Redlilocks
stranger
Reged: 03/07/2009
Posts: 6
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Hello lovely people,
I'm new here so hoping this impressive forum might be able to help!
I'm looking for a cowhide rug - I keep seeing them in the funkiest of interiors and now I have my heart set on one with pale brown/white/creamy colours for my living room.
I'm wondering if anyone else has one, where they purchased it? There are loads of sites that sell them but how do I know what I'm purchasing is a quality hide? Also, once received, are they easy to keep clean? Do they wear well?
Any advice would be appreciated!
xxx
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Melafrique
old hand
Reged: 07/12/2006
Posts: 1098
Loc: Blessed ....
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good old john lewis does sell them. no idea about after care though.
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Jeremiah 29:11
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helent
old hand
Reged: 14/08/2006
Posts: 969
Loc: on the wagon
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We have a pale grey hide. It is lovely and because of the natural oils in the hair it is easy to mop up spills etc. It did shed a bit at first but only quite lightly although I think this can be a big problem with less expensive hides as they are cured in a less time consuming way to reduce costs and the hairs become brittle and break off (apparently!). I hoover it with the light suction of our Henry although this has raised eyebrows! I bought ours, which is very large, in the now defunct Ilva and it is lovely. I have seen comparable skins elsewhere which are more expensive but I think that you may get what you pay for for these. Not sure that helps at all. I know that there is a company in the East End who supply vast quantites of hides to interiors professionals etc but I cannot remember their full name Stepan Tereskian or similar I think. They always get mentions so it may be worth trying to find them. Good luck.
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Redlilocks
stranger
Reged: 03/07/2009
Posts: 6
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Thanks so much for your feedback - I suppose with anything, you get what you pay for. I had seen ones online for around £50-£70 and others for around £300-£500 and wondered how the prices could vary so wildly! Good to know they are fairly easy to keep as well!
Much appreciated!!
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Eames
Supreme being
Reged: 12/06/2007
Posts: 5301
Loc: Once Upon A Time
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Hi Redilocks. We have two cowhides in our house and they have been far and away the most easily maintainable of all our floor coverings. Spills do tend to come off very easily as, of course,they were originally skin...in terms of price, I think, as Helen says, it depends on the size, shape, colourway (some are more desirable than others) and also the tanning and preservation process. Most wholesalers/retailers prefer to use chrome or chromium in their processes as this apparantely prolongs the life of the hide, making the skin more flexible and less likely to shed. The alternative process uses natural oils to treat the hide which makes it softer underfoot but also shorter lived overall.
Shaking and a light hoover is all it takes to keep them clean, mainly. Small stains I have always tackled with a mild detergent and water, which has always worked for me...in my opinion they really do bring something to a room although their origins are not to everyone's taste.
The stockist that Helen mentioned in her post is Stepan Tersakian, although in my experience they are on the pricier side.
http://www.stertsakiansheepskins.co.uk/index.htm
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http://humanamusementsathourlyrates.blogspot.com/
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Redlilocks
stranger
Reged: 03/07/2009
Posts: 6
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Thank you very much, Eames - it sounds like a cowhide rug could be a very sound investment and they look fantastic as well.
Thanks for the link as well although, wish as I might, I don't have an extravagent budget. May have to convince my partner it's worth the few hundred quid to get something that will last and last! 
Cheers!
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