This piece is an excerpt from our 2026 Summer Digital Catalog. View the entire catalog for more features like this.
A Focus on the Niche
An Interview with Briana Menendez
Founder of LUNA
The homes we create are an expression of who we are, yet for pet owners, there has long been a disconnect between high-end design and animal furniture.
For Briana Menendez, owner of LUNA, the gap in the market was obvious: while dog products had modernized, the cat space had remained stagnant.
"There hasn't been as much disruption in the cat furniture and accessories space. Cat trees look the same as they did forty years ago. When I adopted my cats, I couldn’t find beds for them that aligned with my own aesthetic. That gap was actually what sparked me to create LUNA."
As the daughter of an architect and an interior designer, Briana grew up with the belief that the homes we create and adorn are an expression of who we are. “There’s something powerful in creating a space that reflects what you value and how you want to feel in it.”
Briana also views pets as a core part of the family and the home. “They bring so much warmth, comfort and personality to our lives. I wanted to create furniture that not only
provides utility, but also reflects what they bring us, without owners having to compromise on style.”
The Tradeoffs of
Domestic Production
Choosing to manufacture in the United States is rarely the easiest route, especially when competing against mass- produced alternatives. For Briana, staying local was about
maintaining a level of quality and collaboration that simply cannot be replicated overseas.
"Labor and materials cost a lot more here, up to five times from the research that I've done. But the tradeoff is quality and trust.
Being able to speak directly with the manufacturers and collaborate on tweaks while keeping the integrity of the design intact felt important to me. Producing in the U.S. made that possible."
This dedication to design quality and manufacturing integrity meant it took two years of prototypes and trial and error before the first production run. "It’s not just humans that have to approve; cats have to as well. They are really picky. I had to figure out the right size so they feel cozy but can also stretch out."
"I would rather create one piece that people get to love for years than something that they have to replace every season. Small business are built on people’s time, care and the risk they are personally willing to take.
Every order genuinely matters."
In a world that prioritizes convenience and scale, LUNA products are built on a different
set of values. Briana doesn't focus on convincing people to pay more for quality; she
focuses on finding the right buyer who already understands the worth of handmade goods.
When someone buys from LUNA, they support a network of American makers, from sheepskin suppliers in Washington to furniture builders in North Carolina. "You're helping keep that creativity, craftsmanship and passion alive."
