The Pink Fund will make a direct bill payment for the maintenance of health insurance premiums and non-medical bills such as, a house or rent payment, a car or vehicle lease payment, utility payments, car insurance payments, and/or license plate tabs. The Pink Fund recently shared the following statistics:

Did you know that?

• 62% of Americans have less than a $1000 in savings
• 21% of Americans do not even have a savings account
• 50% of bankruptcies are the result of illness or illness related job loss
• In 6 months, a health crisis can throw a family into bankruptcy or homelessness
• 47% of our national workforce is women
• 73% of women work full time
• 31% claim head of household
• 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
• Average treatment lasts 7-8 months

Luckily organizations, like The Pink Fund step in to make direct bill payments for the maintenance of health insurance premiums and non-medical bills such as mortgage, car and utility payments for breast cancer patients in active treatment.

The Pink Fund has been formed to help breast cancer patients focus on healing, raising their families, and returning to the workplace. The Pink Fund will provide short-term financial aid for a brief period of treatment and recovery. - Molly MacDonald, Founder/President/CEO SurThrivor™

How you can make a difference? Three ways:

1. Log onto The Pink Fund’s website and make a donation.
2. Purchase a Songbirds in Pink Fusion Gate -- any size -- and we will donate $50 directly to The Pink Fund.
3. Purchase Fusion Gates' Songbirds in Pink art screen and we will donate an additional $10 to The Pink Fund.

October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, is a great time to remember those friends and family members stricken by this disease and to consider the likelihood that someone in your life will most likely be diagnosed. Take action. 

Thank for your consideration and dedication to harmonious living no matter the circumstance.

Most sincerely,
Donna Potter, President/CEO

Child proofing…likely the first important task you face as new parents. Even before the baby comes home, you start looking at the stylish living space you once treasured as a danger zone threatening to do harm to your child. Coffee table corners, steep stairs, and medicine cabinets now become public enemy number one. 

Until recently, parents had limited choices in baby safety products for their home. Most were made out of foam, plastic and/or metal with an aesthetic look that can only be described as “institutional.” But hey…it’s a battleground. Isn’t it? The good news: Your baby is safe. The bad news: The benefits of positive aesthetic design must be put on hold. Or does it? 

Today's new parents are asking for alternative baby products that can be both safe as well as aesthetically pleasing. Having done the research, we find the large baby product companies with proven records for safety, have little interest in meeting the secondary demand for stylish options. So instead, millennial parents are opting for design alternatives that eliminate some of the common baby dangers altogether. For example, they are purchasing soft covered ottomans to eliminate the sharp corners of wood/glass coffee tables. They install cordless shades to avoid the danger of hazardous cords hanging from traditional curtains. Some even incorporate smart hacks like command stripping decorative lamps to side tables instead of removing them altogether and substituting an obnoxious plastic fence with a blackboard to cover up the fireplace.

While these alternatives work to eliminate some key baby hazards, there is still a need for child safety products made for unavoidable potential baby dangers. In those cases, young parents are opting for products that are hidden, like unseen magnetic cabinet locks to replace the complicated and unsightly white plastic contraptions used to keep doors shut. We’re also seeing a trend in products that make these necessities less noticeable; like clear/transparent gas stove knob covers, outlet plugs and corner guards.

Still, a few baby safety companies, like Fusion Gates, are diving straight into safety products with a stylish design that is noticeable, attractive and reflective of a family’s personality. Second to safety, building in aesthetic value when possible, should be a key consideration when designing new baby safety products. Why? Because we see your living space, not as a battleground to be feared and taken over in those early years, but always as a safe, harmonious and sacred place your baby will call home for years to come.

Baby Proofing Basics

The following is an excellent list of babyproofing basics. We recommend visiting the Juvenile Product Manufacturing Association (JPMA) for a complete list!

• Not sure when to when to start the child proofing process? We recommend early in your pregnancy so you know what products you'd like to include on your baby registry. 
• How do you know where to look first? When baby proofing, get on their level and think like your baby! Though it may sound silly, getting eye-level with where he or she will be will, provides you with the perfect perspective for you and your partner. It's important to have different points of view to make sure that nothing safety-related is missed. 
• Obviously, you want to take care of first things first when it comes to safety hazards. Be sure to use plugs on electrical sockets and tie cords from blinds up high or change them out for cordless blinds. Be sure to remember other risky areas such as your dishwasher, tablecloths and poisonous plants. 
• Babies and toddlers are curious to begin and like to explore more with all five of their senses when they become mobile. Baby safety is your priority, so make sure to take a look at every room in your home for any hazards that should be addressed and/or removed. 
• Child proofing is an ongoing process and one that you are going to make sure that you keep up with even as your child grows. If your baby is starting to get on all fours, don't wait to install a safety gate on the stairways and/or entryways in your home. If everyone in your family is accustomed to them prior to actually needing them, your baby will see it as a more natural transition.
• Ready for babies 2, 3 or 4? Be sure to re-visit possible safety hazards, especially if it's been a long-time period between pregnancies or if you have moved. Even in your current home, you'll need to watch for areas that maybe aren't as secure as they were. In addition, if your baby has older siblings, you'll want to watch for small toys and things like opening cabinets, toilet seats, doors, drawers and more. 
• Safest Option - Keep in mind that new products meeting current safety standards are the safest option.

One of the first noticeable features on the Fusion Gate baby gate is our attractive art screen panels. Beautiful, yes...but can they withstand "The Tester"?  Smashes, smears & scratches are just a part of our everyday lives as new moms. That's why we chose to make our three layered door panel using polycarbonate resin and not acrylic or God forbid...glass. Honesty, we first tried acrylic and it just couldn't withstand what we felt a "spirited" one year old could dish out. In addition to the polycarbonate panels being strong, they are also unclimbable and scratch concealing. Bring it on boys and girls...bring it on.    

There is nothing cuter than that drunken sailor gait of a new walker. The Fusion Gate doesn't just stop our wobbly babies in their tracks, it also gives them a safe passage to walk through. We designed our safety gate with a 3" wide, flat threshold (only 1/4" high) to keep baby from tripping over. And let's not forget the wobbly parents that might be distracted or in a hurry when passing through the gate (it happens...believe me).  

Our low baby gate threshold even allows you to place the gate directly on a step or stairs where falls can be particularly dangerous.

Witnessing a baby's curiousness and determination is one of the many blessings of motherhood. Some babies will stop at nothing to get from point A to point B, even if it means contorting their bodies to get there. Impressive...yes. Terrifying... absolutely!  For this reason we have designed our baby & dog gates with gaps less than 2" between our bars and we include Torso Guards with every purchase should there be a larger than 3" space on the ends. 

In addition, we include optional hardware mounting caps to keep your gate in place for all those future mountain climbers out there.

Outsmarting our smarty pants babies was always part of our design process. "If I were a baby, how would I open this gate?" They push, pull, pick whatever is in sight. Well, how 'bout we make the lock out of sight for baby? Genius! Our reversible locking system quietly sits on the opposite side of baby with a knob that is small and unobtrusive. When engaged, the locking system simply keeps the finial latch from pulling up and opening. You can't figure something out if you don't know it's there. Mwaaa haaa haaa!

Being a mom of both babies and fur babies...I've seen it all.  Baby follows dog (can't resist that furry tail). Dog follows baby (can't resist that half 'eaten cookie). Baby and dog follow mommy (just because you're mommy). Needless to say, there's a whole lot of following that goes on during baby's first year of mobility. Fusion Gates' easy-close doors immediately swing towards a close helping you to better manage all the foot and paw traffic in your home. In addition our doors open in both directions and leave enough space to ensure little baby's fingers don't get caught when the door shuts. Be right there guys!

The Fusion Gate was designed to the American Safety and Testing Measurements (ASTM) consumer safety specifications for expansion gates and expandable enclosures.  Our company is also a proud member of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA).  We continue to test our products internally as well as with reputable third party testing labs to ensure our products are safe for baby and reliable for all caregivers. For all you pet parents out there, we are also a proud member of the American Pet Product Association (APPA) and care dearly for the health and safety of our precious pets.

We went on the hunt for some of our favorite designer bowls, beds and accessories by brands known for quality, creativity and on-trend design. Pairing them up with our own most popular Fusion Gates designs, here five fabulous pet space style-lifts to consider this season.  

