The Liebling is an awesome new dog bed in Hong Kong created by interior designer BRITTA BUTLER. Britta founded B Squared Design in Hong Kong in 2014 after seeing a gap in the market for a boutique design firm that could handle an entire project from conceptual design through to construction administration. Since then, her studio has completed many high-end residential and F&B projects in HK.
Over the course of those projects, Britta came to notice a real lack of well-made and good-looking dog beds in Hong Kong that she could use in the spaces she created for her clients. She initially spent an age trying to source something that would work. Finally, though, she decided to come up with one on her own!
“I’ve been designing custom furniture for my clients for many years,” says Britta. “So the overall process for making the Liebling was very similar. It started out with a lot of sketching – I’m still ‘old school’ like that! I created prototypes, tested samples for durability, wear and so on, and finally making a product for real-life dogs to use and approve.”
The biggest challenge, she adds, was creating something that was functional and hygienic while also representing her own high standards for a well designed piece of furniture.
Comfy & customisable dog beds
Clearly, she has achieved this mix with the Liebling. The bed is fully customisable. You choose the size, bed frame material, base tone and cushion colour so that it seamlessly fits into the aesthetic of your home. The pillow is filled with hypoallergenic shredded latex that is especially good for dogs’ joints. Also, the cover is machine washable for easy cleaning, and the bed frame can be easily wiped down with a damp cloth if there are any “accidents”.
“The Liebling dog bed comes in three sizes, so it can fit anything from a Miniature Poodle to a Chow Chow,” says Britta. “The dogs love the curve of the frame, as it provides support and comfort. They also like that it’s raised off the floor, keeping them cooler. It’s like their very own personal sofa!”
Of course, only a “dog person” could devote so much care and attention to creating a perfect sleep solution for a hound – and that describes Britta through and through.
“My pug, Simba, recently crossed the rainbow bridge, but I love that he lives on in photos of the Liebling,” she says. “I still have his sister, a Frenchie named Nala. I adopted her as the runt of her litter. She is a quirky, funny little girl who does a great job protecting me on walks in Stanley from dangerous things like blowing leaves.”
At the risk of annoying Nala, is there anything in the pipeline for cats? “I’ve actually had someone order a Liebling for their cat, so it’s not just for dogs! Eventually, the plan is to design an entire pet line for the home.”
About the brand name
“A little-known fact about me is that my first language was German. So, even though I grew up in the US, that was what we spoke around the house. When we got our dog, Linus, he was trained entirely in German. A common nickname in German (especially for pets) is Liebling. It means loved one or darling. So when it was time to come up with a name for my dog bed, that seemed like the perfect choice.”
The Liebling is available online at theliebling.com.
This article on a new dog bed in Hong Kong first appeared in the Autumn 2025 issue of Expat Living magazine. Enjoyed this? You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
