The Best Design Forward Dog Beds And Dog Crates

A few months ago my husband and I accomplished something we thought was impossible. We trained our very stubborn dog to stop sleeping on our bed. It was not without frustration and about 100 dog treats, but we’ve officially declared our efforts a success. Our 60-pound American bulldog named Gus (who thinks he is human) has accepted that his own dog bed is where he ought to sleep. Such a valiant effort would not have been possible without a durable, comfortable dog bed so we began this sleep training journey with a practical bed we knew would meet our very spoiled dog’s comfort needs. Great. Perfect. Done. But now as I stare at his quite large bed taking up a lot of precious space, I am reminded that I’d much prefer a prettier, more design-forward dog bed. Knowing how much our pets can take over our hearts AND homes, I figured I am not alone. So since I am currently in the market, I figured I’d share some of the best, most stylish dog beds available right now. Let’s get into it.

PRETTY DOG BEDS

design by sarah zachary | styling by emily bowser | photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a historic mid-century modern home that was completely brought back to life

Around here we are big on using floor pillows as dog beds because, well, floor pillows are home decor so they are often a bit more stylish. And I’ve never met a dog who doesn’t love to snuggle up on ANYTHING remotely comfy. That said, I made it my mission to find the best, most aesthetically pleasing dog beds that are also comfortable and long last lasting (and a couple of floor pillows that I’m confident dogs would love, too).

1. Essential Dog Bed: Why not give your pup the same amount of comfort you give yourself? We all know Tuft and Needle make great mattresses and now they have pretty dog beds that pets love. I love this review: After some initial reluctance to sleep on something new, our dog now spends most of her time on this bed. She loves it!
2. Upcycled Denim Stripe Dog Bed: The simple stripe design is chic yet understated. One reviewer commented: Very high-quality bed which goes perfectly with my decor and my dog absolutely loves.
3. Piazza Large Shale Tufted Dog Bed: The deep blue color is so pretty and the fabric is forgiving and easy to clean. This review sold it for me: I bought the Large Shale Tufted Bed a month ago and my dog has never been happier. He sleeps on it through the night and lounges on it throughout the day. He has very long hair that sheds often, so we love that the fabric can be easily vacuumed and/or fully removed to wash in the washing machine.
4. Square Tufted Reversible Floor Pillow: As I said above, we are always fans of swapping dog beds for floor pillows or cushions. This one comes in this mossy green, red, or dark blue and we love the tufted detail.
5. 2 Piece Sedona Pillow Set: Some superfans may remember that Emily has this floor pillow at the mountain house. It’s technically for humans but I think we dog owners know that any dog would take one look at this and think “my new bed”. Here’s what Em has to say about the comfort: Most floor pillows aren’t big enough to really lounge on and this one is HUGE with cushy down fill, and made of a really pretty grey linen. It’s so comfortable and cushy, not too firm or bouncy.
6. Sherpa Faux Fur 3-in-1 Pet Bed: This bed is INCREDIBLE. If you have trouble keeping your dog off furniture (same) then this is for you. The top cover and bolsters can be removed so you can drape it over a sofa and leave the bottom cushion on the floor. SO smart and innovative.
7. Dog Sofa: I am pretty blown away by this incredibly chic dog sofa bed design. The sleek design would go perfectly in any minimal Scandinavian home.
8. Orthopedic Calming Dog Bed: This donut shape bed offers extreme comfort and according to the seller is designed with orthopedic features to help provide support to your pet’s joints and muscles. The product photo pretty much sold it for me :).
9. Faux Fur Orthopedic Dog Bed: I have been social-media-marketed this particular dog bed for years. As far as ‘design forward’ goes, this one definitely hits the mark. It essentially looks like a sherpa rug but is actually an orthopedic bed that any pet would love. The best part? The faux sherpa cover is removable AND machine washable.

