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AT Europe: Paris - Italian Bedding from Parentesi Quadra

red-leather-bedding.jpg

Leather blankets with microholes for light weight and comfort in a range of colors; black-and-white "graffiti" rabbit fur bedspreads; and a "beddress" in a patchwork of masculine suit fabrics are some of the items from the "Softy Fur" collection from Italian Parentesi Quadra seen at this year's Salon Maison et Objet...


 
 
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lapin-grafiti.jpg

mens-bedding.jpg

- Kristin Hohenadel blogging from rue Vieille du Temple, Paris, France. She can be reached at kristinh @ apartmenttherapy . com

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Comments (46)

ew. leather bed tarps.

posted by biskinikill on October 5th 2007 at 12:02pm
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GROSS!
1. sleeping on skin sounds creepy
2. yes, looks like a tarp

posted by mariegael on October 5th 2007 at 12:05pm
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Yuck! Not at all snuggly to me.

posted by EastVillageAmy on October 5th 2007 at 12:06pm
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I've never been more turned on.

posted by patrick (the other one) on October 5th 2007 at 12:12pm
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Sorry to get all PETA here, but these are disgusting. Ugh!

W/all the much more tasteful options out there, who really needs these anyway? The "softy fur" designers need to get a clue, and I'm a little disappointed in AT for even showing these.

(I have to say, though, that I like the red hanging piece behind the bed in the 1st photo - now, where do I get that?)

posted by lulu66 on October 5th 2007 at 12:24pm
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(Oops...looks like the piece is leather, so nevermind).

posted by lulu66 on October 5th 2007 at 12:28pm
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yup, pretty wrong in all respects.

posted by sherry2 on October 5th 2007 at 12:30pm
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I decorate with leather and wear leather and fur and eat meat. So I have no moral objection to the concept.

But even so that red leather bedspread looks positively pimp-tastic.

posted by JosieDaisy on October 5th 2007 at 12:32pm
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Eww

posted by Laura on October 5th 2007 at 12:33pm
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I'm not going to get all PC about the fur bedspread or leather (after all, several people here wear leather jackets and shoes and find them warm and comfortable .. i personally don't and I personally can't imagine sleeping under a bunch of dead bunnies /cry ). However, I'm just not digging on the aethetics of the bedspreads. It doesn't look appealing at all. There are some elements of the rooms and designs that look really neat, just not those bedsheets.

posted by blackdaisies on October 5th 2007 at 12:35pm
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lulu6--

Why here? Because not everyone shares your opinion about whether this is an abomination against nature or not.

So I counter with "Why NOT here?"

I hope you are all vegans wearing hemp shoes, with nary a leather purse, belt, watch band, T-bone steak, baseball, baseball glove, leather easy chair or dominatrix costume in sight.

Cuz if not, you are hypocrites.

posted by patrick (the other one) on October 5th 2007 at 12:41pm
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Regardless of the material, I think it they all look pretty ugly.

posted by JeffreyinAtlanta on October 5th 2007 at 12:48pm
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Is this April fools or something?

posted by Michael on October 5th 2007 at 12:51pm
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Mmmm....clammy.....

posted by Jon_B on October 5th 2007 at 12:55pm
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wow, patrick (the other one), what's with all the vitriol? one may hate and be grossed out by these items yet still don a leather belt here and there. geez! and by the way, i AM a vegan (the non-hypocritical kind) and am thoroughly sickened by these items. but i wouldn't cast asperations at anyone else who hated them yet wore leather shoes or ate meat once in a while.

posted by *heather leaf* on October 5th 2007 at 12:57pm
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Patrick, vegetarianism/veganism is like the growing 'green' movement. We do what we can, but we're never going to be perfect. And someone will always call us out for hypocrisy because of some tiny thing. I've personally learned to deal with it and go about living comfortably the way i want to live. And yes, i avoid all leather, and steaks, though there may be a dominatrix costume in my closet if you look hard enough. It's not made of leather though. Har!

