“Eddie likes to stand guard at the window—he is well-known locally and passers-by are always photographing him.”

EDDIE—CITY APARTMENT

We have had Eddie since 2012, when we were lucky enough to adopt him from Battersea (the Dogs and Cats Home) in London. He is our second rescue dog, and although we don’t know for sure what breed he is, we think he is a Parson Russell Terrier. We named him Eddie after the dog in the American TV show Frasier.

I have lived in this apartment in southwest London for many years. It’s a spacious two-bedroomed home with a garden, which is ideal for Eddie, who spends most of his day patrolling both the front door and front bay windows and protecting us from the mailman, delivery men, and anyone else who approaches. Like all dogs he is fiercely loyal, and he is extremely devoted to me. He sleeps on my bed every night and really doesn’t have a favorite spot in the apartment unless I’m there. He will sit at my feet wherever I am—in the kitchen or the office—or lie next to me on the couch. When I was working full time, Eddie had a dog walker who took him out on days that my daughter couldn’t have him. She lives nearby and still takes him for me when necessary.

Eddie eats in the kitchen. He has some extremely eccentric habits and likes the door to be open when he eats. My kitchen has dark gray floorboards which are very practical and don’t show the mess, but the walls are all white. I’m forever changing the mixture of art and photographs on the walls.

Large bay windows provide Eddie with a very good view of all the goings on in the street. I have covered the back of the couch with a cream linen throw and on top of that is a piece of African mud cloth, both picked up at a flea market. A sheepskin rug covers the arm to protect it against paw-marks.

My professional life in homewares buying has fed my passion for interiors, and it’s important to me that my home is reflective of seasonal and current trends, but above all comfortable. I’ve collected both art and objects from years of flea-market buying and have some very treasured items which are valuable just in the sheer joy of owning them.

Most of the apartment has painted floorboards, which are easy to maintain. I’ve recently added some natural rugs for comfort and warmth, but I often come home and find them all over the place because Eddie has run to the front door or rushed around when he has heard a noise.

On the white wall, a single painting bought in Pézenas, France is complemented by the tonal shades of the animal print blanket and black throw on the couch, which are soft and comfortable for both me and Eddie.

My style is quite mixed; I combine textures and prints, and I love walls of art and photographs; I would say I’m on the maximalist spectrum. I like to have fresh flowers and candles burning, which create a warm and welcoming environment.

Owning a dog and keeping a lovely home is easy as long as you are not too set in your ways or concerned with keeping everything pristine. In the process of putting together this book I have found that however nice the home, the dog is very much part of the family and is included in almost everything that goes on, which generally means allowing access to all areas. Eddie and I live our lives together and I’m not worried about getting paw marks on my cream linen sofas, I just have lots of throws on them that can be washed and changed as necessary. He is always in and out of the garden, so I have a towel ready at all times to wipe his feet when he comes in. I actually find humans are the messiest of all: spilt wine and food usually present more of a problem than the occasional muddy footprint.

The bed is probably the place you would most often find Eddie resting. Because my apartment is on one floor, he can see me from this spot if I’m in the living room or the office. A dark throw protects the bedcover from muddy marks.

Still on the bed, Eddie stares out into the garden, on the lookout for squirrels and birds. The long linen curtains add scale to this high-ceilinged room, and you can see an outdoor seating area just beyond the French windows.

The company of a dog also far outweighs any inconvenience or mess they bring with them—Eddie is the heartbeat of my home, and without him the cool interior would seem meaningless.

The long and narrow hallway, with sanded floorboards painted dark gray, has always been used as a gallery for my favorite photographs and art, including the dog print by Simeon Farrar.

These bespoke doors were commissioned when the owners bought the house back in 1993. A dog flap was installed when they first got Dougie as a puppy, giving him access to the outdoors all day. The house has a sunny south-facing garden, which Dougie loves.

“If I forget to close the bathroom door, Dougie would happily jump into the bath with me.”

DOUGIE—TOWN HOUSE BY THE PARK

Dougie is a Red Lakeland Terrier and they are bred to be working dogs. He came from an arable farm just outside the city of Newcastle, in the northeast of England. Although eight years old, he has the energy and strength of a mature puppy who loves toys and games of tug. He is outgoing and very friendly, has twice-daily walks, and is always ready for his dinner. Like many dogs, he is motivated by food and treats. Unlike many dogs, Dougie also loves to be bathed and will happily jump into the bath with his owner given half a chance.

