Home designs with pet projects: dog doors, built-in bowls and more

Westlake Village homeowner Gayle Plessner sits with her dogs Lucy, left, Snoop and Hermione in their Shannon Ggem-designed mud room with water-resistant flooring. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

July 5, 2014 5 AM PT

More homeowners are designing their homes with dogs in mind, adding built-in eating areas, separate entrances and nooks and rooms for their pets.

Lucy, a 2-year-old golden retriever, carries her blanket behind Hermione, a 5-year-old pug. Their dog door leading to the backyard is under the shelf at right. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Gayle Plessner’s 2-year-old golden retriever, Lucy, sporting her summer cut, enters the dog room through the doggie door. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Golden retriever Lucy enjoys the cool floor in the dog room of Gayle Plessner’s home. Plessner is at left with pug Hermione. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Snoop, left, Hermione and Lucy, right, lie in their beds in the dog room, where they spend time when guests to the home are arriving. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Lucy, left, Hermione and Snoop wait for owner Gayle Plessner under family photos at their Westlake Village home. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Interior designer Shannon Ggem gets dog food out of a specially designed drawer in her Agoura kitchen as dogs Pickle, left, and Foots anticipate being fed and Mayonnaise the cat surveys the scene. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

A customized dog food storage drawer in interior designer Shannon Ggem’s Agoura home. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

A countertop water spigot feeds water down to a customized drinking and eating station for Shannon Ggem’s dogs. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)