Pet-Friendly Kitchens
We love furry friends; they’re part of the family. Why not design your kitchen so they can hang out with you, too?
![A black, silver, and white mudroom with a pair of open shelves above a tiled and rubber-finished dog-washing station. A stacked black washer and dryer set are partially seen to the left. To the right are silver cabinets, a cubby, and pull-out food and water dishes inside two front drawers. On the right, grey wallpaper has illustrations of black, white, and grey dogs. Grey trim surrounds the door frame almost out of view on the right. Herringbone grey and white tiled flooring finishes the space.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Pet-Friendly-Kitchen-Dog-Wash-1.jpg)
A dog washing station is integrated in the laundry corner along with built-in feeding stations for dogs and cats over a beautiful and useful herringbone tile floor. Keeping your pet friends clean is made easier for you by good interior design.
![A tall and deep drawer is pulled out on the left to reveal dog food and treats underneath an off-white countertop near double cabinet doors, while the right image shows a wicker basked tucked underneath the desi, with the capital letters CHARLIE carved into the head of the counter. Above are baskets and jars of supplies. Tan herringbone wooden floors tone with the top of a built-in seat nearby in warm beige.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Pet-Friendly-Kitchen-Food-Drawer.jpg)
A large hidden storage bin can really help with oversize bags of pet food, as can tucking the bed away under a desk with supplies on the shelves above.
![A grey-green island in the center of a kitchen shows the short end towards the viewer, with white shiny tiling inside and inset that reveals a silver metal pot-filler that can be pulled out to fill the water bowl underneath, with a food bowl next to it. The island is the same color as the rest of the kitchen cabinetry, with a gooseneck faucet above.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Pet-Friendly-Kitchen-Pot-Filler.jpg)
Create a water and food station in your kitchen island using a pot filler for stylish convenience. The slick subway tiles contrast with the gorgeous grey-green finish of the cabinets here.
![A cat-shaped cut-out sits in the center where two cabinet doors meet under a sink in a country-style kitchen. A pair of child's boots sit on a built-in seat nearby, while jars of treats and supplies sit atop the dark grey kitchen countertop above. Twisted dark metal spigots adorn the country sink below a window filled with green plants.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Pet-Friendly-Kitchens-Cat-Cutout.jpg)
This country cabinet cutout provides a space for a kitty or small dog to feel safer from the outside world with a hidden bed.
![An Airdale terrier lays on a red and white checked bed underneath an open sided off-white country kitchen island. On top, the counter is dressed with a basket of white flowers and a container of flour labeled "Bread". Board and batten off-white paneling can be seen just behind the island.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Pet-Friendly-Kitchen-Dog-Bed-Built-In.jpg)
Or you can make the bed visible to keep an eye on your pooch. Kitchen islands are often perfectly sized for this.
![A small curly-haired brown dog sits on a tan rug against a dark wood floor, between a white galley kitchen with white and grey marble counters, dressed with a bottle of wine. A multi-paned black metal door is behind him, with one pane open to show it's a dog door. Outside is a grill and green plants.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Pet-Friendly-Kitchen-Dog-Door.jpg)
Give them access to the outdoors using a real metal door, sized for pets. Then you can focus on your cooking and your guests.
Kimball Starr designs for pet-friendly homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a remote or socially-distant in-person consultation.