1. Color my World!

Spring/Summer is a great time to stimulate your senses with COLOR!  Harry Barker has a fabulous line of colorful dog beds that go with just about any palette preference. Pair the bed with an innovative dome dog bowl by Hing. No matter the color you choose for your bowl or bed, Fusion Gates' beautiful Modern Lines safety gate is sure to bring it all together...creating the perfect space for your most colorful companion.  

2. Subtle Sophistication

On the opposite extreme, you may be looking for a more subtle, sophisticated space for your precious pets. Consider designer dog accessories with warm tones like gold, nickel and white. We're not talking boring monotones. Gold itself illuminates and enhances all things around it (even dog food!). 

Maybe that's why Versace used gold accents in their Medusa Gala pet bowl, outlining the edges with a classic greek key design. We've incorporated this same classic design in our own gold and silver Greek Key Fusion Gate framed in rich satin nickel. Balance the opulence with a luxurious Movik Dog Bed made by Labbvenn...one of Europe's most prestigious dog accessory companies. 

3. Tropical Paradise

Check out this fabulous dog bowl design of Monique Layzell's (also known as The Zebra Lady) featuring a beautiful mixed palm leaves pattern. If that's not enough to brighten your day, add this jungle-inspired dog bed in bright tropical colors by Goodnightdog.com. Bring your dog's space all together with our Fusion Gates' Peaceful Palm design to keep your pet safe in his very own tropical oasis.

4. Blushing Gardens

Blush tones and florals continue to be a popular choice for home accents particularly in this Spring/Summer season. We used this sweet yet subtle color in one of our newest art screens designs, Blushing Garden. We love the way it looks with in our white pearl Fusion Gate. We found this luscious blush-tone dog bed by Nice Digs to pair it with. Even Wayfair's Archie & Oscar brand had to use this pretty pink tone for there Kappel Speckle Melamine Pet Bowl.  

5. Tribal with a Twist

In recent years, we've seen a merge of tribal design with free-spirited bohemian style. Even city dogs and their owners can enjoy this earthy, instinctive vibe in their concrete dwellings. We introduced our own tribal design last year...the Chevron Trail Fusion Gates (in blue, black or white) and it very quickly became our most popular art screen. Carry through that boho look with an eye-catching throw rug in a stunning Aztec pattern by Ruggable (it is actually washable!).  Finish off your dog's space with one of The Inked Elephants high-styled dog bowls in bright contemporary colors.    

SPECIAL OFFER for National Dog Mom's Day!

Don't forget May 11th is National Dog Mom's Day! Get 15% off on any Fusion Gate when you use code MOMSDAY15 at checkout.  Promotion runs from now until May 12th.

At Fusion Gates we are always looking for inspiration to help us design the latest styles for our modern baby and dog gates. Who better to inspire us than Tuna, the trendy Chiweenie rescue dog with an endearing overbite. Back in 2015, Shelly and I had the opportunity to meet one of the biggest social media stars of that year, Tuna of @tunameltsmyheart and his adoptive mom Courtney Dasher. Overwhelmed with love for her rescue dog, Courtney started an Instagram page dedicated to Tuna. Since then Tuna has gained 1.9 million followers.

"If you could use a little bit of joy & laughter, you've come to the right place!" is all it says on his profile page.  Well joy is absolutely what you get.  From the first photo to the last, the page is filled with sweetness and yes...fashion.

Turns out Tuna and his mom have a fabulous eye for style and fashion. So, we thought it would be fun to match up some of Tuna's looks with our always-on-trend designer dog & baby gates.  

Our Gray Diamonds safety gate pairs well with Tuna's very vogue black jacket with a fabulous faux (of course) collar.  Now that's a collar Tuna must love to wear. Just like the Fusion Gate, Tuna can easily transition from city style to a day-at-the-beach look with a simple striped T. 

Gray Diamond Art Screen in Black Fusion Gate. Healing Water Art Screen in a White Pearl extra wide gate. Gate photo Holly Werner Images. Tuna photos: @tunameltsmyheart

The next stylish look for Tuna is a slightly oversized sweater in blue. The color blue goes amazingly well with just about all other colors...like how it brings out the golden tan of Tuna's fur and the gorgeous satin nickel frame in our modern gates.

 Chevron Trail in Blue dog gate with a satin nickel finish. Our popular Songbirds stylish gate also in satin nickel. Gate photo Holly Werner Images. Tuna photos: @tunameltsmyheart

Tuna doesn't shy away from romance. Sure, Tuna's a puppy dog but when he wants to be he can be one heck of a lovebird. 

When it comes to style, sometimes you have to go bold or go home. That must have been what Tuna was thinking when he confidently wore this Avant Garde number to the dog park. 

Sun Stars art screen in a black Fusion Gate. The very simple but elegant Greek Key design in a white pearl gate frame.  Gate photo Holly Werner Images. Tuna photos: @tunameltsmyheart

Of course, it's always good to go with minimalist style. Sometimes simply being Tuna says it all.

Thank you so much for your inspiration Courtney Dasher and for sharing this beautiful boy with the world.

PS: Tuna's got a sister now! Our JPMA Certified gates will help keep both Tuna and Baby Grace safe ...and of course in style.

Tuna and Baby Grace photos: @tunameltsmyheart 

We are proud to announce our Fusion Gates are now certified with the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA). From the beginning, we set out to build a baby and dog gate that fused together security and serenity. We wanted to create a gate that puts parents at ease, not on guard. Our JPMA Certification helps us tell the world the Fusion Gate is not just a pretty baby & dog gate...it's a super safe gate that will protect your loved ones while adding harmony to your home.

Who is JPMA and what exactly is JPMA Certification?  

The JPMA is a national trade association of 300+ companies that make and/or import baby products. JPMA's mission is to make sure every baby product sold is safe and the companies making those products are committed to that safety...year after year.  And let me tell you they do NOT make it easy. However, as a mom, I am relieved that there are organizations like JPMA that care about my children’s safety and as a business owner I respect and appreciate the clear rules, standards and strict processes immensely.  

The lowest threshold in the market to keep wobbly babies (and parents) from tripping.

Stray Rescue of St. Louis does so much work to save the precious animals that have been left behind. We had the privilege of seeing firsthand how they love and care for them as if they were their own until they can find a new home.,” states Donna Potter, inventor and proud owner of Fusion Gates. “We are tremendously lucky to have this organization in our area.” Fusion Gates has also supported Stray Rescue of St. Louis by donating Fusion Gates as auction items for their annual Golf Tournament and Hope for the Holidays Gala.

Fusion Gates is a premium baby & dog gate company based in Edwardsville, IL. The company is a member of ASTM, JPMA, the American Pet Products Association and boasts an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, Fusion Gates has been featured in top magazines including Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Dog Magazine, Dogster & First Time Parent, among others.

In front of one of Fusion Gates' most popular dog and baby gate designs; Willow Branches

In the ten years since inventing my product, The Fusion Gate®, I have survived the gauntlet of starting a small business; complete with failed prototypes, financial burdens and operational setbacks. Yet, my biggest challenge has been surviving this gauntlet with a pocket full of mental disorders. I, like so many entrepreneurs, struggle with thinking in mental extremes. For me, obsessiveness, anxiety and cyclothymic tendencies have been a part of my DNA since I can remember. It is in these weekly therapy sessions that I learn to define, appreciate and actually use my mental challenges to fuel the company’s innovation and success into the future.

It was there at the beginning

"Like so many inventors and entrepreneurs, it was my personal need to feel better that brought about my first invention."

There is no doubt in my mind that my emotional struggles caused me to envision something extraordinary in the ordinary. Like so many inventors and entrepreneurs, it was my personal need to feel better that brought about my first invention.

Having 4 babies in the span of 5 years would make any mother go off the deep end. But for someone already overly emotional, it damn near killed me.  At times I felt like I was imprisoned in my own home. My feelings of helplessness and hopelessness were constantly validated each time I would walk through the cold steel metal bars of the baby gates in our home.

Another "jail-cell" looking gate...my nemesis during the baby years.

