Kris Crawford’s devotion to her three dogs—Cheyenne, Dakota and Tahoe—is so strong that she even makes their food herself. Her dogs must certainly appreciate this, but since all types of food are in one fridge, occasionally the dog food has wound up in the mouths of human guests scavenging for a snack (which clearly speaks to the quality of the dog food). So, one of Kris’s design requests was to have appliances that are strictly for her dogs. Designer Ann Porter, who has a dog of her own, understood all of Kris’s dog-specific kitchen needs, as well as the things Kris would enjoy for herself. Because even the consummate dog owner needs a few human treats.
- To help separate the doggie items from the Kris items, Ann created a kitchen with two Jenn-Air 36-inch bottom mount refrigerators (people food in the one on the left, dog food on the right). Then she put a regular dishwasher and sink on the island for regular dishes, with a double drawer dishwasher and small prep sink to the side for cleaning up dog bowls and toys. Of course, Kris also wanted appliances that she enjoys as well. She preferred a gas cooktop, so she got a five-burner, 36-inch cooktop from Jenn-Air, plus two wall ovens and a built-in microwave.
- Having three dogs can get a bit messy, so it was important for Kris to have surfaces that were non-porous and easy to clean. Ann chose two surfaces that had loads of style but little maintenance: CaesarStone quartz countertops with the look of limestone on the kitchen island, and ceramic tile flooring from Tau Ceramica.
- Finally, Ann incorporated some truly unique touches to Kris’s kitchen that would make life easier and more serene for both her and her dogs. These items included an "upside-down" drawer with holes for dog-food bowls to rest in, a dog drinking fountain under the island, and a fireplace for Kris and her dogs to relax and hang out.