STYLISH DOG CRATES

design by lea johnson of creekwood hill | photography by sage e imagery | from: lea’s living room reveal: her pet and family-friendly open concept design agony solved

I am a recent dog crate convert. My parents inherited my brother’s dog who is crate-trained and it is such a luxury for them. My dog is about 8 years old and I WISH we had crate-trained him early on (maybe it’s not too late??). In any case, I know there are dog owners who could use some stylish crates (these things do take up a lot of precious real estate afterall) so I set out to find some of the best options available right now:

1. Abbeville Pet Crate: If you have a large dog this is a great option. It has ample room and many reviewers noted how impressed they were with the quality and durability.
2. Dog Crate End Table: This extremely well-designed dog crate has a side cabinet for added storage and the flat top allows it to act as an end table should you want that. I love the midcentury modern design and dark wood finish (but it should be noted that this comes in one size best suited for smaller dogs).
3. Corner Dog Crate Furniture: If aren’t working with a lot of space, this corner dog crate can help you save space and can act as an end table.
4. UniPaws Gray Wooden End Table Dog Crate: I love the muted gray color and modern design. Reviewers also note that it is simple to put together, great for large dogs, and very sturdy.
5. Modern Dog Crate: This one comes in various colors including black, white, clear, and pink, or you can request a custom color. I love that it has a sliding door which helps if you don’t have a lot of space.
6. Fable Crate: I love this modern crate that was designed to mimic a natural den and reduce anxiety. One reviewer commented: Obsessed with the fable crate! Worth every penny and great quality that will last a lifetime. I have a 22lbs mini labradoodle and I got the large crate size so she has some extra space which has been a great fit. The look of the crate is timeless and is a beautiful addition to any room.

I couldn’t leave you without sharing one photo of our good boy, Gus. As you can see, he is the king of comfort.

That is all for today and I hope this was helpful for anyone who needed it. For all you cat parents out there, you can expect a design-forward litterbox & cat accessory roundup coming to you soon. In the meantime, drop a line down below if you have any more design-forward dog beds and crates to add to the list. xx

Opener Image Credit: Design by Annie Segal and Marieke Ochtman of ASOM HOME | Styled by Velinda Hellen, Emily Bowser, and Julie Rose | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Tour This Eclectic Midcentury Modern House Designed by ASOM Home + 10 Approachable Design Tricks Anyone Can Do

The post The Best Design Forward Dog Beds And Dog Crates appeared first on Emily Henderson.

from Emily Henderson https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/design-forward-dog-beds-and-crates

Primary Closet Reveal! Our Functional and Beautiful Scandinavian Farmhouse DREAM Closet

It’s closet reveal day, and I say that with equal doses of excitement and gratitude. I’m going to write this post with as much objectivity as possible, almost pretending it’s not mine because y’all this closet is incredible. Of course I was part of the design process as a client, but it’s all thanks to the California Closets team, led by pro designer Amy Bodi in Oregon (with an all-female staff, btw) who designed behind the scenes for weeks before it was installed IN ONE DAY (practically). It’s a real embarrassment of riches, and I love every single second I’m in here.

Where Are We In The House?

As you can see the closet is between our bedroom and our bathroom, with a door between the closet and our bedroom. It’s the perfect location for us as I like to bathe at times after Brian goes to bed (and then dry my dumb hair because I can’t sleep on it wet) and I often get up way before him and want to dress without waking him up. The point is – having the bath and closet together with a closable door to the bedroom has proved handy many many times.

The Big Reveal!!

It’s a real dream y’all and I feel like the luckiest person on the planet that this is ours. Let’s talk about layout first because a closet is a utilitarian space and needs to function for daily needs. We designed this with California Closets (the Oregon branch) specifically for our daily clothing use which leans far more utilitarian these days. I still LOVE fun fashion and at times miss the need to try out things, but I rarely leave the house besides yoga, kids’ sports, and groceries (and LOVE it).

I’m on the left side and back, and Brian is on the right (and the drawer column along the back). Yes, I use more space because I have much more clothes. The combination of hanging rods, drawers, and shelves is PERFECT for us.

A Mix of Open And Closet Storage, Shelves, and Drawers FTW

We wanted a mix of closed storage, rods, shelves, and drawers to achieve the perfect balance of ‘easy to access’ and ‘nice to look at’ (Thank you Amy for guiding us towards more open storage :)). We fold our jeans (personal preference) so putting them on shelves behind the cabinet looked cleaner and yet easier to access than a bin within a shelf (which I like for things like spanks or swimsuits but not things you need to fold). Dresses or long coats/suits obviously get the full-length spot but anything that looks messy on a daily basis gets hidden.