My only outlet at the time was renovating my home. I recognized that my surroundings could encourage or discourage my mood.  So, when we brought our first puppy home to break the camel’s back, I was hell-bent on finding a safety solution that did not add to my mental strain. I dared to want a gate that was pretty and encouraged harmonious thoughts and ease of living. Apparently, I was “crazy” to think one existed. It didn’t. So I sketched out the first Fusion Gate; a beautiful baby/dog gate featuring interchangeable art screens that actually made you smile.

The Fusion Gate liberates modern parents & pet parents by giving them a stylish alternative; keeping their loved ones safe and their spaces looking sensational. Left: Gray Diamonds Fusion Gate; Center: Greek Key Fusion Gate; Right: Green Garden Fusion Gate.

So on I went into the world of business and along for the ride…my mental baggage.

You’ve got to be NUTS to start your own business!

My idea quickly became an obsession and slowly started to take over my life.  Every waking moment was spent researching and developing my idea…a mad machine with no off switch. Life was in a constant state of extremes. For every win I had (getting a patent, building my first prototype) there were multiple losses (draining our life savings, alienating my husband and kids and never going to bed without a bottle of wine and sleeping pills).

It wasn’t until things got so out of hand that I realized I needed professional help. My therapist first helped me uncover the fact I was not alone. So many entrepreneurs and inventors suffer from some form of mental illness. A study called, Are Entrepreneurs “Touched with Fire”? published by Michael A. Freeman, M.D. at the University of California San Francisco shows that 72% of the entrepreneurs in their sample self-reported mental health concerns, a proportion that was significantly higher than that of the comparison group. 

This predisposition to mental health challenges was also listed in a recent Forbes article as one of the 8 reasons entrepreneurs are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges written by mental health therapist and executive coach, Megan Bruneau.  Megan, who also suffers from mental illness, is quick to point out in her piece “…the qualities that make me a great entrepreneur – creativity, empathy, adaptiveness, humor, independence, risk-taking, multi-tasking, and crisis-management skills – come from the same roots of trauma as my experiences of shame, anxiety, perfectionism, ADHD, and discomfort with stability.” 

How to use your mental extremes to help you succeed 

"...we need to learn to harvest our heightened emotions into the fuel that would keep us going." 

As my therapy continued, I became aware of my specific mental intensities and began working towards accepting and even appreciating them. I also began to see these same characteristics, if managed correctly, could actually be the key to building a successful business and dare I say…a harmonious life.

I slowly discovered that the aim is not to cure our overly emotional tendencies nor to mask them with substances (believe me I tried). Instead we need to learn to harvest our heightened emotions into the fuel that would keep us going.

Here are five strategies that may help you manage your mental intensities to improve your business and keep your life in check during your own entrepreneurial journey. 

1. Use your emotions to empathize and build strong, trusting relationships. 

Every human…every person you interact with in business is beautifully flawed.  Our customers, vendors, employees and competitors...we all make mistakes. People over-react, they have highs and they have lows. I use my heightened sensitivity to key in on these vulnerabilities allowing me to more authentically relate to their needs, their concerns and motivators. I don’t waste a lot of time pretending I am more important or weaker than the rest.  I pretty much expose myself for who I am and for the most part people do the same...then we can get down to business.

Stay authentic. Taking the time to understand customers' and vendors' own struggles helps us to quickly relate and build trust. Left: with my engineer Dave; Center: the production team in China; Right: our first Fedex delivery man.

2. Use your ability to think in alternatives for effective problem solving.

I accepted a long time ago that I don’t think like everyone else.  This abnormal thinking didn’t work out so well for me while in school.  Business is another story.  My ability to think outside of the norm gives me more options when problem solving, an activity that is never ending, particularly in start-ups. Admittedly, sometimes my ideas are a little “crazy.” But I have found if you start with the crazy, your solutions usually end up better than average.

Inventive thinking doesn't end with product development.  

3. Get addicted to “the good stuff”!

Oh, that damn addiction…plaguing the inventive mind that thinks in mental extremes.  A bottle of wine to quiet our inner voice, a pack of cigarettes to remind us to breathe in and out and that giant chocolate cake waiting at home to wipe away the pains of the day. We have to remind ourselves that good addictions are just as powerful as bad ones. So, make the “good stuff” addictions you can’t live without. Convince yourself that you “must have” your morning workout to survive your day. Believe that your protein bar at 10am and 3pm will give you the “fix” necessary to stay focused and aware. Believe that time without your kids each day will throw you in a state of withdrawals.  It works.

The "Good Stuff"

4. Find your “Dear Watson”

Like Sherlock Holmes, find yourself a right-hand man/woman that not only accepts your eccentricities but also one who appreciates them. Your Watson needs to be a good interpreter; he or she needs to understand the way you think and how you communicate (even when others don’t).  When your ideas are not clear, your Watson needs to have the courage to ask for clarification or even question “Why do it that way?” Your Watson must be adventurous; going with the unconventional even if their logic tells them to stay the course. Lastly, they need to be forgiving and light-hearted; bosses with mental extremes tend to get lost in their thoughts, so Watson may need to repeat himself/herself…a lot!

My "Dear Watson" - Shelly Wolfe-VP of Everything

5. Power down and sleep

If you take nothing else away from this post, I beg of you to "shut 'er down" and get a good sleep every night. Lack of sleep for any person is draining. But for the intense entrepreneur it's downright debilitating. In a recent National Geographic article about sleep, we learn the brain does mostly data gathering in our waking hours...but it's when we sleep that it edits and makes sense of it all. If we don't sleep, our data tends to pile up and overflow; making us more inclined to make risky decisions based only on data and not analysis. Best part is, you don't have to train or pay your brain to do this kind of sophisticated analytics...the job comes compliments of our maker. 

Completely staged but you get the picture...shut 'er down!

At the end of this post I’ve listed a number of articles and studies that I read often.  They remind me that I am one of many entrepreneurs struggling to keep my mental health in check. They also remind me that this world would not be as electrifying if not for crazy thinkers like you and I.  Someone saw a phone and thought it should be mobile, someone saw a car and thought it should park itself and I saw an ugly iron-barred gate that needed to be beautiful.

…be you.

Final Note:

One way to help yourself is to help others. I recognize that some mental conditions can be extreme and in many cases life-threatening such as in the recent suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain; two one-of-a-kind entrepreneurs that we will miss tremendously. Brain and behavior disorders affect 1 in 5 people. You can help accelerate the pace of mental illness research by donating to The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRFoundation).  Read more about this groundbreaking foundation awarding grants that will lead to scientific breakthroughs focused on alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness. Go to: The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation-Get Involved 

Recommended Articles

Are Entrepreneurs “Touched with Fire”? published by Michael A. Freeman, M.D.

8 Reasons Entrepreneurs are Particularly Vulnerable to Mental Health Challenges by Megan Bruneau; Forbes

Strategies Every Entrepreneur Should Employ to Optimize their Mental Health by Megan Bruneau; Forbes

Crazy Good: How Mental Illnesses Help Entrepreneurs Thrive; Washingtonpost.com

Major Depressive Disorder Association Between Major Mental Disorders and Geniuses; Psychiatrictimes.com

Coming Soon - Entrepreneur Near You the Cyclothymic Personality; Psychology Today

The Parallels Between Entrepreneurship and Bipolar Disorder; Entrepreneur.com

Talking about trauma: Mental healthcare lacking small business owners; Psychology Today

While We Sleep, Our Mind Goes on an Amazing Journey National Geographic

Aesthetics and Well Being How Interior Design Effects your Happiness; by Psychology Tomorrow Magazine: 

How your Interior Design is Influencing your Subconscious; Freshome.com 

It’s summertime, and in many areas of the country, that is thunderstorm weather. If you have a dog who gets anxious when the pup hears those rumbles in the distance and is downright panicked when the lightning strikes close to your home, you might be counting down the days until fall!   

Common anxiety symptoms in dogs include panting, excessive yawning, pacing, whining, barking, and raised hackles. Some dogs even become aggressive and might growl or snap when they are feeling scared.

The good news is that there are ways to keep your dog calm during a thunderstorm. Read on to help your furry best friend settle down when the weather is loud and scary.

Help Your Dog Feel More Secure

Dogs are den animals, and when they are running around the house panting and whining, all of the space and the lack of structure can make them feel even more scared. While you might think it’s mean to put your frightened dog in a crate or contain her in a small area, the truth is that it will help her feel secure.

