Have you heard the term 8 way hand tied furniture before but aren't exactly sure what it means?
This post is all about 8 way hand tied furniture seating system
Twiѕtеd ѕрring frameworks соmрriѕе оf оvеrwhеlming gаgе ѕtееl wirеѕ framed in nоnѕtор, vertical S-mоldеd curls. The ѕрringѕ аrе арреndеd tо thе саѕing with сuѕhiоnеd clasps аnd latches аnd rе-imрlеmеntеd with lеvеl mеtаl tiе bars. Thiѕ ѕоrt of "nо list" dеvеlорmеnt takes lеѕѕ work аnd is less еxреnѕivе tо сrеаtе thаn a 8-wау hand-tied spring ѕuѕреnѕiоn hоwеvеr hаѕ demonstrated in thе course of rесеnt уеаrѕ to givе an аgrееаblе "ѕit", but not last as long as an 8 way hand tied.
Lоng соnѕidеrеd thе gоld ѕtаndаrd оf ѕоfа suspension, еight-wау hаnd tied iѕ thе most lаbоr-intеnѕivе аnd best option. It’s the mаrk оf a high ԛuаlitу рiесе оf furniture. The springs аrе ѕuрроrtеd bу steel wеbbing on the bоttоm оf thе sofa and the tор оf thе ѕрringѕ are ѕесurеd bу twine. That’s where the nаmе comes in—thе twinе iѕ tied by hand аt еight diffеrеnt spots for each ѕрring аnd then аttасhеd to thе frame. This wеb of twinе keeps thе ѕрringѕ frоm shifting, рrоviding уеаrѕ оf unwаvеring support. Thе ѕоft twine аlѕо ensures thаt thе ѕuѕреnѕiоn won’t ѕtаrt to squeak with use (something thаt саn hарреn in all-metal ѕuѕреnѕiоnѕ). An еаѕу wау to tell if a рiесе of furniture has true eight-way hаnd tiеd ѕuѕреnѕiоn iѕ to рiсk uр thе сuѕhiоn аnd рuѕh on the ѕеаt dесk – уоu ѕhоuld bе аblе tо fееl thе individuаl ѕрringѕ thrоugh the fabric.
A 8-way hand-tied spring framework is аn аttеmрtеd and gеnuinе method thаt rеԛuirеѕ giftеd сrаftѕmаnѕhiр. Tо mаkе 8-way hаnd-tiеd сurlѕ, wоrkеrѕ tiе ѕрringѕ еight соurѕеѕ, frоm side to side, frоnt to back аnd corner to соrnеr.
Tоdау уоur ѕituаtiоn iѕ vеrу diffеrеnt. Nоw thаt уоu’rе оldеr аnd a littlе more ѕеttlеd, you’d рrеfеr to ѕtаrt buуing high-quality furniturе dеѕignеd tо lаѕt аnd rеmаin ѕtуliѕh fоr years. Thеrе are mаnу factors that dеtеrminе whether a ѕоfа оr rесlinеr’ѕ соnѕtruсtiоn is ԛuаlitу; a fеw еxаmрlеѕ аrе upholstery mаtеriаlѕ, frame and cushions. Anоthеr imроrtаnt соmроnеnt is the furniture’s ѕрring ѕуѕtеm. Sinuоuѕ springs аnd 8-wау hаnd-tiеd springs аrе thе two mоѕt соmmоn ѕрring systems used tо construct uрhоlѕtеrеd furniturе. Whеn ѕhоррing fоr nеw furniture, рlау сlоѕе аttеntiоn tо spring construction.
An 8-wау hand-tied spring system iѕ a triеd and true tесhniԛuе that rеԛuirеѕ ѕkillеd сrаftѕmаnѕhiр. Tо mаkе 8-way hаnd-tiеd соilѕ, lаbоrеrѕ tie ѕрringѕ eight ways, frоm ѕidе tо side, frоnt tо bасk and diаgоnаllу. This hеlрѕ craftsman build uрhоlѕtеrеd furniturе thаt iѕ ѕоft, supportive, flexible, and comfortable.
