Cowhide rug, yes or no...

We are looking for some new carpets in our home and when I saw a cowhide rug the other day my husband's reaction was: 'no way we get a dead animal in our home'...and I agree this is not a nice idea (although he is certainly not vegetarian) but when seeing it again today in a room like this then I perhaps re-consider...what do you think? found via this nice thumblelog and the images come from this gorgeous shoot.

Comments

[Lisette]

Cowhides are simply gorgeous - I have always loved them. But now that I am doing up my new home, I am also in a quandary about actually getting one... it is part of a dead animal after all. It will be a toss between ethics and style!

[Pethra]

As far as the ethical aspect I have no concerns since I also eat meat. I have twocowhides at home and I love them!

[Karin]

I don't think I ever would get one into my home. Partly because of the ethics, partly because I think my children would look at me as if I were nuts and partly because I just don't see it with me. On the other hand, looking at some pictures of houses completely styled with such a cowhide almost makes me reconsider. It looks great in some interiors!

[Heather Moore]

That's a Nguni hide! They're the cattle of the Zulu nation, and people traditionally measured their wealth in them. There's an amazing book called the Abundant Herds with beautiful paintings of Nguni cattle. See images here: http://www.michaelstevenson.com/contemporary/exhibitions/voigt/voigt.htm

So, it's lovely, but I don't think I could have one in my home, especially as I don't eat meat!

[Mandi Johnson]

In the interest of the cow, I would say no... haha But I think it looks fabulous! If I were a guest, it might creep me out a bit. :)

[diana]

Uhmmm, no. Not because of the dead cow ( we have two lamb rugs beside our bed (that's even worse right?), and optically I like the idea, but I don't think much of them as a rug: Not soft, not particularly nice on the feet, they tend to curl at the edges and are a bit "unruly".
Anyway: The carpet thing is a difficult one! Good luck!

[mijk]

Completely confused by this.I mean if you eat meat you probably wear cowhides on your feet right now. Or have a leather wallet. All parts of cow. Why is a hide different? I don't have a hide because I know how much damage my dog did to the reindeerhide I had and loved ;(

[Nikki]

why not try and find a good fake one? Probably just as nice and perhaps even cheaper?

[Marion Pannekoek]

It curls and is not nice and thick and it ages really fast.(the hairs fall out) And it looks fairly realistic as a cow...yes...I don't eat meat but still think they look nice!

[Vanilla Press]

I think it looks fantastic...hopefully they use the hide from the cows that are already used for meat...!x

[manvi@mochatini]

I never thought I would get one until I saw some in argentina. they were so lovely, and i ended up with one that is rectangle and has hide patches. I simply love it. it doesnt curl or shed. Its gorgeous.

[sab]

I'm with your husband on the "no way". And personally I don't think ethics and style should ever have to compete.

[Andrea]

I think they look great in certain places/rooms. I think it fits the room in the picture perfectly. Really depends on the rest of your decor. They definitely do not have the cushy comfy warm feel to them a shaggy rug would, but they can look cool!

[hena tayeb]

A total meat eater here too.. and i think it depends on the style of the room and it's uses.. i can't see it fitting into my home.. i'm more of a shaggy rug person.. but it might work for you.

[Etty]

Dead animal in the house... not so cool. But if it is an animal that has also been eaten and it is not on its way to extinction then I think its a bit more ethical.

[yasmine]

i personally use animal parts if it is a "need" or if it second hand. though i don't necessarily condemn others who use it. it's not my style though. plus my dogs would end up chewing it anyway. eep.

[Georgia]

Our friend had one and my two boys were sitting on it while playing a computer game-it started shedding like mad and looked as though it had been attacked-months later they are sill vacuuming up hairs.

[simplygrove]

I think they look fabulous. They are not the softest rugs but they look great!

[Betty Beatrix]

I think it looks fabulous in room styled with fresh colors and clean lines. They aren't super plush, but that is what makes them so minimal seeming despite the big pattern. And as far as ethics, I am sure that you could find a "vegan" remake that doesn't use an actual cow, if you decide on it. The pictures say it all...beautiful.

[Carla Vallverde]

There are pretty nice fake ones! I would not dare to put my feet over one! But.. well it depends on the person..

[Mallie]

If you like the look for what ever reason, I am sure you could find a fake one to enhance the look of the room just as well, would never put a real one in my home under any circumstances. And can't understand any one who would. Like the look, but don't use the real thing. The way things are today and what we have done to ourselves, the earth and the animals who live here is ridiculous to say the least. Let's move a little quicker world to a higher level of thinking.

[Victoria]

Go for it. They look great. I have a cow hide rug in my living room. Its one of our best purchases. Looks fantastic. Doesn't shed. Goes so well in our room that's styled around wood and leather. Love it.

[jenn]

My only concern with cowhide rugs is...what chemicals are they treated with? Some of them are treated with some pretty harsh stuff that I wouldn't want in my house where my pets (or small kids) could come in contact with it.

[Janne]

I had the same qualms before I got mine. I'm very happy with it. And it's not quite as beautiful as the one in your post.

[Claudia]

I'm surprised how much I like the way the hide looks in that room. I agree with jenn about knowing the chemicals used in the tanning process, but then again, if I researched all the items in my house, I have the feeling I'd be depressed and living in the woods...

That's not to say it isn't a valid concern - choose your battles. It's the only way to navigate things sometimes.

[Zohar]

I am no vegetarian either, I like leather goods but there's something about things that look like the animal that just makes me cringe. I can not buy anything with scales no matter how gorgeous it is and I guess the same goes for this rug. Yes it looks pretty in that room setting but still, there's something ick about it...

[Abigail Percy@abigail*ryan]

I love the look of cowhide rugs, so does the Mister...so, if we ever had the budget for one {and accompanying lovely wooden floors!} I think we would certainly get one.

As they are a by-product of the meat-industry, I think it is great that every part of an animal gets used. It means that their death is put to the greatest of uses and no part is unnecessarily wasted... I can understand why a vegetarian would opt out, but, as a meat eater - I am fine with using something that comes out of that industry.

I think they are beautiful...

[Suzanne]

I saw them in Argentina and loved them...and have kicked myself ever since for not buying one, I think they are beautiful.

[crystine]

eeew. we have drums with the hide of an animal...all i can say is that the moths LOVE them. They nest in there, lay eggs, hatch...you get the idea. Eeew.

[John]

I think cowhide rugs are very beautiful alternatives for area rugs. The nice thing about it is that they are all unique and your friens will never have the exact same one. I have bought a couple of cow hide rugs from www.eCowhides.com and the good thing about their website is that you can pick the one you will receive and not one that look similar to the picture. They also have a large collection of pillows and furnitures.

[Alexis Garrett]

YES! The cowhide rug I got when we were first married was our first interior design dispute. Now it is one of my husband's favorite pieces in our home. We even branded it with a brand that someone had made us for our wedding.

[Coco]

I recently bought a cowhide for my bedroom. So probably not many people will see it and find me onethical ;) but we also have a leather sofa and chairs and I have leather shoes and we eat lots of meat.... so I don't think it is on-ethical at all.