Picks For Your Pampered Pooch

Etsy

I've pulled together some of my favorite picks for your pampered pooch, like this leather studded dog collar, from Etsy, retailing for $45.

Posh Puppy Boutique

The so very Chanel collar called appropriately, "Coco Collar" for $55

 In The Company of Dogs

I love this leather whipstitched collar for a large dog with its beads and stone adornment, for $59.95

In The Company of Dogs

These one of a kind leather beaded collars are handmade in Kenya by Maasai artisans and sell for $59.95.

Etsy

Hand stamped copper tag,  $11

How cute is this!

In The Company of Dogs

Custom Leather Collar, $69.95

Posh Puppy Boutique

French Bistro Bowls

Oooo, la, la!

$35

West Elm

The Thirsty dog bowl.

 $23 for the small size.

BaxterBoo

Go Giants!

Don't worry, every baseball and football team is also available for your pooch at BaxterBoo!

$22

Posh Puppy Boutique

Love this plaid Puppia harness with the medallion.  Selling for $35.

When I brought Oscar home from the pound, he wore a little blue plaid harness similar to this one.

BaxterBoo

This is such a cute, stylish coat from BaxterBoo.  It's called The Sherlock Plaid Dog Coat, and sells for $40 for the small size.

Baxterboo

Alberta Quilted Dog Parka,  $33.97 for medium.

Another darling coat from Baxterboo.  Of course I'm loving the plaid!

Target

Does your dog have anxiety? 

 The Navy Rugby Thundershirt can help with that.

$44.99

Meijer

I've been on the hunt for a wicker dog bed.

This one just might be it!

Wicker Pet Bed,  $19.99

Charlie Chau

However, this one is amazing.  

So is the price!

190 British Pounds.

Etsy

Made from reclaimed wood, this rustic bed is custom made to your specifications.

Just add your own soft dog bed inside. 

 $85

Joss & Main

The Outback Country Dog House on Joss & Main today.

  $100.95

 Joss & Main

And last, but not least, The Country Club Dog house on the Joss & Main site, retailing for $202.95.

These are just a few picks that I'm loving right now for our pampered pets.

You can click on the links below each item to purchase directly.

Let's not forget also the many pet accessories that TJ Maxx and Marshalls are carrying right now.

If I had to choose a favorite, I would choose the French Bistro Bowls.

I've never seen anything like them.

For The Love Of Dogs

Do you think dogs are capable of love?
I do!


I don't doubt for one minute that dogs love their humans.
Whether or not dogs have emotions is debatable amongst psychologists and animal behaviorists.
Some refer to a dog's love for their master as an attachment, not love.
Well, that's debatable!

Emotionally speaking, I believe dogs feel joy.

The joy of going for a ride in the car.

The joy of playing catch or going for a walk.

Tell your dog he has to stay and just see how sad he becomes!

I know because I have been leaving my little Oscar home alone lately and it breaks my heart to see his ears and tail go down.

He waits patiently for my return because he has to. 

 It is what dogs do.  

Their qualities of loyalty, patience, devotion and dedication are qualities that we humans should strive for.

All I know is that dogs make our lives richer.

I read once that they are guardian angels of the human spirit.

For dog lovers like me, dogs become family members, living with us, sharing our homes, sitting on the sofa...

...sleeping in our beds, guarding our human spirit...

...and teaching us by example to love each other.

A dog's love is pure.

It's patient and kind.

A dog's love isn't jealous, proud or boastful;

it is not arrogant or rude.

A dog's love doesn't keep a record of wrongs.

Sound familiar?

It is 1 Corinthians 13.4

Yes, we have a lot to learn from our dogs.

Some believe that God made a dog for all the reasons above.

Do you love a dog?

Do you have a dog that loves you?

If you do, you are one lucky person.

I know I am!

Be sure to check out my Pinterest boards, Dog Love and Living With Dogs.

Design Obsession: Black Windows

 I'm totally obsessed with black windows these days!

I love how they frame the view and add contrast and interest.

 The architecture of this window stands out painted black.

Yes, it's a beautiful window/door, but it wouldn't be so dramatic if it were painted white.

