Pet’s Place: This Furry Friend Keeps a Florida Designer Company
A designer’s dog tags along no matter where she’s off to today, and her clients welcome him
On the job: Annie works as an interior designer, and Frankie joins her almost every day. He adds a calming presence to the office, Annie says. She will also talk to him and bounce ideas off of him while she works. The ability to talk to another living creature, even if he doesn’t speak back with design advice, lets Annie filter through ideas and brainstorm better, she says.
Client greeter: “The clients love him,” Annie says. “He relaxes everyone and brings a smile to everyone’s face.” This interaction also helps break the ice with design clients and, many times, lets Annie get to know them better and faster.
Office life: The design office has lots of carpet and fabric samples, and sometimes Frankie decides they are toys, not work tools. Luckily, he’s not rough on them, Annie says; he usually just roots in them and lies on fabrics. When he’s not roaming the office, he curls up next to Annie’s desk and naps while she taps on the computer.
Payment method: When Frankie has been kind to a client or has been a good dog all day, he earns little cookie treats.
Client greeter: “The clients love him,” Annie says. “He relaxes everyone and brings a smile to everyone’s face.” This interaction also helps break the ice with design clients and, many times, lets Annie get to know them better and faster.
Office life: The design office has lots of carpet and fabric samples, and sometimes Frankie decides they are toys, not work tools. Luckily, he’s not rough on them, Annie says; he usually just roots in them and lies on fabrics. When he’s not roaming the office, he curls up next to Annie’s desk and naps while she taps on the computer.
Payment method: When Frankie has been kind to a client or has been a good dog all day, he earns little cookie treats.
Road trip: Annie frequently visits clients at their homes, and Frankie gets to tag along 50 to 60 percent of the time. “I would take him all the time if I could,” she says.
Frankie eagerly hops in his carrying bag, Annie says. He’s ridden in it many times over the years and is comfortable with this mode of transportation.
Frankie eagerly hops in his carrying bag, Annie says. He’s ridden in it many times over the years and is comfortable with this mode of transportation.
Sometimes Annie will mention going on a trip, but they won’t actually head out for a while. But Frankie doesn’t want to miss out on the trip, she says, so he will sit in his carrying bag and wait for her.
Job site: Frankie knows he needs to listen and behave when visiting clients. He stays in his bag until Annie says he can leave. “He’s a perfect angel in his carry bag,” she says.
Picture perfect: Annie keeps Frankie groomed so he’s always ready for a photo, should the opportunity strike. Often, he is along on interior design shoots and charms the photographer, in this case Carmel Brantley of Brantley Photography. “When you are photographing an interior, you are accustomed to stationary element,” Brantley says. “When you add a dog into the mix, stationary goes out the window. You learn to shoot fast!” Brantley, who is an animal lover, says pets rarely appear with her clients, but when they do, it’s always a fun challenge.
Picture perfect: Annie keeps Frankie groomed so he’s always ready for a photo, should the opportunity strike. Often, he is along on interior design shoots and charms the photographer, in this case Carmel Brantley of Brantley Photography. “When you are photographing an interior, you are accustomed to stationary element,” Brantley says. “When you add a dog into the mix, stationary goes out the window. You learn to shoot fast!” Brantley, who is an animal lover, says pets rarely appear with her clients, but when they do, it’s always a fun challenge.
Off the clock: At home, Frankie likes to play hide and seek with Annie, sit by the pool and watch the birds in the backyard. At night, he hops up in the couple’s bed and snuggles with them.
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Pet at a Glance
Pet: Frankie, a maltipoo
Age: 6
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Owners: Annie Santulli, president and owner of Annie Santulli Designs, and her husband, Vincent
Meet Frankie: He’s a handful, says owner Annie Santulli, but so much fun to have around at home and on the job. Frankie has lived with the Santulli family since he was 7 weeks old.