Submitted by: Barbora Brozova
The whole world is interested in going green and this applies also to our homes, to the furniture choices that we make and things that we surround ourselves with. Making environmentally savvy choices in soft furnishings in your home or office can make a big difference in our impact on the planet and everyone’s health. The global green movement has attracted such a large number of innovative designers who now prefer using environmentally friendly choices. The current biggest trends in an interior design use recyclable and sustainable materials, such as wood, vintage furniture and also nature friendly materials such as cowhides.
Cowhides have gotten more and more popular in recent years, mainly due to their uniqueness, beauty and durability. If you are on a trail to find unique and environmentally friendly house d cor furnishings, cowhides are your best bet.
One of the most important but often an overlooked aspect of environmentally sustainable cowhides is its durability. Some may say that the cost of cowhides is relatively high, but opting for cowhides can easily save you money in a long run, even if it’s initially more expensive.
Well made cowhide rugs are highly durable, supple and soft to touch. The hair can be straight and close cropped, or an inch or longer and wavy depending on the cow’s hair. Understandably, you wouldn’t find two cows exactly the same and therefore each cowhide will vary in colour and shape. This makes them so beautiful and a unique “green” decorating option that can work in so many different styles of living.
Cowhide rugs can be divided into several colour groups. The more common are black and white, brown and white, tri-colour and brindle. Brindle refers to a soft striping of colours mixed into the cow’s coat. A rarer and more expensive is off-white or cream colour.
Cowhide rugs are most often imported from South America, where the biggest cowhides importers would be Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. The cowhide market is also well established and have long running trade in countries like Morocco and Egypt.
As a rug, the cowhide can be used in its original large cow shape or cut into any size to fit a specific space in your house. Also very popular are circular patchwork rugs, which benefit from combining selection of colours and hair.
Another design option is to use cowhides as upholstery. They are often used as seat covers on chairs, barstools or covering for the top of a side table. Cowhides can also be inset to panels in a bed headboard and footboard. There are some amazing design touches that we can achieve by using cowhides in more subtle ways, such as throw pillow, table runners, coaters, or even a mirror frame. The ideas are endless.
Caring for a cowhide is relatively easy. It can be vacuumed or taken outside and beaten with a boom or other stick to remove dust and dirt. Spills and stains can be cleaned with soap and water. Steam cleaning that uses a minimal amount of water also can freshen up a cowhide.
About the Author: Touch of MoroccoSpecialising in leather pouffes,
circular cowhide rugs
and patchwork cowhide rugs.
Source:
isnare.com
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