Dougie lives in Barnes, close to Richmond Park, one of London’s iconic Royal parks, which is a perfect place for walking dogs. A stone’s throw from central London and one of the UK’s top sites for ancient trees, the park covers an area of 2,500 acres and has 630 red and fallow deer roaming freely within its boundaries. Dougie’s owners, Marian and Richard, take him out regularly to enjoy the park and the other open spaces nearby. He also spends one day a week with a dog walker and he loves it; he is very sociable and will happily go off for the day with his doggie chums.

Beautiful arched doors open into a garden that Dougie can enjoy all day. Floorboards are painted dark gray throughout the kitchen, contrasting with a colorful rug beneath the long dark oak dining table. Leather modernist Danish dining chairs complete the room.

In his mind, all the balls in the world belong to Dougie and he will capture any ball in sight and literally chew it to death—an expensive pastime, I’m told. He loves a fireside cuddle and brings his owners lots of happiness.

Dougie’s home is a 1900s semi-detached house that was bought almost derelict in 1993. Gently restoring it over the years has been a labor of love, which involved finding quality craftsmen to install bespoke doors, replacing fire surrounds, and extending into the attic. Dougie is pretty much allowed access to all areas of the house, and has his own dog flap so he can go outside whenever he wants. The wooden floors and rugs and their individual style make for an extremely comfortable home for both Dougie and his owners.

Dougie sits on the squashy and very comfortable sofa covered in an Icelandic poppy-patterned fabric, which is very durable and easy to keep clean. Over the back is a Welsh blanket, and the sofa holds a combination of velvet cushions. The art above is plain gold leaf on an unframed canvas, a touch of warm color on a blue wall.

In the living room, there’s a beautiful marble fireplace surround, found and installed by the owners. Floorboards are sanded and stained dark walnut, and what would have been two rooms is now one, allowing you to see straight through to the back of the house. An armchair covered in pale blue velvet provides another cozy spot for Dougie to rest in.

The decorating style is individual and his owner happily mixes colors and materials side by side over the house’s three floors. Dougie explores them all, going wherever the company is, and loves nothing more than sitting on the chair under the eaves in the attic, with the warmth of the sun filtering in.

This extension into the roof space was added several years after the original restoration, to provide a large utility space for doing the laundry and storing extra clothes and linen. The eaves windows provide the perfect space not only for Marian to sit and read but for Dougie to soak up the sunshine.

“What Flynn lacks in stature, he makes up for in personality.”

FLYNN—CONTEMPORARY YET CLASSIC

Little Flynn, a Maltipoo, is six years old and was rehomed from the dog rescue charity All Dogs Matter—read more about his story on page 160. He is an integral part of the home—like all dogs, he loves his routine, treats, belly rubs, chasing squirrels, and snoozing on the bed.

His owners, Andrew, Mark, and their daughter, Alicia, live in this beautiful large house in the southwest London borough of Wandsworth. As well as having great transport links to the city center, it is surrounded by parks, woodland, and the large space of Wandsworth Common, so is an ideal place to own a dog.

Full of confidence, Flynn has the nickname “Fearless Flynn”—he is king of the Common and not fazed by any other dogs, regardless of size. He loves to protect the garden from intruding birds or squirrels, even when they are not there, as he thinks it will earn him a treat. He knows when he is being taken to the dog grooming salon or vet and refuses to move, so he has to be carried—he is a very stubborn little man.

This large open-plan kitchen space features a skylight that floods light onto the herringbone parquet floor. The “wow” tryptic prints are provided by John Patrick Reynolds who works with comic art and hang alongside an illuminated red theatrical number. In the foreground are a Saarinen dining table and chair.

This space lies between the sitting room and kitchen and provides a cozy den for watching television and reading. The large leather buttoned ottoman, for putting your feet up or for a tray of food, is one of Flynn’s favorite spots for keeping an eye on goings on.

Three steps lead up from the den into the living room, which has white bay windows looking out onto the street. An original fire surround with a slate hearth has been restored during the renovation work. The steps offer another place for Flynn to watch proceedings.

The urban glamour of old Hollywood is reflected in these black and white pictures. A pop of color in the pillow acts as a unique contrast to the blue-green walls.

It was a very hot day when we took these pictures, so Flynn took refuge on the cool slate hearth for some respite. He sits alongside an old statue bought in Sri Lanka.

Mark and Andrew moved over eight years ago into the Victorian end-of-terrace house, which is in a smart residential area known as Nightingale Triangle. The name came after the area was recognized for its plush residential properties between Nightingale Lane, Balham, and Clapham Common. It has a reputation of having a small village-like feel, and its residents have regular community events and street parties.