It tаkеѕ more time and lаbоr tо build 8-wау hаnd-tiеd ѕрring systems and furniturе pieces fеаturing this tуре оf соnѕtruсtiоn аrе forever pieces not throw away. Whilе уоu’ll spend more mоnеу upfront on living room seats, thеir lоng-lаѕting ԛuаlitу рrеvеntѕ уоu frоm hаving tо spend mоnеу оn futurе rерlасеmеntѕ.
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Are you ready to buy living room furniture but aren't sure where to start?!
Buying a new leather sofa can be a lot of fun, but it can also make for a difficult decision. There is so much to consider when trying to determine the perfect sofa, and with so many options it can seem overwhelming. We're here to help you through the process because we only see the fun in leather sofa shopping, and we want to help you do the same.
When it comes to choosing the perfect leather sofa, there are five key questions to
ask yourself.
The very first thing that should be looked at is how large the space is that the sofa will occupy. Grab a tape measure and take a few measurements. This will only take a couple minutes, and it is essential information. Be sure you are selecting a sofa that will fit based on the size of the space, as well as the shape. Once you get your measurements, it’s also a good idea to take some painters tape and actually mark it on the floor of the space in the configuration your furniture will be going in. That way you get an accurate visual for the size and layout.
When looking in showrooms, it’s important to remember that the showrooms are a lot bigger than your actual living room or office space, so the furniture will look different in perspective to what will fit your space. For example, a large sectional sofa looks a lot smaller in a 13,000 square foot showroom compared to the size of your living room.
You wouldn’t want to order such a large piece of furniture and find out its taking up the entire living room space.
Here are some guidelines.
A sofa should not occupy two thirds of the wall it sits against. If exceeding two thirds, the room will be overpowered by the sofa.
Standard seat cushions measure about 24” inches.
If incorporating a coffee table, it also should not be more than 2/3 the length of the sofa. If the sofa is long, it’s best to have two smaller coffee tables to better please the eye.
Keep in mind there needs to be enough room in-between the furniture to allow for people to move around.
You also don’t want people to be too far away or on the contrary too close from each other when conversing so it’s important to keep a notional circle of about 10 feet within the layout.
Ottomans should be a little lower than the sofa so it is comfortable when you put your feet up.
One of the best parts about shopping for a leather sofa is how many different styles there are to browse. From chesterfields to contemporary styles and everything in between, the options are endless. But because of this, it’s important to determine which style is your favorite so that you can be sure you select the sofa that is perfect for you. It’s also important to consider the style of the overall home when making this decision too. However, working with a designer they will have the ability to help you mix two different styles together to make it fit the style of the home or work space accordingly
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When purchasing a leather sofa, you’re likely not anticipating on purchasing another one soon after. So, to be sure you don’t have to, it is essential to choose a sofa with a strong, well put together frame. You can’t go wrong with solid hardwood. Make sure you ask manufactures about the frame and structure of the furniture, basically, what you don’t see underneath.
Ask about the warranty if the frame is not solid hardwood. Some manufactures will use plywood or pressed particle board sometimes even metal for frames. If you are anything like us, you want to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck and buying something that will last a long time is a good investment. Buying locally, or American made is typically your best bet.
Naturally you will want to be sure the colors and patterns of the sofa go well with the room that it will occupy. Does it have to match perfectly? No, it doesn’t. But the sofa should complement its surroundings to ensure a pleasing aesthetic of the room since it is typically the main focal point in a space.
We find it ideal to combine the style of the exterior of the house with the interior of the house and consider the history of the house and the location it is in. There are however ways to integrate the past and the present with modern unfolding. This comes back to your personal preference, so have an idea of a color scheme you are looking for when you begin your shopping.
A good color ratio rule to follow when designing space is as follows:
60 % of the room will be in one or two main colors such as walls or large furniture
30% of the room will be in subtle accent colors which lifts the main color such as area rugs, curtains and small furniture
10% of the room will have one or two contrasting colors such as toss pillows, pictures and accessories.
“S” is for one small black detail which gives strength to the chosen color such as a small accent chair or piece of art.
The natural world offers three great colors to start with. Blue, brown and green. These are often found to be the most common color choices for leather sofas. For the modern style lovers, mixing a little white or grey can make a softer transition to add a little contrast to grey, white or black areas. Adding different variations of the chosen color throughout the space really brings it all together in a proportional fashion.