Storage Symmetry = Clean Look + Easier For The Eye To Understand

Canvas Laundry Rolling Hamper

As you can see we chose to be symmetrical (you don’t have to) because my eye likes when something is visually easy to understand, especially in a potentially chaotic environment. All our blouses are hung, sweaters and sweatshirts are folded on shelves, with T-shirts and workout gear in the drawers beneath the hanging rods. We also had the option of more hanging rods on the bottom but chose space for hampers instead (mine has a rod if I change my mind). I bought this tall Amish wood hamper due to its perfect size, but it’s too heavy and deep to deal with so for Brian’s side I bought the Rejuvenation rolling hamper with the canvas bag (which works better in every way honestly).

Ceramic Pot | Leather Baskets | Wood Bins

As you can imagine I edited our wardrobes a bit for this professional partnership shoot because my intent is always a mix of real + aspirational, but Brian wants me to reassure you that he’s not a psychopath based on his side of hanging clothes. He walked in after I styled out his side and I think was a bit butt hurt that I didn’t include his vintage teal and gold Rams jacket…

Drawers In A Closet Instead Of A Dresser? Yes. Contain that mess.

Here’s my pitch for prioritizing a well-appointed closet over a dresser (or two) in a bigger bedroom (I’m currently lucky enough to have both in this house). Should you have the space and are considering or currently remodeling, I’d go for a smaller bedroom with no wall for a dresser in order to get a large enough closet for drawers or a stand-alone dresser. I’m messy so this is imperative for keeping our bedroom clean so that I can sleep, but it also just means all the “clothing ingredients” are together. I have the same feelings about the kitchen/cooking areas: I’d rather have a prep pantry and a more compact kitchen than a big kitchen with a small pantry. It’s all about containing the process and therefore mess – but it’s totally a personal preference. I also just want to call out my excellent hair in that shot and how it took me almost 5 years to recover from the bleach and chop that many of you warned me not to get 🙂 I have real, thick, non-extensioned hair again!!!! (Thanks to some time and supplements).

Our Finish Choice: Light Natural Wood

This cabinet front choice was harder than we thought it would be, not because we were unsure of the wood but because we were unsure of the wood tones together (including our Zena flooring). So we almost went white, but then I was reminded of Joy’s closet and just wanted the warmth of wood! Y’all I think we all need to obsess less about mixing different wood tones together. Pretty looks good with pretty, full stop (but California Closets has a LOT of options including gray tones, dark wood tones, and of course white).

The Pull Out Steaming or Prep Rod

Basket Planter

This rod has been strangely helpful. For different fashion partnerships, I will put all the options there and steam them out, keeping them all in one location as I put together outfits. It retracts back when not in use. It’s SO nice.

The Brass Hardware

Drawer Pulls | Cabinet Knobs

In an attempt to not busy it up too much we kept with gold on wood (low-contrast) and opted for Rejuvenation’s new Ansel pulls and knobs. California Closets lets you offer your own hardware and you can even do multiple handles or knobs, but we wanted large, easy to grab, and simple.

Leather Rods And Brass Detailing

The details of the finishes are so good – leather rods and brass fittings. We went with the taupe leather to again, keep the contrast down and make it look more seamless and quiet.

Smart Shoe Drawers + Shoe Shelves Up Top

I was never a huge displaying-my-shoes-person before we moved back to Oregon, but now even more so. So we told Amy we wanted some easy-to-access but none that needed to feel like a shoe display or shoe showroom. These drawers pull out and can store 4-6 pairs each, and then up top, we have more shelves that fit some less worn shoes.

The Drop Zone/Shelf

When our designer Amy suggested a drop zone shelf I didn’t predict how much I’d use it. It’s GREAT, mostly for pulling things out of my pockets before throwing clothes in the wash. Think receipts, chapstick, doggy bags, etc. Plus it’s a fun place to break up all the clothes with a sweet styling moment.

