The Home Page | Palm Springs, Pups, & Perfect Spaces

Credit: Sarah Sinclair

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What makes a house feel like home? Sometimes it’s groundbreaking architecture. Sometimes it’s a thoughtful design. And sometimes it’s simply making room for the furry family members who think they own the place.

I spent part of last week at the AAN Publishers’ conference in Palm Springs, where the agenda included informative sessions, inspiring speakers, collaborative networking … and a whole lot of dry desert heat. Determined to get my steps in between meetings, I walked over to the Palm Springs Art Museum and its neighboring Aluminaire House, pictured above. Built in 1931 by architect Albert Frey, the three-story aluminum, steel, and glass home was an experimental attempt to make modern housing more affordable through innovative materials and construction. It positively sparkles in the desert sun — and yes, I wore my sunglasses.

While I was away, Scout celebrated her 13th birthday. Let’s not mention that I missed the actual day, or do the math on what that makes her in dog years. She’s slowed down a bit, but she’s still fully committed to life’s simple pleasures. We celebrated with a leisurely stroll at El Capitan State Beach and a Scout-approved picnic. No cake or candles, but she did score extra chicken in her birthday dinner.

Scout’s birthday had me thinking about the ways we design our homes around the animals we love. The very next day, I stumbled across the work of London-based interior designer Amelia Doherty, whose philosophy is simple: design beautiful homes around pets. Think dog spas, pet nooks, feeding stations, and cat climbing structures that are meant to be centerpieces rather than afterthoughts. Her premise is that if we design our living spaces with our pets in mind, we can have the best of both worlds.

I’m not about to install a dog spa in my mudroom — mostly because I don’t have a mudroom — but Amelia’s Instagram is full of clever ideas, from stylish catios to built-in dog dens that look like they belong in the pages of a design magazine.

Amelia’s pet-first philosophy reminded me of Black Cat, the feline captain of the yacht Summer Solstice in Santa Barbara Harbor. When I visited his floating home in 2023, I discovered the most sophisticated litter-box setup I’ve ever seen — a customized sideboard retrofitted for easy cleanup and ultimate privacy. Black Cat’s moms Deborah and Kelsey Samuel freely admit that Black Cat’s “throne” was one of their biggest extravagances on the yacht, along with their classic espresso machine. We all need our creature comforts, eh?

THIS WEEK’S COVER HOME:

This week’s cover home captures everything we love about downtown Santa Barbara living. Saltillo-tiled stairs, charming paseos, and mountain views set the stage before floor-to-ceiling windows and an airy open floor plan take over. At 350 Chapala Street #207 you’ll find one bedroom, two baths, and a bonus room that easily serves as a den, office, or guest space. Best of all? You’re right in the heart of downtown, with restaurants, shops, and the waterfront just a stroll away. Listed by Sharon Jordano for $1,750,000.

THIS WEEK’S OPEN HOUSES:

Visit some of the many other open houses around town today: They’re all listed here.

THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:

If you haven’t picked up your print copy yet, here’s the full issue — both front and back. Check out all the weekend happenings in our community. Thanks for reading, and for making The Home Page part of your Sunday. Enjoy!