Pet’s Place: Mouse the Dog Makes Design Work More Fun
A small dog keeps an interior designer company in a sunny Los Angeles home
Workday. Pickens runs her interior design business, JDP Interiors, from home, and Mouse is never far away from her. She hopes to always be able to work from home so she can spend the day with Mouse. “I can’t imagine a day where I can’t work with Mouse by my side,” she says.
As you can see, Mouse is curled up and content as Pickens works on plans and emails clients.
As you can see, Mouse is curled up and content as Pickens works on plans and emails clients.
When Mouse was a puppy, having her around was more difficult. She would get into everything during the day and shred papers as they came out of the printer. “But she’s grown into a very well-behaved young lady,” Pickens says, “and mostly just keeps us company.”
When she gets bored on the sofa, she’ll prop herself up on the back of it to soak in more sun.
Pillow: Katie Hodges Design
When she gets bored on the sofa, she’ll prop herself up on the back of it to soak in more sun.
Pillow: Katie Hodges Design
Sofa secret. Go with a couch covered with a knobby linen with a naturally speckled weave. “It hides dirt or spills miraculously,” she says.
Sofa: Spencer sofa, 1stdibs
Sofa: Spencer sofa, 1stdibs
This fabric has been great at concealing Mouse’s tan hair.
Favorite part of the day. When Pickens spreads samples out on the floor, Mouse takes it as an open invitation to lend a paw or sit on the designers’ laps, which “makes it a bit difficult to do anything but ogle her cuteness,” Pickens says.
Mouse will just sit on the samples and stare at the designers while they talk through options. “She thinks she’s very helpful,” Pickens says.
Outings. Unfortunately, Mouse can’t tag along to the furniture showrooms.
But they do go on plenty of afternoon walks around the block. “There is one spot where the sun shines brightly on the grass, and she often plops herself down for a bit of sunbathing and refuses to go on,” Pickens says. “Cracks us up!”
Pet storage. The couple stores Mouse’s things in a drawer in the kitchen. It holds everything from her winter sweaters to her medicines, food, treats and report cards from doggy day care.
But they do go on plenty of afternoon walks around the block. “There is one spot where the sun shines brightly on the grass, and she often plops herself down for a bit of sunbathing and refuses to go on,” Pickens says. “Cracks us up!”
Pet storage. The couple stores Mouse’s things in a drawer in the kitchen. It holds everything from her winter sweaters to her medicines, food, treats and report cards from doggy day care.
Socializing. When the people socialize, so do the dogs. Designer Katie Hodges brings her dogs, Toby and Max, over when she visits Pickens. So while the designers chat and sip wine, these three romp around the house and pull out every toy Mouse owns.
Home sweet home. “Everything is more fun with her,” Pickens says. “I swear she wakes up in the morning saying, ‘I love life!’ She gets so excited to get out of bed and start her day. It’s actually a great reminder to myself to wake up with a great attitude.”
Hanging chair: Remodelista
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Pet at a Glance
Pet: Mouse, a miniature pinscher-Chihuahua mix
Age: 3
Location: Los Angeles
Owner: Joyce Pickens, owner of JDP Interiors, and Jordan Dinwiddy
Meet Mouse. “She’s a firecracker,” Joyce Pickens says. She’s a confident dog who has lived with Pickens and her boyfriend, Jordan Dinwiddy, since she was 3 months old. When they first got her, she was smaller than she is now, with ears that stuck straight up. “She reminded me of a little mouse scurrying around busy as can be,” Pickens says.