Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Lots of dog specialists tout the merits of training your pet to stay in a crate when you’re out of the house or even when Fido is going to bed for the night. Not only can it keep them out of trouble, but it gives your dogs a special hide-y-hole that reminds them of a den in the ground. That said, most crates are eye sores, not exactly the type of thing you want to display in your living room, especially if you’re into entertaining.

This hand-built “canine cabinet” is an exception. It incorporates a dog crate into a shelving unit in a clever way. Most people won’t even notice the canine portion until they see Fido stroll inside.

The Canine Cabinet is the work of woodworker “Relic Farm Tables” on Etsy:

The base is pine with custom wood grills for air flow. The base is finished with our Black Rub Custom Distressed look. The top is Solid Pine that is over 1 inch thick. It is finished in our special 3 part blend of stains to give it an old look. This Canine Cabinet is our Large model and can fit dogs up to 80 pounds or two smaller dogs.”

The price tag is $1745 (plus $200 for shipping).

If you have cats, you’ve probably gone through some creative ways of hiding the litter box. And you’re probably not a fan of changing out the litter either. What if you could get rid of both?

The CitiKitty Cat Toilet Training Kit is designed to teach your cat how to use the regular john in the bathroom. This can be a great idea if you live in a tight space or you’re just tired of cleaning out the litter box.

“In just weeks, your cat will learn to use the same toilet that you do, saving yourself plenty of mess and thousands of dollars on kitty litter. The kit comes with a specially designed training seat and insert that gradually transitions your cat to the toilet, a step-by-step training guide, an insider tip card, and premium, naturally grown CitiNip that rewards your pet during training. Especially ideal for older cats, large cats, kittens over 3 months, and multiple-cat households, but works with cats of all sizes, ages, and breeds. Fits all styles and shapes of toilets, including round and elongated.”

If you want to go high end, there’s even a more expensive version that flushes the toilet after the cat is done!

$30 for the basic kit at Amazon: CitiKitty Cat Toilet Training Kit

If you have an older cat that loves warmth but is no longer spry enough to hop up onto the ledge to take advantage of a sun beam, you might consider a heated cat bed. (It works for small dogs too.)

Recommended by veterinarians, this fancy bed exudes a gentle warmth designed to soothe older or arthritic pets. It uses an integrated 4-watt heater to produce a cozy 102º F radiant warmth that ensures cats always have a comfortable place to lounge (though it doesn’t feel hot to the human touch).

The bed features a soft microfleece-lined interior that distributes the warmth while a foam cushion offers proper support. There’s even a half roof to give cats that partially sheltered feel of a den or “private cove.” (It’s removable if you choose.)

The bottom of the cat bed has a non-slip fabric so it won’t slide around on hard floors. The cover and cushion are removable and machine washable. You just need to keep the bed close to an outlet, since it runs on AC.

The heated cat bed is $40-$50 (depending on size) at Hammacher Schlemmer.

It’s summer, the time of year where dogs get hot…and dirty. Whether you’d like to wash Fido after he comes in sandy from a dip at the beach or just cool him off because there’s no other water around, a hose isn’t usually the best method (my dogs are scared of the sprinkler, so forget the hose!). This inflatable dog shower offers a fun alternative.

“This is the only dog shower that inflates in five minutes for easy set up and folds to only 24″ x 14″ for unobtrusive storage. The unit has a handheld showerhead that emits water at 7 different levels from a gentle, soothing mist to a vigorous stream that penetrates even the thickest coats to clean pet hair and remove dead skin cells. The showerhead has a 52″-long hose that allows you to easily wash a dog’s paws, underbody, and other hard-to-reach areas and 58 sprayers along the inside of the shower provide additional cleaning. The shower’s 21″-high walls help keep water inside the shower (and off of you) yet allow access to the dog, a side panel unzips to provide easy access to the pet, and an integrated metal D-ring accommodates a leash for gently restraining the canine. The unit connects to a garden hose and has a drain that channels used water out of the shower.”

$120 at Hammacher Schlemmer: inflatable dog shower.

If the heat has your dog seeking shady spots, and you’re having trouble keeping Fido cool, then you can either take your dog to the closest lake or grab something like the K&H 1720 Cooling Dog Bed.

