This is a home only Sarah Palin could love.

I think I threw up a little in my mouth.

horrendous

lovely home, where can I find that tiger pelt rug?

ew

Poor tiger! Makes me sad.

Ha, ha! hejiranyc, my thoughts exactly. All the floral reminds me of my mother-in-law's place. Not my cuppa...

OMG! I will not even look based on that first photo alone... the chairs are straight out of my grandmother's house in the 80's, and that THING on the wall?????????????????? AT, I don't get it, why post this?

There seems to be an ladder of extremes here, "We realize that DJ may offend some, but he was an antique in 1964 when her father found him in a St. Louis antique store" ok thats great... so somehow its justified why the tiger skin is stretched across the wall. Here's my take on it

Statement: I bought a fur rug - Response: you bought a dead animal, yuck!
S: I bought a fur rug from an antique store - R: well thats better then buying one new
S: I got an endangered species rug from an antique store - R: wow you have a lot of money, and strange taste
S: I got an endangered species rug from an antique store and stretched it on a wall at an angle so that theres no way you cant see it - R: you are one creepy person

WTF?

Tiger on the wall?
Instructions to "staff" to not vacuum it?

Just about says everything I needed to know...thanks, but no thanks!

oh yeah, and anyone who closes off pocket doors is not OK in my book.

Yeah, it's a little too floral-stuffed animal-jungle cat for my taste...

depressing .

This has got to be my least favorite house tour yet - too much stuff, too much floral... tacky and dated. I won't even get started on the poor tiger.

I was looking for the "after".

I actually like this house. It looks cozy, inviting, and unlike many interiors I see on AT, I feel the person who lives in this space has a sense of humor and isn't pretentious.

Two words "Garage Sale"

That photo of the living room is quite something, it made me curious to see the other photos although not my style...
The tiger made me laugh, more than barf.
The floral patterns everywhere should go.
The animal knick knacks give the place a nice touch. It's a shame because every time I saw an animal, dead or alive, I couldn't help but think of the poor tiger on the wall. The studio and bookcase are lovely.
I think AT editors shouldn't post house tours like this one because it's so far from the general audience's taste, and I feel sorry for all the snarky rude comments, even if mine is one of them.
All my respect to a person who names a cat slutie.

This is way different than most of the AT posts, and somehow that is very refreshing, even if it's not my thing.

I think I prefer this to the '80s flashback trend going on..

You know what, I love people who have confidence in their own style and aren't afraid to show it. Her house is filled with her personal history and memories, and while diverse and eclectic, she does her best to fuse them together into a kaleidoscope of her life and self-expression. Sure beats the monotony of living in a page out of Room and Board.

Mary, I love it, and I would love to sit in your study and have a conversation about the places you have been and people you have met. Your home is so warm and welcoming.

AT is really losing it lately... is there ANY editorial discretion, or do you just want volume of posts??

and how do your cats feel about that tiger pelt?

i'm all for weird stuff (for example, i have a small collection of bones) but that tiger on your wall looks in very poor taste.

I wonder what everybody here thinks one should do with fur rugs, coats and other things made from the bodyparts of animals. If you throw them away, you're wasting them, but if you use them as decoration, it's disgusting. So, what is the acceptable alternative?

I don't hold with trophy hunting. I think it's stupid, wasteful and should be banned everywhere. However, I don't think that a relic from another time is necessarily making a statement supporting poaching and trophy hunting.

i'm at a loss for words, definitely not my cup of tea. those poor kitties must have nightmares over that tiger pelt.

It's not at all my style, but her house is full of memories and love and warmth--and THAT is something I can get behind. At least her house has CHARACTER which is more than I can say for a lot of these catalogue-looking homes

yeah because nothing screams "i love animals" more than a dead tiger stretched across the wall.

i would have hated to see this place before she got rid of a lot of stuff. i think she needs to go back and get rid of a lot more. keyword: edit

Wait, is that a real tiger skin hanging on her wall? I assumed it was fake (and ugly, I'm not a big fan of using dead animals for decoration...) if that is real then, just wow...

At least there weren't any "For like, ever..." or "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters on the walls. While this place certainly isn't my style, it was an interesting change of pace from the usual AT house tour.

GEEEEZ! I bet that cat has NEVER scratched up a thing in that house!
What CAT would!!?
That huge tiger is a constant reminder of what will happen to her if she messes up. ;0)

Is that a live gray cat or is it stuffed and moved in various poses? Just wondering.

