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Faux Fur & Animal-Print Motif
NYT 3.30.08

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Though the more style-savvy readers might balk at the abundance of animal-centric decorations, The New York Times gives us a peek into an apartment that has taken on the characteristics of its owner. Dr. Tom DeVincentis has lived in this Upper East Side garden apartment for twenty-seven years. His professional life as a veterinarian, along with his passions of safaris and his love of horseback-riding is reflected in his rent-stabilized space...

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When someone has lived in a home for a long time, it is very interesting to see how their personality is reflected in the space. For additional photos of the apartment (including the lipstick-red sink) see A Perfect Place for Man and Beast and its slideshow.

(Pics: Michelle V. Agins)

Comments (20)

he has spent years caring for animals and now he hunts and kills them. and enjoys having pelts (faux as they may be) in his home. interesting....

posted by *heather leaf* on 2008-03-31 10:12:14
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that is really screwed up. how can you call yourself an animal enthusiast & go fox hunting?

posted by jenny! on 2008-03-31 10:40:24
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Hunting: not synonymous with animal abuse.

posted by mjr on 2008-03-31 10:47:42
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oh, my. we've got a good hot button controversy on our mitts here. :-)

in response to mjr - i personally find hunting synonymous with animal abuse. and beyond. snuffing out a living being just because you feel like it (not in self-defense) is abusive and depraved. ok, so the 'abuse' part only lasted a 'mere' couple of minutes while the animal was dying in excruciating pain before it died. i'll give you that. but when you kill another creature you're consciously abusing and defying its right to exist independently. so in that regard i do equate hunting with abuse.

signed,
tree-hugging non-leather/fur-wearing/buying vegan.

posted by *heather leaf* on 2008-03-31 11:08:13
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Peak? P-e-e-k. Sorry, that just bugs me :)

I agree; animal lover and hunter are just a slight bit hypocritical.

posted by Melissa82 on 2008-03-31 11:11:54
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Do you also assume vets wear no leather or eat no meat? I don't.

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2008-03-31 12:01:56
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The article mentions that all of the fur is faux.

I did a few checks, and it looks like the fox hunting on long island isn't really about hunting and shooting. It seems to be more about horseback riding and chasing foxes if you see one (which yeah, isn't super nice).

posted by siobhan. on 2008-03-31 12:06:54
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I don't hunt; the hobby holds no allure for me. It should be noted, however, that hunters and fishermen spend more $$$ per capita on the environment than any other group. Until the rest of us environmentalists choose to open our wallets wider and donate more time than we already do, I think it's wise to respect *everyone* who contributes to the cause, even if we don't see eye-to-eye.

As to the design at hand: furs, real or faux, squick me out when they are not attached to a living critter.

posted by Molly Margarita on 2008-03-31 12:10:56
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Slow day for the blogs huh.....

posted by jamilkb on 2008-03-31 12:30:18
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two of my guy friends are into tiger prints, faux of course

posted by LaDonnaNichole on 2008-03-31 12:48:31
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If animals hung people-skins in their homes, we'd shoot them. I get that it's faux fur, but it still icks me out.

posted by Rob in PDX on 2008-03-31 12:52:35
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ethics aside, that bed is just ugly.

posted by eebnyc on 2008-03-31 12:59:44
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But Molly, it's hard to get the foxes to lie still in a row on the bed. Kidding.

Actually love the perspective your comment brings, so thanks for that.

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2008-03-31 13:17:09
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eebnyc--

Apparently you mean ethics of politeness aside. This is still someone's home.

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2008-03-31 13:23:06
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Most modern-day fox hunting involves dragging something stinky around for the hounds and "hunters" to chase, not actual foxes.

posted by brittanykate on 2008-03-31 14:54:32
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Silly me! I'd guessed that the thing that would be excercising the comments section would be the notion of a doctor in a rent-controlled apartment!

posted by Jaze on 2008-03-31 15:48:31
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Jaze brings up what I've too considered - it's really bizarre knowing that many well-to-do folks live in rent-controlled apartments. I remember reading somewhere that most people confuse rent control and rent stabilized as being one and the same when in essence they are not. I just forget which is which. But in either case, it is obscene (and I use that term mildly - not in its full effect) that a doctor can live in a rent-controlled home when so many middle-income folks have no financial option but to live in (gasp) the outer boroughs.

posted by peahen on 2008-03-31 16:34:43
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oops, he's in a rent-stabilized. my mistake.

here are rent-stabilization points for NYC:
http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/faq/rentstab.html

posted by peahen on 2008-03-31 16:38:15
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P2 -

I've missed you. Thank God you're back!

posted by Curtis on 2008-03-31 22:59:12
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People...People...pay attention hear...you don't know what you are talking about...there is no longer a fox in fox hunting...get it!! It is about horsemanship and the skills of riding horses in the woods...get educated!!
As for the apartment, you should know that veterinarians are not in it for the money!! They are one of the lowest paid
medical professionals..someone like him should have a rent
controlled apartment...and you should all thank him that he takes care of animals! Get a life.

posted by mikey jr. on 2008-05-11 19:49:35
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