One of my favorite things to do with my dogs is hiking in the woods. When it comes to Labradors, there’s nothing better than getting wet and dirty! I like to let the dogs have their fun, and would never dream of limiting their outdoor adventures just to keep them clean. But groomers are expensive and there isn’t always a do it yourself dog wash nearby.

That’s exactly why I’m planning renovation and sharing my dog wash and dog inspired mudroom moodboard with you!

Planning a Dog Obsessed Renovation

Since I moved into my house about 5 years ago I’ve been trying to find a way to install a second bathroom. My house is over 100 years old and only has one bathroom on the 2nd floor. I finally found a way to utilize the enclosed porch on the front of my house and convert it into a bathroom, vestibule, and mudroom. I was so happy that there’s even enough room to have a dog wash in the bathroom!

I’ve been saving lots of ideas for this renovation on Pinterest (are you following?) and thought I would share my plans with all of you in case you have similar dreams! There’s not a lot of information out there about installing a dog wash in your home. So, I’m going to have to make up a lot of this as I go.

Luckily, I have a great contractor to work with. Thanks to this advice from Yellow Brick Home I was able to find someone I really trust. And the dogs like him, which is a very important test to pass!

Creating a Dog Lover’s Mudroom

In this dog-obsessed renovation, not only will we be installing a bathroom with a dedicated dog wash, but I’ll also be gaining a super functional mudroom. There will be tons of storage for boots, coats, dog towels and more.

My inspiration for the space is to keep it very black and white, except for the pink door I’m famous for. I’ll need a new door, but I have plenty of pink paint leftover to give it the Tori Mistick touch!

Along the front wall, I’m planning on adding floor to ceiling shelves with a built-in bench. The shelves will get baskets for all our dog gear essentials. I even have an idea for a way to display all our collars, leashes and bandanas in one of the cubes.

Design with Dogs in Mind

I’ll need a new front window for the “vestibule” space between the new bathroom and the rest of my house. And I’m thinking it would be really great to do something with dog proof window blinds like this example from Pella that has the blinds inside the glass. That way I can leave the blinds up or down and if Burt and Lucy jump up on the window sill to check out the street they won’t be able to damage them.

In this space, I’m also planning on having a roomy cabinet to store a lot of the supplies for the Wear Wag Repeat Shop. Currently, I have all sorts of boxes, envelopes and other packing supplies out on the porch so those will need somewhere to go. My favorite cabinet so far is this one from AllModern. Above the cabinet I’ll hang some dog art and next to it we’ll have a stylish basket for dog toys.

Building a Dog Wash At Home

Now for the highlight of the whole project! My at home dog wash station! It will be built around a regular pre-made shower basin. The base will be raised up about 18 inches so I don’t have to stoop so low to teach the dogs. It’s going to be so nice to have a special indoor space just for washing and grooming the dogs. Since we have so many cold and wet months here in Pittsburgh, being able to do this indoors is going to be such a treat!

I’ve been having a hard time finding the perfect handheld sprayer for this project, but I think I’m going to go with a regular handheld shower (like this one from Delta) with a water shut off knob on the wall. I think that way I’ll be able to set the temperature with one knob, then adjust the water flow with another.

I’m also really excited to do some dog wallpaper in the bathroom! There’s not very much wall space to be wallpapered (the wall with the little sink and toilet will keep the original clapboard that’s already on the house), so I think I can go with something bold in here. I’ve found a lot of beautiful dog print options, but I’m also thinking about turning my exclusive Jungle Dogs print into wallpaper just for this project! It would be truly one of a kind.

 

Love this post? Find more ideas to keep your dog-obsessed home looking stylish:
How to Get Dog Hair out of Everything
Shopping for a Stylish Treat Jar
Pups and Pink Doors Photo Round Up
Pop Your Pup x Wear Wag Repeat
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