Here is some of the coolest pet furniture and accessories that will not only serve the purpose of spoiling your favorite companion, these unusual designs will also add some pizzazz to your home. Anyone can go the local pet store and pick up the generic dog bed or fish tank, but these 15 pet furniture and accessory designs are far beyond what you will find in most big box pet shops. Hope you enjoy!
GLASS BIRD HOUSE
Esque Studios of Portland brings us this somewhat inexplicable glass bird house, which is actually more than a concept and can actually be purchased through the online retailer Vivre. Its functionality may be limited (would you really want to keep your parakeet in there for more than a few minutes at a time?) but it's certainly a conversation starter--- not least because of the noose that acts as a perch.
URBAN PET HAUS DWELLINGS
Absent the proper context, one could look at a picture of one of these structures and mistake it for one of those minimalist pod-home concepts that are so the rage on the design blogs these days. These dwellings are not only real, they can be yours (or rather your pet's) for a mere $250. I'm looking forward to the first time I see one of these sitting beside a matching multimillion dollar human home in the pages of Architectural Digest.
CAT COCOON
This sculptural hidey-hole from One Form Design is the perfect haunt for felines too haughty and sophisticated for a discarded box--- at the very least it will look better sitting on the floor in their owners' pads. The construction is layered corrugated cardboard held together with non-toxic glue for safer gnawing and scratching. The downside for the Cat Cocoon is its price tag (nearly $300) and inevitable destruction at the claws of its residents.
MIJA PLEXI GLASS DOG BED
Kim Bull's WOWBOW makes high-end pet furniture that is versatile, modern and timeless. The acrylic dog beds and bowl-holders that comprise the Mija collection (named after Bull's dog,) would be equally at home in a mid-century modern design aesthetic or one that might feature pieces from Karim Rashid. Available with white, red, clear, smoke, and translucent green frames, and a variety of cushion colors and textures.
MAD FISH TANK
Beijing firm MAD Architects embraces many of the increasingly popular concepts associated with the new wave of Chinese architecture--- think back to the sporting arenas constructed for the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. This fish tank was created as an experiment in space and motion for the designers, who studied the movements of goldfish and translated their observations into a concept that featured the dynamic interplay between internal and external surfaces. The piece sits in MAD headquarters surrounded by models of projects thousands of times its size but extremely similar conceptually.
EDDIE'S ROOM
One wonders whether "Eddie" is a reference to the Jack Russel Terrier who starred on the television show "Frasier," tormenting its title character with his mangy appearance and trademark stare. Frasier would have been happy to accommodate his father's mutt in this modern doghouse, whose simple form doesn't interfere with a modern urban décor.
CORNER LITTER CABINET
Over the years, litter box designers have become remarkably skilled at protecting cat lovers from the objectionable odors that often accompany feline ownership. But not many have attempted to tackle the aesthetic burden a litter box places on home or apartment. Thankfully, the Corner Litter Cabinet looks nothing like a litter box. Tucked covertly in the corner, most guests would never question the piece's function--- until they see a cat climbing out of it.
DUPLEX BIRD CAGE
Essentially a fish bowl perched atop a bird cage, the Duplex looks vaguely Japanese in the simplicity of its shapes and composition. This Constance Guisset concept may pose the danger of overstimulation to any poor house cat in its vicinity.
SUITCASE BEDS
Anyone who's owned a cat and attempted to pack for a trip knows that folded clothes in a suitcase are the ideal cat bed--- particularly if you're packing black pants. Vintage Renaissance, an Etsy dealer who clearly understands cats, took this lesson to heart and created the Suitcase Bed. For added appeal, be sure to line it with you most expensive cashmere sweater.
URBAN PET HAUS PERCHES
Cats love to be above the action, which explains why experienced "cat people" rarely keep breakables on their shelves. Still, if you can convince your cat to favor these stylish sculptural perches, there might be hope yet for that crystal candelabra. Coming in three varieties (boxes, wavy curves and the particularly striking interlocking "cc" design,) Urban Pet Haus gives us another great line of pet-friendly functional art.
ALUMINUM WOWO DOG POD
It may look a little garish with a white faux fur pad, but replace that with something a bit more understated and the Wowo Dog Pad is a great mid-century expression in an unexpected place. Also available in wenge, bamboo, maple and cherry.
RIVER PLANT AQUARIUM
It's a fish tank, it's a vegetable garden, it's a self-contained ecosystem, it's a modernist redefinition of "living room." Mathieu Lehanneur's vision has always focussed on integrating ecology and design and this installation is no exception. It's not clear exactly how this piece works, but those plant pods look like they would be a perfect place to grow kitchen herbs.
DOGLEG DINER STAND
In addition to a minimal steel construction which would be quite at home in most modern kitchens, the Dogleg Diner has functionality. Food and water bowls are frequently kicked, stepped on, and spilt, leading to messes and occasionally even injury. Furthermore, some overzealous eaters are known to begin their meals on one side of the room and finish them on the other, nosing their bowls across the floor as they went dine. Available in an array of colors and sizes.
EVERYDAY STUDIO CLAW
The Claw is described by its San Francisco based creators Everyday Studio as a tribute to "Frank Lloyd Gehry during the 1970s." It's handmade, non-toxic and a million times more attractive than the carpet-covered blocks of wood most people buy to keep their cats' claws off the curtains. It's also nowhere near as expensive as the Cat Cocoon.
LE CORBOSIER PET BED
If you could afford the real thing, why wouldn't you want this Le Corbosier inspired miniature sofa from The Cool Dog of Spain to accompany it? This dog bed is based on the LC2 line designed by the early 20th century modernist and manufactured by Cassina. The Cool Dog is also adept at custom pet furniture built to match existing pieces in a client's home.
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