When purchasing a leather sofa, the answer almost certainly, “Yes.” Leather sofas are much easier to clean than sofas of other fabrics because leather does not stain as easily and overall has more cleanability. The fabric is the key component as to whether a sofa is easy to clean or not, and leather is the easiest.
Leather is also hypoallergenic on the contrary to fabric which houses pet dander, dirt debris and even mites.
Leather is thicker and more puncture resistant than fabric as well. Families with pets and kids do best with leather.
These five questions to consider should have you more than prepared to begin your sofa shopping. Remember – in the end, it’s all up to you. Determine what your personal preferences ahead of time, and shopping for your new leather sofa is sure to be exciting.
This Post was all about 5 tips to choosing the perfect leather sofa
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Buying living room furniture can be stressful because there are so many different manufactures and options available. It can also be hard knowing where the best place is to buy well built furniture.
Furniture is expensive no matter where you get it. If you’re like me, you’ve probably purchased living room furniture in the past that had to be replaced after just a few years because it simply didn’t last. Reasons from the leather peeling or cracking, the seats sunk in and you felt like you were sitting in the basement or the frame bent or became too wobbly. Or perhaps the fabric faded or is just totally outdated and doesn't go with any of your home or office decor. Now you are ready to get good quality, timeless furniture that is going to last for generations, but you don’t know what to look for that makes it quality.
You are going to learn about all the components involved in building quality American made leather furniture from the frame, suspension seat cushions, leather to the final finishing details.
This post is all about the value of American made leather furniture.
Nothing completes a room like a piece of authentic leather furniture. From a living room with a cozy leather sectional, to a man cave featuring a power leather recliner, to an office displaying a pristine leather Chesterfield sofa, a piece of top-quality leather furniture brings it all together.
Many of the finest leather furniture pieces in the world are American made.
Leather furniture manufactured in the United States is so coveted, whether it be a sofa, chair, loveseat, or any other piece of furniture, because of its quality. From the materials to the craftsmanship, authentic American made leather furniture is constructed with the finest resources and is built to last.
Everything used to create the frame, cushions, and fabric in a piece of American made leather furniture is traditionally of superior quality. Additionally, many of the most skilled leather furniture craftsmen are born and raised in the United States. North Carolina in particular has long been a hub for furniture manufacturing.
Let's look at the 5 main features that make up furniture that help distinguish its quality.
Frame
When furniture shopping it's always a good idea to ask about the sofa frame construction- what it’s made out of.
Solid hardwood is usually made out of kiln- dried Oak, Beach, or ash. Hardwood is stick built and is a solid piece of wood and is therefore the strongest and will last for years upon years if well taken care of.
You might hear some manufacturers say their furniture is made with hardwood and that sounds good to most consumers. Its those who are aware of the difference between hardwood and SOLID hardwood that makes or breaks a deal.
So what’s the difference?
The term "All Hardwood” simply means it contains different types of wood pressed together. Something we are familiar with is plywood or particle board. This is a less expensive way to manufacture frames for furniture and also less expensive for the consumer, but over time these will begin to warp and wobble, becoming uncomfortable and unstable and ultimately, it doesn't last nearly as long. An analogy to help you compare and understand is, would you rather have a home built out of plywood or solid hardwood?
Sofa Frame Construction
As an Interior designer, I always recommend solid hardwood to my clients.
Suspension
True 8 Way Hand Tied Suspension
sinuous wire suspension
pirelli webbing
Related POST: 8 way hand tied explained image and link
Seat Cushions
We are creatures of habit as we sit in our furniture, usually it will be in the same spot every time. After a while, the pillows get worn in and flattened and need to be fluffed or even refilled. You want to find manufactures and retailers that build the furniture with removable seat cushions with zipper access to the pillows so they can be refilled. This also allows for the consumer to rotate the cushions for even wear, similar to how you rotate your tires on your car. Many manufactures will sew their cushions and back pillows to the frame, when they are sewn on to the frame, you don’t have the option re-stuff or rotate the cushions and eventually you end up giving it away or just throwing it out which is money wasted.
