bothersome to me.

My dog loves her crate. At nearly 14, she feels secure in it. She often sleeps in it during the day even when it's opened and unlocked. It's a widely accepted practice to crate dogs--it provides a sense of security. Plus, again at 14, she is old and has bathroom issues...so the crate catches it.

Sorry, I just re-read, and it sounds like your dog isn't ever really locked into the crate (I might be wrong) since he needs access to the door.

If he's already house-trained, and you leave the crate open, it sounds like you don't really NEED the crate.

Maybe you could buy a collapsible one and only take it out when it's really necessary?

Again, I might be wrong about your situation, but it sounds like the dog no longer needs it.

Maybe a nice doggie bed would be a good replacement?

My husband and I have a min pin that we crate-trained as a puppy to avoid accidents in the house. He's five now and still goes into his crate to sleep, eat special treats, and when he feels scared or insecure (you know, when I'm vacuuming). We used to have the 100 lb dog sized crate and I'll agree, it's a total eyesore and takes up tons of space. We downgraded to a smaller crate, but it's still ugly. I loved reading all of these creative ideas on how to make it work with your home. Good luck with your pup!

How about hanging a curtain from ceiling to floor, one that slides easily on the rail so it's off to the side when necessary. TJMaxx, Pier 1 and others have very long, one panel curtains for reasonable.
Good luck, most pups mellow at about age two. A long (fast) walk each day to burn off pent up energy doesn't hurt, either.

@architetta, What a great idea! My husband and I are getting a dog soon, and I definitely see if I can make this happen for us! So cool!

Just echoing what a lot have said before - crate training is an excellent way to make your dog feel at home and keep them safe.

You see a cage.

They see a space where they feel secure, no one bothers them, and they aren't underfoot. Bars don't mean the same thing to them as to us.

It's a godsend for housebreaking both puppies and adult dogs, keeping a new adoptee or foster from destroying things while you're out, or just getting a break from one another - don't set her up for failure, have her in a place where she won't get in trouble!

And because it's their den, don't ever go in there. Don't use the crate as a punishment, and don't punish while in there. Once Java is in her "room," I pretty much ignore her - she's taking a break. She'll come out, or let me know, when she's ready to be social. Especially in the beginning, I used to hide treats in her crate when she wasn't looking, and she totally has all sorts of happy associations with being in there.

Plenty of dogs "graduate" from a crate, but many need them for life - separation anxiety, chewing, getting into stuff in the kitchen...

I cover mine with a spare sheet - looks awful, but it gives her a little privacy and plenty of airflow.

I understand having an eye-sore crate in the house. We have a small jack russell which we used to keep in the crate when we weren't home, but have found that now he doesn't need to stay in it anymore. He just sleeps when we aren't home anyway!

However, now it has become his "safe-place" when he wants to hide from thunderstorms, etc. so I don't want to totally get rid of it. Also we use it when we have to travel with him in the car or plane. We move a lot!

Either way... I'm tempted to just break it down and stow it away, but I've never had a 100+ pound dog so hopefully the suggestions people have left will be helpful for you! Good luck!

I'm a big fan of crating and my dog learned to love / be comfortable in his crate when he was a puppy while we were at work or sleeping. His crate was definitely an eyesore in the corner of our living room, and covering part of it with a sheet didn't exactly improve the look. Thank GOODNESS he is much more trustworthy now at 16 months old and we were able to store his crate in our attic:)
I know this is a design site...but can't help but throw in my 2 cents on doggy homes....Are you walking or running with your dog several times a day? (backyard roaming all day doesn't count) Does your dog have adequate time to spend with it's family? Do you ever bring him to 'doggy daycare'? All of these things can have a major impact on a dogs indoor energy level and could drastically improve their behavior with you and your kids.

Every trainer I've talked with recommends using crates. We've got two labs, yea 3 when we dogsit. http://flic.kr/p/8LTqgF We're trying to retrain them off our bed at night (they love to cuddle) and re-introducing the dog bed. It's a hard transition. I've been thinking of converting their crates to bedside tables.

I have lots of friends with big and small dogs and I never seen a dog-crate. Actually I didn't even know that they existed.
I'm still a bit shocked...
here is where normally dogs would sleep:
http://www.mycrazydog.ch/bilder/alltag/suchbilder/suchbild8.jpg
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/7783/cucce002kd5.jpg
http://www.prodottipercani.com/images/prodotti/casa.jpg
http://www.snootypaws.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/latte-dog-bed-copy.jpg
I find them just a bit more comfortable and welcoming than a cage!

I was wondering how long it would take for this to change from a design dilemma into a discussion about crating...you didn't let me down!

I don't know why people are so shocked by crates. My dog loves his. We always leave the door open and he goes in and hangs out in the all the time.

If your dog is a big chewer or isn't a fan of the crate yet I wouldn't recommend covering with any sort of fabric. He will pull it through the wires and eat big holes in it. Trust me I know.

I don't know how big a crate is for a 100 pound dog but is there a table you could stash it under? My dog love to sleep under all the tables in my house. So I put his crate underneath my dining room table. Now it's out of the way and he feels comfortable.

You could potentially build one like Ana did - http://www.prodottipercani.com/images/prodotti/casa.jpg

Man...This post just made me notice my dog crate in my dinning room. Now I have to do something about it.

http://www.bowwowbeds.com/

They have great covers (and beds) for good prices. I have used them before.

@Dulcibella: Yes! That was it! Thanks, it was really bothering me.

OK, those who don't "get it" now know crates are good, just bulky and not aesthetic.

I support the tailored cover and hard top to make the crate feel more like a table. Then, as the homeowner, you won't have these discussions with well-meaning guests who also dont' "get it"! (The crate becomes a tent!)

Capitalize on the look of the crate. Hang a grid on the wall that can hold dog leashes, framed dog pics, towel to wipe paws. Find a fabric that has a grid pattern and hang on either side of the crate, creating an alcove with a drapes. On top either place a wooden top or plastic laminate (Formica) top or trays, or large platters.

Spray paint it gold. Gold is awesome.

I recovered a vintage folding screen I found at a garage sale and put it in front of our crate. You can't tell it is there unless you are looking from the left side and adds a little interest to an otherwise boring corner.

We had the same problem in our small apartment. We used an ikea expedit bookcase as a room divider to block the crate from view.

I am suffering with that right now. The only place our large crate can really go is the kitchen..and it takes up a lot of space in there. We put a little rug in front of it and a lawn gnome next to her crate to just make it look like her funky little room. Can't beat em, join em!