How I Built a Hidden Dog Bowl Station for Ollie & Malibu (With Five Kids, a Full House, and a Lot of Faith)

June 9, 2025
Pets

If you’ve ever tripped over a dog bowl with a laundry basket in your arms while a toddler yells “MOMMMM” from the other room… this one’s for you, friend.

Let’s be honest: home gets messy.

Welcome to our real-life circus—where I’m raising five beautiful kids, wrangling two big dogs (Ollie and Malibu). Through designing beautiful, functional spaces, I’ve learned to spot the small daily annoyances—and design around them.

One of those annoyances? The dog bowls.

They lived in our main hallway. You know, the one every kid runs through 90 times a day? We were constantly stepping over them. Ollie, my tall pup, was basically in downward dog trying to eat. Malibu’s bowl slid all over the floor. And I thought:

There has to be a better way.

And friend? There was.

The Problem: Two Tall Dogs, One Tight Hallway

I love Ollie and Malibu like they’re my sixth and seventh children. But their feeding setup? Wasn’t cutting it.

We had dog bowls sliding around on the floor, constantly being kicked over by barefoot kids, and cluttering up the hallway we all walk through a hundred times a day. And let’s be honest—when you have five kids, space is sacred.

Plus, Ollie is tall. Watching him hunch over to eat made me wince every time. Malibu’s a bit shorter, but she’s still no lap dog.

So I did what any DIY-loving, determined mama would do: I asked God for a little inspiration… and grabbed my drill.

The Vision: Hide It, Elevate It, Make It Pretty

I wanted something that:

  • Hid the bowls completely when not in use
  • Fit Ollie’s height for more comfortable feeding
  • Worked with the rhythm of our home, not against it
  • Looked beautiful, like it belonged in our space

And then it came to me: a recessed, built-in dog bowl station hidden behind a picture frame. Yup. Like Narnia for dog kibble.

The Build: Step-by-Step Guide (So You Can Make One Too!)

If You’ve Got Pets and a Busy Home, This One’s for You

Imagine:

  • No more bowls in the way
  • No more spills on the floor
  • A feeding station that disappears when you’re done using it

Now imagine building it yourself—with just a few tools and one weekend.

This project wasn’t just about aesthetics. It solved a real-life problem in a really beautiful way. And that’s what I want for you, too.

What You’ll Get From This DIY

🧡 More usable space in tight areas
 🧡 A feeding solution that fits your pet’s needs
 🧡 A design you can be proud of (and show off!)
 🧡 The satisfaction of solving a problem creatively

This is more than just a tutorial. It’s a reminder that you can design a home that works for you—without waiting for someone else to fix it.

Let’s Build It – Step-by-Step

Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
 Cost: Around $40 if you have basic tools
 Time: 1 weekend (or two nap times 😉)

✅ Supplies & Tools

Materials:

Tools:

🪜 STEP 1: FIND YOUR WALL SPACE

I picked the hallway because it’s our only logical spot, but you can use a mudroom, laundry room, or even kitchen nook. Just make sure there are no studs, pipes, or wires in your chosen area. Use a stud finder and mark the space between two studs.

Pro tip: Standard studs are spaced 16 inches apart. That’s your opening.

✂️ STEP 2: CUT INTO THE DRYWALL

Score the outline with a utility knife, then carefully cut through with a drywall saw. Save the piece—you might need it as a backing template later.

Inside, I cleared the cavity and vacuumed out any dust (bonus: very satisfying).

🪚 STEP 3: BUILD YOUR BOX

Using plywood, I measured and cut:

  • 2 side pieces (height of the opening)
  • 1 back piece (width between studs)
  • 1 bottom shelf (to hold the bowls)
  • 1 front flap (this becomes the drop-down station)

Secure everything with wood glue and screws. Sand edges. I painted mine white to blend in, but you can stain or color match to your space.

🔩 STEP 4: ADD THE DROP-DOWN PLATFORM

Here’s where the magic happens:

  • Attach the flap with cabinet hinges at the bottom
  • Add your chains on each side to keep it from falling flat
  • Add a small latch or magnet so it clicks shut when not in use

Inside the flap, I added a little wooden lip to keep bowls from sliding, and a removable insert in case I want to clean or swap bowls later.

🖼 STEP 5: MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL

To hide the whole thing, I hung a lightweight picture frame over it using a French cleat. You could also hinge the frame itself to open outward if that fits your space better.

We used a cute family photo that brings joy every time I walk by—even when the hallway’s a mess.

🐶 STEP 6: ADD THE GOOD STUFF (LIKE PRIMAL)

Once it was done, I filled the bowl with Primal Pet Foods Kibble in the Raw Chicken Recipe—Ollie and Malibu’s absolute favorite. I love it because:

  • It’s freeze-dried = less mess, more nutrients
  • It’s packed with real, raw ingredients
  • It supports healthy digestion and energy

I only want the best for them—and this is it. Primal is part of our family now.

Life With the Hidden Dog Bowl Station

Now, when it’s mealtime, I just open the flap, pour in their food, and close it back up when they’re done. No tripping. No mess. No clutter.

And when guests come over? It’s like it was never there. Just a cute frame on the wall, and two happy pups snoozing nearby.

If You’ve Been Waiting for a Sign—This Is It

This is your permission to:

  • Try something new
  • Take control of your space
  • Solve the little problems that make your day harder
  • Make your home love you back

DIY isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about saying, “I can do this.”

And friend, you can.

With love, paint under my nails, and two dogs at my feet,
 Abby 💕
 Abby Road Home
 “Do It Yourself doesn’t mean doing it alone.”