In this Wash Park craftsman, one of the most thoughtfully designed spaces in the house isn’t reserved for guests or entertaining, it’s for Charlie.
At the homeowner’s request, interior designer Laura Medicus worked with architect Jon Hindlemann to incorporate a dedicated dog-wash station into the mudroom, approaching it with the same care and restraint given to every other room in the home. The challenge wasn’t just functionality, but ensuring the space felt authentic to the home’s historic character. “We wanted it to feel like it had always belonged there,” Laura explains. “Not like a trendy add-on.”
That sensibility guided every decision. To maintain continuity with the home’s craftsman roots, the floor is made of real brick, chosen to echo the exterior and subtly blur the line between indoors and out. Traditional- style plumbing fixtures reinforce the classic feel, while a clean subway-tile surround keeps the palette timeless rather than overtly utilitarian. The penny tile shower pan adds texture and grip underfoot, proving that safety and style don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
But the room’s success lies as much in its planning as its materials. During the framing phase, the design team invited the client to bring Charlie to the job site, physically walking through the bathing routine. “We measured his length and width and figured out how high the client could comfortably lift him,” Laura explains. “That way, she could wash him without hunching over.” The station’s placement just inside the back door was equally intentional, allowing muddy paws to be dealt with immediately after walks, before dirt ever reaches the rest of the house.
Thoughtful details elevate the space beyond pure utility. A wall-mounted hook near the handheld sprayer keeps Charlie safely tethered during bath time, while storage was designed to remain flexible. Open space beneath the tub accommodates baskets and crates for shampoos and towels, and adjacent built-ins were carefully drawn to hold both dog and family essentials. At the client’s request, the wall above the station was left open, allowing the space to evolve naturally with use.
Then there’s the moment that makes you smile: a hand-drawn tile illustration of Charlie lounging in a claw-foot tub, bubbles and all. Originally sketched by one of the framers on site, the drawing was later recreated on tile and permanently installed in tribute. It’s a small, personal touch that captures the spirit of the room—practical, but never precious.
For Laura, designing for pets is simply part of designing well. “Dogs are important members of the family,” she says. “We plan for large dog beds in bedrooms, fabrics that work with fur, cozy kitchen spots where they can hang out without being underfoot, and stair runners to help them move safely through the house.” When done right, those considerations don’t compromise style, they quietly enhance how a home lives.
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