Dexter behind his safe curtain and his Fusion Gate (Greek Key)

Either use a baby and dog gate or set up a crate in an area of the home where you often are. If you confine yourself and your dog into a section of the living room, she will feel safe and secure. If you use a crate, you don’t have to lock your dog in it (though you can if you won’t be home or if your dog is really reactive): Just put a blanket and one of your dog’s toys inside and the pup might naturally gravitate toward the space when the dog feels stressed.

Use Distraction to Your Advantage

Unless the thunderstorm is very loud and violent, it’s likely that you can distract your dog by simply putting on the radio or the television and turning up the volume a bit louder than you normally have it. Feel free to sing and dance along with the music to give your dog something else to focus on. 

A new toy or a safe bone is another way to encourage your furbaby to think about something other than the dog’s own fear and discomfort. You can stuff a Kong toy with peanut butter, canned dog food, or some other slightly goopy treat, freeze it, and let the dog chew on it. This is a great distraction. Be sure to put down a towel or a washable blanket first to keep the mess contained!

Try Products on the Market for Reducing Fear

There are several products on the market that can help reduce fear in dogs who suffer from anxiety over thunderstorms. One is called the Thundershirt. This is a snug-fitting “shirt” that will hug your dog and make her feel more secure.

Thundershirt photo by @oxleygoldendoodle

Another is using dog collars, specifically a calming dog collar. These collars look like regular dog collars but they contain pheromones that can calm your dog down. These pheromones are also available in other forms, such as plug-ins, sprays, and wipes. They are natural and can make your pet feel calm and safe even when the weather is raging outside.

Talk to Your Veterinarian

For dogs who have severe anxiety, there are medical treatments available. Your veterinarian might suggest that you give your dog a sedative when the weather forecast includes thunderstorms. Another option is a low-dose tranquilizing medication that you’ll give your best canine pal on a daily basis to keep the dog’s moods more even. This is a great choice if your dog also suffers from separation anxiety or other fears in addition to anxiety related to thunder and lightning.

Your dog doesn’t have to suffer from extreme anxiety brought about by summer storms. Try to make your dog feel secure, distract the pup, try natural remedies, and, if needed, talk to your veterinarian about pharmaceutical options. You can help your dog get through thunderstorm season without panicking, which will help you enjoy your summer as well!

Who better to model with our Fusion Gates than my adorable pup-nieces, Chelsea and Fanny?  Like these fine royal spaniels, our satin nickel finished gates are drenched with sophistication; complementing the elegant hues of silver, gray and gold featured throughout their newly renovated Port Chester, NY home. 

The Trellis design is a perfect fit for the kitchen where the sisters stand watch for mom sightings throughout their day.  The black and silver geometric pattern pulls in the black and white artwork and architectural detail of the modern stair rail.

The Fusion Gate in the breakfast room, just off the back terrace, features our Gray Diamonds art screen. This contemporary geo-design hints of maritime - symbolizing the multitude of sailboats passing through the Long Island sound. (Chasing boats is one of Chelsea’s favorite pastimes).

The Modern Lines art screen was chosen for the family room, adding a fun mix of color to a space that’s both active and clean. (Fanny just loves golf!)

Finally, the Gold Lattice design was chosen for the bar/lounge room.  Again framed in the satin nickel, this design represents a life that is both elegant and earned. (Chelsea and Fanny have their eyes on my brother's prize swordfish).

Our Fusion Gates are available in three finishes, black, white pearl and satin nickel and can be adapted to cover widths from 30" to 74".  We offer an ongoing selection of original art screens to choose and interchange; making your Fusion Gate adaptable to current trends and seasonality.  Our art screens can also be customized. 

Our new original art screens feature beautiful botanicals and clean white images that give our reliable safety gates a design aesthetic symbolizing innocence, growth and new beginnings. 

Our Peaceful Palm Dog and Baby Gate. Wedding Photo from Brides.com article: 59 Adorable Ways to Include Your Pet in Your Wedding

Our new Peaceful Palm design symbolizes bountiful living and happy homecomings. This tropical-themed Fusion Gate protects the ones you love while subtly reminding you of the many blessings you have and all the goodness yet to come.  

Our new Blushing Garden Baby & Dog Gate.  Baby photo from Brides.com article: How to Incorporate a Newborn Baby into your Wedding

Our Blushing Garden features white hydrangeas and dahlias in the perfect shade of blushing pink.  Dahlias are known to symbolize a commitment and bond that lasts forever.  And nothing says commitment and bond like a bouncing baby!

Our new White Garden Fusion Gate for your home.

The subtler cool silver dahlias in our new White Garden design draws your attention to the white flowers whose color represents purity and perfection. Complementing just about any room color, this design is sure to add a bright clean finish to your decor all while perfectly managing the foot and paw traffic in your home. 

Our new beautiful Trellis in White safety gate for your dog or baby.  Bride and dog photo from Brides.com article: 59 Adorable Ways to Include Your Pet in Your Wedding 

Finally, our Trellis in White design displays a repetitive image of both beauty and structure. Two absolute ingredients of every Fusion Gate we design.  As in a magnificent garden trellis, this gorgeous design allows beauty to weave into a structure built to lead the way.

Summer is a time for new beginnings and reflection on all the bountiful beauty that surrounds our lives...even amongst the chaos of a busy home. Thank goodness for babies and puppies who remind us daily to pay attention to every wonderful, beautiful, messy, crazy moment.

Andy Cohen & Wacha Photos: Elle Decor. Fusion Gate Photo: Carmen Troesser

Andy & Wacha Photo: Bravo TV

Andy Photo: Elle Decor; Black Fusion Gate with Black Modern Lines Art Screen Photo: Holly Werner Images

Wacha in his favorite chair. Photo: @therealwacha on Instagram

 

Room Photos: Elle Decor; Black Fusion Gate with Willow Branch Art Screen Photo: Holly Werner Images

Room Photo: Elle Decor; White Pearl Fusion Gate with Greek Key Art Screen Photo: Holly Werner Images

Andy Cohen and Wacha Photo: Unknown

Room Photo: Elle Decor; Black Fusion Gate with Chevron Trail Art Screen: Holly Werner Images

Room Photo: Elle Decor; Black Fusion Gate with Peaceful Palm Art Screen

Andy Cohen and Wacha: Splash News

That's why we have one more pairing. The perfect gate for Andy to bring to the Bravo set or where ever the duo may roam..

A custom Cardinals gate of course!

Andy Cohen and Wacha on the set of Bravo TV's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Photo: Bravo TV. Cardinals Logo: St. Louis Cardinals Baseball

GUEST BLOGGER: Cynthia Lopez: Pet Life Today

Preparing your home for a puppy is not unlike preparing your home for an active toddler. Puppies tend to get into anything that looks tempting and, unfortunately, there are a lot of hazards in the average home that could hurt them or make them sick. The good news is that in time, your new puppy will learn what’s off-limits. In the meantime, you will need to puppy-proof your home. Check out these tips for keeping your furry little friend safe and sound.

Create a Safe Place to Contain Your Puppy

You are not going to be able to watch your new pet every minute of the day. You will need to go shopping, take a shower, and maybe go to work. During the times that you’re not available to watch your puppy, it’s important to keep him contained. Create a safe place with washable flooring and nothing that your pup can get hold of and ingest or ruin.

You might want to use baby or dog gates to keep your puppy in the kitchen, in a large bathroom, or in another area that will be easy to clean up in case he has an accident. Another option is to crate-train your pup. Some people hesitate to get a crate for their puppies, but since dogs are den animals, they usually find it soothing to have a place that they can go to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the house. A crate can be that perfect spot.

Sit on the Floor and Assess the Hazards

One of the best ways to find out what might appeal to your puppy is to get on the floor at the pup’s eye level to see what catches your attention. Are there electric cords peeking out from behind the entertainment console? Make sure the dog can’t bite those, as they’ll cause a nasty shock that could even be fatal.

Is your kitchen garbage can accessible? The smells coming from a trash bin can be very tempting to a curious puppy. What about cords hanging down from blinds? Your puppy could get tangled up in any loose cords quite easily.

