How do you design an apartment fit for a former shelter dog dubbed “Sleeping Beauty?”
Fashion designer Ashley Pelkoski proves you can have a modern, stylish environment and still give your napping pup a comfortable home. Pelkoski and her senior pittie, Wrigley, recently welcomed Dodo Digs and Isabel Klee of @simonsits in for a tour of their sunlight-drenched FiDi apartment — and Wrigley’s multiple dog beds.
Walking in the door, you immediately know who runs the house. Guests are greeted by a console with a candle and a tray of matchbooks embossed with Wrigley’s face and the words “Wrigley’s Place.” In the open-plan living room, you’ll most likely find Wrigley resting in a large, plush dog bed in front of a white modular sofa.
But that’s not the only dog bed in the living room. Two more cozy dog beds take up prime real estate along a full wall of bright windows.
“The last two apartments I had in New York all had north-facing windows, so I never got good sunlight,” Pelkoski told The Dodo. “So when we moved in here, we have south-facing windows and Wrigley finally got to sunbathe. It’s her dream come true.”
The house as a whole has a modern design with clean lines, grounded by organic elements: “We’ve got trees, we’ve got twigs. We also wanted to have fun — so we have a touch of art deco, we’ve got cow-print chairs, lots of textures, lots of patterns. We just wanted it to be cozy,” Pelkoski explained.
Coziness is key for Wrigley, who gained notoriety for being the sleepiest dog in the shelter before her mom adopted her. But comfort is even more of a concern since the amputation of Wrigley’s front leg three months ago. Wrigley developed a limp, and X-rays revealed bone cancer. “So now she’s my tripod senior queen,” Pelkoski said.
As Wrigley was getting used to her new normal, Pelkoski carpeted the entire apartment to make sure the pup is always safe, and purchased elevated food bowls so Wrigley doesn’t have to lean down to eat or drink.
The bedroom is centered around an incredibly cozy bed that Pelkoski used to share with her sleepy pup. However, things changed after Wrigley’s surgery, and now a pink, human-sized dog bed lives right next to the bed. “[Wrigley] slept in bed with me for the last five years, and then once she had her amputation, it was no longer safe to sleep in the bed. So I had to come up with something just as cozy and close to me,” Pelkoski said.
The enormous dog bed has allowed Pelkoski to maintain her closeness with her pup. At night, she will cuddle with Wrigley and read a book, and once Wrigley starts snoring, Pelkoski will sneak into her own bed until morning.
“Wrigs and I love to snuggle, and I wanted a place for us to do that still, and this just made the most sense,” Pelkoski explained. “It’s just a special space for her.” Wrigley also has her own nightstand and basket of toys nearby.
Making sure Wrigley is a happy, healthy pup is always top of mind when it comes to Pelkoski’s living space. Every change or new addition to the apartment must be functional, safe and comfortable for her dog (while still staying true to her design aesthetic).
That may seem like a tall order, but at the end of the day, it’s Wrigley’s place, after all.