A shower for your dog? It exists, and the concept is in high demand. "Having a place where you can easily clean your muddy dog has everyone reaping the benefits of a clean dog and a clean house," says interior designer Kelly McGuill, who's seen an increase in requests for the pet bathing spots. Based in Massachusetts, she says "they tend to make sense in this neck of the woods."
One of her most recent projects was a home for a couple in Milton; built in the 1900s, its features and original architectural details were beautifully in tact and only needed minor cosmetic tweaking. The focal point for the 10-month renovation was to create a large kitchen, plus a combined laundry and mudroom. And, yes, there was to be a shower for the family dog.
McGuill removed what was once a laundry room next to the kitchen, which opened up the possibilities. "Reconfiguring the kitchen allowed us to move the mudroom and laundry to a better location, while incorporating a dog shower as a practical feature for this active couple who enjoys the outdoors with their dog," she says. The inspiration for the room was "to have a place for everything and everything in it's place," says McGuill.
The room includes a laundry folding station with hidden hampers, and pull out racks for drying. "We placed exterior doors that are 3/4 glass on the entrance to the mudroom [from the kitchen] and what leads to the backyard to allow for maximum light. The brick tile flooring adds character and texture, while the white walls contrast and flow, creating an airy space," she says.
For the dreamy and naturally bright kitchen, McGuill says the goal for her and her clients was to create a kitchen that would host a lot of people for any occasion. "Every detail including the Dutch doors were selected by us for the unique style combination of contrast and old meets new," she explains. McGuill even installed a 16-foot wall of black sliding doors in the kitchen, which allows natural light to overflow the room.
It's hard for McGuill to pick her favorite room in the home, with all of it's natural light and bright features. "I'd happily live in their mudroom, and may even enjoy doing laundry if I lived here," she jokes.
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.
