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

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)