Our 1,600sqft: The owners of NYC's oldest dog boutique mix classic styles on Central Park West

Mark Drendel and Chad Conway, owners of Canine Styles, New York City's oldest dog boutique, reside in a 1,600-square-foot apartment within the Art Deco Central Park West building, The Century. Their design philosophy for both their business and home centers on a blend of traditional, classic, and up-to-date styles. Their recently renovated apartment in The Century showcases a deliberate fusion of the building's inherent Art Deco architecture with their contemporary art collection, modern furnishings, and a curated selection of antiques spanning from the 18th century to the 1960s. This eclectic approach creates an environment that aims to transcend a specific era or city, offering a unique and fashionable aesthetic. The couple met 21 years ago on Fire Island and, despite their initial downtown preference, relocated to the Upper West Side for their son's schooling. They emphasize the importance of having a country house in Connecticut, which serves as a traditional, "fluffed" contrast to their streamlined Manhattan apartment, allowing their son to experience a different environment. Their New York City routine includes frequent dining at local favorites like Café Luxemburg and Fiorello’s, and they appreciate the convenience and cultural offerings of their Central Park West location, including Lincoln Center. Their apartment is also a venue for small dinner parties, hosting six to eight guests a few times a month. Mark Drendel acquired Canine Styles 30 years prior to this interview, a business founded in 1959. He began as a retail employee and, with a background in retail and a lifelong affection for dogs, seized the opportunity to purchase the store. The business transformed significantly after Chad joined, leading to the creation of their own product line approximately 16 years ago. This expansion into manufacturing propelled Canine Styles into the wholesale pet market and enabled the acquisition of additional retail locations on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, leveraging existing grooming clienteles. The original Canine Styles store, an old-school establishment on the Upper East Side, was known for its distinguished clientele, including figures like Andy Warhol and Princess Grace. The Upper East Side's demographic, though slightly younger, has retained a sense of generational continuity, with past child customers now returning with their own families and pets. Canine Styles recently expanded its original store, doubling its size, and the design aimed for a traditional, on-trend aesthetic, allowing the products themselves to introduce color and speak to the brand's identity. The brand's signature item is a proprietary plaid, used across collars, leashes, harnesses, coats, and bedding. They also produce their own line of beds, creating limited runs of fabrics that are not typically repeated, excluding the plaid. A specialized workshop in Long Island City produces small quantities of high-end, couture dog products using remnant luxury fabrics, including bespoke dog carriers made from materials like cashmere, alligator, or ostrich. Their dogs, Katie and Izzy, enjoy the freedom of their Connecticut home, though Izzy is a devoted lap dog who accompanies them everywhere. Mark and Chad acknowledge their fortune in establishing a successful life in New York City, a place that offers both challenges and opportunities for those who find their niche. #HomeTour #CentralParkWest #ArtDeco #InteriorDesign #CanineStyles #UpperWestSide #NYCRealEstate #EclecticDecor #LuxuryLiving #HomeTour #CentralParkWest #ArtDeco #InteriorDesign #CanineStyles #UpperWestSide #NYCRealEstate #EclecticDecor #LuxuryLiving

94 months ago

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