It's like the windows are wearing eyeliner!

This room with the black windows and moulding absolutely takes my breath away!

Now, I'm being dramatic....

But that is the word that comes to mind here.

Dramatic.

I like how edgy this entry is with the black windows and black door.

I'm so close to painting my entry door and side windows black!
Inside!

It would look like this.

But I'm also obsessed with exterior black windows like this one.
I find myself driving around the neighborhood looking for houses with black windows.
There are very few.


Our house needs to be painted this year and I'm considering this color combination:

Dark taupe/gray for the stucco, creamy white for the window trim, eaves, columns and corbels.
And black just inside the windows, on the mullions--like eyeliner!

Yes, I know the color will fade and not hold up as well to the elements as white will, but what can I say:

I'm obsessed!

Can you see it?

For more black window inspiration, check out my Pinterest board here.

Nurseries and Children's Rooms: Reminiscings, Ruminations and Redesigning

When it comes to designing and decorating a nursery or children's room, I've always struggled with the juvenile themes and garish colors that often are used.

Last week, my friend Teresa and I stumbled into Restoration Hardware's baby and child store.

We were both amazed at the very original, quite unpractical, yet totally gorgeous nurseries and rooms displayed.

Ethereal canopies and crystal chandeliers everywhere!

It was a feast for the eyes!

This store could make you want to have a baby!

Apart from the cribs, much of the merchandise could be used in any room in the house, like these crystal sconces and patinated mirror.  Even the fashion drawings would look great anywhere else in the house.

We were especially taken with the little girl's room with matching twin canopy beds hung with chandeliers.

Then, we noticed the framed dress on the wall.

A closer look revealed that it was made from a map of Paris!

Ok, now that's just amazing!

Expensive, but it would be a forever treasure.

We both found ourselves reminiscing about the nurseries and rooms we designed for our own kids back in the day.

My first nursery, in 1976 was painted bright yellow with a white crib.  Eight years later, a boy's nursery with a dark wood crib and red, white and blue bedding.  By the time the third child was born, she slept in a port-a-crib in the hallway!

It wasn't until the fourth child that I got to really decorate a nursery.  When we moved in to that house, the room was already decorated in aqua and yellow polka dot wallpaper.  I embraced it!

However, it was just too cutsey for me.

Like I said, I struggle with themed kid's rooms...

...and garish colors.

I actually have a Pinterest board titled, "Sleep Tight Little Ones."

There aren't a lot of pins on this board because I'm always looking for tastefully decorated rooms that can take a child from toddler to teenager.

Here are a few of my favorite pins as an example.

This boy's room from Pottery Barn Kids is a little juvenile, but I'm guessing it would be perfect for a 6 year old.  Take away the mural when he is 16 and it transitions easily.

 The neutral wallpaper and rug will take this little boy well into his high school years!

Another RH room.

What can I say?

It's fun, without being cutsey.

The colors are neutral and classic.

One of my favorites.  

A boy's room designed by Kristen Buckingham, as seen in Elle Decor.

Change out the duvet covers and you have a nice guest room when he goes away to college!

But I digress...

Leave it to Restoration Hardware to design a girl's room with an upholstered velvet daybed!  In gray!

I love the corona, the sconces and the canopy!

This would be a beautiful room for a teenage girl, transitioning to guest room when she goes away to college.

Just change the bedding.

We were amazed by the upholstered bunk beds!

I thought they would be fantastic in a bunk room.

I could imagine two sets of them--you know, when you have lots of grandkids spend the night!

Which brings me to my latest project.

Redesigning the bedrooms upstairs that belonged to "the kids."

That means boxing up baseball cards, fossils, souvenirs, Beany Babies, posters and books.

One of the rooms will have twin beds for when the granddaughters spend the night.

I'm trying to make it age and gender neutral, yet give them a room they can call their own at grandma's house.

I'll keep you posted...

Meanwhile, if you ever find yourself in Corte Madera, check out RH baby & child for inspiration.

RH has wonderfully innovative furniture and designs for kids.

You can check it out on their website here.

For more children's rooms, visit my Pinterest board, "Sleep Tight Little Ones" here.