The house has undergone modernization and renovation throughout the time Mark and Andrew have been there—it now flows well and has a bright, modern feel. The decoration style is extremely urban chic, featuring some surprising decorating ideas and lots of character—for example, the wonderful black and white photography, which gives a real Hollywood feel, and the giant “wow” prints in the kitchen.

Andrew and Mark enjoy the arts, theater, and contemporary design and this is reflected in their home. They are very adventurous with color and happy to mix the unexpected together. The house and garden are very well appointed as a party environment and Andrew and Mark host guests regularly. While it is very high spec, it is not uptight; they have created both cozy areas for watching TV and wide, open spaces for entertainment and dining. Piles of design books reflect their love of art, and family photographs add a homely feel.

Reflected in the large industrial mirror hanging on the landing we see Flynn as he sits on the third floor. A small console table outside the master bedroom houses a quirky red table lamp, adding drama to an otherwise quiet corner.

There are four floors, with Alicia’s haven on the top floor, an office space, and plenty of room for guests. All rooms have an individual decorative style, but work together to reflect the home’s modern and colorful feel.

Flynn is a lucky dog to have found such a wonderful home with this family; it has certainly given him the confidence to develop his personality.

You will often find Flynn in the master bedroom, which is one of his favorite places; just like many other dogs, he prefers not to be too far from his owners. The single color walls and shelves are home to many treasured items—photographs of friends, a favorite David Bowie album cover, toys, and pieces of art—giving it a very personal feel.

The entrance is very cleverly contained by a glass paneled wall allowing light to enter the lounge through the unique stained glass. Peggy prefers lying on a rug—she doesn’t like hard surfaces.

“Every morning we try to take Peggy out after breakfast, but she ignores this and runs upstairs to sleep on our bed.”

PEGGY—ECLECTIC MIDCENTURY MODERN

Peggy is a seven-year-old Lurcher, a breed which is typically a cross between a Sighthound and a Terrier. Her owners, Ella and Magnus, found Peggy at Lurcher SOS—read more about her story on page 162. Lurchers are becoming popular as pets as they are very laid-back and, like Peggy, prefer a warm bed to anything else. However, they do like to chase, as is their reputation, and Peggy will go after a squirrel if she gets half a chance.

Ella owns a shop called A New Tribe in Hackney in east London, and Peggy goes there with her most days. When Peggy is not in the shop, she goes to a local dog walker, Tails and Shells. This gives her the chance to socialize with other dogs and get stimulation and exercise—it’s a fun day for her away from the shop. If Ella and Magnus go away, Peggy has no shortage of weekend minders, including their friend Stephen among others—it sounds as if she has quite a following. For a longer trip or vacation, she goes to Nottingham to stay with Ella’s mother.

Peggy glides silently down the staircase, where open bannisters reveal the contrast between the pink walls and the dark gray paint on and beneath the staircase. The whole space is light with sun streaming in, thanks to the open-plan design.

Ella and Magnus moved into their 100-year-old three-bedroom terraced row house in Walthamstow two years ago. Walthamstow is a major district in northeast London, which has become more popular over the last decade as part of the city’s suburban growth. The area has seen an increase in creative and artistic families and businesses, making it very sought after.

The house has a roof extension and a kitchen addition at the back. At the back of the house there is a train line, but thanks to the fairly long garden it’s hardly visible. Magnus and Ella completely gutted the property; it was in a very sad state and all the original features had already been removed, so they didn’t feel bad about knocking everything down. When they first moved in, the bathroom was in the middle of the ground floor and it still had the original outside window. The renovation has been a labor of love and the overall effect is truly stunning; the attention to detail is remarkable and everything is well considered, extremely unique, and quite unexpected. I left the house feeling very inspired.

This space illustrates exactly the mix of all the aspects of their tastes: the focal point of the Tepee sofa by Lucy Kurrein in orange that Peggy loves, the Norman Cherner walnut plywood chair under the window, the mix of Moroccan rugs from A New Tribe, and many other individually sourced pieces.

The Vitsœ shelving unit—designed in 1960 and still being manufactured today—can be customized as required and is available in many colors. In the foreground is another rug from A New Tribe and a bespoke pouf.

The style is quite eclectic, and Ella and Magnus like to mix designer classics, such as Vitsoe shelving and a vintage Bachelor chair by Verner Panton, with pieces they love. They have many of their own designs, originally sourced for the shop, and items collected on travels to Morocco when buying for the store. Magnus is a product designer and this has played a useful part in finding bespoke light fittings and furniture during the restoration process. Peggy particularly loves the sofas: the Tepee sofa is by SCP designer Lucy Kurrein, and the mud cloth sofa is upholstered with fabric that was bought in Morocco.

