So romantic...

It's beautiful, but veers into overstaginess.

Personally, it's one of these rare moments when smth is completely _not_ my style but it's undeniably beautiful.

This is Beautiful. Except the skin on the floor.

I can see why a creative director after looking at so much color and objects daily would make her place this serene and simple

i especially like the cover on the daybed/sofa, who makes that?

Wow, first Design*Sponge on Monday, now AT on Tuesday. Where will we see this tomorrow? Way to peddle.

It looks beautiful in a photo shoot, but I'd destroy it in under a minute. I'm a filth magnet, like Pigpen: I carry the dirt of the ages.

lol no kidding. very staged. no way like a posted home to advertise a business!
the skin on the floor is terrible karma. to be cruelly slaughtered then thrown on a wooden floor to be stomped all over! aside from this blatant act of trendy animal cruelty, I dig the chalk idea above the bed. thanks for sharing, again!

i agree.

hmmm... quite beautiful, but does feel schemed. Indeed a purposeful expressive extension of her l'aviva website.

I love the hide. And to call it "trendy" is really quite silly.

The chalk board above the bed is a bit odd to me. "Now Serving" and "Today;s Special" come to mind...

never been a fan of the cowhide. 'tis bad energy.

I love it even as it's definitely an advert for the web site. LoriSF, the daybed cover is on that site. Love the products but very pricey.

Okay THAT'S why it looked so familiar. On D*S yesterday. Thought I was losing my mind for a minute.....

This is lovely, but I just can't believe anybody actually lives in it

Definitely overstaged. Looks more like a magazine shoot than someone's actual home.

"I have wings to fly" .... in case anyone is wondering.

LoriSF, you can find that cover on her site under Moroccan Wedding Blankets. In fact, the accompanying photo almost identical to the photo above.

heidi_in_nyc- thanks for that!

I love the hide, very good use of a skin after most of the rest has been eaten, imo.

I'm totally with everyone who's expressed concern over the color scheme though, my cat would shed the heck all over that white furniture.

I hope none of the people commenting on how awful that hide is wear or use leather. Come to think of it, how come leather furniture and shoes don't draw the ire of the fur-is-murder crowd like skins with the fur on?

I think the comments were more of a bad karma/bad design issue. I don't eat meat, but I do wear leather. I don't think everyone else is going to stop eating meat, and where would all that skin go otherwise? The alternative is worse--more plastic. People who eat or wear meat are getting a practical use out of it and can be thankful.
I think some of the criticism here was that draping it on the floor does not show appreciation.
I don't care either way, but I will defend the use of leather, even by vegetarians and those who find fur abhorrent.

I like sparse. But again, not enough kitchen and bath pictures.

I like this home. It definitely looks staged, but so what? If she had not done any staging people would complain about that.

I like the hide and its placement. I'm not sure why others think it's a problem.

I don't understand the hide issue either, unless it's an endangered species. It's no different from wearing leather shoes or having leather furniture.

ValHalla, I tend to agree with you... I personally am a vegan. I continue to use leather I bought before I became vegan and don't think there's anything wrong with buying leather if it is secondhand. I think the issue with leather/fur is that it is supporting the meat/livestock industry when you buy it directly. Buying it used, however, is a way to get around that if you like the way it looks. As for the feng shui/energy, that's a whole other issue. But yes, if you're going to kill animals (and if you are a meat-eater, I REALLY don't see why you'd take issue with it) you may as well enjoy the beauty of their hide.

Now for this home. I agree it is very staged, and looks like a magazine. Also, the advertising of a website/designer is kind of odd. AT should present homes of interior designers as such, in a separate series, rather than put them along with regular house tours. It is odd to put them in the same grouping with normal people's homes. Especially because many of the "normal people" have tight budgets and are avid craigslisters, whereas these designers have limitless budgets. That said, they don't necessarily get better results... but even still, I think it's like comparing apples and oranges.

The aesthetic here is lovely, but I think it's too sparse and of limited use for regular folk. By the way, if anyone in LA likes that wedding blanket, I was browsing craigslist a couple days ago and saw one that looked exactly the same. Let's see... Here: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/art/1510218430.html

to those heckling the anti-cowhide/fur/pro-animal-cruelty crowd ... i'm a proud vegan. thank you very much.

soulful? more like sinful. feng shui nightmare with that cowhide slapped on the floor. way to honour the animal who died for your vanity in tastebuds and decor.

I'm a compassionate vegan too so I hear ya about the cruel karma aspect of using slaughtered animals in home design. What ever happened to "kind design"??? Let's make that the top trend of the start of a new decade 2010!!!

