Meet Pickles: A Puppy, a Reality Check, and a Design Lesson
A couple of weeks ago, our family brought home a golden retriever puppy. His name is Pickles, and he is sweet, chaotic, lovable… and currently working very hard on not peeing and pooping inside the house.
I’ll be honest—this experience has humbled me in ways I didn’t fully anticipate.
I’ve designed for families with kids and pets for years. I talk often about livability, durability, and real life. But there is something about living with a puppy in real time—mid-accident, paper towels in hand—that gives you a whole new level of empathy.
Puppies Are Honest
Pickles doesn’t care about rugs, furniture legs, or carefully chosen materials. He’s here to live his best life. And right now, that includes:
accidents at inconvenient moments
enthusiasm that outweighs coordination
chewing as a form of exploration
Watching him learn (slowly) has made me rethink how spaces need to support families—not in theory, but in practice.
What Pickles Has Taught Me About Design
1. Floors matter.
Area rugs are beautiful. They are also vulnerable. I’m thinking more carefully now about where rugs belong, what they’re made of, and how easily they can be cleaned or replaced. Not every space needs softness underfoot.
2. Performance fabrics aren’t optional.
This isn’t about sacrificing style—it’s about choosing materials that forgive. Washable, wipeable, durable fabrics make life easier and allow families to actually use their spaces without anxiety.
3. The best homes anticipate mess.
A well-designed home doesn’t pretend chaos won’t happen—it plans for it. Thoughtful entry zones, easy-clean surfaces, and smart furniture layouts make a huge difference when life gets messy.
4. Grace is part of good design.
Designing for families with pets requires grace—both in materials and mindset. Spaces should support learning, growth, and a little imperfection. A home should feel like a place where everyone belongs… including a puppy still figuring things out.
Designing With Real Life in Mind
Pickles has reminded me that homes aren’t meant to be museum spaces. They are meant to hold real life—muddy paws, late-night cleanups, laughter, frustration, and eventually, routines that stick.
As a designer, this season has deepened my commitment to creating spaces that are not just beautiful, but livable in the truest sense.
Homes that age well with families, adapt to change, and feel welcoming even on the messiest days.
Pickles will get there. We will get there. And in the meantime, I’m designing with even more empathy, flexibility, and humor than before.
Because if your home can survive a six-month-old golden retriever named Pickles… it can survive just about anything.
xo,
Kelsey
