When we visit beautiful homes, our goal is to experience how the hosts live within their space. We listen to the funny stories about how the wonky painting ended up on their walls, breathe in the smells wafting through their kitchens, and lean down to give their dogs some much-deserved belly rubs. That’s right; plenty of our hosts are dog parents, and today, we are paying the pups some attention because they’re too cute to ignore.
From a Shih Tzu in West Harlem to a cocker spaniel in Paris, there are lots of dogs out there who have made their Homeworthy debut, and today, we’re sharing their stories. Some are puppies, others are seniors, but they’re equally adorable and have plenty to say—well, bark. So, if you consider yourself a dog person, feel free to scroll down and pore over your favorite pup. Ahead, you’ll find 10 beloved pets of some of our most stylish Homeworthy hosts. If we’ve learned one thing from these stories, it’s this: Nothing is too precious when there’s a dog in the house. If it comes down to dog versus furniture, the former will always win.
10. Robert Couturier’s Shih Tzu
You may not know it from his collection of beautiful suits and priceless antiques (which include a bronze cast pig from Pompeii), but Robert Couturier’s most prized possessions are his two Shih Tzus, one of which is from a reputable breeder and the other, pictured, he rescued from a dog meat farm. Unlike plenty of designers and dog parents, Robert’s pups hardly influence his design scheme in his West Harlem townhouse. In other words, you won’t find any performance fabrics here. “They make mistakes, and so do we. And it doesn’t matter, really. I think my dogs are more important than the furniture.” He has a point.
His love of dogs is hardly a new development. He has appreciated all dogs of all sizes and breeds since he was a child when his mother bought him a toy poodle. “My mother wasn’t a very loving lady, so I had to be the one to look after the poodle,” he notes. “And I’ve always wanted a dog. And when I moved to New York, I got a little miniature schnauzer, and then I got a pair of Shih Tzus in 1990.” It’s been a trend in his life ever since. He has plenty of portraits and paintings of his dogs, both past and present, scattered throughout his home.
See the whole home here.
9. Angus, Susanna Maggard’s Fluff Ball
Susanna Maggard may not have a ton of space to spare in her 600-square-foot apartment on New York City’s Upper East Side, but her little pup Angus has plenty of room to run around. Plus, he was a factor when she designed her space and how she wanted it to feel. Her three biggest priorities? “Comfort, family, and Angus, of course,” she insists. “I really wanted a place where we can have the people we love and new friends over and just, you know, have people come in and feel safe and loved.”
See the whole home here.
8. Honey, Lindsay Miller’s Cavalier
Though only one pup, Honey, is seen here, Alabama native Lindsay Miller actually has two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels running around her Birmingham home, where almost everything is thrifted. “I think my favorite part of my home is my dogs, obviously, but I love having people over.”
She actually designed her now-office to be Honey’s playroom and painted the whole thing bright pink for her. “I was thinking, ‘Let’s make this a girl room,'” but the pink just wasn’t working, so Honey’s spot eventually became Lindsay’s office. Luckily, Honey still spends plenty of time in there.
See the whole home here.
7. Rudy, Alexander Widener’s Pooch
This may be designer Alexander Widener’s home in New York City, but his pup Rudy is the star of the space. Rudy has his own perfume, sleeps on a historic sofa (snagged at a Stephen Sondheim auction), and has a commissioned self-portrait hanging by the entrance. Regarding the portrait, Widener says, “This little painting was a gift from my husband. It’s painted by a British artist, Raphael Boehm, and it’s a portrait of our dog Rudy, sitting on an antique chair.” Seems fitting.
See the whole home here.
6. Gracie, Monica Lavin’s Gentle Giant
Sadly, Monica Lavin’s adorable Gracie passed away at 15 years old in 2024, but that doesn’t mean her Homeworthy debut doesn’t deserve as much attention as that of the other dogs on our list. Gracie enjoyed her perfectly outfitted Charleston home, spending most of her time on the plush sofa in the living room and right here on the foyer rug, “standing guard.”
See the whole home here.
5. Juniper (and Caper!), Janie Wilburn’s Dog (and Cat)
Janie Wilburn definitely does not believe the old wives’ tale that implies a black pet brings bad luck. In fact, she’s so opposed to it that she proudly has not one but two almost all-black pets: a cat Caper and a dog Juniper. Both, funnily enough, have white boots on their paws. “If there was a fire, I would grab the cat and the dog, my passport, and this piece of art.” The art in question is a Bernardino Top painting she found at auction several years ago, and it has since become one of her most prized possessions.
Juniper doesn’t care much about the art, but she does love her home. In fact, she has essentially taken over the guest room. “This is the guest room, but it’s actually more Juniper’s room. It’s on the front of the house, and she can sit in here and watch everything,” Jamie says. “She also puts herself to bed around 10:00 every night, and she’ll mess up the duvet and so forth.”
See the whole home here.
4. Ferdinand, Stéphanie Delpon’s Cocker Spaniel
Ever since her great-grandfather painted a cocker spaniel, Stéphanie Delpon was destined to bring a cocker spaniel into her Parisian home. Hers, a dapper gentleman named Ferdinand, is definitely living his best French life: He has two full floors to run around, a massive sofa that Stéphanie admits is basically his at this point, and the Paris streets to stroll. Like anyone, though, he needs his alone time. “There are two floors, so he has plenty of space,” she explains. “Sometimes, though, he wants to be by himself upstairs when I’m working up there.”
See the whole home here.
3. Rocky, the Balsis Family Dog
Rocky, the chocolate lab of the Balsis family, is happy in his Dana Point, California, home. Generally, labs are high-energy dogs, but this one is on the more chill side, making him the perfect sidekick to all members of the family, which includes Kate, Chad, and their three children. When he needs his space, though, he has the entire garage. Kate adds, “This was a fun project, and I think it was necessary for the expansion of having three boys in the house, and all of the toys and tools and bikes and everything that comes with it. And it’s also Rocky’s bedroom. He sleeps in here quite often.” He even has his own leather couch.
See the whole home here.
2. Pierre, Suzy Welch’s Rescue Dachshund
Suzy Welch and her long-haired Dachshund Pierre are inseparable, and she has no issues with it. In fact, she says, “I thought people have always loved their dogs, and I am in a long line of people who are obsessed with their dogs, but I like to think that the person who made this also had their life completely controlled by their dogs, as I do.” Pierre definitely runs the house.
See the whole home here.
1. Lonnie, Leslie Martin’s Doodle Puppy
Leslie Martin’s puppy (now a young adult, so to speak) is unsurprisingly stopped a lot for being so cute. Just look at her and her perfectly curved tail! Need we say more? “Nothing is too formal in this house, and everything has to serve multiple purposes,” notes Leslie. “I like traditional, but it has to be very approachable and comfortable: I want there to be sand on the floor, and I want there to be a dog on the couch,” Leslie says.
