I’ve always liked the look of layered rugs and had been thinking of adding another one to our master bedroom ever since we moved the faux cowhide we bought for our last house upstairs to the boys’ room. Once I decided on another hide rug, I had waffled back and forth on whether I wanted to go with the real deal or not. But, when my friends at Lulu & Georgia offered to help me out with a new rug for our master bedroom update, I decided to go with their blackout cowhide rug.
After now owning both a real and a fake, I can tell you there’s no comparison in the texture. It definitely feels like a little luxury for our room. The blackout cowhide has a beautiful sheen and is super soft. Everyone here agrees:
I know people usually have pretty strong opinions on whether they do or don’t like using hide rugs. To me, I feel like they often add a little something unexpected and keep a room from looking too fussy. And, I love how the black adds some much needed contrast to the lighter bedding, walls and curtains:
What do you think of using hide rugs? Friend or faux? ;)
In case you haven’t checked out Lulu & Georgia yet, they’ve also just launched a gift shop in time for the holidays. (Artwork, mugs, design books, custom cutting boards, etc.—lots of good stuff!) And, they’re offering my readers 20% off the entire site (gift shop and everything else!) through this weekend:
Coupon code good through Sunday, Oct. 13th. Happy shopping!
(Thanks to Lulu & Georgia for providing the rug for this post.)
Dana Frieling says
October 8, 2013 at 1:03 pmI have both and I agree, this is not a place to skimp. Real is definitely the way to go!
Erin and Laura House Envy says
October 8, 2013 at 1:28 pmReal is the way to go and I love the black color choice! Erin
Kimber McGallagher says
October 8, 2013 at 1:37 pmLooks excellent. Love the black. :)
Jae says
October 8, 2013 at 1:40 pmI have a black and white cowhide in my dining room. They are very stain resistant! I love it so much I bought a smaller cream hide for my office. Definitely seems luxurious!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
October 8, 2013 at 1:59 pmI have a real hide rug in my living room and I l.o.v.e. it! It feels so good under my toes, and it’s indestructible. About to purchase another to layer under my kitchen table! Your bedroom is so pretty and cozy, Emily! I really like how you’ve mixed the navy and some black together.
Caroline Nolazco says
October 8, 2013 at 2:01 pmI love it! Saving this for our dream home for sure
Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies says
October 8, 2013 at 2:37 pmI have two! One is mostly black with a little white and the other mostly black. Both are real! Love them. One is in our Foyer and the other under my desk in the dining area of our kitchen. They are very visible in the pictures on my blog of my home.
Little Bitty Damn Houze says
October 8, 2013 at 2:52 pmI have a REAL bear skin with the head and claws courtesy of my father who hunted it many, many years ago in Canada. I requested it since he no longer has it displayed. However, it is much too large big for my Little Bitty house! :( I would LOVE to display it if I had the space! Your rug looks nice, however, the wrinkles would grate on my nerves! :)
Jennifer BNHblog says
October 8, 2013 at 3:01 pmI love cowhide rugs (the real ones) and have a black and white one for our living room. I was surprised when I got it how luxurious it felt! My little one loves laying on it, too!
Amanda says
October 8, 2013 at 3:06 pmit looks beautiful. Your whole room is amazing!! and I too am a friend of the cowhide- the real deal i say- hey if people are going to continue to eat hamburgers then why no recycle those skins. I say lets not let the cow die in vain!
Carmel - Our Fifth House says
October 8, 2013 at 3:25 pmLove it and it looks so great in your room!
Lulu and Georgia says
October 8, 2013 at 3:27 pmThanks for such a lovely post Emily. Our rug looks so good in your room, happy that you like it!
Kristin Jackson says
October 8, 2013 at 4:19 pmLove it Emily!! Love the real thing & want to incorporate one into our home sometime in the near future. I’ve actually ordered three that have all been messed up in processing, discontinued before shipment or been sent something else entirely. Maybe it’s the universe telling me I don’t need one… but I certainly WANT one!!! Gorgeous girl.
Sherry Calamia says
October 8, 2013 at 5:52 pmI also love the real hide… The black looks so luxurious in your room!
Gwen, The Makerista says
October 8, 2013 at 8:36 pmLove real and I think the black is really sleek!
Jesse @ Scout & Nimble says
October 8, 2013 at 10:02 pmReal all the way. There is just nothing like it and yours looks fabulous my friend! ;)
Mindy Cooper says
October 8, 2013 at 11:26 pmEmily, I was recently at Mary Joe’s in Gastonia and they are carrying some real deal cowhides in huge sizes for reasonable prices. I have a smaller one and so want a larger one for a bigger impact. Your bedroom looks beautiful and the rug completes it!
Angie says
October 9, 2013 at 1:16 amGrowing up on a farm, we butchered cows – so I have real clear memories of exactly what the cow hide is and where it comes from. I can’t do cowhide in my house (I am not a vegan, just sensitive – I guess- regarding hides and taxidermy) I am glad there are so many people who appreciate the hides (real or fake). (Your room is beautiful!)
Vel Criste says
October 9, 2013 at 2:00 amdefinite ‘friend’! Love the contrast with all the light colors in the space!
Tricia | 724SouthHouse says
October 9, 2013 at 2:32 amLooks so great! I bet the ‘real deal’ is much better! Love the look of cowhide. I agree- it helps balance out the light finishes in the room.
Meagan Claire says
October 9, 2013 at 3:04 amI have a real cowhide in my master, and I could have one in every room. LOVE THEM.
Becky says
October 9, 2013 at 5:16 amReal cowhides… all the way baby! I am obsessed… I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but the soft hide is just so luxe when you’re barefooted. And it stands up to everything, so you really can’t beat it!
Kim says
October 9, 2013 at 11:56 amYep, real … and I have two. I honestly would put one in every room if even I didn’t think that would be ridiculous!! Yours looks perfect! xo
Lisa Mende says
October 9, 2013 at 5:28 pmI love the real thing! yours looks fab!
Warner Carter says
October 10, 2013 at 6:14 pmCowhide is a natural skin of cow that unbleached and it retains its natural color. hide rugs
vanessa says
October 10, 2013 at 9:25 pmThat black hide is beautiful! We have a cowhide in our living room. We love it and kids are facinated by it. ha. It has held up great until I started using a battery powered swivel sweeper on it. I guess the rotating brush loosed the hair and now the hide is getting bald spots. The regular stick vac is what I used before and it worked great.
joogie says
October 11, 2013 at 1:59 pmHi Emily. I love your site. Your style is so sophisticated yet comfortable and inviting. I am trying to get a similar vibe going on here in my home. I love your hide. I think you have just solved my family room flooring dilemma. Thanks!! It will work perfectly in this house as we live out in the country. Adding that natural element and texture is perfect for my space. Oh, and by the way, the word faux is French for false, so a faux anything is a fake or imitation. In your post you called both floor coverings faux and fake. I think you meant to say faux and real
Emily A. Clark says
October 11, 2013 at 2:17 pmYou’re totally right; that’s the result of late-night blogging. Thanks for catching that :) Changing it now.
Wee Westchester says
October 15, 2013 at 1:14 amHi, Emily. Any chance the discount can be extended until tomorrow? I would love to order something. Can you let me know?
SHERRY HART says
October 15, 2013 at 11:16 amSince I have 2……I am a fan!
Kyle ( PlushRugs.com ) says
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Avi Bill says
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ali gamal says
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