this item on the list may seem a little odd. however, it is something that has bothered me about my home that i would like to do something about. this is my existing tv/dog crate corner. <---- not horrible, but large plastic tan dog crates are generally not acceptable among the architect sect. that said, my dog trooper would like to thank his cousin lucy for the dog crate that he inherited (he is very grateful) and amanda's mother-in-law for the afghan, which she probably had no idea would serve as crate camo.
i would also like to point out that just to the left of the dog crate (near the curtain) there is an air register. not exactly something you want to cover up with dog anything. and if you've been in my condo you know that with the furniture i have, this corner is really the only place for a tv.
my original plan was to create a custom dog crate. in a great deal of searching my favorite- by far- was this one:
however, there are a couple flaws with this plan. 1.trooper has grown to like this crate. i can't emphasize the importance of this enough. sufficed to say, it will take a separate post to go through the history of trooper vs. crate. 2. this doesn't really resolve the space planning issues in the corner. so i decided i should incorporate trooper's existing crate within an entertainment center. behold...the entertainment kennel. 
well, actually this is a cryptic sketch from which my dad is supposed to construct an entertainment kennel. my dad is retired and very skilled at refinishing furniture, but hesitant about taking this from-scratch project on due to my perfectionist tendencies. two things are in my favor: i am an only child (thus trooper an only granddog) and my mom thinks he needs a project. this piece would fit flat up against the wall to the right of the fireplace. the dog crate is on the left under the tv, keeping the air register free and maybe even allowing me to tuck a chair in next to the wardrobe.
the material is 3/4" plywood- stained dark to match my other furniture. as a sub-project i was thinking about adding the removable table in front for more crate coverage. maybe it needs even more?
I love dog crate-integral furniture! There is definitely a limited market for it currently. We wanted to make a dog crate-integral cabinet for our mudroom, but once getting settled into our house, realized that cousing Clyde no longer needed a crate. While Auntie Michelle still hopes that there will be a day Troopie no longer will need his crate, the aspect that I like about your design is that you can still use the entertainment center without the crate (once that day comes). But it seems like the removable table in front is a good idea - and if it is on wheels, it can move around your living room for various purposes (occasional side/end table, throw a cushion on it for extra seating perhaps, as long as the casters are lockable). Lastly, you can switch the little metal door swing on the crate, right? This is probably a good idea if I am correctly envisioning how it will fit on that wall.
ReplyDeleteI think this will be a very stylish addition to your home! I, too, am not very fond of the crate look and so I took Emma's out to the shed in the yard. I also think that a movable table will be a nice addition.
ReplyDeletetrooper is going to be so pleased! maybe we can refocus our would-be competition energy on his new house and make it sustain a 300 lb. vertical load while incorporating safe, yet sustainable lighting?
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