Marble Tray

The Jewelry Drawer

I only wear jewelry for shoots or special occasions because I end up taking them off and losing them :). This drawer is incredible and obviously allows for a place for any and all rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.

I seriously debated how to style the top of these cabinets. Do I even put anything up there? I needed to play and experiment with what would work and make a tiny bit of sense. While Brian was out of town I went out to the prop closet and brought inside a bunch of pretty things that I thought could work – artwork that hadn’t found a place on a wall yet, stacks of vintage quilts that I love, and of course some plants. I was VERY reticent about putting plants on top because that felt like it could lean too 80s but y’all, there is a skylight RIGHT THERE. These plants might actually love it (except the faux one – can you guess which one?????). Looking at it now I LOVE how it’s styled on top and it brings me happiness every time I walk past. Yes watering the plants might be annoying at some point, but that monstera has been up there for a month (we shot this a while ago) and I’ve watered it twice with a step stool and it was only a ‘3’ on the annoying scale.

As you can see in the below photo any and all belts and bags are on hooks on the side of the cabinets. You have options to add way more (or add tie storage) but we don’t have a lot of that so we didn’t.

The Mirror

We of course wanted a mirror in here (even though I now have a big one in our bedroom) and we love that it is super simple and opens for more shelving behind it.

Bench

The bench is a Katy Skelton original that I’ve had for almost 10 years – it works so well in here. The rug we bought from Schoolhouse. It’s a 4’x6′ and we really need a 5’x6′ or a 6’x6′ (which doesn’t exist). I would have gotten a 5’x8′ but it would look like wall-to-wall carpet plus we have a huge air return that couldn’t be covered so it needed to be 6′ wide. But if you are wondering why it’s a different orientation for different angles it’s because we cheated it for each shot.

Let me be clear – a large closet like this is not essential to a life well lived, but it’s certainly a ‘good to have’ and certainly adds a lot of value to our home. I can enthusiastically state the obvious – having a well-thought-out and designed closet is pretty darn lovely. When we started designing the layout of this house 2 (3?) years ago we planned for a decent-sized primary closet. Whether I intended to or not, fashion (read: me trying on clothes) has ended up being a big revenue generator for my company so having a nice-looking closet as well as good storage (and a great steaming/prep area) became relatively important.

Should we ever decide to sell this house we knew first-hand the power of a spacious closet (or lack thereof). When we first put our LA house on the market – people loved the house, but many were turned off enough by the lack of closets. But that house was built in 1920 and lives are different now (for better or worse) so the expectation on a recently remodeled house is spacious closets. And spacious it is.

A huge thanks to California Closets for partnering with us on this closet. Amy Bodi, our designer, was so thoughtful and extremely detailed in her design. The process was incredibly seamless from start to finish. Also, I must shout out the installers who came in like ninjas and installed it all in one day (they came back the next day to add trim, etc, but it was almost fully functional after the first day). Designing and installing a closet like this is certainly a luxury and they nailed it on every single level. We are extremely impressed with the quality, the services, the function, and the style – it’s truly incredible and we feel like the luckiest people in the world. xx

Additional Resources:
Flooring: Zena Forest Products
Skylight: Velux
Wall Color: Sherwin Williams, “Extra White”

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

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from Emily Henderson https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/primary-closet-reveal-our-functional-and-beautiful-scandinavian-farmhouse-dream-closet

The Link Up: The TV Series Emily’s Whole Family Loves, Caitlin’s Budget Date Night Idea, & A GREAT Design Shop In LA

Happy Sunday folks! We are so happy you stopped by. This week our lovely Jess has been galavanting around Paris likely wearing cute outfits and discovering awesome vintage finds. We can’t wait to hear about her trip once she returns (and you can expect a blog post about it, too :)). In the meantime, here are the links we are excited to share with you this week:

This week’s home tour takes us to San Francisco, where a striking all-black exterior contrasts the very bright and artistic interior. It is a modern “maximal minimalist” home that has us completely transfixed.

