I love me some cowhides.
I know this is not always fashionable to say and that some folks have real issues with dead cow skin on the floor. There is a certain ick factor, but if there wasn’t creepy weird crap in my house I just couldn’t decorate. Cowhide rugs are durable, easy to clean, super flat, protect the floors, and my dog is way to scared of them to piss on it – so awesome all around!
They can also be super affordable and cover a large area with a nice organic shape. Rugs can be quite pricey – especially for something over six feet. Most cowhides are about 6×7 feet and can be bought for under $200. Ebay always has a great selection with free shipping, and if you live in a metropolitan area your local garment district or craigslist is a great resource for cowhides that can usually be bought for under $100. I mean jeez even Ikea is carrying them. I saw one Kolby cowhide at Ikea a few weeks ago that was so beautiful, all black and HUGE with thicker hair. It was actually pretty fantastic, but I’m not sure worth the $249 price tag.
The Thunderbird Hotel in Marfa Texas is really inspiring me right now. I love the clean lines, simple materials and real comfy minimalism that is happening in all of their designs. Simple, elegant, and chic with lots of cowhide!