If all the content conforms to the general audience's taste, a site gets pretty stale. I don't care for the tiger, but i like the color of the wall it's displayed on, and the way the light plays on the texture. Nor do I care for all the chairs, but I like the staggered built ins behind them. And the balcony is a little busy to suit me, but the table on the back wall is awesome, and I kinda like the stones lying under it.

I'm glad to see some different styles here. Sometimes you have to feel a reaction to what you DON'T like, to more clearly recognize what you DO like.

One more thing, Yuck! I bet who ever lives there wears bright red lipstick

I find it ironic that Mary is involved with the Washington Humane Society. Doing what? I don't want to know.

This posting is certainly does not look like any of the others that I have seen on this site, which is a good thing. However, I do find it to be an anachronism, and not in a good way.

That cat in the first picture can't even look up at the wall at the tiger rug without thinking "am i next?"
ok, there. I just HAD to say that

Mary, you are an incredibly courageous woman.
AT editors, wow.

I like some things, like that pink stripes chair and the one besides it. I would make a huge lavish garage sale with a ton of those things that I do not like and donate them to a tiger sanctuary, but that's just me.

Mary, thanks for sharing your place, it is fascinating, I think what you have done you have done very well. Whilst its not a space I could live in its a space I would love to spend time in to explore. AT thanks for posting it - it makes a refreshing change from the usual mid century eames try-hard interiors that seem to prevail at AT, especially the ones that give some little vignette of a well placed vase and not of the overall space.

It's great. Those who disapprove should go to all the antique stores and thrift stores, buy up the taxidermy, old fur coats, leather bags and shoes and give the items a proper funeral.

And then throw up, etc.

The poor tiger is dead. It doesn't care what you think.

OK, I agree that the art, bookcases, and the stories behind everything are nice. But this is a HOME DESIGN site. This is definitely different than most things on here, which can be a good thing, but this in particular is NOT good design (in the overwhelming majority's opinion at least). Are there standards for house tours, or do they just open random doors and post what they find?

this whole naming-a-dead-tiger-that-hangs-on-your-wall thing aside, this apartment reminds me of a less sophisticated version of my aunt estelle's apartment in greenwich, ct. when i would visit there as a child i would see a few bizarre, borderline creepy pieces of furniture and art or kitschy porcelain figurines that i wanted to kidnap and take home with me. aside from those few things, the place was dripping with old lady and totally unappealing.

Many people that have animal trophies like this appreciate the animal's beauty, hence it being put on their wall. Not seeing the issue here. The damn tiger has sentimental value related to her damn FATHER.

Get over it, ya'll.

AT can be a jungle sometimes.

This isn't to my taste but I like some elements, and I think it's great that you have your family books and antiques that you love. And your cat is adorable and looks very healthy.

Wait--it's two cats! They are both adorable.

Ha! It cracks me up when grown men and women get the vapors over something so silly as an animal skin.
What isn't funny is implying Mary is a sadist (I'm looking your way, Kat 1) when she does more for homeless and mistreated animals than most. I treasure the ivory-handled silver I inherited from my great grandmother. That doesn't mean I enjoy hurting elephants.
Her style isn't what I'd choose, but this is the only tour I've viewed here and afterwards thought, "I really want to meet this person."

I love the general dialogue on here. Thanks AT and AT COMMUNITY!!!

All that's missing is a giant crab taxidermy on the coffee table.

Mary, I am digging your style. Unique and individualistic which is a welcome change to a site inwhich most of the members worship at the alter of MCM and lack appreciation for anything else.

Thank you for the departure from the same old same old.

Is this a joke? Safari meets mall grandma "chic?"

This pretty much defines what my dreamhouse should be like: 180deg opposite from everything on display here, from the tiger nailed to the wall, to the flower arm chairs, the dog figurines, the wrought-iron and wicker furniture to all the other horrors.

While all the floral's not my bag, it's still a pleasant apartment full of interesting, quality objects.

I'm guessing that Mary is older than the average Apartment Therapy-readin' hipster.

Hey hipsters-- let's see how well YOUR apartments hold up to scrutiny, twenty years from now.

i'm not sure why this place would even be on here.

the only thing i like in this house is the LIVING cat. poor thing. i guess we know where it will go once it's dead. tacked on the wall above the toilet perhaps. nothing says respect for animals like nailing them to your wall.

Did I just READ THAT??
"Mary's cats Sam and Slutie enjoy the combination of animal decor and antiques."
She has a cat name "Slutie" that is hilarious!
I wonder if it is pronounced Slutty? or Slootie?

Poor Mary. but poor poor poor "DJ" the tiger.

i appreciate that AT posts things that they are aware not everyone will love.

that said, i love animals too, but having a dead one, especially one w/ a face, just seems morbid to me. if you think about it, it's not too different from a leather couch, antlers, or the skull trend. to each his own though. it's not my style, but it does take guts to submit something like this. & people can be so mean! i think it makes all of us feel a bit more comfortable sharing.