“No electricity is required to operate the Cool bed III and these beds are attractively designed and allow a cool spot for dogs. Simply add the recommended amount of water through the easy fill cap and burp with the new easy air adjustment valve. Our unique Cool Core diverts the liquid better than ever throughout the bed for advanced cooling power. The new nylon/vinyl exterior is tougher than ever! Being extremely affordable, the Cool bed III is the choice for any dog owner looking to offer their pet a comfy, dry, cool place to relax. Recommended for indoor and outdoor use.”

The cooling bed is available in three different sizes and blue or gray color options. It may not be as much fun for your dog as a day at the lake, but it ought to do for chilling around the house.

I don’t know about you, but I have two dogs and their nails grow almost as fast as the weeds in my yard. I guess it’s because we spend a lot of time at the dog park and on trails instead of walking on asphalt or sidewalks that would help grind those nails down. I spend $20 a month at the pet store because my dogs aren’t very amenable to having me clip their nails at home. I may have found an alternative though:

Dremel 7300-PT 4.8-Volt Pet Grooming Kit

I’ve heard of electric nail grinders before, but this one looks extra snazzy and it has great reviews at Amazon. Here’s the blurb:

“The Dremel Pet Grooming Kit offers a safe, effective way to keep your pet’s nails neat and trim. Rather than risk damage and discomfort with clippers or scissors, use the kit’s rotary tool for painless, easy grooming of your pet’s nails. The rotary tool gently grinds down claws using speeds that are appropriate to the task. And because it is cordless, the rotary tool provides optimum control over the grooming process.” (I think “optimum control” is code for you can chase your dog around the house and corner him under the desk without worrying about cords. Hey, no dog enjoys this stuff, but it’s a necessary evil!)

Under $40 at Amazon: Dremel Pet Grooming Kit

You love your dog…and your dog loves your furniture.

If you’re tired of trying to train Fido to stay off the couch (or maybe he stays off it while you’re around, but you always come home to find suspicious dustings of fur on the cushions…), maybe it’s time to get him his own couch-like furniture.

This Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed Sofa is designed to look good enough that you won’t mind keeping it in your living room, but it’s at just the right height that your dogs should find it an appealing alternative to the people sofa.

Sure, you might need to sit in it yourself a few times and drop some food crumbs down the cracks to give them the idea it’s a real couch, but it’s a small price to pay to have a dedicated humans-only sofa. Well, actually it’s over $400, so maybe not that small a price to pay, but it looks like it should hold up for a while.

You can grab it at Amazon, and the price varies depending on the covering. This is the “faux leather,” probably the easiest to clean.

Cats are good pets to have in apartments and condos where space is at a premium, but you might not have room for big “cat condos” or climbing trees that sit on the floor. The SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber is an alternative option (by the way, if you have as many cats in your apartment as are shown in the picture below, “space” may not be your only issue!).

“The SmartCat Cat Climber is the perfect choice for small homes or for pet owners who don’t want to swap a handy end table for a traditional cat tree. The Cat Climber hangs on virtually any standard door using a spring-loaded bracket system that makes it easy to move from room to room. The durable wood unit features a natural sisal post ideal for scratching. Great for climbing, playing, and sleeping, as well as scratching. Plus, it looks great in any room. Easy assembly.”

$60 at Amazon: SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber

How many times have you made a mess while washing your dog? It’s probably a given that you get water all over the place. Instead of washing your pet in a laundry room, sink or bath tub, get your pet its own bath tub.

The Inflatable Dog Shower sets up within 5 minutes, providing you with an ample space for bathing your pet. Wash dirt and grime away without getting it all over your house. This shower measures 24” x 14” when folded down for storage, but it opens up and becomes 21” high. The tall wall keeps your pet safely inside.

You can connect this pet shower to a regular garden hose. Rest assured that washing your dog will be easier with this model, because it features an electric air pump for quick setup and even puncture resistant PVC.

Freshwater and tropical fish make beautiful pets, but you don’t necessarily have to stick to typical table top aquariums. There are many designs available, and wall-mounted aquariums can create a seamless look in your home.

The Artquarium Large Panoramic Wall-mounted Aquarium is a 10.6 gallon tank with a steel brushed frame. The Blue Sea 3-D background makes this tank unique, and you can change its entire look with the touch of a button. Some other features include the lighting fixture, removable glass lid, easy-grip plant/item grabber, fish net, mounting kit with hardware and magnetic algae cleaner.

For the size of a painting, you can have real live fish on your wall. With the easy to use cleaning siphon hose, you can keep the fish tank clean, and it comes with convenient accessories to help you keep it clean.