Here at Stray Dog, we're not just about creating beautiful pieces for your home; we're also about fostering connections with our amazing community of customers.
Today, we're thrilled to shine the spotlight on one such cherished member: Retno Hadiatmodjo. Her name brings a smile to our faces in the office so you can imagine how excited we are to introduce you to her!
Join us as we dive into an uplifting conversation with Retno and learn more about the person behind the positivity that brightens our comment and product review sections. 
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where do you live? What do you do for fun?
My name is Retno Hadiatmodjo, and I am a NYC-based jewelry designer and gemologist for a small boutique called Soho Gem. I love design and interiors and am passionate about animal rights, especially dog-related ones! My husband, Ed Madson, and I recently rescued and adopted two dogs. A young and energetic Cocker Spaniel named Kobi and an adorable 12-year-old blind Chihuahua named Ms. Piggy. We live in Milton, a small farming village in the Hudson Valley. One of our favorite things is taking our dogs walking and exploring the country’s shopping scenes in nearby Beacon. They have a fantastic specialty donut shop called Peaceful Provisions. Everything is made by hand from scratch, using high-quality ingredients. We love their delicious jam-filled donuts. The jams are sourced locally from Beth’s Farm Kitchen in Old Chatham, New York.
How would you describe your personal style? How do Stray Dog products complement it?
Regarding décor, my personal style is joyfully organic, eclectic, sophisticated, collected, and laid-back. Along with our cherished lamps, furniture, and other accessories from Stray Dog Designs, our home is filled with vintage pieces that add to our life story. With a busy household and two dogs, my aim is a livable, loveable dwelling. Nothing here is too precious. One of Ed and Kobi’s favorites is our delicious velvet sofa from Sabai Design. Their rich, buttery, washable slipcovers are forgiving and created using 100% recycled plastic water bottles. We also absolutely adore everything we bought from Stray Dog Designs. I have learned it is always worth saving money to buy an artfully and thoughtfully crafted, one-of-a-kind, handmade piece. Whenever somebody visits our home, they almost always notice the lively, happy, and vivid colors from our Stray Dog collection. We are proud to buy from small businesses like Stray Dog Designs, whose mission and values align closely with ours. Every good offered is made using safe, earth-friendly, and natural ingredients. Plus, each purchase creates jobs and builds homes for the small, vital artisan communities and families in need in Mexico. Finally, Jane Gray and Bill Pritchard believe in rescuing stray dogs. Stray Dog Designs was born and built during their adventures with their stray dog, La Princessa.
What is your favorite Stray Dog product?
This is an almost impossible question to answer! It would be my Stray Dog Pink Sarah Table Lamp. I scrimped and saved all my pennies. One day, my patience finally paid off, and I saw it was selling for less than $400. Score!
What was your first Stray Dog purchase?
I will never forget the first time I came across Stray Dog Designs almost twenty years ago. I saw a pair of the Antiguan Sky Doug Buffet Table Lamps featured in HGTV’s Dream Home Giveaway, and I knew I had to have it! It took me almost two years to save enough money, and let me tell you, they are worth every penny!
What keeps you coming back to our brand?
It’s true. I am the first to admit I am a Stray Dog Designs addict! I have a penchant for eschewing everything mass-produced in favor of things handmade. Plus, as a breast cancer survivor, I believe life is meant to be lived boldly with vibrant colors and joy! Enough of the neutral, bland creams, grey, and beige design trends. Let’s celebrate and embrace Stray Dog Colors from Bahamian Sea Blue, Chartreuse, and Lemongrass to Pumpkin Blush and Twilight Magenta. I promise you - they are all simply delicious.
Do you have your eye on any products that you’d love to have in your home?
Yes! I just ordered Stray Dog’s newest arrival, Tina Dual Mount Ceiling Light and Wall Sconce in Eraser Pink with Pumpkin Blush Trim, for our guest bedroom. It has three tiers of flower petals that can be used in two ways: as a ceiling light or a wall sconce. The hardest part is that everything is made to order, so you must wait several weeks. I can’t wait to rip the box apart when it finally comes!
Is there something you’d love to see from Stray Dog in the future?
One of the earlier lamps I bought from Stray Dog Designs was made from thick, recycled, hand-blown glass. They were beautifully imperfect and organic; you can see the bubbles and circular points where it was handblown. I would also love to see if Jane and Billy will open a shop where we can buy and take home your Stray Dog piece right away.
In one word, how does Stray Dog make you feel?
That’s an easy one: joy!