LET'S ALL PLAY A GAME.

We'll call it "ONE ITEM."

Rule 1: choose one item from this home that you'd put in yours, assuming you had to under threat of death.

Rule 2: answer in the form "ONE ITEM: _____."

Rule 3: if someone already "took" an item out of the home before you by saying so here, you can't take it, too. It's gone. (Basically, no repeats.)

I'll start.

ONE ITEM: I'll take the tall ceramic leopard in photo #31. It reminds me of the old version of "Wheel of Fortune" where you'd "spend" your winnings and buy a ceramic dalmatian when you'd reached the end of your booty.

I mean beyond the fact that we all hate that there is a tiger on the wall that room is just plain tacky. There is no way around it. Without the tiger even if it were fake the room is really really ugly.
The other rooms are mediocre at best.

I don't know if I believe this little story about that tiger. I feel like it was just nailed there after the Sarah Palin feature and resulting brouhaha to see if AT readers truly have some kind of double-standard. Well this should prove that we don't! I appreciate the sentimental value but even with all the other cats it's really out of place.

Other than that goddamn tiger, I love Mary's little home and all it's other animal features even though it's not my personal style. It looks like somewhere I'd loved to have gone to after school as a child to eat chicken soup, learn to play go fish, and how to write funny words in as many languages as possible. :-)

kath001: I dont agree.
you said: "If all the content conforms to the general audience's taste, a site gets pretty stale."

I think that is just not true. That's why I buy LivingEtc and not CountryHouse. I know I'll like what I'll see, most of the times.

Ok I have to say it...

*I shed a tear and light a candle for all the poor animals who have died a senseless death to become garish adornments in someone's ego-abode...*
Oh the vanity and selfishness! What in mercy's name is this world coming to??!! Where is the compassion??!

{steps off soapbox... with tear-filled eyes... full heart... sigh}

Awe! Lighten up people!
It's a little over the top, sure.... did you read the interview? This person is an eccentric for certain, and that's cool.
I wouldn't live in this house, i don't think I'd even like to visit but I LOVE knowing that it's out there and that the person who does live here is proud of what they've done to their space. We should all be so free to do that.

She kinda reminds me of Pippi Longstocking.
Pippi's dad would give her a tiger skin rug if he found one!

This seems like a spoof or joke but probably not so fitting with the VP debate very Palin and that tribe

Wow I'm a bit surprised by people's comments. I agree that many of you may want to lighten up a little.

I dislike tiger skin displays as much as I dislike rude people. I know this is a place for comments, but crikey!

I always think people should be careful when pointing the finger at others....

Anyway Mary, your place looks like a museum. Fascinating and a reflection of you. Good on you!

How can the skin of a dead tiger on your wall be inspiring?
- Go out and shoot some more?
- Remind your kitties that people like to kill their bigger counterparts?

I'm sorry if I am not open minded enough to look past that thing on the wall. And just because it's an 'antique' (Q; is everything old an antique??), doesn't make it any better.

Seriously...to all you who are complaining about the tiger on the wall, do you eat meat? Do you ever wear leather shoes or other leather products? Unless you're vegan, then quite frankly, I don't see how you can bash someone who received an antique animal skin from her father (i.e. neither she nor her father went out and bagged the animal, it was already dead and in an antique shop, and now probably has some sentimental value as a gift from her father) when your actions are responsible for the deaths of many animals.

ps: trying to look past the dead animal on the wall

There are some nice touches and furniture around the house, but all the floral patterns and some things make it a bit much. I think some things would look better, for instance the nice small desk, if they had some room to breath.

I have a llama tapestry, quite beautiful actually. I wonder if some of those who are barfing over the tiger would hang something more... you know, "fair trade".

There should be a poll, I can't believe all of you are vegans. And if you aren't, hey, you have dead animals inside your fridge! Hi.

LMAO WHAT

"Oh hay, I totally love animals and I'm involved with the humane society. I also have a huge skin of an endangered animal hanging up on my wall. Because I love animals so much."

This confusion aside, I think this space is kind of horrendous. I know I'll probably get a comment saying "YEAH WELL I BET UR HOUSE IS A STINKY PILE OF GARBAGE WHY DONT U SHOW IT!" The dated floral armchairs match nothing. The awkwardly arranged animal items have no cohesive elements in relation to the rest of the space. All the random crap on the shelves looks like, well, you know. This is early 90's decorating at its worst.

