DOIN' IT DOGGIE STYLE

Sassy pooch beds crafted by hot designers are auctioned for a good cause

Lauren Ferranti-Ballem, National Post
Published: Saturday, November 24, 2007

A dog bed sends many messages. You love your pooch. He deserves a special spot. And you don't want your couch covered in canine hair. Though it's meant for your four-legged friend, your choice of dog bed is ultimately a reflection of your style (or lack thereof). "The dog is an extension of your aesthetic," says Paul Ryu, co-owner of Timmie Doggie Outfitters on Queen Street West. "He's not going to say, 'Ruff, I want the camo print.' " A plaid poof says laidback, canvas is utilitarian and Ultrasuede equals ultra cool. But a custom-designed dog bed from Timmie's suggests a new breed of stylish philanthropy.

Mr. Ryu and his partners in doggie design -- Timmie co-owner Georges Khayat and his wife, Angela Suh -- launched the first annual Twelve Beds of Christmas Charity Auction this past Thursday at the King West M5V Condominiums presentation centre, where a dozen dog beds created by Canadian graphic, interior and fashion designers, architects, artists and TV personalities were auctioned off, with all proceeds going to the Toronto Humane Society. Inspired by the frenzy for Timmie's in-store "pet pictures with Santa" last year (also for the Humane Society) as well as the Gardiner Museum's annual Twelve Trees of Christmas gala, where professionally trimmed conifers are auctioned off to the highest black-tied bidders, Mr. Ryu decided to combine his love of dogs, design and charity into one hip party. "There's never been an event like this for the dogs, so why not?" he says.

Pet owners previously oblivious to their dogs' slumber needs may be forgiven for splashing out on a designer bed, if not for charity then for its homegrown star power. Mr. Ryu was pleasantly surprised by the speedy, enthusiastic response he received from the designers he solicited, including: HGTV's Designer Guys (Allen Chan, Matt Davis and Anwar Mukhayesh), Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe; House & Home's Lynda Reeves; Mikey Richardson of AmoebaCorp; artists Derrick Hodgson and Brandon Steen; illustrator Bernice Lum; Hambly & Woolley design group; Toronto Living reporters; and fashion designers Dev ( aujcollections. com) and Catherine Ryu ( L. A.-based Adriano Goldschmeid jeans).

The beds are as varied as their creators and they are all beautiful, showcasing offbeat designs with a lot of personality to suit any decor ( and dog).

Professed doodling artist Derrick Hodgson cobbled together sketches of dog-like creatures, inspired by his daily romps with his puppy, Cree, and had them screen-printed on to punchy pink fabric -- a signature colour in his artwork. " Having a pup opens up the community a lot more," he says. " Going to the dog park and seeing all the shapes and sizes of canines is very inspiring and comical." While he doubts he'd ever drop hundreds of dollars on a dog bed -- he'd rather invest in a luxurious scrap of shearling -- he admits it is important to have cool canine accoutrements in the home. " It's just as important as buying a nice chair or a teak cabinet -- it becomes a part of the overall decor."

Catherine Ryu chose her preferred medium -- denim -- as a starting point. " It's so durable, the more you wash it the softer if gets," she says. " Plus, if the owner has designer jeans, why not their dog?" Originally conceived as a deep indigo, the denim was repeatedly washed down to prevent the colour from running. " I didn't want a light Pomeranian's belly to turn blue from snuggling into the bed too much," Ms. Ryu says. The result is classic ' 80s acid wash -- a bleached out, sky-blue bed wi th belt loops sewn to the sides ( to make dragging it from room to room easy) and the AG Jeans logo stamped on top. " I imagine this bed in a comfortable family room where people gather," she says. " It's definitely meant for a laidback environment as opposed to a minimalist, formal one."

The home design pros delivered sophisticated beds with clean lines and a neutral palette. Ms. Reeves's creation, a study in charcoal grey with cream piping, could slip effortlessly into her hotel-inspired House & Home collection of towels and linens. The Designer Guys effort, what Allen Chan dubs " a snapshot into a dog's dream," features a chic linework of dog bones raining down on a black silk background -- the canine design equivalent of a black and white framed photograph. " A cool, affordable dog bed -- one that's not too goofy or childish-- isn't easy to find these days," says Mr. Chan. " In fact, I'm thinking of buying my own at the auction. My dog needs a new one."

Other notable beds include aujCollection's sassy prep-school design of wide black and white stripes and hot pink piping; Mikey Richardson's punkified blood-red crest ( it reads " Felines begone") on prim beige toile; and Bernice Lum's gracefully hand-drawn dachshund bed. Each one is an art piece first, yet they remain dog beds by virtue of form and function. But why shouldn't high design be available to all walks, number of legs notwithstanding? Mr. Ryu's business is built around $ 100 food bowls and chi-chi chew toys and his rationale is entirely convincing: " You're going to get a dog bed anyway, so it doesn't make sense to buy something cheap and ugly that you have to hide in the closet when company comes over."