Leather Or Fabric
Deciding between leather and fabric can be tricky. However, lifestyle can play an important role on the decision making. As a designer, I love mixing leather with fabric accents but it's not always best for every client.
Choosing leather and or fabric quality is very important. Both leather and fabrics go by a grading scale. Each manufacture will have their own grading system. Ask your designer or retailer for their recommendations on what will best suit you and your family based off your lifestyle.
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Finishing Options
This is an added benefit and key feature to finding quality American made furniture. It comes down to all the little details that really make it special. Everything from choosing nail heads and foot styles, finishes, and stitching and seat cushions makes it truly customizable. High- end furniture manufacturers will allow for such accommodations. I love working with manufacturers who have these benefits because I can create a design that truly fits the needs and personality of every client. My overall goal is to design something that they will love for years to come.
NailHead finishes option
To conclude The purchase of a piece of leather furniture is an investment, which means it needs to hold its value over time. The value of American made leather furniture stays intact years after its original purchase date. Regardless of the type of furniture you wish to purchase, if you’ve decided to go with leather then be sure that it’s American made.
Here is a list of some of my favorite American made leather furniture brands. Some of these brands also do fabric.
American Classics Leather For 8 way hand tied sofa brands- Stationary Furniture
Mayo Leather and Fabric, Stationary
Omnia Leather Leather and Fabric, Reclining and Stationary
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Are you looking for rustic leather furniture to buy? We are here to show you some of our favorite rustic leather furniture styles to inspire you that are also available to purchase.
Rustic style is defined by its Classic design, which is intended to bring out the natural beauty of its materials.
We tend to think of furniture that is handmade from organic materials that are textured and earthy in color and tone. In terms of elements used to build high quality furniture, there really is no material that is more natural, durable and lends itself to a rustic design and style than leather.
Leather not only perfectly complements the natural wood of its frame without the need of additional adornment, but it is also an organic material that improves with age. It is one of the only materials in which blemishes from normal wear and tear can be said to enhance its aesthetic value and give it “character.” It is this character that gives leather furniture a textured feel that is truly as inviting and comfortable as it looks.
Indeed, few things in life look and feel more solid and durable—and scream comfort—than a leather chair or sofa. The materials can also be “distressed” to create that antique look and feel, which makes even the newest piece of furniture seem as if it’s been lovingly preserved in the family for generations.
If you're looking for rustic quality furniture that is going to last for years to come, than you have found the place! Below are some styles that could be very fitting for rustic style living rooms or office spaces. Keep in mind that these style are also very versatile and by simply changing a few features such as the leather, nail heads, feet and finishes, it can completely transform the style of the furniture and space it is going in.
Why we love It
We love color outside of the browns, greys, beiges. Blue creates a rustic, homespun twist into the mix. This charming tight back rolled arm three seat sofa upholstered in a natural full grain aging leather is another sequence of homely and modern rustic styles.
Why we love it
This rustic leather sofa is a style I have used to customize for many clients. Starting with a solid hardwood oak frame for durability and longevity, a TRUE 8 way hand tied suspension, this 555 Park City is then upholstered with a natural Full grain, tan leather, which is a perfect neutral rustic color, which can compliment both rustic and modern style rooms. The artistically hand pleated, rolled arms are decorated with old gold nail heads which in all truly creates a wow factor that will catch everyone's eye. The imperfections in the leather like scars, mosquito bites, stretch marks, and other natural features help emphasize the rustic design and style in further details.
The term rustic also doesn't only lock Full grain leather into the rustic look. Some Top grain leathers are designed to give a rustic aesthetic without the leathers actually distressing. However a lot of Top Grain leathers can be finished with a sheen, but "rustic" will never take on the "sheen" and rather keep a matted or muted finish.
The design and style of rustic leather furniture can also transfer over to traditional styles and designs, including accent Hair On Hides, tooled leathers such as embossed or printed leathers.
The most common color pallet for rustic leather furniture are browns, beiges, creams, whites, greens and greys and even blues because they favor warmth and cozy feelings.
Texture is also key in emphasizing the term rustic.
