Walking into Kaitlyn Beckert’s home in the Texas Hill Country, it’s immediately clear who the true stars of the house are.
Three friendly Labrador retrievers—Annie, Oakley and senior pup Fanta—are always ready to welcome visitors. Annie usually greets guests with a favorite toy in her mouth, Oakley eagerly searches for affection, and Fanta happily wags her tail as she joins the excitement.
Beyond the warm welcome, the home’s inviting atmosphere reflects something even more meaningful. Every room has been thoughtfully designed with both style and the dogs’ comfort in mind.
Interior designer and photographer Kaitlyn Beckert, who shares her home through her Instagram account, Hearth & Howl, recently opened her doors to Dodo Digs, where host Melanie Demi explored the many creative ways the house celebrates its four-legged family members.
For Beckert, designing a home isn’t simply about creating an attractive space for people. She believes the dogs deserve to feel equally comfortable since the house belongs to them as much as it does to her and her husband.
One of the first features visitors notice is a dedicated storage area affectionately known as the “dog closet.”
Neatly organized like a miniature pet boutique, it contains everything the Labradors might need, including food, treats, medications, bowls, leashes, collars, puzzle toys, tennis balls and other supplies. Beckert even keeps extra copies of Oakley’s favorite cupcake toy tucked away, ensuring a replacement is always available.
The thoughtful details continue throughout the home.
A hallway gallery filled with wedding photographs prominently features Fanta, who played the special role of “dog of honor” during the couple’s wedding celebrations.
Nearby, the three Labradors have an entire display dedicated just to them. Above their feeding station hangs a collection of framed photographs alongside one of their cherished tennis balls, preserved as a meaningful keepsake.
The home’s spacious open-concept kitchen and living room create an environment that feels both elegant and welcoming.
Warm neutral colors, layered textures and generously sized furniture help soften the large space while providing plenty of room for everyday life with three energetic dogs.
The oversized sofas were intentionally selected with the Labradors in mind. Their extra-deep seats allow the dogs to comfortably curl up beside their owners for family movie nights or afternoon naps.
Outside, folding patio doors open onto a backyard designed for canine adventures.
A large swimming pool serves as the centerpiece, and Annie, in particular, rarely misses an opportunity to dive in and retrieve floating toys. The surrounding yard also offers ample space for running, relaxing in the sunshine and rolling through the grass—activities every Labrador seems to appreciate.
Everywhere you look, subtle decorative details honor the dogs without overwhelming the home’s overall design.
Bone-shaped baskets, Labrador-themed kitchen accessories, framed artwork and embroidered portraits quietly celebrate the family’s love of dogs. Other tributes are much more striking, including a large black-and-white portrait of Fanta displayed above the bed.
Together, these carefully chosen elements create a home where beautiful interior design and pet-friendly living exist in perfect harmony.
Rather than treating the dogs as an afterthought, Beckert has woven them into nearly every aspect of the home’s design, demonstrating that a stylish house can also be a place where beloved pets truly feel like family.