No Place Like Home -- Karen Wight

I think Ann Miller had the right idea. Do you remember the 1948 movie

“Easter Parade” with Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford and Ann

Miller? Miller had different dogs that coordinated with her outrageous

outfits. And when she went out for a stroll, she would be accompanied by

a pooch of the appropriate color.

Now before all of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

members get their knickers in a twist, I am only partially serious. And,

by the way, Happy Easter. But I have noticed that people gravitate

toward colors and textures that they are comfortable with. And, yes, that

spills over into their home, pets and even clothing.

As I have been running around doing whatever it is I do, I have

noticed that people’s pets parallel their decor. Over the past two weeks,

I have been working on the home descriptions for the Newport Harbor High

School Home Tour brochure, which by the way is May 2. As I go into homes,

I can’t help but think I’ve tapped into some subliminal messaging with

the canine and feline set.

Personally, I think I was drawn to our dog partially because of her

coloring. When that cute little black face looked up at me, my heart

melted. Now if you have ever been into our home, you know that I like

black. A lot. Black lampshades, black trims on the pillows, black marble

on the counters. . . even black chalkboard walls in the game room.

So, as I drive my black car with my black dog hanging out the window,

all is right with the world.

Because our dog is also pint-sized, I have joked for years that she is

my “ultimate accessory,” since more often than not she is tucked under my

arm, much like an oversized purse.

Our cat, which was a rescue kitten, also blends into the woodwork, so

to speak. When she is laying on one of our faux leopard blankets, you’d

never know she was there.

Just think about it. Is your living room taupe and black? I think you

need a pug. Do you prefer French antiques? You may need a poodle. Black

and white color scheme? Dalmatian. Powder room? Yorkie.

So if Ann Miller can have different dogs for different outfits, maybe

I need pet accessories for different rooms. After all, my dog does look

pretty good in the living room. But it might be hard to train her stay in

one spot all of time.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs Sundays.