Look at what you keep on coffee or end tables and other low surfaces of your home. Is there a bowl of chocolates sitting out? Remember that chocolate is not only tempting but also toxic to dogs. If you live in an adults-only house, you might keep your vitamins or daily medication on a low table; you will need to put these up to keep your puppy safe from accidental poisoning.

Protect Your Property

While puppy-proofing, the primary concern is, of course, to keep your dog safe. Another important consideration is that you will want to keep your furniture and other items safe from sharp teeth and nails.

You’ll need to watch to see what your pup is attracted to. Your pet might pull the dish towels off of your stove handle or try to chew on the legs of your chairs. Some puppies will take pillows off of couches and others won’t. It really depends on what your particular puppy thinks is fun. 

Once you see bad habits forming, you can do one of two things: One is to remove the tempting items. Put the dish towels on the counter and remove the couch pillows for now or keep the puppy out of the living room. The other is to make it less appealing for your puppy to chew on whatever it’s attracted to. Buy a spray like Bitter Apple (or use one of these alternatives) and spray it on the furniture legs, so they taste bad.

Train Your Dog

You might not think of dog training as a way to puppy-proof your home, but by teaching your pup what is allowed and what is not, you’ll be helping your pet to become a good doggie citizen and keeping both the dog and your property safe. There are many ways to train a puppy, so look for some books on the topic, consult with a certified trainer, or look for reputable vet advice or information. 

Puppy-proof your home before you bring your new dog home for a great start to your relationship with “man’s best friend.”

Cynthia Lopez: Cynthia is the managing editor at Pet Life Today. She is a pet lover and dog mom of four chihuahuas. She's been writing about pet care and products since 2014.

Photo credit: Bravo TV Real Housewives of New York and Million Dollar Listing New York

Not only do these hardworking superstars share a love for style, interior design and real estate, they are both loving and devoted parents and pet parents. 

Photos from Instagram: @bethennyfrankel and @fredeklundny 

Fredrik and husband Derek Kaplan just became fathers to twins Milla and Fredrick. The family shares two homes, a gorgeous apartment in NY and country manor in Connecticut with their pups Mousey and Fritzy.

Bethenny shares her stunning Tribeca loft (now on the market) and a house in the Hamptons with her daughter, Bryn and two adopted fur-babies, Biggie and Smallz.  

We recently noticed the two may be in need of more stylish baby & dog gates and thought we could help them out with some suggestions.

Photo Credit: Bravo TV

Here are the safety gates we recommend for Bethenny Frankel and Fredrik Eklund. Let us know what you think?

For Fredrik...

Fredrik Eklund's kitchen in his Manhattan apartment. Satin Nickel Fusion Gates with Linear Lace. Fusion Gate. Fredrik with new babies, Milla & Fredrick. 

Inside Fredrik's Connecticut country manor. Black Fusion Gates with Greek Key. Fredrik with Mousey and Fritzy.

For Bethenny...

Bethenny's foyer in her Tribeca loft. White Pearl Fusion Gate with Chevron Trail  art screen. Bethanny with pups, Biggie & Smallz in the city.

Bethenny's country kitchen in the Hamptons. White Pearl Fusion Gate with Sun Stars art screen. Bethenny playing with her dogs.

So excited that Bethenny and Fredrik are now teaming up in the new Bravo’s new real estate and design series Bethenny & Fredrik.  No doubt they, like Fusion Gates, will be helping other parents and pet parents live beautiful, harmonious lives. 

Photo Credit: Bravo TV

This week, interior design superstars Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent welcomed baby Oskar to their family.  The announcement was made public when the pair posted a simple black and white photo showing their three year old daughter Poppy's little finger pointing to the her new little brother's tiny foot peeking out from a baby blanket.

Beautiful, natural...and oh so perfect.

Jeremiah Brent's Instagram post announcing the birth of the couple's son, Oskar Brent-Berkus

In my own experience, each time a new soul is added to the family, be it fur or no fur, life as you know it gets thrown out the window (even a stylish 1928 Spanish Colonial window). It was only a few years ago that these first time dads brought baby Poppy home to their super stylish New York City apartment which I am sure came with a whole set of adjustments. (See our 2015 blog post Hold Up Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent...Fusion Gates to the Rescue!).

Poppy Brent-Berkus with her dads, Nate Berkus & Jeremiah Brent Photo: Jeremiah Brent Facebook

Now with two little ones, their sweet dog Tucker and a gorgeous new LA home, Brent and Berkus need to set new boundaries to stay one step ahead of all the excitement. Did I mention the two bunnies, two turtles and pond of coy fish?! This dynamic design duo, best known for creating beautiful, harmonious living spaces, will need to find baby & pet gates to keep their loved ones safe while maintaining the ease and aesthetic harmony built into the beautiful home they share.

Nate & Jeremiah in the foyer and their dog Tucker. Video snapshot: Architectural Digest Dec. 7, 2017

Poppy Brent-Berkus and her rabbits, Harvey and Swiggens, Photograph: Douglass Friedman from Architectural Digest Article touring the Brent-Berkus LA home

We'll also show you our best guess as to how Nate and Jeremiah might approach the design of little Oskar's new nursery, a space the superstitious Berkus wanted to wait to create till after the baby was born.

Let's get started in the atrium...

The atrium paired with our black framed Fusion Gate with the Willow Branch art screen.  Room photograph: Douglass Friedman from Architectural Digest Article touring the Brent-Berkus LA home 

It's well known that both these designers like to stick to a simple and natural palette: black, gray, tan and lots of white as used in this first room, the atrium.  Here we've paired the space with our Willow Branch design celebrating the earthy feel of this transition space and adjoining rooms. 

Brent and Poppy in their black, white & beautiful-all-over kitchen paired with our Fusion Gate and Tellis art screen. Kitchen Photo: Douglass Friedman from Architectural Digest Article touring the Brent-Berkus LA home.  Gate photo: Holly Werner Images

The kitchen was one of the spaces that sold the couple on their new Hancock Park home. Both Nate and Jeremiah agreed that little renovation had to be done to this beautiful black & white kitchen. We matched the room with a black framed baby & dog gate featuring our original Trellis design complimenting both the timeless and masculine features throughout this very special gathering space. 

Nate Berkus and daughter Poppy taking in some literature in their gallery/library.  Room photo: Douglass Friedman from Architectural Digest Article touring the Brent-Berkus LA home.  Gate photo: Holly Werner Images

In researching Berkus, we find a very controlled and calculating artist. Designing a room that looks effortless takes a lot of effort.  All things must connect. It's the "connection" that makes it beautiful.  With this idea in mind, we paired their library/gallery with our new Linear Lace design.  This interconnecting image mimics the stunning honey-combed detailed ceiling.  We thought a safety gate in this room would be best in a white pearl frame to match the substantial 19th Century Italian bookcase.  

Poppy Brent-Berkus bedroom paired with our white pearl baby gate with our Greek Key art screen.  Room photo: Douglass Friedman from Architectural Digest Article touring the Brent-Berkus LA home.  Gate photo: Holly Werner Images

When it came time to decorating Poppy's bedroom, the boys did their best to keep her large, hot pink toys out and limited to her playroom.  The neutral colors bring together the variety of rich textures and diverse patterns. The stone/wood layering design along with artwork and sweet accessories gives Poppy just the right amount of stimulation to keep her mind clear and imagination flowing.  Poppy might really appreciate a simple boundary to gently communicate to her new little brother Oskar that this room and its contents are off limits.  

The two Brent-Berkus kids will share the playroom however...note the only room in the house where color is less controlled and free to go its wild way.  We chose our Songbirds art screen for this room to celebrate and symbolize the the room's carefree attitude. 

The childrens' colorful playroom paired with our Songbirds Fusion Gate. Gate photo: Holly Werner Images

Oskar will have his own space.  But what will that look like? 

In a recent People magazine article Nate Berkus revealed that he is a bit superstitious when it comes to decorating a nursery before the baby arrives.  However, he gave us this hint:

“But it’ll be, I think, a masculine version of our daughter's room. It’ll probably be brown, tan, gray, black and white. That’s our guess.”