If you haven't noticed the holy "must-have-a-cowhide" trend you must be hiding under a haystack. Animal decor has to be the tackiest trend of the decade. Bad energy! No wonder the state of the world is the way it is.

So obviously staged which makes it totally uninhabitable and unrealistic. We have all caught on to this advertising plug! Create a separate housecall/tour please, AT.
I agree with the majority here who are anti-animal slaughter (the horrific atrocities of the meat industry is underground for a reason - open windows and field trips not included. Because it's pure evil!) The skin of an animal thrown on the floor is no way to show respect for something that died at the sadistic hands of a senseless, brutal death. isledeluv: CRUEL KARMA is a perfect term.
It's Christmas, people: where's the *heart*???

i'm in love with the contrast of the dark floors and whites, creams and tans of the furniture and accessories. plus, the idea of using the framed chalk board is so chic.

@sharpie

I think that the "state of the world" is the way it is for a lot more/bigger reasons than animal decor. I don't think that using the parts of animals are aren't eaten is taking us all to hell in a handbasket. I highly doubt that anyone is killing animals exclusively for the purpose of putting it's skin on their floor. And while I'm very much an omnivore, I can and AM also very much in favour of animal's rights and try to support that with my buying habits.

Let's all try not to paint all omnivores with the "immoral supporters of animal-cruelty" brush, shall we?

Guys... For all we know, that hide may be artificial.

I'd have to agree that the house is a bit too sparse or my tastes. Where is all the "stuff"? In storage? Or just not pictured?

And I quote d4kk 1tt3n:
"I highly doubt that anyone is killing animals exclusively for the purpose of putting it's skin on the floor" --

Hmmm... ever heard of hunting & poaching of Grevy's zebras for floor decor (to levels of endangerment solely for hide), antelope and other wildlife for wall-mounted trophies, rhino for horn accessory, elephants for ivory knickknacks, chimineas and mink for fur blankets, bears for rugs, ponies for leather ponyhide...
It's VERY REAL, so sorry to burst your bubble. Bah-humbug... in the case of animal cruelty and our collective passion for home design, ignorance is not bliss!
As for the state of the world, I suggest reviewing the "broken windows theory"! The state of the world starts with oneself. Omnivore or not.

In response to those questionning the philosophical comments about animal ethics, I say this:

I am all for animal rights and human rights for a righteous person has regard for all life. I have always felt that the way we treat animals is a pretty good indicator of the compassion we are capable of for the human race. Suffering is very real in this world, and so it is our ~personal responsibility~ to act ethically and morally by widening our circle of compassion to embrace each other, *all living creatures* and the whole of nature and its beauty.

"Until we extend the circle of compassion to all livings things, we will not find peace."
--Albert Schweitzer

@jamesbay

that should have read "killing cows", I'm sorry that you had to read the miscommunication that my fingers insist on typing when my brain is telling them to say something similar but not identical.

I agree with you jamesbay, coastalbliss, tourderockhappy et al. good on ya! peace to you.

well said coastalbliss! (esp this time of year, eh?!)
It's Compassionate Design Sense.

@Juliescript: You're right. I never see angry comments (from vegans or others) about leather couches or other animal-derived decorative elements in other house calls or house tours. I think the disparity is similar to that of people who would never butcher an animal (or watch one being butchered) but are OK with buying meat on a little styrofoam tray--you're more removed from it. A cowhide or sheepskin just look more like an animal than a leather chair or wool blanket, so they draw attention.

By the way, this home is lovely, but the pictures seem like they were for a catalog shoot.

Meh. A little pretentious.

WOW!!!!! that's a huge albino cow hide!!!!!, It's staged...yes...(wouldn't you have it that way knowing it was going to be featured somewhere?) and, oh, the bed looks sooooooo inviting!!!!

Oh, and by the way.... if you guys are so bitter about animal cruelty or whatever.... there are plenty of blogs where you can let loose all that Pamela-Anderson-Agenda of yours and feel good about yourselves....You can write Bono, too! At least I'm sure that in 200 years there is going to be no sign of any of those leathers, contrary to all those plastic water bottles, (and, oh, yes... that's right, your plastic shoes...) since i'm sure you don't "wear leather" either.....

So much hate here. Blogs are used to promote all sorts of businesses and this is no different. Another animal hide. How many times do we need to have that discussion? People are going to do what they want to do. Staged or not, the look is refreshing to me. The shop sells quality textiles for those who can afford them.

talk about bad karma...all this negativity over a hide and "staging".

