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Design is design, says Randy Higgins of the Felt Hat studio in Portland, no matter who it’s for.

鈥淚’m trying to get people to say the word 鈥榙esign’ without qualifying it as graphic or interior or architectural,鈥� he said. 鈥淒esign is a verb 鈥� a way of thinking and getting information and developing a course of action. Design’s general rules apply to anything.鈥�

That is why the Felt Hat, which has provided interior design for multiple high-end men’s stores, didn’t need to alter its design principles for a recent pet store project, Higgins said.

鈥淎ll retail is relationships, and we’re trying to help them with their relationships,鈥� he said.

The key to a great design is a great idea, Higgins said, noting that he worked closely with project owner Laura Amiton to help fulfill her dream of opening a pet store that features all-natural and locally sourced products, a tasting room for dogs and even a drive-thru window for pickups.

Though the store, The Filling Station Pet Supplies in Tigard, has food and supplies for all kinds of animals, extra provisions are given for dogs. The interior was designed to provide a 鈥渄og’s-eye鈥� view.

鈥淲hen humans shop they also bring their animals in, and we tried to make the space feel more comfortable for the animals,鈥� Higgins said.

In heeding advice of animal behaviorists, display shelves were raised off the floor to provide a canine sight line.

鈥淚n a typical grocery store the shelves go to the floor, which creates a maze where (dogs) can hear and smell but not see,鈥� Higgins said. 鈥淏y raising them up, (dogs) can come into a large space and see the whole area.鈥�

People are welcome to hang out in the store with their dogs, and there are plenty of places, including a 鈥渄en鈥� area, where dogs can hang out on carpeted areas and play with toys.

Pets can also sample foods in a special tasting area. Amiton’s store, which opened in July, specializes in providing the right food for each pet, Higgins said. The tasting area allows animals to taste certain food blends, and their owners can take home samples.

When pet owners want to pick up food or other products, they can do so via a drive-thru window 鈥撀燼nd get their windows washed at the same time. While washing customers’ windows is just a fun service, Amiton said she carefully researched what services customers want in a pet store by talking to people all over the area.

鈥淭hey wanted a smaller footprint, convenience to where they shop and for staff to be knowledgeable,鈥� she said.

The store has met those needs and much more, Amiton said, thanks to collaboration with the folks at the Felt Hat.

鈥淲e wanted to have a pet store that felt and looked different from what anyone had seen before,鈥� she said. 鈥淥thers were either too cramped or kind of like a warehouse, so they came up with a wonderful, thoughtful design approach.鈥�

For example, Higgins came up with the idea for a 鈥渢aster wall,鈥� where samples of different food products are displayed, Amiton said.

鈥淭here’s one for dog food and one for cat food, and you can look at what the shapes of the food look like and get information on the kinds of food,鈥� she said.

Although Amiton wanted a comfortable setting, the space felt smaller than its 3,000 square feet, she said, because of low ceilings. The design team responded by raising half of the ceiling to expose the existing roof deck and leaving the other half lowered for a pantry-like setting with food items. Large photographs of animals are featured in a frieze along upper portions of walls.

The contrast in ceiling height works, Higgins said, because 鈥渂y making two different spaces, one intimate and tall and the other shorter, it adds complexity and interest.鈥�

In addition to the pet store’s interior, the Felt Hat designed its logo, website and branding strategy.

Higgins, whose wife is a veterinarian, said he has 鈥渢oo many animals鈥� but catering to their needs was part of his design incentive.

鈥淚’m used to hanging out with animals and so are Laura and her staff and customers,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s a growing thing that in pet ownership they’re more like parts of the family, and we wanted to cater to them like you would cater to any other family member.鈥