- Nate Berkus, People Magazine

So if Berkus gets his way we're guessing "Tribal" all the way:

Samples from Nate Berkus' Shade Collection and our Fusion Gates baby gate framed in white pearl featuring our new Chevron Trail in Black art screen. Gate photo: Holly Werner Images

Jeremiah Brent wouldn't be opposed to a tribal-themed room as long as it followed his three basic rules for designing:

“My three design go-to's: Neutral colors, natrual elements, interesting textures.”

- Jeremiah Brent

If it was up to Brent alone we're guessing he'd go with a more Salt-of-the-Earth vibe:

Jeremiah Brent's design board found @jeremiahbrent on Instagram paired with our Willow Branch art screen framed in a white pearl Fusion Gate. Gate photo: Holly Werner Images

Either way Oskar, like his sister Poppy, is going to be in an atmosphere of love and groundedness. Now THAT is a real home.

Good luck guys. We know you're going to continue to be great parents and true inspirations to us all!

As a mom, designer and business owner, I have to set boundaries in all three roles to keep balanced and maintain some sense of sanity.  At least that's what my therapist keeps telling me.  

This month our Hallmarked Design Pairing features Marie Flanigan, a designer who understands the importance of balance & boundaries. Flanigan, a wife and mother of two little ones, first studied architecture at A&M, followed by an MBA and then launched her own business, Marie Flanigan Interiors.  

Marie not only creates amazing spaces for her clients but ensures that each element in the room works to achieve harmonious living as defined by the individuals (big, small, fur, no-fur) who will occupy that space.

"We want to discover what makes you special, what makes your family different. [Clients want] an environment that improves their quality of life in every aspect.”

Marie Flanigan

At Fusion Gates, we couldn't agree more.  Harmonious living is our reason for existence.  Given our mutual goals, we thought we'd have fun pairing our beautiful baby and dog gates with the sensational spaces created by Marie Flanigan and her superb team of designers.

We love this gorgeous blue dining room, trimmed in white, curtains bursting with nature.  To protect this room from dog accidents and sippy cup disasters, we chose the black framed Fusion Gate with our own nature-inspired art screen, Songbirds.  Should her client want a more formal statement, she can change the screen to our stately Gold Lattice design.

Marie's two sons, John & William

"I’ve found that the only way to do it successfully is to set goals and boundaries. I try and [be with] my kids every day by 4 ... and to not be distracted when I’m with them, and really make the time that we’re together maximized in quality. Because it’s so precious."

Marie Flanigan

We love the simplicity of this staircase and how thoughtful Marie was to use the wall for shelving.  So to not disrupt the clean white lines, we chose our own White Pearl framed baby gates to protect little ones from the stairs (not to mention baby's easy access to the accessories on the shelving).  Our Chevron Trail in White art screen works well with the existing colors and lines, while our Healing Waters screen takes advantage of the spotlight.

In this formal living room, hints of Marie's background in architecture are everywhere...from the structural use of the wall space to her choice of the custom geometric pattern on the rug.  For this reason we suggest a Fusion Gate with our own architecturally inspired art designs, the Bauhaus Border art screen and our Greek Key patterned screen.

Marie Flanigan

Finally, we suggest our Satin Nickel framed safety gates to manage the ins and outs of this divine kitchen.  Our Linear Lace design complements the silver, gray and white colored backsplash while our Chevron Trail in Blue pairs perfectly with the directional tiles and gorgeous blue leather stools.

Get your own daily dose of balance and beauty by following Marie Flanigan Interiors on Instagram.  

Photography credits:  Julie Soefer Photography and Holly Werner Images 

The Fusion Gates design team has chosen 7 of their favorite one-of-kind nurseries, mostly found on @projectnursery's Instagram feed...all with their own sense of style and wonder.  We've paired them with our White Pearl Fusion Gates and the art screens we felt could keep the style vibes going way beyond the infant stage.  

Modern and Minimalistic Nursery

This modern and minimalist nursery found @houseofhawkes pairs well with a simple yet sleek baby gate featuring the Linear Lace design to reinforce the clean lines and airiness of this beautiful, open space. 

Whimsical Wonderland Nursery

We love the whimsical woody wonderland of this nursery shared by @shelbcain. We feel its playfulness lends well to an artful counterpart so we matched it to our Willow Branch safety gate. 

Contemporary, Calm & Creative Nursery

This contemporary nursery in shades and cuts of gray give has just the right measure of calm and creativity. Created by Ashley Heather Piowlski and found on @projectnursery, this divine nursery was paired with the perfect Gray Diamonds White Pearl safety gate.

Simply Sweet Nursery

What goes best with stripes and florals?  Songbirds, of course!  This sweet nursery created by @paper0xxie beautifully fuses together both charm and whimsy...much like the artwork in our Songbird Fusion Gate.  

Timeless Sophistication 

It's never too early for timeless sophistication, perfectly executed in this gorgeous nursery by @kassandra.zobrist. Our Greek Key design, also a classic artistic element, would be a perfect entrance to this intimate yet inviting space.  

Right on @TARGET! We love this cool ocean themed nursery. Fusion Gates matches this sea-inspired room with its Healing Waters art screen featuring the same calm blue hues found in Target's nursery product line.

Adventure abounds in this modern nursery by @bigandlittle.t and we pair it with an equally adventurous safety gate: Chevron Trail in Black.

The possibilities are endless in this bold, beautiful nursery created by @moni_chavez. Any of our three finishes (Black, Satin Nickel & White Pearl) could work with the gorgeous black walls and white furnishings.  We chose our Trellis art screen as the perfect compliment to the sweet, elegant charm of this baby's room. 

If you love the pairings you see here, make sure to check out our Hallmarked Pairing Series featuring the work of some of our favorite designers. We are inspired by them and by you! We encourage you to share your favorites on your Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest feeds, too.   

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Famously known for his love of the blue and white palette, designer Mark D. Sikes has a knack for creating rooms with an optimistic vibe that is indicative of his new California lifestyle...playful, bright and easygoing.  It's little wonder he chose a dog breed known for the same personality traits.  Mark is the proud pet parent of Lily, the French Bulldog.  Both were our inspiration for January's Hallmarked Design Pairing.  I know this is going to sound crazy, but the more I researched Sikes' work, the more positive I felt and the more in love I became with this adorable pup.  What a gift to be able to create a living space that can immediately enhance our mood and make us feel love.  

So needless to say, it was pure joy matching each beautiful room (many in Mark's own home) with our designer pet and baby gates. It gives us great satisfaction to know that we can protect our babies and dogs without having to sacrifice the positivity of our homes.  Perhaps you too will feel just a little more playful, bright and easygoing when you finish looking through our pairing. Optimistic design...our theme for 2018.   

Mark creates a stunning traditional room with an earthy twist.  Not surprising given his reputation for bringing the outside in and the inside out.  Our Willow Branches dog gate adds to this natural imagery while nicely complimenting the room's centerpiece, the plush green sofa.   

Princess Lily

Sikes signature colors, blue and white, immediately soothe guests entering this gorgeous foyer.  You know what's not soothing to guests coming through the door?  A charging dog!  We suggest two pet gate art screens that compliment the colors and details of the entrance while giving a puppy a chance to give your visitors a once over.  Our Songbirds art screen hints to the swirling iron detail of the door; while our Chevron Trail in Blue screen pairs well with the room's adventurous blue hues.

What's a dog's life without a decorative room to put your paws up and relax?  Oh, if only my own dogs could coexist with cream couches and rattan furniture.  Still designer dog gates are a great way to ensure your puppy's safety when you're not in the room.  We chose our Limited Edition Dream Dog design to compliment both the bright color pillows and dark outlines of Mark's Signature Line rattan chairs.  Plus, the design reminds Lily how good it feels to be the alpha.

Lily can get camouflaged in this stunning passageway combining whites, browns and golds.  Like Mark's beautiful white and tan Carlyle Chairs, our more traditional art screens, the Gold Lattice and Greek Key, allow for a smooth and pleasing transition from one beautiful room to the next.

This Asian inspired room takes fusion to another level.  It's mixture of multicolors and multi-cultures brilliantly represent a fresh worldly attitude. We chose our Modern Lines Fusion Gate to pull in every color represented in the room, thus adding to the rooms all inclusive style. 

Lily's cool with that...