From Emily: For those of you with kids who like musicals, we just started watching High School Musical: The Musical: The Series which is a TV show set in the high school of the OG High School Musical, but 20 years later and they are re-preforming the OG musical. Listen, we didn’t love the OG High School Musical movies (besides of course our love for Zach Ephron) but this show is SO GOOD. Brian and I both LOVE IT (he even teared up during the episode where the parents tell their son that they are separating which they did so with so much thought and care). The music is awesome, the acting is so good, and the choreography is so good. The cast is refreshingly diverse and gives me hope for the future. I mean, to be fair, we are serious musical lovers over here and think that The Greatest Showman is the best family movie of the 21st century. But if you are looking for a new weeknight show to watch with your kids (over the age of 6 I think) we LOVE High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

From Jess: I found my dream pants and I might wear them every day on my Paris trip (I’m writing this pre-trip FYI). They are SO COMFORTABLE, make me feel cool, the quality is awesome, and I can dress them up or down. Normally I don’t spend this much on pants but as soon as I put them on I knew we were meant for each other. I got a medium and at almost 5’4” I don’t need to hem them (big win:)). I can’t say enough good things about them and might even sleep in them I love them so much. 100000000/10.

From Mallory: If you’re in LA listen up: go check out Olive Ateliers if you haven’t yet!! Their whole warehouse is full of “objects with old souls” and they import awesome stuff from literally all over the world. The best part?? It’s fairly affordable (solid marble bowls for $65, vases for under $100, and awesome wood pieces and paper mache bowls for $30-45). Obviously, some of their large planters & onyx sinks can be pricier but considering that most of these pieces are shipped in from all over, I was impressed. They do “drops” every few weeks that are open to the public but during the week they’re open to the trade. Check it out & follow them on IG 

From Caitlin:  Lemme tip y’all off to my favorite budget-friendly date idea: THE MONDO LLAMA CRAFT KIT. Head to Target with your love interest (or even a friend – or even yourself?), pick out a craft (or two different crafts, it’s your date!), pop on a show (something that works well in the background – I can vouch for Cheers or the Bon Appetit channel), and get to craftin’. IT’S THE BEST.

From Ryann: Once again I am looking for good books to get me back into reading. I always go in spurts where I read voraciously and then abruptly it stops which makes me feel, to be quite honest, very lazy and sad. So in an attempt to get myself reading again, I bought How High We Go In The Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu. I’ve heard great things about it, it’s one of those novels that follows several interconnecting stories which I am a fan of, plus it’s about a prehistoric plague that decimates humanity and that’s very intriguing to me (I wonder why??). This is my first book of the year (I’ll let you know my review hopefully next week!) but I would also love some recs from you all so I can keep the reading train going instead of going on Tik Tok every second of my life 🙂

Have a lovely Sunday sweet friends, and come back tomorrow for a brand new REVEAL! xx

Opener Image Credit: Design and Photos by Rosy Alexander | From: How To Add An Addition To Your House Without It Feeling TOO New (+ A Classic Yet Trend Forward Kitchen Island Extension You Need To See)

The post The Link Up: The TV Series Emily’s Whole Family Loves, Caitlin’s Budget Date Night Idea, & A GREAT Design Shop In LA appeared first on Emily Henderson.

from Emily Henderson https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/family-friendly-shows-to-watch-together

What You Have Bought So Far in 2023

Is it just me or is this year already flying by?? As such, when we started planning this post and realized February is nearly over, we figured we would check the data to see what ya’ll have bought so far this year. We were genuinely curious if the beginning of the year purchases would reflect any interesting buying trends. I.e. would we see a lot of organizing stuff? Cleaning supplies? General get-your-life-together accouterments? The answer lies in these here links so let’s jump right in, shall we?