AT editors--is this a joke?

so does she invite her friends from the humane society over for parties to stare at the dead endangered animal on her wall? I get that its an antique but as it is not functional (and therefore wasteful to trash and replace) like ivory pieces or other "politically incorrect" items from a less enlightened time in history. She could always donate it to a museum or educational facility or auction it off to raise money for the humane society and actually help some animals. I don't know if I'd want my children to honor me by making art out of one of my less educated and socially irresponsible choices.

And its not the same as leather or eating meat...those are not endangered, exotic animals and every part of them is used when they are killed for purposes more important than tacky, scary art.

I guess if it is not MCM, AT readers think it is in bad taste. Although this is not my style, she looks like an interesting person and someone we can learn from.

Bad enough having to see the tiger hung on the wall from a distance, the close up is truly offensive and sickening. I personally couldn't be in that room. Poor cats!

"less educated and socially irresponsible choices"...uh, the thing was already dead. She did not shoot it, nor did her father. DJ was already way past endangered when it ended up in that St Louis store. And "less enlightened time in history"? Yes, we are more enlightened, with our Ikea and MCM furnitures and shit-bought-with-credit decor. If we all tried to compensate and eschew from benefitting from the horribal immoral choices others made before us, we would not be in front of our Made in Indonesia computers wasting fossil fuels just to type comments about horrid decor. It's a dead animal. treat it like any other cool poster, chair, Ikea table we see in this site: ignore that it is the end product of a long process of destruction and exploitation and call it "art". (Keep Calm and Rock On)

To Mary: Why does DJ have to hug the wall like a road kill!? Give him more respect! Put him on the floor, like other road kills. And your house: pretty, except for the outdoor chairs that look like they're from Wal Mart. And your couch, maybe it's the lighting but they look like they have the dingies.

To AT: Shame on you, reposting this to get more reaction from people. Provocateurs!

Just because the tiger pelt was "already dead," and "antique" or whatever you want to call it to make you feel better is that buy paying money to buy it, you are still contributing to the demand for these things. And because there is still demand, hunting for fur and poaching still occurs to this day. Disgusting.

Okay, so the big cat on the wall offends -- so what, it was a treasure from her childhood given to her by her Dad, give her a break!

This home is like so many others in DC: comfy, downsized, and filled with treasures collected from around the world, with cozy nooks and cushy beds, ready for houseguests from afar. The floral chairs look like you could sink into them, sip a Margarita with pals, and forget that, mercy, it's already 2:00 a.m.!

What I like about Mary's collection is that it shows us the beauty of focusing on one thing and then buying those pieces that we LOVE. Her thing is animals and animal-themed art, while today beginning collectors may prefer glass, stone, ceramics or cooler elements.

What I like about this site is that it constantly offers us surprises and allows us to see the diversity that exists in the world of design.

Tiger pelt aside (Sarah Palin WHAT), the only things I like in this house tour are the orchid and the built-ins. Especially the last picture - stuffed animals as decor? I love animals as much as the next person, but there is nothing classy, chic, inspired about this house tour. C'mon, ATDC, you can do better than this.

Mary- thanks for sharing pictures of your home.
AT editors- thank you for including a wide variety of decorating styles. If you ever lose that, I would soon stop visiting this site.

To those commenting who are upset by this home, I'd like to know what you EXPECT to see on Apartment Therapy.

There's a fine line between eclectic and looking like a jumbled garage sale. There are plenty of lovely pieces here that stand on their own, but when put together without any semblence of decorative vision... well let's just say this apartment could use some editing, as could this post.

are you effing kidding me? the golden girls had better taste than this.

i'm not looking for ways to decorate my grandma's nursing home!!!

i think his-royal-highness needs to step up to the plate and explain to loyal AT readers why he's let his site start SUCKING so hard lately.

maxwell, are you there?

lifesized hollhouse --

WE EXPECT UPDATED AND MODERN! i'm sorry, you can do antique and cozy and farmhouse on this site in wonderful and inspirational ways, but this is just ridiculous. give me a break.

we come on here to be inspired by FANTASTIC design, not to pat people on the back and say, 'well, good job sweetheart! you certainly tried hard, and you seem like a really nice person. we're so glad your poorly decorated home has been showcased!'

Her cats are pretty but will their pelts hang on the wall when they 'pass on'?

