The 1970s had some bad design, of course, but it also included a frequent cameo by of one of my favorite things, animal print! Can it be done tastefully? Yes! Don’t you shake your head at me. I am going to show you the most use of animal print in one room (that is not in a massage parlor). This isn’t a cameo; it’s a Meryl Streep-size role.

Just today, I was casually going through some pictures of the New York apartment formerly belonging to the artist, interior designer, and former president of Parsons School of Design, Van Day Truex. I had first seen pictures of his New York apartment years ago, but this time I was really surprised at how many of his décor elements have been trending like crazy in the past few years.

Here’s his apartment from 1976:

Antelope, leopard, and whatever Brunschwig’s “Les Touches” is supposed to evoke. And a grey sofa! Boho chic houseplants galore. All these things, which you scroll past on Instagram while waiting for your Starbucks, are OLD NEWS. But I prefer to say, classic.

And can we talk about the rattan chairs? (Did you think Serena and Lily came up with this stuff?)

White walls. Earthy neutrals with shots of black.

Is this more animal print than I am personally comfortable with? Well, probably. But it WORKS. And I stand by Van’s jungle/savanna/beach house in Manhattan.

So please, let me talk you into two leopard print pillows. It won’t hurt.