10. Wood Entryway Bench

Right off the bat, the data is throwing us a surprise gem. This entryway bench is not a casual purchase but it IS a really pretty and functional piece of furniture (that’s only $399!) so I understand why it would be so popular. I love the wood finish, cane drawer detail, and the adorable peg hooks. Who among us is a proud owner of this bad boy?? Don’t be shy and sound off in the comments 🙂

9. Emily’s Glass Dinner Plates

These classic and durable dinner plates have been a favorite of Emily’s for years. Here’s what Emily loves about them: “These plates are extremely flat, lightweight, and durable which means that the kids can easily set the table, do their own dishes, and easily load them into the dishwasher. While I love handmade pottery plates, those are more like the modern-day “fine china” – great for special occasions. But for day-to-day, I will only use these”

8. Large Oval Leather Shagreen Tray

We knew this Shagreen tray would be a winner as soon as we saw it. It is so pretty and has a lovely texture (and it has a matching box if you are into that). Emily styled it in her sunroom and we love the way the muted green color interacts with the stunning blue tile flooring.

7. Ryann’s Mug

I LOVE this mug. It’s one of the few things I use every single day and at this point, it’s something I feel like I can’t live without. If you are curious, here is my original sales pitch: “If you have ever opened Tik Tok you have probably seen the now viral Stanley mugs that every Gen Z and Millenial influencer has. And these influencers deserve a proverbial raise because I found myself ready to hit purchase until I saw they are $50 and basically sold out of every color. So I gave up on the dream until I was wandering through Target and saw this. It’s a Stanley mug dupe and I am sure not as heavy duty, but it’s the same size and idea AND half the price. So I bought it and I now have to run to the bathroom every hour on the hour because of how much water I am drinking. Big fan.“

6. Emily’s Sauna Blanket

Sauna blanket for the win! I can’t say I am surprised to see this guy made it to the top 10 list once again, especially since Em wrote another honest full review after having hers for 3 years. I don’t think anyone can question why it is a top seller, but I do want to know, who got themselves one this year?? Lets us know in the comments!

5. Women’s Sherpa Anorak Jacket

Emily wore this cute (and affordable) sherpa jacket in this post and really sold it with this endorsement: “How cute is this cozy jacket? It has this brown trim detailing that mimics the look of leather, a super high collar that is oversized and very cool, and it’s just as soft on the inside as it is on the outside.“

4. Faux Leather Storage Bin

We have used these faux leather storage bins in SO MANY shoots and projects over the years. I would say this guy falls under the category of pretty org and its placement on this list is reminding me that I could use a stylish bin or two. I love the stitching detail and faux patinaed look, and this is big enough that it could store shoes or perhaps some throw blankets. Who snagged one of these this year??

3. Mallory’s Turtleneck Sweater

Mallory, the queen of finding the best sales, bought this sweater when Madewell was offering an additional 40% off sale items. What a steal! It has a perfect boxy, cropped fit and lovely detailed stitching. Who else bought this one??

2. Ryann’s Flared Leggings

I always get compliments when I wear these pants which of course feels good 🙂 Like I said when I shared them in The Link Up, they are very flattering, COMFORTABLE, and slimming if you are into that and go with pretty much everything I own. And only $18! If you bought yourself a pair let me know down below!

1. Caitlin’s Yee Haw Needlepoint Pillows

And finally, coming in at #1 are these delightful needlepoint throw pillows. I wanna know who snagged these!! They are really cute and not surprisingly currently sold out (but don’t worry, the shop sells some others that are just as darling–like this cowboy boot one!). Here’s how Caitlin originally sold us all on them: “I’m currently obsessed with fun needlepoint pillows (anyone else?) and I just ordered a pink and orange pair that I’m so excited about!!! They’re from a small business in Texas, they shipped much quicker than anticipated, and the price is UNBEATABLE. I say this as a person who spent about $110 bucks back in 2017 on the now-famous Furbish Studio “got it all together but I forgot where I put it” needlepoint pillow – it was worth the splurge and I still love it, but dang, it feels great to find the look for about half the price:) Hoping they make it into one of my reveals this year.”

There you have it, folks. If you purchased any of these top sellers we’d love to hear about it down below! Thanks for stopping by and happy Saturday. xx

Opener Image Credit: Design by Mel Burstin | Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Mel’s MOTO Reveal – It’s The Breath Of Minimalist, Uncluttered Air We All Need

The post What You Have Bought So Far in 2023 appeared first on Emily Henderson.

from Emily Henderson https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/best-selling-org-and-wellness