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n high-end custom home design, pampering pets has become a top priority. Luxury homeowners are seeking to seamlessly integrate their furry friends into everyday living, resulting in stylish and highly functional homes that cater to both humans and animals.

    According to Gina Borge, senior interior designer at Blue Heron Design/Build, clients want their pets to be comfortable and part of the family. She estimates that around 80% of her clients are seeking pet-friendly amenities, with almost every home incorporating some form of pet-centric comfort.

    One such client incorporated multiple dog-related amenities into their custom MacDonald Highlands estate, including a state-of-the-art pet spa with a dedicated washing station and exterior dry-off area. The home also features two expansive green pet parks for play and bathroom breaks.

    Blue Heron is at the forefront of the built-in grooming trend, offering thoughtfully designed pet spaces that elevate the grooming experience and enhance homeowners' convenience. These stations use high-end materials like ceramic or porcelain tiles and feature high-quality handheld faucets for convenient bathing.

    Designers are also incorporating mini kitchens with microwaves, refrigerator drawers, and pot fillers with purified water into pet rooms, as well as built-in doggie bowls and connections to outside dog runs/parks. Many clients request built-in pet beds that harmoniously blend into their home aesthetics.

    Homeowner Jack Meyer dedicated an entire room to his beloved Maltese, Yori, featuring a pot filler for easy access to his water bowl and a dedicated washing station equipped with towel hooks and custom storage for his food, toys, and essentials.

    The trend of incorporating pets into wellness spaces is also on the rise. Borge notes that clients want their dogs to be part of the wellness experience, even going so far as to integrate red-light therapy devices into their homes.

    Safety-focused luxury pet owners are also investing in high-tech monitoring and security systems, including remote monitoring via high-definition cameras and smart pet-safe doors. Some homeowners are even incorporating automatic doggie doors that activate with a dog's collar.

    In areas surrounded by wildlife, such as coyotes and bobcats, designers are creating enclosed areas topped with nets to prevent predators from jumping over the fence. For felines, amenities like catwalks, exercise areas, and outdoor enclosures are gaining popularity among pet owners who believe cats deserve special features beyond basic scratching posts.

    Even exotic animals are getting their own custom spaces and amenities in luxury homes. One estate under construction includes an oversized outdoor area dedicated to reptiles, featuring statues, waterfalls, a sitting area, and a mixture of turf and pavers.