I do agree that maybe Lulu didn't have to take the comment to a political (ethical?) level. But then again, AT does dabble in ethics... they do have a 'green' section... oh I could go on about the cow industry and the green movement. So I can see why Lulu might have been misinformed about the site? I dunno...

Still, I don't think i have to be vegan to think that these bed tarps are just not appealing. That's my opinion.

posted by blackdaisies on October 5th 2007 at 12:58pm
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Patrick, I believe this collection is meant for sleeping, not for sexy wrestling.
;-)

posted by silvarga on October 5th 2007 at 1:17pm
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I think the leather ones are ugly and tarplike. I don't understand the rabbit fur one at all -- I'm always trying to get (cat) hair off of my bedspread!

posted by quercus on October 5th 2007 at 1:19pm
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I see someone's got her leather knickers in a knot today!

posted by hejiranyc on October 5th 2007 at 1:21pm
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i'm not really into leather and here especially not. i don't know.. they don't look comfy, and i like my bed to not only be comfy but look that way too!

posted by gleek on October 5th 2007 at 1:41pm
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I agree with Patrick (the other one) 100%

They're the coolest blanket/comforters that I've ever seen
and the room settings and accesories are also great.

*Wait to see every manufacturer get on board with this one...

Thanks for the post!

posted by art donovan on October 5th 2007 at 1:46pm
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I don't mind leather in general, but these are totally gross.

posted by trygve on October 5th 2007 at 1:53pm
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leather or not here I come!
I find the whole men's suiting fabric used for bed covering rather a fab. idea that will spread to other areas of interior design/decor.... as for the leather/bunny hides well, to each his/her own... if you don't like it, don't buy into it. The consumer's power is in the wallet after all....

posted by chris_94131 on October 5th 2007 at 1:55pm
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mareigael--
"Sleeping on skin sounds creepy"
How do you keep your entrails in at night? ;)

To the leather-wearing vegans-- no offense intended against your choices. I just hate to get preached to about things like this on moral or ethical grounds.

If you think it looks ugly, that's one thing. But just don't make someone who *doesn't* feel the same way feel like a deviate or criminal.

And as for "tarp like" I fault poor styling more than I do the material from which these are made.

silvarga--
EVERY bedspread should be made for sexy wrestling! Or at least PREPARED for it!

And without getting too graphic, these probably clean up better than chenille, post-wrassle.

posted by patrick (the other one) on October 5th 2007 at 2:58pm
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ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

totally gross. sorry, just my opinion -- from aesthetic (not to mention ethical) grounds alone.

clammy is right!

posted by betsbillabong on October 5th 2007 at 3:16pm
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I give up. I'm putting on my leather chaps and heading out for a cocktail and some tofu.

posted by patrick (the other one) on October 5th 2007 at 3:25pm
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ps: blackdaisies--
Thanks for a thoughtful response. I think you get from whence I come.

posted by patrick (the other one) on October 5th 2007 at 5:28pm
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This must feel like sleeping inside an Aki ball.

posted by Eve in Hochelaga on October 5th 2007 at 5:41pm
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*heatherleaf*
The cow is just as dead to create small leather belt.
Just fyi.

posted by patrick (the other one) on October 5th 2007 at 5:42pm
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go vegan

posted by jonathon on October 5th 2007 at 6:05pm
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The leather and rabbit thing is truly tacky. I expect to see that sort of thing at some lonely bachelor's place with a lone wolf velvet painting hanging above it.

posted by Jetsetbaby on October 6th 2007 at 2:54am
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Damn straight, P(too). I'll take a Manhattan.

posted by JohnnySlimane on October 6th 2007 at 5:17am
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I just think these look weird. I love leather--so it's not that. But, there's something about covering my bed in it that seems odd. And something about the red one reminds me of Michael Jackson in the "Thriller" years.

posted by Christine (the one in DC) on October 6th 2007 at 6:24am
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I have totally mixed feelings about this: the nonshiny leather is kind of awesome, but that striped one looks a bit Glad.

