How would you like to own your own custom dog bed couture by one of New York City’s top interior designers? Recently, the design showroom JANUS et Cie gave twenty-five top designer a challenge they couldn’t refuse; design a custom dog bed for an auction using only Janus et Cie 100 percent acrylic solution fabric. And there was a twist to this competition, according to Hillary Burdman, who organized the event along with her four-person team. After months of hard work and plenty of doggone good inspiration, editors of popular home and gardening magazines eliminated fifteen of the twenty-five designers leaving only ten designers beds to advance to a charitable silent auction held at JANUS et Cie this past July.
These specially crafted works of art didn’t come cheap – bids started at $250. Still, many designers say that this is truly a bargain for custom design all-weather beds that would put any pooch to Cloud 9. Animal Fair caught up with a few designers whose creative canine cots made it to the auction and found out what it takes to make a winning resting place for a posh pooch.
Scott Salvator recently took an hint from his office mascot a five pound miniature Yorkie named Butch, and designed a dog bed to fit any pooch style! This comfy cushion, titled “Canine Capri” and designed exclusively for JANUS et Cie’s silent auction, was inspired by company trips to Capri, Italy. “The stripes on the bed just look like everything we saw in Capri,” says Salvator, who oversees and designs everything in his clients’ residences, including the construction, upholstering, rugs, art, and over-all look of the space.
In his New York City interior design office, Salvator keeps Butch constantly by his side. The office favorite sports everything from oiled raincoats by Burberry to a terrycloth beach towel and robe. “She has, you know, Pucci, Gucci… everything,” he says.
The dog-friendly designers says he kept the design of his custom dog bed interesting by mitering, or running the stripes into a point in the middle of the fabric. Another custom feature, according to Salvator, is the contrast welt detail on the edge of the fabric. A solid fifteen-inch dog bone cut into the fabric in the middle of the bed gives this sleeping spot a personal touch.
To keep homes looking pristine without sacrificing a pet’s comfort, Salvator recommends painted or stenciled wood floors instead of carpet, which may have similar patterns but can be easily soiled. Another trick of the trade, according to Salvator, is to use dark fabrics in family rooms but patterned fabrics in living room and bedrooms to hide the presence of a messy pooch. And when all else fails, Salvator says that he “[loves] scented candles when he has company.”
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