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Oct 16, 2024

The Liebling is redefining pet furniture with its luxury pet beds | Tatler Asia

Britta Butler is the founder of The Liebling, a luxury pet bed company (Photo: courtesy of The Liebling) 1 / 1 Award-winning interior designer Britta Butler is transforming the luxury pet market with

Britta Butler is the founder of The Liebling, a luxury pet bed company (Photo: courtesy of The Liebling)

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Award-winning interior designer Britta Butler is transforming the luxury pet market with The Liebling, Hong Kong’s first handcrafted luxury pet bed that marries comfort and style

As any pet parent will happily agree, our furry companions deserve the best, and only the best. Cue the The Liebling, a luxury pet bed company founded by Britta Butler.

With over 15 years of experience and prestigious degrees from Harvard and MIT, Butler has combined her extensive knowledge in interior design with a passion for pets to create a product that would be the perfect addition to any home décor, but more importantly, a product that any pet would actually love sleeping on.

After a year-long journey of meticulous design and testing, The Liebling is entering the Hong Kong market as a handcrafted and fabulous choice of pet beds for discerning pet owners who want the very best for their pawfect companions.

See also: From Hermès to Fendi, 5 luxury brands offering pet collections in Hong Kong

Britta Butler is the brains behind the pet bed that your dog or cat can’t reject (Photo: courtesy of Butler)

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What inspired you to create The Liebling, and how did your background in interior design influence the design of the pet bed?My inspiration for creating The Liebling stemmed from my own experience as a designer and as a pet owner to my pug, Simba, and frenchie, Nala. After years of designing upscale homes, I became increasingly aware of a gap in the market for beautifully crafted pet furniture that could seamlessly integrate with high-end home decor. While searching for a pet bed for my own dogs, I found that most options available were lacking the style, quality and comfort that we, as owners, desire.

With my background in architecture and interior design, I approached this challenge as I would any project—by focusing on both aesthetics and functionality. I wanted to create a pet bed that not only provided ultimate comfort but also complimented the other furniture and overall aesthetic of each home. The Liebling embodies this vision: combining luxury materials and customisable options to suit individual tastes while ensuring durability, longevity and comfort. Wearing both hats of designer and pet owner, I made sure that The Liebling offered a variety of sizes, colours and materials that would suit the interiors of all my discerning clientele.

Can you walk us through the design and development process of The Liebling? What were some challenges you faced?As with my interior design projects, I started with an initial vision of the finished product in my head, and then I began sketching potential designs in my sketchbook. I still prefer pen on paper to computer drafting in the beginning, because I can worry less about being precise and more about just being creative and free with my ideas. After I was happy with the overall shape, then I started working with the same factory I have used for years in my interior design studio [B Squared Design], to make bespoke furniture for our projects. There were months of trials and prototypes made to perfect the design, as well as extensive research into the best pet-friendly materials to use. We came upon some challenges in figuring out the optimal curve of the bed to make the mould for bending the wood frame, and that required more technical drawings to establish how many degrees it should be. But once that was determined, we were able to move forward with the result being The Liebling that you see today.

The Liebling, the pawfect pet bed for your pawfect companion (Photo: courtesy of The Liebling)

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The Liebling offers various customisation options. How important is personalisation to your brand?Personalisation is at the heart of The Liebling. As an interior designer, I understand that every home is unique, and pet beds should reflect that individuality. Our customisation options allow pet owners to choose the size, frame, base finish and cushion colour that best fits their decor and personal style. This level of personalisation not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also makes it unique to each pet owner with 180 possible combinations. We offer brushed gold, nickel or matte black base finishes, with durable frames in light oak, warm maple, dark walnut or leather, and finally, cushion covers in ivory, slate grey or charcoal.

I believe that pets are cherished members of the family and their furniture should be just as thoughtfully designed as any other piece of furniture in the home. This allows pet owners to select options that best integrate with the style of their home.

What are the materials used in The Liebling and why did you choose them? The materials used in The Liebling were carefully selected to ensure both durability and comfort for pets. We use high-quality, natural shredded latex for the inner cushion. This material is hypoallergenic, anti-fungal and dust mite-resistant. It also provides excellent support and joint pressure relief for pets, enhancing their comfort during rest. The outer cushion cover is made from the highest-quality ultrasuede. It is fully removable and machine-washable and has a waterproof inner layer to protect the cushion filling against accidents.

The bed frame comes in a wood or leather option, both of which are not only aesthetically pleasing but also incredibly durable, ensuring that the beds can withstand daily use. The frame is easily wiped clean with a soft, damp cloth. It is 1.5cm thick, which contributes to The Liebling’s overall longevity and substance as a significant piece of furniture.

"I believe that pets are cherished members of the family and their furniture should be just as thoughtfully designed as any other pieces of furniture in the home."

- Britta Butler -

What do you think sets The Liebling apart from other pet furniture available today?I believe that the Liebing merges luxury and functionality, two aspects that redefine what pet furniture can be. This appeals to discerning pet owners who prioritise comfort for their furry companions whilst maintaining the aesthetic integrity of their homes.

While many pet beds are often cookie-cutter and lack visual appeal, every Liebling is unique to its owner depending on the selections they make for the size, frame, base and cushion. The Liebling is handcrafted, not churned out on an assembly line, has an instantly recognisable shape, and it looks beautiful as a stand-alone piece of furniture whether the pet is in or out.

As a pet owner yourself, what are some specific needs you aimed to address with The Liebling?As a dog owner myself, I understand the importance of giving pets a comfortable and calming place to live, so one of my primary concerns was ensuring that The Liebling provided this comfort. It was also imperative, especially as the owner of a senior dog, that I addressed the issues of joint support and allergies common to ageing animals with the way the cushion was designed and fabricated. I noticed that many pet beds quickly suffer from daily wear and tear if they are poorly made or too lightweight, so it was important to design it like I would a custom sofa or bed for one of my clients—aesthetically pleasing and substantial enough for daily use. Finally, I was tired of hiding my dogs’ beds away because of their lack of visual appeal when I entertained guests. So The Liebling needed to be just as beautiful a piece of furniture as anything else in my home. This is not a bed that you get rid of after a year, rather it is a piece of furniture that will stay with you and your pet for years to come.

Britta Butler (Photo: courtesy of Butler)

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What are your future plans for The Liebling? Are there any new products or collaborations on the horizon?We aim to partner with pet-friendly luxury hotels and boutique accommodations, providing them with our bespoke pet bed to coordinate with their interiors, and to enhance their guests’ experiences. I also want to expand the product line to include complementary accessories, such as stylish pet ramps and bespoke feeding stations.

What does the name “Liebling” mean to you personally?The name “Liebling” holds a personal significance for me as it is a word heard often in German, my first language. It translates to darling or favourite and we used it as a term of endearment in my family for our beloved childhood dog, Linus. Choosing this name for the brand was a meaningful and heartfelt decision, and reflects my deep love for pets and the special bond we share with them.

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