The Canine Credenza

Designed for two very loved dogs—and a dining room that deserved better than a pair of wire crates—this oversized custom kennel was created to look and function like a beautiful piece of furniture.

Turned legs, dark metal bars, sliding barn-style doors and a richly weathered finish transformed a practical necessity into a substantial dining-room credenza. The expansive wood top provides plenty of room for serving, decorating or displaying favorite pieces, while the two roomy compartments below give each pup a comfortable place of their own.

And yes, the workshop photos are every bit as chaotic as they appear. At the time, my workspace was so limited that building this enormous kennel required equal parts carpentry, creativity and advanced-level Tetris. There may not have been room to walk around it—but there was always room to create something extraordinary.