Doggy spas and custom litter boxes: ‘Barkitecture’ is the latest pampered pet trend | Canada Voices

Moose and Maverick, a pair of golden retrievers in Parry Sound, Ont., know where to go when the munchies hit: straight to the doggy bar beneath the kitchen island.

The sleek, 50-inch-long quartzite trough, which is inset with four bowls, is raised an ergonomic five inches off of the floor. Grooves prevent water from spilling onto the hardwood floors, and touch-release cubbies above stylishly store the pups’ food.

“A lot of thought went into this as far as clearances, heights and the design,” said Adam Brown of the space in his home. He is director of Pride Kitchen and Bath, whose custom cabinetry and millwork showroom doubles as his family’s living space. Brown’s wife, Alannah, is the owner and groomer of Bath and Brush Boutique, which operates out of the couple’s renovated garage.

The trough adds organization, cleanliness and stylishness to the home for furry and non-furry family members alike, said Brown. The sculptural design aligns with the kitchen’s dark, elegant aesthetic and was built by Barrie-based Di Pietra Design.

The rise of pet-friendly design – or “barkitecture,” as some call it – has paralleled the pandemic-era surge in pet ownership.

According to a Government of Canada report, in 2024, there were more than 29 million pets nationwide, with roughly 80 per cent of Canadian households owning at least one pet. The country is home to significantly more pets than kids under the age of 18.

Pet-friendly home design is an architectural counterpart to the booming pet wellness industry, which includes such five-star treatments as deluxe “pawdicures,” blueberry facials, canine massages and reiki.

“Over the last decade, there has been a fundamental shift in how people view their pets and what they’re willing to invest in their wellbeing,” said Jacqueline Prehogan, the Toronto co-founder and chief brand officer of Open Farm, a premium dog food company.

“Pets are family,” she explained. “People are applying the same care to their pets’ wellbeing that they apply to their own wellbeing. The same way you invest in quality for yourself – your home, your food, your wellness – you’re doing it for your pet now as well. Even during recessions, during the pandemic, pet spending holds steady or even increases. It’s the last category to get cut. That tells you everything about the priority.”

Mom’s bond with our shared cat showed me the healing power of pets

Take rescue dogs Laffy and Taffy, who live in Etobicoke with their humans Laura Carino and Jordan Gemmill and their two children. When Kayla Daniels, the principal designer of Kayla Daniels Interiors, recently renovated the family’s home, she included a dog spa in the mudroom on the main floor.

Made with luminous, pale pink Moroccan zellige tiles and quartz jambs, the dog shower sits underneath an oval window that bathes the room in light. The space also has chevron-tile floors, an arresting archway and cabinets punched with air holes so stinky leashes can breathe. The beautiful, durable materials wouldn’t be out of place in a spa for people.

“More and more homeowners want their homes to support every aspect of their lifestyle, including caring for their furry family members,” said Daniels, who noted that her firm has seen increased interest in thoughtfully designed spaces for pets.

Sharon Hollingsworth, founder of Husk Interior Design in Vancouver, didn’t want to leave her six-year-old rabbit, Clubber, out of the sustainable redesign of her duplex in 2023.

Hollingsworth designed a hardwax-oiled oak secretary cabinet – Clubber’s powder room, as she calls it – in the dining area, with a hole for the bunny to scamper into her hutch.

The cabinet opens from the side and holds a mat, stainless steel litter box, hay, apple slices, toys, towels and cotton fluff, Clubber’s favourite plaything.

“We close it up, she hops in there and it’s that simple,” said Hollingsworth, who had a second door without a hole made in case she ever finds herself bunny-less. Other features of the room are also rabbit-friendly, such as grain floors that prevent the critter from slipping (bunnies have fur on their feet). To ensure the couch remains intact, the designer let Clubber loose on a few fabric samples before selecting the upholstery.

TikTok star The Girl with the Dogs is helping more animals with new non-profit for pets

“Linen seemed to suffer less from her gnawing and digging, so we upholstered the Bensen sofa in it,” she said. It might sound like a lot of trouble to go to for a pet rabbit, but they’re “really a lovely member of the family and my favourite pet,” Hollingsworth said.

Brian Hagood and Charisma Panchapakesan, the husband-and-wife team behind CAB Architects, feel the same way about their rescue cats, Cooper and Frida. When the couple renovated their rowhouse in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighbourhood, they maxed out every inch of space. (Cooper sadly passed away after their renovation.)

“We packed the area below our stairs with practical storage, including a refrigerator, pantry, cleaning cabinet, and reserved the smallest portion for something just as important: the cats,” said Panchapakesan.

The cabinet pulls out like a drawer to reveal a litter box. To give the cats access, the architects put in a brass pothole, a fun detail visitors always ask about.

According to the family, it’s the best bathroom in the house. “It seems fitting for cats,” said Panchapakesan.