Below are some examples of Hair On Hide, "Tooled" or "Embossed" printed leathers, used to create rustic accents. Generally they are not bold in color, but more so balanced.
Why we love it
The 558 Westwood is a excellent example of rustic leather with a bold accents placed on the front arm panels, out arms and the out back. Here the 558 is shown in Top grain leather, Myriad, " Ambiguity Brown" which has a sauvage effect creating high and low tones to make it appear rustic and old world without it changing over time. This sofa is literally a show stopper!
Why we love it
The Omnia City Craft sectional is so ambidextrous , with its modern, sleek, clean lines, and unifies the rustic style in its distressed Full grain leather. The City Craft is versatile in its style and design from Farmhouse , Industrial, Modern/Contemporary, Modern Cabin, even Beach house! The way the city craft sectional is shown in this rustic natural leather, makes it a very rustic leather sofa set. Depending on the leather you choose, you could create many different styles and looks to complete any space!
Why we love it
The Tuscon camel back sectional shown in 100% Full grain leather, Polo Club Bourbon, is a rustic style leather that will patina over time, embellished with nail heads across the top of the base and across the in-back, coordinated with a storage ottoman in contrasted patchwork embossed leather. The colors are neutral and natural which really screams homespun as its all tied in together! This is classic design and classic dark brown leather couch living room accented with natural and colorful textures
Why we love it
The Dominion 4 seat conversation sofa shown in Artisan Patina, showing off its smooth contour and time honored nail heads adds an elegant trait to the space.
Draping a Hair On Hide rug overlaying an oriental rug, is a trendy and stylish way to add more texture making the room feel more cozy. Adding other natural element such as vertical wood trim matching coffee and side table, accentuates the rustic tone, really ties everything together so nicely.
cohesive to neutral wood floor color tone creates a true rustic style and design.
Why we love it
Just when you thought it wasn't possible to mix modern style living room with rustic leather furniture, The Ashton Sofa Chase proves us all wrong! The Ashton chase marries the two styles together with the sleek clean lines, tan Rustic leather, embossed textured accent leather and double row nailhead trim creates modern harmony with the black , tan and cream tones.
Why we love it
Here a Hand Woven stitch accents the antiqued ombre leather. Without a doubt, a true rustic touch that hollers rural countryside!
Why we love it
The color tones in this antiqued leather fade into one another from sunburst golden honey to a shadowy chestnut hue, coin a fashioning handsome rustic leather recliner chair design.
To conclude, rustic leather furniture is warm and inviting and a very versatile term used to describe many different design styles and can be a subjective term from one person to another, but most importantly it's all about allowing natural beauty to shine and the overall goal is to create a calm, cozy and relaxing space highlighting organic, natural elements and materials.
Any of these leather living room sets would be perfect to complete spaces for mountain lodge furniture, farmhouse living room, industrial living room, rustic cabin furniture and more!
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Are You Looking To Buy Leather Furniture But Aren't Sure How To Tell The Quality Of A Leather Sofa?
Buying leather furniture can be overwhelming and knowing which leathers are real, faux painted, vinyl, genuine, full grain, top grain, dyed etc.
Now that I have worked and specialised in leather retail with my fiance, I can help explain to you the good, the bad and the ugly about all the different kinds of leathers.
My goal is to make you feel knowledgeable and confident when it comes to buying leather furniture for your home or office space.
This Post is all about Leather Grades and what you need to know before you go furniture shopping!
The truth is, not all leather is created equal. Leather furniture knowledge is power. Many so-called "leathers" are not what they appear to be. So let's look at the the amazing world of leather and leather grades so you can avoid getting burned next time you are in the market for some great leather goods.
There's nothing in the world like leather. It's been used for thousands of years as a textile to create durable, protective, and fantastic looking goods. It is a time-honored material and turning it into usable objects has been honed into an art that is like none other.
However, if you are anything like us when we started this journey, we had no idea about leather grades, quality, tanning processes, or how to tell a good piece of leather from a cleverly painted piece of scrap hide.
