I would test out where you plan to locate the auxillary equipment, especially the stuff with remotes since you need line of sight to operate. Make sure they aren't too low in the cabinet when you are sitting back on the lounge. Oh boy that looks comfy and cozy! Nice cabinetry, beagles.

I would look for a few decorative pieces such as a blue vase or pieces of pottery, then use books in different configurations on some shelves. Then build from there.

Beautiful cabinetry and awesome seating/lounging. Do you have personal items/mementos? Books, framed photographs, collections? I love the large canvases.

This looks really fabulous, with a great collection of pillows, comfy seating and a great looking cabinet. If it were mine it would contain books and antique Chinese porcelain, and I would hope that you have some personal items to put there also, in addition to books. If not, I'd find pieces of pottery or ceramics that make a strong statement, nothing too bitty or fussy, in colors that will stand out against the dark wood. Some dog-related pieces would of course be great too.

Thanks for the suggestions!

I should have mentioned, this is a 3rd main living space in a 2nd home so I am all out of personal mementos, collections etc. as everything like that is displayed elsewhere. I'm going to have to start from scratch. The only thing I have is hardcover books and the one picture frame that is sitting on the shelves now.

OutsidePlaying, the tv will have an apple tv (works on bluetooth) and will have an xbox the cable box runs through so I don't need line-of-sight for anything to work except for the xbox kinect, which i will put below the sound bar. so I don't really need to worry too much about whether the items go in the cabinet or the shelf since the remotes should work anyway.

I can get some pictures printed and framed, and I like the idea of blue vases or pottery intermingled. I'm going to try to look for some cute dog-themed stuff but I don't want to go overboard or be too kitschy.

Beautiful cabinets. Well done.

Are your dogs allowed on the beach? Could you take some photos of them playing in the sand or frolicking in the water and frame them? Of course I am assuming that you're near the water somewhere.

Our second home is in upstate PA on 135 acre of woods with a meadow and 2 streams. We framed several photos of our dogs the we've taken over the years on the property. Some of them are gone now but their photos are a nice memory.

long time lurker but had to comment on this. how sad for the dogs not to be able to look around or be in the sunshine ! its more important for the room to look pretty than the feelings/ well being of the dogs.

rabaoo my dogs are alone for a grand total of FOUR hours a week. They swim for 2 hours per day with us in the swimming pool (we throw the tennis ball to them) and go for an additional hour walk daily.

They are outside daily with me in a screened in lanai with multiple dog beds (although they prefer to sit on the hammock with me). They go to the beach once a month in FL. And in our PA house, they live in a neighborhood on 264 acres (chosen largely for the walking trails FOR THEM) and go for 3 hours of walks every single day.

They also sleep in my bed at night.

This room is for them to eat in for 10 minutes a day (raw fed w/ all organic food) and because Bailey gets nervous when left outside of his crate when we are gone (he PREFERS the crate and panics if it ever has to move for any reason). The sofa in this room was specifically selected with a chaise for Molly to sit on and look out the window since she keeps her brother company in this room while he is crated during the four hours per week when he is left.

There is no need to feel sorry for my dogs, who are the most spoiled dogs on earth.

Rabaoo - Our dog is only crated at night and we put a blanket over it to make it like a den. She loves her dark, cozy retreat. I highly doubt that Beagles leaves her dogs in the crate all day.

If, on the off chance that they need to be crated for any length of time during the day, she can just pull out the crates and move them over to the side, much like her "before" photo.

Maybe take the dogs out "shopping" Large dog toys. Driftwood "souviners" from the beach.

As far as the crates go some dogs love their crates. Sense of security and all. Especially for elderly dogs who get used to their crates, and develop some territorial tendencies over time.

I would be so lucky to come back for a second life as one of Beagles beagles...;)

How about a bowl (porcelain/pottery) of tennis balls or dog toys as one of your items.

Great built-in. What a neat idea. I think the dogs would feel comfortable in the den-like atmosphere.

We just moved our dog crates into a downstairs guest bedroom which is a darker, quiet room. My dogs are never crated for long, and it's mostly for their safety until such time that I think I can trust them alone in the house.

I did leave them for about 20 minutes the other day, and they were just fine and dandy when I got home. The house was fine, too!

I would decorate your shelves with personal items that have meaning for you. You don't have to fill it up right away!

Yes, the shelves are removable / movable.

You guys have given me some great ideas.

I'm going to try to subtly incorporate a dog theme w/o going overboard. So far I've ordered a "vintage" biscuit tin with this label:

and this Wedgwood vase:

I am going to look for a bowl I can fill w/ dog toys (probably not tennis balls as M. loves tennis balls and it would be torture for her to have a bowl of them she couldn't play with!) and have the dogs look for some driftwood on their next beach trip. I'll also take some more dog pictures so I can frame those!

Ooh, and I just found this on Etsy! I'm going to have the seller make one for me just like this w/ a blue but w/ a beagle!

Great start, beagles!

Check the ModDog shop on Etsy. I purchased darling silhouettes of some of our dear departed pets when I redid DD's room. You can get them in almost any color combination. These were white and lime green, and I had them matted in pepto bismol pink and framed with white 60's style wood frames:

Beagles, I know how you love your dogs and would love to be reincarnated as one of your pampered pooches!!!

What a great space for your pooches. Love it!

The Wedgwood vase is very pretty - it reminds me of the startup silhouette on the Kindle app. But the Beagles Biscuit tin is perfect!

Raboo - my Lab chooses to spend part of her day and every night in her crate. And we haven't closed the gate in over 4 years. It's right in the kitchen where she feels like she's in the center of all the activity. She loves it, it's her den and her favorite snoozing place. We have dog beds in the study and family room too - but she still prefers her crate.

Thanks!

I'll look into those KSWL! Those are beautiful. And what a charming room! I adore the bunny lamp!

Thanks beagles!

Lucky dogs! I love your room.

I was also going to suggest woven baskets that can be used to store dog items that aren't necessarily good for display.

Do you have a decorative wall hook for leashes? Another idea if you don't.

Thanks dyhgarden. I do have a decorative wall hook in the laundry room by the garage door where we go out that their leashes hang on.

I don't really need storage for practical stuff (this house has tons of storage) but baskets might look nice.

I had some "help" redecorating the pillows today. She looks like she's got a rough life, doesn't she!

Beagles, I found a picture of our dogs' room when there were just two of them. I bought dog themed posters on foamcore from art.com to decorate their room:

The room is really not that yellow.

kswl, that is so cute! I love the My Dog's Brain poster!

I don't have any more room for art in the room b/c I have all the printed canvases of the pups, but maybe I could find a smaller version of something like that to set on the shelf.

I like your wicker covers on your crates too, and the cheery red pet beds!

A media room for dogs? And I thought my cats were spoiled.