What makes them look unappealing, more than anything else, is how the blankets and other bedding in the pictures are so wrinkled. Is that some kind of arty thing? I think it's a bad decision, especially when the pieces teeter on the garbage bag side.

posted by renata on October 6th 2007 at 12:54pm
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***Simply shiteous!***

posted by Sweet Pea on October 6th 2007 at 1:02pm
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Just bad taste.

posted by petro on October 6th 2007 at 1:08pm
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I don't find these attractive, but leather isn't clammy.

I just have to point that out whenever I see that belief expressed... leather chairs aren't clammy. PLASTIC is clammy.

If it feels clammy, it's probably pleather.

posted by Valerie on October 6th 2007 at 4:04pm
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This totally gives off a bad 70s vibe to me...how about a leather clad water bed?

Gimme my bamboo l linens!

posted by Thomas on October 6th 2007 at 4:25pm
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Ew. That red leather is very Euro-trashy.

posted by J. Cipa on October 7th 2007 at 11:30am
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The leather daddies will love this. Don't see a much wider market, though.

posted by greer on October 8th 2007 at 4:05am
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As a living historian (historical re-enactor) who has focused the last 15 years on the viking age (793-1066), I have to say that when you're sleeping in an a-frame tent in cold weather a fur blanket is a wonderful thing. I have slept under sheepskins before and if the wool is clean it feels wonderful next to your skin BUT only if it's clean and the soft wool is next to you. Having said that, I would gladly use the rabbit fur one while camping in cold weather but I wouldn't use it in my modern home because it looks tacky. I may play a viking but I certainly wouldn't want to live like one for more than a weekend at a time!

As a modern person I love leather but I wouldn't want it on my bed. Also, in my experience a leather jacket cuts the wind nicely in cold weather, but if it doesn't have a nice lining it provides no warmth.

posted by Monica on October 8th 2007 at 4:28am
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I am totally not an animal rights person and own a leather couch, but I don't think these really work based solely on design and practicality issues. Leather doesn't typically drape very well, so I personally find it best stretched taut in upholstery, for example - the wrinkles in the red and brown bedspreads just look untidy and sloppy.

Leather and fur are also just not that easy to clean, depending on what (ahem) you do in bed - even if that just includes eating takeout while watching TV - it could be a real nuisance. And yes, the fur and leather are super-70s in trend, and I think not in a good way! A furry throw at the end of the bed is around as far as I'd personally be willing to go with this.

posted by eeeck on October 8th 2007 at 7:23am
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A properly-tanned hide is surprising supple. Like buttah, even.
I don't think drape would be a problem.

greer--
You know any single ones??

posted by patrick (the other one) on October 8th 2007 at 7:26am
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not a fan.

posted by design milk on October 9th 2007 at 6:22am
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p(too),
I wasn't trying enforce any political (where did you get that?) or ethical beliefs (thought I conveyed that I'm not a PETA supporter) on anyone.

It's just that AT seems to be about innovative design ideas for the home, and these items just don't seem to make any practical sense to those of us looking for alternatives. I think I'm as entitled to my opinion as you are to yours, so sorry if you took it personally.

Go ahead and wear your chaps and bunny fur, if that's what you like, it's just not my taste. I'll take the cocktail, though, (make mine a Manhattan) anyday.

lulu66

posted by lulu66 on October 10th 2007 at 11:21am
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lulu66--

If you liked the wall hanging before you realized it's leather, you might like some Mexican papel picado. It's usually available as flags or banners, which aren't what you'd want, but it can also be found in wall-hanging sizes. I can't find a link to any at the moment, but I'll post if I find anything.

posted by Aulaire on October 17th 2007 at 5:29am
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