The most common question asked from consumers is, what grade of leather is this? This is a very misleading question for the consumer to ask who doesn't really understand that there isn't a universal grading scale, meaning no two manufactures use the same grading scale. Some manufacturers use a-z some use 1-5, 1000-7000 and so on. Why do they use a grading scale? The main reason is price. The more expensive the leather, the more expensive it is to make the furniture. It's the single most expensive part of making furniture.
Tanneries all over the world bid on what they feel they should pay for the quality, size, and cleanliness- referring to the imperfections that are found in the natural leather. Similar to looking at and buying diamonds, some of them,being the highest quality, which has the least amount of imperfections are the most rare. Then you have those that have more imperfections which are more abundant. There are also hides that are considered " trash hides" which have to be corrected by buffing, cleaning, scrubbing, and dying with a uniform finish.
The grading scale is based off of what the manufacture pays per square foot for the hides.
For example, calculating how much waste is involved in upholstering the furniture is since not every hide can be cut all the way to the corners since they are not perfect shapes. Excess waste can range from 12-15% and that has to be accounted for in the cost in building the furniture.
Now let's dive into talking about the different kinds of leather on the market.
PU leather is the lowest quality "leather" on the market. We use the term leather loosely here. Modern technology lets you take a single hide and split it into 4 or more layers. These thin worthless layers are then coated with a polyurethane coating to add "body" back into the material. This material comes in all colors of the rainbow since it is almost entirely synthetic.
This laminated leather is used by many manufacturers because it is significantly cheaper. Beware of this material! It will not last much longer than it takes to unwrap the package. It cracks and disintegrates quickly and has none of the warmth of real leather. American Classics Leather would never use such a product.
Bonded leather is just as bad as PU leather. It is reconstituted leather, not actual leather hide. You take all the leather scraps, grind them into a pulp, then flatten it out, glue it together with polyurethane coating, and then spray paint it the color you want and emboss a leather texture on top. Bonded leather is extremely cheap to make, therefore it is a favorite of many cost cutting "big box" brands. It also often has a chemical scent to it that is very unpleasant. Bonded leather is often used on furniture to make it look fancy, but within a few short weeks / months, it starts to crack and fall apart. Beware buying any bonded leather products you want to last.
4.Genuine Leather
Genuine leather is a deceiving term where most consumers automatically think it's the best. Even though it is made up of real leather, it contains the lowest quality leathers bonded together with glue and then painted, so over time it will crack and peel.
What Is Top Grain Leather Made Of?
This grain is called "Top Grain" because it is from the top layer of leather (the best cut) and the tannery removes the imperfections. The leather is then aniline dyed and finished to seal the pores. These leathers have more color & grain consistency and is also where you will find different printed patterns.
In the leather grade chart used by American Classics Leather, Leather and More, and other manufactures, Top grain leathers are A & B grade leathers.
A lot of people ask, " What is Grade A leather?" and " is one better than the other? The answer is neither one is better than the other. It just comes down to personal preference on the way the leather looks and feels.
7.Is Top Grain leather Durable?
Top grain leather is a good leather, it is durable and long lasting, and will serve you well in many instances.
In our grading system these are our C & D grade leathers.
higher end leathers, such as full grain, are higher in the grading scale. it's like buying a diamond, but in this instance, the imperfections are what qualifies for higher grading.
This brings us to the highest grade of leather available, full grain leather. Full grain leather uses the entire hide with all the grain. It is used on the highest-end products that are designed to last decades or more. It is also the most expensive of leathers to use.
Full grain leather will have marks, brands, and imperfections. This leather is durable, though, it will age with time. These leathers develop the natural leather patina look and feel. They do not wear out, they wear in. These leathers are aniline leather, also known as aniline dyed leathers.
While it is more expensive to use and work with, it will pay rich dividends to the you because it will last a very long time, even the rest of your life with proper care.
Is one better than the other? The answer is "no" because it's all about personal preference and lifestyle. Some consumers want their leather furniture to age, and patina over time for that " Old World" look and feel, with imperfections and scratch marks.
I have heard countless times " I want a leather that is just like my old Bomber jacket! Or "I want something that resembles my old baseball glove"! Full grain leather is for those who want the true look, smell, and feel of a true leather.
There is some maintenance involved when it comes to caring for this leather, so it does require a little more attention compared to top grain. Although it has oil and waxes within the leather to help protect it, leather conditioners and leather protection creams are recommended about twice a year.