I think I may be a similar age to Mary and her style does not appeal to me but I think many of the comments are rude after all, as with all tours, its a home first.

why was this REPOSTED at 2am, when it was originally posted the evening before? let it go into the rarely viewed history where it belongs. there was nothing special about this house, aside from the intentional shock value of the dead animal nailed to the wall. and that wasn't special, it was awful.

and for those who want to touch on the "sentimental" value...then why isn't it kept in the bedroom or somewhere more intimate? it's nailed to the frickin' wall next to the front door. (wonder what feng shui THAT has!?) the owner even said that if people (that come to their home) don't like it, they don't come back. is it so important to have this poor dead animal (which is so controversal and obviously insensitive to some people) so in your face to the point they make their home unwelcoming to their guests? that does not make for a nice home.

here's another interesting twist. supposedly the nazi's used to make lamp shades out of human skin. i would never have one of those either, but... for those arguing that the tiger is an antique, it wasn't endangered at the time, it's a piece of history, and it's already dead who cares... blah blah blah...i don't see that much difference if there would be one of those sitting on the entryway table. it's a matter of respect, or lack thereof. not just for the being that is dead, but also those you'd welcome into your home.

Uh yeah, so I won't preach right or wrong with the damn Tiger-skin... but last night when I had gone through this house tour while sitting next to my husband, I just about spit out my drink thinking this was a joke.

While I thought there were tons of neat little objects I could discover every minute while in a room... it's just wayyyyyy too cluttered for me.

TACKY.

lame that this was reposted. shameless, AT.

hideous. the tiger, the bedrooms, the floral.
this house screams "i'm ccrraaaaaazzyy".

wow. patterns are a mess, scale is off, materials give off a pastiche-y cheap feel (lillian vernon meets the bombay company) -- not to mention the entire place feels outdated, cluttered and devoid of vision in so, so may ways... it's like the "before" in any (any) interior designer's portfolio. individually, there are some nice items (symphony poster is my own fave), but the three-piece floral living room set from levitz is not one of them. this is really bad... and not just in a "it's not my taste", but in a "this is definitely not the type of design that should be applauded" way. i'm disappointed this passed the editorial filter of AT.

Come on people, we are in America!! I don't have a tiger on my wall, but might have if my beloved father had enjoyed it and I inherited it. I would love to have an aunt with a home like this. Imagine all the interesting things you could look at, all the books to read. Is it exactly my taste? No, but neither is a bedroom with only a bed in it. Serene maybe, but not comfortable to me.

This is the most kookie freakin' house I've ever seen highlighted on a website or in a magazine. It's lacking in style, even the scale of the furniture is wrong and then of course, the ironic "I love animals so much I have a dead one on my wall" thing

The tiger is the least of the problems; to the person who said they preferred it the 80's flashback, well this IS an 80's flashback-this is what an "upscale" house in the 80's looked like. It is likely lovely and comfy to the owners, but not really anything to be on AT

No, some of us don't expect "updated and modern" from AT (ie. an endless stream of mid-century temples). We expect a variety of styles showing how real people have solved problems in their homes and made them happy and beautiful. You can argue whether this home does that, but I can't help thinking that the level of vitriol would be a lot lower if the tiger skin was surrounded by a clutter of "iconic" MCM/Eames chairs. Where is all the outrage at the hide rugs that are ubiquitous on this site? Not to mention leather sofas. There's no difference between that and DJ the tiger--yes, tigers are endangered but dead animals are dead animals. If you don't like one, how can you coo over another?

What disappoints me about this post is not the home but the nastiness of the replies, and what disappoints me about AT editorial is not the tour but them allowing some of these comments to stay up.

Re foxybarb's comment, "This home is like so many others in DC..." True. Living in DC, there are SO many homes here that I DON'T want to see and why some of the real-world DC house tours are so (I love this word, thanks to whoever used it) fusty. Stodgy. Ostentatious, in a dated way. Big and kitsch. It's the opposite of the spirit of "apartment therapy" for me. The readers have spoken. This isn't what I come to AT to see. This also doesn't give me high hopes for the DC site. There, I said it. Let's vote this post off the island.

This is nothing against this person at all. I just don't think this is where the appreciative audience for this place is.

again, this is a DESIGN website, not girl scout camp. people come on here looking for amazing design and i'm sick of sentimental readers making excuses for poor design. yes, this apartment may be a home first, but this is a design website first, not some up-with-people self-validating give-it-your-best-shot everyone-gets-a-gold-star site. if it's bad, it's going to get panned, and hard. readers here are looking for a high level of design.

Cassis -- updated and modern doesn't mean 'endless stream of mid-century temples'. come on. it means something i couldn't buy of the floor at a home depot showroom or from the jcpenney catalog in the 90s. i'm not an eames fan at ALL, so your argument doesn't fly with me.