Ella works at the dining table and so, as always, Peggy is not far away, languidly lying on yet another rug from Ella’s shop in front of a stripped vintage medicine cabinet. The strong blue wall, coupled with the plants and pots, gives the effect of making you feel as if you were in Morocco.

In the master bedroom at the front of the house hangs the most splendid raffia lampshade, a very dramatic statement in a room that has soft tones and eclectic art pieces.

In every room in the house, Peggy has a favorite space to lie down. This spare room at the back of the house features soft and comfortable bed linen. Looking through onto the landing, a cotton blanket entitled Parallel Movements by Californian art brand BFGF hangs on the wall.

A New Tribe is Ella’s shop, where Peggy has a legion of admirers and spends much time lying on the rugs, waiting for the next customer to give her a tummy rub.

The house is a masterstroke of unique design—what was a sad, unloved, almost derelict cottage is now eclectic midcentury modern with an underpinning of North African culture. The color combinations are unusual and unexpected but so clever that you can’t fail to be inspired and encouraged to mix together different styles yourself. Peggy is the perfect pet to have in this home—like everything around her, she is beautiful and unique.

“I have a thing about names beginning with M, but Myrtle I call ‘Wyrtle,’—bonkers, I know.”

MONKEY AND MYRTLE—LUSH AND DRAMATIC TOWN HOUSE

Abigail Ahern and her husband Graham lost their beloved Welsh terrier, Maud, last year. Their other dog, Monkey, who is a super laidback, almost horizontal, terrier, started to retreat into himself and was anxiously chewing himself to the bone, just as when he was first adopted (read more about his story on page 164), so they took themselves to a farm in Wales and found Myrtle. Myrtle’s mother generally spends the days whizzing over the hills rabbiting; apparently, she disappeared for a few days and came back pregnant. The rest, as they say, is history, as now Monkey and Myrtle spend all day playing, something Monkey and Maud never did.

Both dogs accompany Abigail to work but don’t stay all day, as Graham mainly works from home, so they can have the run of the house and garden. They are walked twice a day at the nearby London Fields park—Graham does the morning and Abigail the evening—and they have a bunch of friends they meet and play with. At the weekend they are taken further afield, sometimes to Hyde Park in the city center to watch the sun come up as they are early birds. If not Hyde Park, it could be Epping Forest on the outskirts of London, or Victoria Park in east London, where they walk along the canal to the local farmer’s market. From time to time on Saturdays they all wander over to Borough Market and drink coffee, pounding the pavements and enjoying what London has to offer.

In this very glamorous room, Monkey sits among items that can be bought at Abigail’s store mixed with vintage finds, plants, and faux foliage. The dark walls and fire surround add drama, while the convex mirror reflects the stunning chandelier.

The colors and textures on the small sofa almost make Monkey disappear in this space. The huge double-height Crittall windows let light flood into the room, where there are warm tones, exposed brick, and lots of soft, cozy textiles and rugs.

Abigail and Graham have lived in their house for twenty years. It’s a very imposing 1860s town house with four floors and is in Hackney, a borough in inner east London. Most of the original workers’ cottages and homes there are being gentrified and have become highly sought after; it is considered a very trendy area and attracts people in the creative world.

When they moved in, the house was in a state of total disrepair, so they ripped out the back wall over two floors and installed a wall of glass. They are still constantly renovating, updating, and decorating. Since Abigail has a design store and business, she runs monthly design workshops from her home each month for around 20 people at a time, which includes a tour of the house.

Myrtle has lost or found something interesting under the sofa. She treats the home as her own personal playground, jumping, diving, running, and tumbling with Monkey. The double-height windows and exposing the two floors makes this space feel like a loft apartment and allows for huge-scale art and mirrors.

Monkey and Myrtle blend into their surroundings: Monkey sits on the shaggy sheepskin rug, while Myrtle leaps from the black and white pouf. The view of the verdant garden and the equally lush display indoors give the space the look and feel of an exotic climate.

Abigail and Graham also completely re-landscaped the front and back gardens to look and feel like a jungle. A huge fig tree in the front garden offers a pleasing view, and they have planted other trees—eucalytpus, bay, and olive—with a wall of black bamboo to encourage them to grow tall and eventually provide privacy all the way up to the fourth floor. Abigail feeds them seaweed to help them grow.

Abigail’s eponymously named store sells furniture, accessories, and faux flowers among other things. She travels extensively to India and China for her work and misses the dogs terribly. Her style is very bold and glamorous: she loves mixing dark colors and fabrics together. Her home is filled with lots of lush plants, layers of rugs on the floor, and multiple pieces of art on the walls, especially portraits. She works with her sister on the floral and foliage side of the business to create some pretty realistic and extraordinary plants and stems, which are seen in all the rooms in her house.