On the other hand, some consumers do not want their furniture to scratch up at all. They have pets or small kids or both and are worried about the furniture getting ruined. Top grain leather is for this consumer because it won't leave scratch marks, it will look the same over the years meaning the leather doesn't change.
Care and cleaning is easy with top grain leather, where all you need is a damp warm rag with mild soap and water to wipe off the surface.
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To Conclude: There are many different kinds of leathers out there for the consumer to buy. Many manufactures can get away with claiming their furniture is upholstered in leather, but as a consumer it’s good to have the knowledge of what is long lasting and durable so you don’t end up wasting your time and money.
Choosing between full grain and top grain leathers is based off of lifestyle and preference. Because it can get very overwhelming, designers and retail specialists will walk you through every step of the way to help you build and design furniture that is right for you. At home style sense, I have educated knowledge about leathers and specialize in customizing leather furniture. I work closely with American Classics Leather and Leather and More. Both of which are two manufactures that offer stationary furniture and reclining living room furniture. They take a lot of pride in the fact that it's all built in the United States.
This post was all about leather grades explained.
I hope you feel more knowledgeable with a good understanding about leather furniture and leather grades for your next leather furniture shopping experience.
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Want To Know 5 KEY Reasons Why Leather Furniture Is The Best Option For Pets And Kids? These Are Tested And Proven Reasons That You Should Know About.
Having pets and kids are both really exciting but we all know that they both can leave behind lots of messes to clean up on our living room furniture. It’s important to do a lot of research to find the best sofa material for kids and pets. As a designer and leather furniture specialist, I am giving you the top 5 reasons leather furniture is best for pets and kids that I absolutely sware by.
You are going to learn about all the reasons leather furniture is best for pets and kids from durability, cleaning products, and more.
After learning about all these reasons leather furniture is best for kids, you are going to be very confident in your decision making when it comes to picking out living room furniture to fit your lifestyle.
When I’m working with clients and designing their living rooms, I find out what kind of lifestyle they live. Once they tell me that they have pets and or kids, I always recommended that we order leather living room furniture and here are my reasons why.
So, Pets? Kids? Both? Perfect. Let’s talk about why you need to have leather vs fabric.
Sofas that are only covered in top grain leather and or full grain leather are in fact the most durable leather sofas. A typical top grain and or full grain leather is shown to have a lifespan of 2-4 times the average fabric and if well taken care of can last up to 25 years or even more. Let’s take a look at the two most durable leathers that I recommend
Top grain and Full grain are no doubt the two naturally thickest and most durable leathers out there. During the tanning process, the hides are carefully tanned to accommodate life and withstand people and their lifestyles.
In my own experience working as a leather specialist, I have had countless consumers come in and explain how less expensive leathers like Polyurethane or bonded leathers will last about 2-5 years because they will start to crack, or peel over time.
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Sunlight will cause damage to leather furniture just like it would cause fading and damage to anything else. Keeping leather furniture out of direct sunlight is very important in order to prevent it from fading or drying out. I don’t recommend placing leather furniture in any sunrooms or screened in porches, However, that doesn't mean I don't recommended you place leather furniture in a bright open space with lots of windows. I Would make sure the windows have blinds or drapes to control the amount of light that reflects on the furniture.
Full grain and top grain leathers are naturally the thickest and most durable. Product test show than most top grain leather can handle several hundred pounds without failing (most fabrics fall far less ). Large dog breeds with thick, strong, and sharp nails can stand up to the resistance of leather. Obviously, there are expectations to every rule for example, taking a razor blade to your leather furniture on a bad day, obviously will tear, puncture and destroy the leather- SO STAY CALM!
So, what happens if you do puncture through the leather? There are in fact leather repair specialists who work to repair damaged leather furniture. Doing some research online to find qualified professionals is important. Most high end leather furniture manufactures won't sew their cushions to the frame, and therefore can offer replacement seat and pillow covers if the leather was indeed damaged.
Well that is easy. Most leathers can be cleaned with a damp cloth. In some cases, you might need to use a very mild soap mixed with water.