I don't understand all this negativity. I find the apartment personal, cozy and warm -- sophisticated in the English Country House, County Life magazine way. It seems to me the nasty comments say more about the people who wrote them then about the decor.

i'd add that people expect -- when coming to any editorial source -- to have a consistent, curated point-of-view of the highest possible caliber. this is what differentiates cottage-living from metropolitan home magazines (and keeps ad revenue flowing). not that either rag is bad, each simply has a different POV (although material qualities in teh zones themselves indicate a certain "editorial quality"). when comparing this post to others, it indicates that AT's content-quality-filter has been turned off.

true, AT has migrated to a more MCM point-of-view (it's what's presently in style in the "updated" design space), but that's not all that's posted... i've seen many posts that feature an eclectic style, inventive use of space, etc that would not pass the "eames filter".

this house, however, would not have passed the filter of any print-based magazine as fundamentally there are just too many things amiss in the "design 101" space: scale, color, pattern, material, etc... heck, there's nothing even inventive about the space itself.

ironically, my first design studio was next to the georgetowner's offices on potomac street. DC can be filled with good, yet eclectic, historically relevant, personally-designed spaces... an old neighbor (kinsey marable) kept an amazingly designed store and apartment in the neighborhood -- federal style architecture and the interiors that complement it can be nice. however, this is not one of these examples.

sadly, this post reeks of the same type of coverage in the georgetowner, nob-hill gazette (here in SF) or any other "society page"... an old-wives-club pat on the back and a collage of DAR and symphony events. are AT editors getting opera tickets for this post?

redneckmodern - so well put. I think it's also unfair to throw individuals to the lions here by posting their homes if these really aren't really in keeping with the AT editorial POV that we've come to know and why readers follow this site. I truly hope Mary is not reading this thread. I think the comments have far less to do with her home than with what we've come to know as the general tone of AT and why we keep coming back here.

holy f that is SOOOO gross and creepy- why?!

Gauging the negative reactions over this apartment, I must conclude that the second the tiger pelt was sighted, further review of the pictures terminated. Whether or not you like the apartment, assuming you examined all the pictures, it clearly demonstrates how someone who collects animal motif items and family memorabilia manages to successfully decorate their apartment with and around them, in a space with classical details and modern colors.

As for the "dated" 80's style and "grandma" comments made by several people, whatever style you're decorating in today and whatever beloved furniture and furnishings you purchase in that style will at some point in the future become "dated". At that point you have a choice, you can throw out your furnishings and get something trendy or you decorate around them and go on. Though if you are so trendy, a lot of us Ebay/Craigslist scavengers will be happy to acquire your cast offs.

It doesn't surprise me that there's such a fuss about the tiger on the wall, but I don't have a problem with it - it's not as if she went out and shot it from her helicopter last week...

...as for the rest of the place - Yes, it's fairly traditional - but I don't mind it. Sometimes traditional can be kind of comforting.

I LOVE THE TIGER ON THE WALL!!! I really do.

I also love the name Slutie.

I like your game the brad seed!
ONE ITEM: I totally want that pink striped armchair in pic #7.

To Pixie and others,
Maybe I like Mary's home because I am an art dealer and avid collector, too, and enjoy seeing the detail of beautiful things. My loft here in DC, in the U Street corridor, was posted on this site, and it's so filled with a melange of favorite things (Asian artifacts, contemporary art, 1970s Parsons tables, Persian rugs) that I came in for some rather horrid comments, also. Not everyone is into the pared down, leather-covered cubicle seating so prevalent these days.

To see the post, click http://tiny.cc/6uNzz or go to this site and enter under the search: Washington DC July 16 for Barb's Condo.

When you see this, you can pick on me instead of rudely beating up on Mary simply because your tastes differ from hers. If everyone’s home just looked like yours, what a boring world this would be. Viva la difference!

http://tiny.cc/6uNzz

barb... your space is worlds apart from this one from a "principles of design" standpoint. your spot demonstrates a good use of balance, scale, contrast, harmony and materiality... this is completely aside from style. and while your style isn't my own, the decor's adherence to simple "good design" tenets proves it's worth the post.

in the case of this space, the patterns, colors, textures and materials are completely askew... to put it mildly.

negative posts consist of folks responding viscerally to this post and evokes phrases like "grandma" which alludes to lack of visual and material contrast, misuse of patterns and colors and an overall lack of consistent vision... even the "animal" motif is not done well... bad mix of sky-mall-style end tables and some otherwise interesting singular pieces. even the scale, balance and harmony of the tiger's placement in the space is "wrong"...

positive posts here consist of "well, at least it's not eames..." and "it looks comfortable"... none of which discuss the merits of the space itself -- which is a weak defense.

