Palm Springs Animal Shelter Spruces Up Canine Suites

Marc Russell Interiors and MDC Contractors volunteer time, talents

Lawrence Karol Real Estate

 

Those doggies in the window over at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter are wagging their tails a mile a minute.

Their excitement is over the recent makeover of the shelter’s Canine Suites One & Two, courtesy of Marc Russell Interiors and Mark DeCastro of MDC Contractors.

In addition to co-owning Marc Russell Interiors in the Sun Center Shopping Center with his partner, Russell Parenti, Marc Johnston also volunteers three to four days a week at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter in the medical unit.

Johnston was approached by Marta Jara-Rueda of the shelter’s medical unit with the idea of decorating and transforming the plain canine suites into realistic-looking rooms.

“Well, I jumped at the chance to give back to the community and donate our furniture and time to make the project happen,” says Johnston. He solicited the help of Mark DeCastro, who hung wallpaper and also offered to donate his time.

The results appear to have received an official canine seal of approval.

The sofas and tables are made out of recycled oil drums. “I wanted to not only promote sustainability, but also wanted to make sure the furniture would be durable and stand up to chewing etc.,” says Johnston. “The fabric is Sunbrella, so that is durable as well.” The furniture and fabric are available for purchase at Marc Russell Interiors.

 

This light fixture and the wallpaper can also be purchased at Marc Russell Interiors.

 

Dogs loving watching cats — at least on television. “The flat screen TV is just a prop,” says Johnston. “I wanted to make the suites look like real living rooms and thought that the TV might be a fun added touch. I took some pictures around the shelter and added them to the screens so it looked like they were really working.”

 

Palm Springs Animal Shelter, 4575 East Mesquite Avenue, 760-416-5718
Marc Russell Interiors, Sun Center Shopping Center, 611 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-327-3006

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