endless paw-sibilities

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there – do yourself a favour and make a handy set of hooks like these so that finding your keys will be one less thing you’ll need to worry about. We used three short offcuts of flat-profile trim. If you have a bigger family with more drivers or dogs, make a wider version so that there is a special space for each pack member. We used Resene Liberty behind the ‘his’ and ‘her’ hooks, Resene Rebel for Fido’s, then used Resene Ecru White for the labels. The wall behind is in Resene Coyote.

Sitting pretty

Which cat doesn’t enjoy a good sunbath? If your sills aren’t wide enough for Fluffy to curl up for a nap, make her a fold-down window seat where she can sun herself. The bottom of our pet perch features painted stripes of Resene Liberty and Resene Ecru White to match the paint colours on our wall and architraves when not in use, but you could decorate yours with any colours or pattern you like. Avoid the potential for cat-astrophe by making sure you use strong enough chain to support the weight of your furry friend – and that it’s properly secured to your wall or window frame.

Vanity fur

Paint a fetching silhouette of your beloved friend by enlarging a favourite portrait – ideally a side view that shows off their full pet-ential – and tracing an outline on to a blank canvas using carbon paper. Pick up a couple of testpots from your local Resene ColorShop (we used Resene Cleopatra for our background and Resene Salsa for our parrot to contrast with our Resene Dark Knight wall) then use a small, flat artist’s brush to fill in the silhouette edges first, followed by the background. Once the fine outline work has been done, use a Resene testpot brush to fly through the rest.

Bone appetit

Renovating your kitchen? Take the op-purr-tunity to install an extra drawer in the empty space behind your kickboard where you can conceal your pet’s food and water bowls, keeping them out of the path of traffic – and out of sight – between meal times. Try this same idea in the bottom of an existing drawer by cutting a piece of MDF or ply to fit inside and cut out twin holes sized to fit your pet’s food bowls. Ours is painted Resene Ecru White to match the colour of the kitchen floor and the cabinetry is in Resene Sunbaked – one of Resene’s most paw-pular fashion colours.

Top tip

Use a Resene waterborne enamel, such as Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen around pet areas so surfaces can be easily wiped clean.

Styling: Leigh Stockton, Fleur Thorpe
Images: Bryce Carleton, Juliet Nicholas

Want to get your own free copy of future issues of habitat magazine?

Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.

• Specifiers:

  • Earn CPD points reading this magazine – If you're a specifier, earn ADNZ or NZRAB CPD points by reading habitat magazine. Once you've read an issue request your CPD points via the CPD portal for ADNZ (for NZ architectural designers) or NZRAB (for NZ architects).  Join our specifier and trade database...

If you have an idea, project or story that you think would suit habitat, we’d love to hear from you. Please drop us an email with your details and include photos if submitting a project.

Sign up for a DIY card and Save! Australia | New Zealand