let's look at the merits of the space itself aside from sentimentality and a hater's POV of MCM. i think using this filter would prove that (to borrow from the above), this post should be voted off the island.

there have been comments here criticizing the reviews. and yet the whole point of posting pictures on this website is to get critiqued. yes, some people have been a bit rude but critiques come in all shapes and sizes and everyone who opens his/ her home to the entire world opens him. her self to a world of criticism.

now, that being said, i don't think i have ever seen anything so tacky, wow. Mary can you even think in that house? This apartment is not "eclectic" it is a mess of every animal themed nick nack and chachki and whatever other synonym for tacky crap there is. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but the mix of animal and Asia and "antique" is just tacky. It is a collection of every "cute" (using the meaning very liberally) thing Mary could get her hands on crammed into a small apartment and none of it mixes or matches with anything else in the apartment. Looking at the slideshow of this home gave me a headache.

ps PETA should buy this place and charge people money for admission for this horror ride.

lol compared to the rest of the decor, the tiger is not so bad :)

redneckmodern -- well said. your comments deserve a full-out kiss on the mouth.

While I'm not a fan of big full animal skins attached to heads, how does this differ from the current overabundance of trophy antlers, buck heads, and zebra skin rugs?

I think the space could use more disciplined editing of "animal stuffs" so it doesn't cross into theme park territory (which I think it has). When you look past all the dated fabric patterns, the furniture is fairly classic in shape and could easily be updated with some new upholstery. On the bright side, Mary seems to have a good understanding of scale and placement of furnishings, if not always in the choices of the objects themselves. But this is just my single opinion. It may not be considered "good design" in some minds, but Mary likes it, lives it, and frankly, that is enough!

I must say I find Mary quite brave to post on a site which often seems brimming with post-Ikea era people with transitional throw away fashion today-trash tomorrow furniture.

Not sure why people complain about the repost. I'd love to see AT redesigned in a way that keeps the hottest posts on top, allowing some interaction among the readers. At the present rate of articles posted, many of them just drift out of sight before they've gotten any responses.

The kitty is cute.

Here here to comments made by redneckmodern!

Honestly, is there any reason for people to be so rude and thoughtless in their reviews (aside from the fact they are hiding behind their computer screens)? Constructive criticism yes, nastiness no (elinka189 and the like).

Yes, hipster pants are too tight and causes those who wear them to be angry

"and how do your cats feel about that tiger pelt?"

i bet they are miffed because somebody had that big mouse without sharing. :-P

it is not my cup of tea, but it looks like a house that is being lived in, not like a store window. when i saw the tiger i realised that there would be a huge uproar ...

I've been coming here for years, and while I suffer gladly the continueous fawning support of the MCM pantheon what I won't abide is the rush to the bottom of some of the more recent comments this self-righteous neo-PETA crowd that can't understand anything beyond an Eames chair. You folks are nasty, rude, have little of true import to contribute.
What's appalling is not this house tour, but the viciously mean comments attached to it.
Maxwell would do us all a favor by blocking your ISPs for a cooling off period.
Your lack of manners and home training is disgusting. I don't come here as often as I once did and threads like this remind me why.

Oh and Elinka you are not sorry for being "blunt". You are however lacking in any redeeming social graces.

Do you have ANY friends? Do you get out much?

Uh huh...didn't think so.

why hdtex, i do have may friends and "get out" quiet often, thank you for asking. and when i stay in i do not stay in a toy zoo.

and you're right, i'm not sorry for being blunt. social graces have nothing to do with anything at hand, this person chose to invite people into her home and to CRITIQUE her decor. I don't know what your definition of critique is, but as far as I'm aware it does not entail sugarcoating and lying.

So hdtex, maybe you should get out more and see how people live and interact because it seems that you have no clue about either.

by the way, thank you very much for the censorship speech. it is obvious that you and your personal attacks are much more worthy of the site's space.

lol are you off of your meds?

Come on guys.
Time out. Go to your rooms.

I like some of those chairs and reading this thread makes me want a dead animal to hang on my wall.

There are waaaay too many leather sofas and chairs and cowhide this-and-that on this site to get in an uproar about a single inherited item from her dad.

I'm sick to death of the MCM snobbery on AT (you CAN have a home without referencing DWR! You really can!) and I applaud this homeowner in that at least.

I don't want to live there but I like that it is expressive and personal.

Not everything is about being able to look around the apartment and go "Eames, Eames, Saarinen, Bertoia..."