Good Lord, it's just a simple, elegant design effort. Every house tour on this site is staged to a certain extent. I think the intentional "staging" is what gives birth to inspiration and ideas for better design.

Love it or not, I don't get why she's getting dumped on. A business? How dare she. The horror!

Like it. So very peaceful, soft, and serene.

I don't have a problem with the decor, or the hide, or the alleged website plug. I just am not sure why AT featured a house call the day after the same home had been featured on a prominent design blog that has many of the same readers. If it was something "newsy", like Domino folding, then of course post about it asap. But a house call, I think y'all should have waited a couple weeks - my 2 cents (not that anyone asked).

Than bed is heaven

Bah Humbug!!!
Staged; Pretentious; and Bad Energy are the right choice of words.
Very lame way to advertise a business. Glad us readers can see right through this superficiality.
How did this get past AT admin? Shame, shame!!

Wow, skinned animal on the floor! Frankly, it's quite barbaric when you think about it. What? Is this the 19th century? Laura, did you hunt and butcher it yourself? It's a vulgar way to advertise, promote and even encourage the cruel slaughtering of a defenceless animal for no reason but aesthetics (did you know many cows and calves are imported from India where they are brutally killed for skins only as considered too sacred to devour? I know from my own experience living in Asia for many years). And nothing like respectfully throwing it on the stomping ground to honour it's senseless death!! Gross, garish and oh so tacky!
CRUEL KARMA is dead on. It's selfish and heartless!
- signed: Yes I am a proud Vegan

oh my. i dont eat meat but i certainly wouldnt let that into my house. just plain uncouth & uncivilized in a staged environment (btw- this is not a home!!!).

I like that thing hanging over the dining table, but I'd cut that last little ball off.

Soul? Where? It's pretty, but feels kinda vacant.

Don't these people have stuff? Like papers and bills and extra coats thrown about? The first thing I would do is spill my coffee on the couch, oops!

I like the concept and the accessories, especially the chalkboard and vase in the bedroom, but I think it could use just a little bit more of a finished look. The mattress on the floor for example just looks like she can't afford any kind of bedframe.
I agree with other posters-- I wouldn't be able to live here because I (and my cat and dog) would have it looking a lot more lived-in within about an hour, and also I do have all those icky things that go along with real life, like mail and coats and toasters and alarm clocks and lamps and laundry and mementos and books and art. But I WISH my home looked more like this.
I have a friend who lives a lot like this. But she doesn't cook at all, and she throws a lot of stuff away all the time to keep everything so minimalist.

i think the nasty comments (aside from the hide aversion ones) are due to the lack of a proper interview with the owner. the designsponge piece is much better... in every way. in that piece its clearly stated that the point is the space IS a live/work space used to promote/run her business and the photos of her home are used on the company website. this AP post was lazy given the fact, as others pointed out, it was a just on designsponge... and another blog as well i think. why the nasty comments... she is selling the wares and thus promoting a lifestlye. if her home was "lived in" or "cluttered" or whatever people want to call it there would be outrage that she is living in a contradiction to what she is selling. she's living how she chooses... economically running her business out of the home AND living with her wares.. and given that fact why the hate?? her home reflects the image she wants... not what the people here want or think they should see. but again.... no background was given,this is more laziness on AP's part.

"Proud vegans"? Meet "proud omnivore". I eat plants, and animals. I shoot animals too. I use all of what I kill, and the skin makes delightful leather that will outlast any of your tie-dye hemp skirts. Read about how many grey-tailed voles are killed in the harvest of soy beans. Go hit the bong again, I'm tired of your douching all over this website with your smug attitudes.

On the topic of the article at hand: It is a little staged, but if it's half business place as well, then she can get away with it.

sorry... typo in my previous post, meant AT not AP!!

I had to revisit this house call. These postings are hilarious. Thanks for making my workday a little bit brighter!

Albeit beautiful, I have a sneaking feeling that this a showroom/store and not actually a home

aww, i feel bad for the owner of this house... so much hatred. people are so concerned about animals but they don't mind insulting other "people"

the house is fine, some people really live like this. maybe she has "stuff" but they are hidden. she has cabinets and drawers, you know.

A purely practical question: what color paint did you use for the bedroom? Thanks!

delicious! Thanks for opening your home, and what a lovely choice of color and style.

I don't think people are being 'hateful' its just opinions...not everyone is going like something like this.

It does very very much like an advert for a business, there is no hint of the real human being here...perhaps she wants it that way, a privacy thing...the lack of soul,and personality makes it far less interesting than many tours but I do imagine that is about keeping nosey beaks at arms length whilst promoting a business idea.