What soap do I use? Usually a mild leather cleaner will do the trick such as Uniters gentle leather cleaner. Depending on the leather that is being used to build the furniture or what is currently on the furniture, I sometimes recommended something as simple as a common facial cleanser found at the grocery store such as Neutrogena facial cleanser. Please make sure you find out if this cleanser is right for your leather furniture before use and then always test a small patch that will be hidden to make sure the leather doesn't have a bad reaction to the soap. Examples can be discolorations in the leather. The logic behind it is, if you can use it on your own skin, then of course you can also use it on leather since leather is also skin. Here it helps remove human and even pet body oils that can over time, stain leather furniture and leave dark spots from where our bodies touch the leather.
Soft and gentle leather cleaners are also great to use on leather furniture because they are designed to work on leather without being too harsh and destroying the leather over time.
There are a lot of questions about the use of home remedies for cleaning leather furniture. Baking soda, saddle soap, lemon juice and vinegar are a few I hear about quite frequently but all of these products are too harsh and can damage, and dry out good quality leathers, therefore I never recommend them.
A couple more questions related to home remedies are I have heard is, Is baby oil good for leather? Does olive oil soften leather? Although these sound-like good ideas because in theory, yes, they do soften leather, over time, both of these products will cause irreversible damage to the leather so it’s best to avoid these household products on leather as well. A leather conditioner such as Leather Protection Cream by Uniters is what I always recommend for certain full grain leathers as it is designed specifically for leather and only needs to be applied about twice a year to help keep the leather looking soft and supple. Basically, it also protects the furniture from everyday life.
Leather is a perfect solution as it is a hypoallergenic material. Although it may be more expensive initially, it will be worth the investment in the long run and here are some reasons why.
Fabric furniture, could actually be retaining allergy causing material.
Similar to outdoor pollen allergens, fabrics retain dust, mold, mites, pet dander and other allergy causing materials which are considered indoor allergens. Fabric furniture makes for a great environment for dust, mites, pet dander, and other allergy causing materials become embedded and fester in fabric These can cause people experience symptoms of hay fever, hives and eczema.
Imagine your dog running inside on a rainy muddy day and jumping up on to your new, clean fabric sofa, or your kid eating cheesy snacks who wipes his or her fingers on the fabric furniture. Now you have an orange cheese stain to somehow remove off of your brand-new furniture. Sounds like a nightmare, right? We all know keeping pets off furniture will be difficult and sometimes impossible to do and we can’t control everything kids do.
Cleaning strategies for fabrics can be time consuming, exhausting and also very costly. Some examples of expensive treatments involve purchasing and using slipcovers, toss pillows and throws that can all be washed, and also needs to be vacuumed and steam cleaned often. Now who has time for all that?
To make things a lot simpler, as mentioned before, using a warm rag with some mild soap and water to remove dust, pet dander, and dirt, as well as dusting the furniture regularly is all you need to clean and maintain leather!
Depending on the leather you have, some leathers benefit from a leather conditioner application about twice a year or as needed to buff out scratch marks and keep it looking moist and rich. 1 Liter of leather conditioner will cost you less than $20 and will last you a very long time. This is a leather conditioner and protection cream I highly recommend at a great price.
Over time Leather gets better with age and get an Old World patina, look and feel. Just like clothing, fabrics become dated, dingy and faded and over the years it costs more money to replace furniture with the latest fabric designs.
If a Leather seat cushion cover gets damaged, it will be a lot easier to replace because leather is timeless and the specific dye or color will most likely be available for 1o years or more as opposed to fabric patterns that may only last up to 5 years. You also don't have to worry about leather becoming dated since leather is timeless!
At Leather and More, we’re sure when you shop our online catalog of affordably luxurious furniture that it will be love at first sight. As always, we're available to answer any questions you may have in your search for that perfect piece of forever furniture.
To conclude, these are just a few reasons why someone should consider leather furniture when they have pets and or children. There is a lot of misleading advice out there on the internet about what’s durable, puncture resistant, cleaning products to buy and use, what leathers are best for kids and so on. If you aren’t sure exactly who or what to trust, I would recommend talking to your interior designer, decorator or a leather specialist retailer or manufacturer.
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