That line is about what I'd expect from someone like you.
So let me get this straight....
As a first time guest in someones home you come in, piss on the carpet, tell the host she's got horrendous taste, and tell her that her hair color isn't natural, her toilet paper is too rough and her booze is cheap.
Perfect...you're a gem!

elinka, I never knew that the main point of house tours was to critique, I've always seen them as a way of getting inspiration

so... AT is a rating community? oh my

AT I thought was supposed to introduce other to different styles and ideas, not become a whitch hunt for rude, crass people who feel their taste is the only thing that counts. I feel sorry and pity the sanctimonious ones who critical reviews don't even allow others to view their homes. Antique tiger? So what? Comments about the cats names? Get a life as you really have told people you don't have one. AT does a fine job are inviting people to show "their" style, not the critics. These people open their hearts and apts. to the people on who view this site and fine themselves getting burned at the stake because someone dosen't like their taste. For everyone who wrote a nasty comment, take a good look in the mirror and then at your own home. That is where pity begins. l

elinka....whats it like living in a trailer park? Haven't you learned anything. Take the hint, we haven't seen your place. How about contacting AT and giving us a chance to comment on your "excellent" taste? Return us the favor of giving you the spotlight.

taking this a little personally, lol, is your place where kitch goes to die too? my guess is yes.

Poor elinka...don't want to be on AT? Hate to tell you my home was featured in Arch. Digest. Finished, no more e-mails.

unfortunately the last half-dozen posts veer drastically from views on design, spaces, etc. and veer instead toward personal slander... which violates AT's terms of use (both the spirit and letter). in most forums, this would bring out the ban-hammer.

(tip: clicking on the "profile" link often gives a well-rounded view of a user's posting history and tenure.)

but to alexander's point: seems to me, too, that AT is meant to introduce new content to its viewers (as most content-providers do). however, in lieu of a mission statement (which AT does not seem to have), how divergent this is is up to the editors and owner. presently MCM has taken a front seat likely because it's what's presently topping the style blogs (maxwell's visit to DWR as opposed to pottery-barn while in SF seems to be a good indicator of artistic direction).

going further, however, it seems a comments section attached to such content would be indeed to discuss the the merits of such editorial content as it relates to the users POV... so comments of "i like it because ___" or "i don't like it because ___" seem valid.

while many of the previous posts could have been more constructive, none were personal attacks on mary herself, but on the space and the pieces within it. sadly, not as much can be said for the later posts.

This home is heavily designed.

I think it's a great example of how diverse taste can be.

As a professional designer I'm sure you may come across a client someday with taste leaning towards this style. It's up to you as to how you choose to handle them. I wonder if some of these commentators would be as rude in person as they are in print.

I'm a bit fascinated by some of the art on the walls.

I used to have a giant dried python skin on my bedroom wall when I was a kid. I don't know what happened to it though.

correction: AT indeed has a well-crafted mission statement... link is a bit hidden toward the bottom of the page:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/main/mission

the terms of use are also clearly articulated:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/main/terms

Don't worry, when Obama is elected you can have Mary sent to a re-education camp (think Stalin), then you can have her goods and belongings confiscated and distributed for the Good and the Glory of the State. Then all will be well in the People's Republic of Obama.

Ladies, Gentlemen, with all due respect, this has progressed from lively to uncivilized. We had to take down one comment that included swearing and urge you to stick to the subject - the post. We don't have time outs here at AT, only permanently blocked IP's, so please choose your words wisely.

congratulations alex, so your feature in the "don't" section makes you decorating expert now? i'm glad you have something else other than this website to fulfill your life lol so sad and yet i can't stop laughing at you.

I nominate Elinka189 for permanant ISP blockage. She has attacked 4 other people on this post above and beyond her rude post about the decor in question. She doesn't play nicely with others and I suspect her mother dressed her in a funny manner as a young child.

i didn't know that you and your little friend are 4 people all of the sudden... not too good with the math skills huh? but apparently you keep working on those fascist skills. lol

The tiger makes me sad, that must be scary at night! I really like the chair near the cat figurine though. Ouch elinka, a bit generous with the insults are we?

love the portrait of your mom... but that tiger is just not right

you go mary! kudos for implementing your vision for YOUR living space. love your amoire and little desk and chair by the window!

The tiger is okay, right? Because the meat was eaten.

People who don't approve of the tiger don't come back!

An excellent filter method. The AT reading audience is evidently full of severely... challenged people; I wouldn't want any of them in my place either.

I like the diversity of upholstery. All the patterns are too much for me; if, for example, I inherited this place and all it's contents I would probably swap out most of the rugs for something simpler (or if it were the rug that was preferred, reupholster the items on top in something plainer). Most of the upholstery is simple in 6, but that coffee table is crazy, so something would still have to give. The cats are adorable.