It's all in the details. In this seemingly traditional office space, Sikes uses African art and pops of gold as subtle detours of inspiration.  We went with two of our favorite geometric designs for our gate pairing.  The Trellis design to compliment the beautiful black desk and the Gold Lattice to work in the gold details and accessories.

Finally, we pair our new white design screens in this attractive, mostly white and cream hallway/dining room.  Outlined in our recently added white pearl framed gates, our Chevron Trail in White and Linear Lace in White screens add just a hint of imagery while our textured translucent panels capture the natural light streaming in from both rooms.  

Seriously...don't you feel positively positive now?

Want to create a happy moment for yourself?  I suggest cozying up into your favorite chair with a cup of tea and your dog by your side then check out Mark D. Sikes blog.  

Much like our designer safety gates, DIYers Kim & Scott Vargo (@yellowbrickhome) and jeweler/home stylist Christina Shirley (@thestellabluegallery) combine their beautiful style and creative ingenuity to transform shared their once humble dwellings into gorgeous interiors that are highly functional and promote easy living.

Here's just a glimpse into their worlds as well as our recommendation for the perfect gate to match their extraordinary homes:

CITY DOGS: Jack & CC from THE YELLOW BRICK HOME

Instagram Account: @yellowbrickhome

Blog: yellowbrickhome.com

Storytellers:  Kim & Scott Vargo 

Home:  130 year old two story renovated home - Chicago, Illinois

City Dogs:  Jack and CC

Our recommended Fusion Gate for the Vargo home is the Gray Diamonds art screen with a Satin Nickel finish.  A close second is our new Chevron Trail in Blue art design.  We definitely think our dog & baby gate will come in handy when the couple welcomes their new baby due at the end the month.

COUNTRY DOG: Blu from THE STELLA BLUE GALLERY

Instagram Account: @thestellabluegallery

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/thestellabluegallery

Storytellers:  Christina Shirley 

Home:  900 sq ft Lakeside Bungalow - Lake Greenwood, South Carolina

Dog:  Blu

We had to choose our Willow Branch art screen with the black finish to match the fabulous down-to-earth style of Christina.  She is also an amazing jewelry maker.  We would LOVE to see her use her metalwork skills to create a one of a kind art screen as special as the jewelry she makes.

My addiction started as a young girl skimming through interior design magazines, cutting out pages and placing them in my wish book. Now, I am an all out junkie thanks to Instagram, Houzz and Pinterest. As a matter of fact, it was my obsession with interior design that influenced me to design the Fusion Gate. I just couldn't let go of my love for fabulous interiors even after I had my babies. I just didn't see why baby (and puppy) proofing couldn't co-exist with fine design.

So, it is with great pleasure we are introducing Fusion Gates' Hallmarked Design Pairings series. We've paired our dog & baby gate with gorgeous spaces created by some of today's top interior designers in hopes that both parents and pet parents are convinced that safety and sensational can coexist. These designers excite us & inspire us, but most of all, challenge us to be the very best we can be.  

Our very first hallmarked design pairing:  Sophie Paterson

Want to get lost in calming comfort?  We suggest you spend an afternoon slowly scrolling through interior designer Sophie Paterson's Instagram feed.  Simple, yet luxurious, meticulous, but never boring, Sophie and her design team work absolute magic into every project.   

Did I mention that Sophie is a "mum" of a toddler named Ava.  I love designers that have a built in "reality-check" (read: baby or dog) ensuring the spaces they design are actually livable and can be shared with everyone in the household.

Here are some of her recent shares paired with a few of our baby gate art designs to keep her baby safe and her fabulous interiors intact.

Find Sophie Paterson on Instagram @sophiepatersoninteriors and on her website at www.sophiepatersoninteriors.com.  Although she is based in London, she completes projects globally.

When we make the decision to bring a baby and/or a pup into our home we’re guaranteed an “active” household. As parents and pet parents, we need to incorporate certain emotional strategies to help balance the unexpected and keep our day and our home running smoothly.  The Fusion Gates design team used some of those mind-saving approaches as inspiration for their 2018 Fusion Gate art screen collection: To keep structured, to be fluid or to remain grounded.

Linear Lace – Structured

Our new Linear Lace design offers our customers a balanced systematic design that is subtle, hypnotic and peaceful (even when the dog hears the doorbell!). Influenced by modern urban architecture, our Linear Lace suggests a strong foundation no matter the elements. The design is available in both white and dark gray and looks fantastic in all three frame colors (white pearl, black and satin nickel). 

Source for mouse princess plush toy: thicketandthimble.com; Source for baby girl and whippet photo: blanqi.tumblr.com

Source for Elephant mobile: twigandthistle.com; Source for minimalist room decor: homedecorpage.com

Healing Waters – Fluid

The Healing Waters art screen reminds us “to go with the flow.”  Illustrating a beacon of tranquility, this art screen uses a calming ocean blue which works beautifully with the translucent panels that house the design.  So yes, even amongst a sea of activity (read: baby’s hands in toilet) you can float freely and serenely on top of the waves of the unexpected.

Source for baby girl and dog at beach photo: Luna---belle.tumblr.com; Source for Whale poster: Southerscripdesigns.com  

Chevron Trail - Grounded

The Chevron Trail design (in black, navy blue and white) visually reminds you as a parents and/or pet parent that no matter where your day takes you, you’re right where you’re supposed to be. With hints of Native American influence, this directional pattern represents a clear pathway through and sometimes around life’s daily surprises.

Source for baby nursery wall decor: hudson-baby-company.myshopify.com; Source for Man with bulldog photo www.instagram.com/andrewfoxx

Source for snails and puppy dog tails plaque: https://www.etsy.com/Nelsonsgifts

Source for decorative mirror: www.notonthehighstreet.com

The article 'Advice from Top Interior Designers on Living Stylishly with Dogs' reminded us that great design can indeed co-exist with even the liveliest of dogs.  However, one piece of advice these experts overlooked is the need for a stylish dog gate to keep their precious dogs safe and their beautiful belongings intact, all while complimenting the fabulous interiors they create. 

We just had to take on the challenge of finding the perfect gate for each designer.  See what Fusion Gates art screen we chose for their beautiful spaces and let us know if you agree!

Recommended for

Jonathan Adler

Mid-Century Modern in Technicolor!  Fusion Gates Modern Lines Pet Gate

Given Jonathan Adler's contemporary twist on Mid-Century Modern design, we selected our Modern Lines design for the home he shares with his dog, FoxyLady.  Our team was inspired by bursts of colorful accessories (including FoxyLady!) used to make this room a functioning work of art, much like the vibrant lines of color we designed into our most popular art screen.  

Recommended for

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Tribal Fusion - Fusion Gates Chevron Trail in Black or White. 

It took us awhile to interpret the genius of Martyn Lawrence Bullard.  After researching more of his designs we noticed he often uses black and white stripes and/or tribal prints to pull together the unexpected patterns in his fabulous eclectic room designs. For this reason we chose our new Chevron Trail design in either the black or the white.  

Recommended for

Betsy Burnham

Unpredictable Beauty - Fusion Gates Willow Branches Dog Gate

"...polished with the grit of the unpredictable." Words used to describe Betsy Burnham's approach to design.   For this reason we selected our Willow Branches screen.  We felt that this screen best illustrates Betsy's use of nature and/or nature inspired design elements to make a room come alive and it's occupants feel at home and grounded.  Plus the branches are the same color as her dogs, who we're pretty sure give her plenty of unpredictable moments.

Recommended for

Mary McDonald

"Classically Bold" - Fusion Gates Greek Key Gate (Classic) or Fusion Gate Autumn Ginkgo Gate (Bold)

Mary McDonald's approach to design is like listening to a beautiful symphony that introduces an electric guitar in its finale to blow your mind.  Her rooms are comfortably classic with a POW of color every once in awhile to boost your senses. This duality inspired us to choose two designs that she could interchange.  The Greek Key art screen playing to the rooms classic charm and the Autumn Ginkgo to get the feet tapping, or paws if you will.

Recommended for

Steven Gambrel 

Timeless and Relevant - Fusion Gates Gold Lattice Pet Gate

We selected the black Fusion Gate with the Gold Lattice art screen to fit Steve Gambrel affinity for timeless design with a hint of contemporary flair.  The Gold Lattice artwork is a pattern welcomed in both a stately home on the harbor and an urban apartment on the Upper East side.  