She has published many books on her style and color vision and is recognized widely as a design guru; she breaks down boundaries and has an extremely eclectic and brave approach to interior design.

The master bedroom at the front of the house on a sunny day. Light streams in and the pop of turquoise adds glamour. Good blackout curtains and lots of pillows create a cocoon effect and a cozy sleep environment.

In this room on the first floor at the front of the house, Myrtle matches the cowhide chair and indeed the whole room. The genius design trick of a mirror reflecting a chandelier is used again: it creates dimension and a sense of space. Warmth is added by both the foliage, which breaks up hard edges, and the soft textiles.

“Winnie is a big hugger and Flora is fiercely independent, but they are both highly motivated by food.”

WINNIE AND FLORA—CONVERTED COACH HOUSE

Winnie and Flora live with Patrick and Sheila in north London. Winnie is a Labradoodle and was born in February 2009. Her mother was a black Labrador and her father a cream miniature Poodle, and she came from breeders in Mansfield, a market town in Nottinghamshire in the midlands of England. She loves swimming, chasing and retrieving balls, and playing tug with Flora. A very affectionate dog, she will stand on her hind legs and wrap herself around you. She often sleeps on her back with a toy in her mouth, hoping someone will pass by and give her a tummy rub. She was named after Patrick’s mother’s carer, who was delighted with her namesake.

Flora is a West Highland Terrier, born in May 2010. She came from a goat farm in Hertfordshire called Wobbly Bottom Farm, and does indeed have a wobbly bottom. She and Winnie are fed twice a day and Flora always quivers with excitement as soon as she hears the food drawer being opened. She was named by Sheila’s mother after Flora McDonald, a famously strong, brave Scot, and lives up to her namesake. Fiercely independent, she does everything on her own terms and always with massive enthusiasm; she is a huge explorer and loves to discover new territory. However, she gets lost in her own world and often fails to come when called. Sheila’s mother loved Flora and often asked if she was behaving herself; mostly the answer was no, which made her smile. When relaxing, Flora likes to sit near a human, preferably on the sofa.

Flora surveys her surroundings in the light, airy dining room, featuring copper lamps by Tom Dixon, a painting by artist Yvonne Coomber, and a very long bespoke dining table with a metal frame.

The dominant feature in the living room is the Tom Dixon Melt lamp in copper. The warm tones of the pillows contribute to a cozy, comfortable room. Flora is desperate to jump on the sofa!

This view from the front door shows Flora on guard duty in the hall and behind her the garden: raised beds with matching wood fencing and planted trees create a clean and modern appearance.

Looking back toward the front door, just out of sight, is the original stained glass from the coach house. On this beautiful sunny day we can see how light the house is, and the sun creates the perfect spot for Flora and Winnie to relax.

Sheila and Patrick’s house, which is in Kilburn in north London, was originally a Victorian coach house. In 2010 the land next door was put up for sale, so they bought it and a few years later hired an architect to create a modern, light, airy home with a double-height extension. Sheila and Patrick moved out while the work was being done and returned when it was finished in early 2015. They are thrilled with the result, which is a new home but one that retains some old features and provides extra space inside and out. It is a house that is filled with light.

“Although he lives in an urban environment, Bailey behaves as if he lives in the country.”

BAILEY—LIGHT AND MODERN HOME

Bailey is a Cockapoo, though he thinks he’s a working Spaniel like his mother. The intelligent Poodle gene from his father hasn’t manifested itself yet and he’s 18 months old. He lives in Chelsea in southwest London with Penny.

Loyal, fun, cuddly, good-natured, and bonkers in equal measure, Bailey is greatly loved by Penny’s grandchildren, and he will play with them for hours without ever getting tired or bored. His routine in the morning is to run around the small patio garden three times, stopping to bark at the birds and the neighbor’s cat if he’s in sight, and then he’s ready for breakfast. He has many friends among the local community whom he likes to run around with at the park.

Bailey’s home is a four-story Victorian house. It was built in 1840 on a site previously owned by Sir Thomas More, a chancellor to King Henry VIII. Bailey likes to visit the statue of More in front of Chelsea Old Church. However, he is blissfully unaware of his historical surroundings and would prefer to live in the country. He seems to think nearby Battersea Park is the estate in Hampshire where he was born.

At the back of the house is Penny’s office space. Bailey sits in his bed, staring at the garden and trying to spot the cat or birds. The large picture window gives the room a bright, modern feel. This theme continues in the rest of Penny’s home, which has been modernized throughout while retaining many original features.