Recommended for

Windsor Smith

Beautifully Balanced - Fusion Gates Trellis Gate OR the Occasional Showstopper - Fusion Gates Dream Dog Gate.

One constant in rooms designed by Windsor Smith is balance and beautiful synchronicity like we see in the mirroring of elements centered around, well, a mirror.  We felt our Trellis dog gate best complimented her calculating comfort with repetitive imagery.  Don't get me wrong, Windsor Smith is known to add a single showstopper to a room that will command direct attention.  For this reason, we've also suggested our popular Dream Dog Fusion Gate that happens to feature an uncanny likeness to her sweet pup Sur.

Our team really enjoyed researching each of these amazing designers.  Their approach to design and their theory of living harmoniously with our pets has and will continue to inspire us to create products worthy of their praise.

Fusion Gates is once again proud to participate in a fundraising campaign for The Pink Fund during the month of October.  We chose The Pink Fund because, like Fusion Gates, they believe that harmonious living is possible even in the midst of challenging circumstances. They strive to lessen the worry and support a smooth transition from one moment to the next. 

With the help of our customers' gate purchases last October, Fusion Gates proudly donated $1000 to The Pink Fund's mission of giving non-medical financial support to breast cancer patients during active treatment.  Funds raised go towards paying everyday bills like rent, utilities, car and health insurance allowing these patients to focus on where it counts…healing.

"If The Pink Fund wasn't there to help during that time, we may not have a home." ~Ty Weaver

How you can make a difference? Three ways:

1. Log onto The Pink Fund’s website and make a donation.
2. Purchase a Fusion Gate -- any gate, any style, any size -- and we will donate $10 of the purchase directly to The Pink Fund.
3. Purchase Fusion Gates' Songbirds in Pink art screen and we will donate an additional $10 to The Pink Fund.

Go to thepinkfund.org for more information.

“
ZEN - that state of mind where we feel worry-free, peaceful and relaxed.

It’s been proven that dogs increase the levels of positivity in homes as well as help us to be more connected emotionally, more social and show more empathy.

Animals boost our spirits and just makes us feel better. When they excitedly greet us at the door, we’re given a euphoric feeling of happiness that overcomes us and instantly changes our mood. Whether our body is in motion or sitting still in thought our dog can relax us. Experts say there is a scientific reason for that.

According to a recent article on healthguide.org, “Dogs in particular can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Caring for a dog can help children grow up more secure and active or provide valuable companionship for older adults. Perhaps most importantly, though, a dog can add real joy and unconditional love to your life.”

When the Fusion Gates team came across the Dog is Good’s new Dog is my Zen design at a recent trade show, we knew it belonged in our collection of screens. Its design and message follows perfectly with our goal of creating inspired and harmonious spaces. Plus, it made us smile. The Dog is my Zen art screen was created using warm red and gold hues with artwork symbolizing life-force, preservation and all things sacred.

Dog is Good is a Dog lifestyle company that creates gifts and apparel for dog lovers. Located in Los Alamitos, CA, the company delivers messaging that resonates with and inspires dog lovers. With clever and poignant sentiments, they remind us all how great it feels to be with Dog.

Think about pairing the Dog is my Zen gate with our Chi inspired SunStar design...

"
Nameste

Yes, Fusion Gates is dedicated to harmonious living. But I have to admit, using our dog and baby gates to symbolize a well-spirited rivalry amongst sports fans....well that's something we couldn't resist. Our DIY screen gives our customers the opportunity to passionately express the love they have for their sport, team and city. The best part is the interchangeability of our screens! It allows fans to show their team spirit throughout each sports season, from baseball to football to baseball and every sport in between.

We sports fans just love to get our babes and pups into the game! Check out these two cute articles we found celebrating true "fanhood" amongst Cleveland Indian Fans and Chicago Cub fans.

Not an artist...no worries! Here are some super simple ideas to put a little spirit in the places you share with like-minded fans. All of the major leagues MLB, NFL, NASCAR have online shops that sell official licensed products from decals, clings and stickers that can bring your gate to life. Add your own personal touch using window markers, paint and colored duct tape found at some of our favorite craft stores like Michael's and JoAnn's. ...great for adding decorative borders in your team colors.

We also found that patches and pennants can be a very cool medium for designing a screen with some depth and personality. There's a great site called patchcollection.com that has an amazing selection of licensed logos and graphics for just about any sport and/or team. Don't forget about Etsy and Ebay...more terrific places to look for vintage memorabilia (baseball cards, school letters...) that can add a unique twist to your sport gate making it a true show piece in your home.

Is there a Super Fan in your home? Don't forget the holidays are coming up. Consider giving yourself or your loved one a one-of-a-kind DIY gift they'll enjoy for a lifetime. Call us and we can brainstorm together.

We would love to see what you would do with with your sports-themed DIY Fusion Gate! Share with us by emailing a photo of your creation or posting to Facebook, Instagram & more.

Now, back to the game....

From country wheat fields and ginkgo lined streets to ancient and modernistic architecture, our Fall 2016 Art Screen collection is a spirited study in the duality of nature and stone.

Have you ever had that moment where you find yourself sitting in your favorite room trying to decide what color of metal element you'd like to incorporate and how? We know that might be a deciding factor for purchasing a Fusion Gate, so, we've put together some great tips we think will help you decide. Read through them and let us know what you think.

1. What finish does your current hardware have?

If your current hardware is in satin nickel, silver or black, making this decision may be easy for you. Your Fusion Gate can be easily matched to your current hard and will fit harmoniously alongside your current decor. However, if you have another finish, such as gold, bronze or stainless, or, if you are hoping to use your Fusion Gate as an accent piece, there are a few additional things to consider.

2. Are there silver or black accents throughout your space?

So, maybe you have a different finish in your home or are hoping to mix a black gate with satin nickel hardware? No worries! This can be done simply by adding a few additional accents to the room. If you are bringing a satin nickel gate into a space filled with gold, black or bronze hardware, add a few satin nickel or silver picture frames or candle sticks to other corners of the space. Black does have an advantage, because as we already know - it's everyone's favorite neutral. However, if you choose to bring in a black gate, make sure there are dark hues throughout, so it will complement your space. 

3. What is your current color scheme? Neutral, warm, cool or vibrantly mixed?

Satin nickel fits in perfectly with rooms of gray-shakes, looks great up against dark and dreamy hues such as navy and black and provides the perfect accent to rooms full of bright colors. Black, on the other hand, functions as a neutral and will stand strong amidst any lighter color palette.

These are are thoughts. What are yours? Do you have any great suggestions or color combinations you would suggest? We'd love to hear them in our comments below.

That’s right!  Our pets are much more sensitive to external stimuli, such as noise, than we are.  While we enjoy the festive fireworks, dogs can be truly frightened by their loud popping.  So, show your pup how much you care by keeping them at home and inside during the 4th of July display - also consider turning on a radio or tv to drown out the scary sounds.  

2.  Don’t share your bug spray or sunscreen.  

Unless specifically made to be shared with furry friends, these products can be extremely toxic.   So, if you will be spending a lot of time outside with your pet, invest in sunscreen or bug spray made just for them.

3. Beware of the heat.  

Like noises, pets are also sensitive to extreme temperatures.   Not only can high temps result in a heat stroke for your pup, but the baked pavement can burn their precious paws.  When spending time in the heat with your pet, be sure to have plenty of water at their access, watch them for signs of heat stroke, and do not leave them locked in the car - even for a short period of time.   

4.  Keep all hazardous items out of reach.  

Yes, yes, self explanatory - we know, but everyone needs a reminder before we get distracted with planning the perfect 4th of July Barbeque.  Don’t forget that citronella candles and a number of other decorations fall under this category.

5. Be a minimalist about holiday treats.

We like special treats for special days, and our dogs do, too!  Another thing we have in common is our ability to experience extreme indigestion from even just one unusual meal.  Since most of our furry friends are without self-control, especially in the area of diet, help them avoid tummy trouble by: sticking to just one or two simple treats, using recipes with all-natural ingredients, and avoiding any of the foods that can be potentially toxic to animals, i.e. avocados, grapes, coffee, chocolate, etc.