| Author | Content |
Tir_Na_Nog
Houston
United States
(Zone 9b)
January 15, 2008
08:01 PM Post #4407122
| Who else is a fan of leather furnishings? I didn't plan it but as we were buying for a new house the pieces all just seemed to coordinate from room to room and before I knew it, realized we indeed have a "style" LOL.
Even the dining chairs have brown leather.
Seems with kids it's just a must.
I remember growing up with cloth furnishings, sitting down and seeing a puff of dust blow up, LOL. |
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
January 15, 2008
09:45 PM Post #4407593
| I am I am!! I'm in the market for a new leather couch. Only problem is my chair and ottoman are also leather, so finding the right brown is going to be tricky, I'm afraid.
You must not of had my mom! No dust blowing anywhere...LOL But I also remember the time she had plastic put on all the furniture and the car seats..not good in the heat ☺ |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
January 15, 2008
09:48 PM Post #4407605
| I like leather...it is much easier to clean than fabric and I like the look of it. But it doesn't get along very well with dog claws (unless you cover it up with blankets and things, and I really don't like that look). So I'm sticking with fabric for now--don't have the heart to tell my dog he's not allowed on the couch! |
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
January 15, 2008
10:05 PM Post #4407662
| My sister has a big ole lab and he doesn't hurt the leather at all. I have a long haired Chihuahua and she doesn't hurt my chair or ottoman. I do have a deep smoky gray color leather couch here in the parlor and she doesn't bother it either. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
January 15, 2008
10:26 PM Post #4407758
| My dog has definitely done a number on the leather seats in my car, and my parents have a leather couch and their collie has left her mark on it. I'm sure there are some leathers that might be fine, but besides just going for the most expensive one (which I can't afford) I don't know how to go about figuring out which ones might hold up and which won't. |
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
January 16, 2008
12:07 AM Post #4408230
| Yep, definitely a difference in grades of leather. When I got my chair from Ethan Allen, I chose the mid grade. I know my sisters couch is Thomasville, but other than that, I have no clue on grade of leather. |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
January 16, 2008
12:32 AM Post #4408346
| My Sister & BIL have 3 large dogs (one is HUGE @ 200 lbs) and they have leather furniture but cover it with comforters because the dogs do get on the furniture!
We bought a new sofa a couple of years ago ... leather, and I love the look but hate that the pillows slide off. Hubby doesn't like it at all. He loves his old leather recliner but was used to our old, large overstuffed fabric sofa and the leather one is quite a bit shorter and narrower. Not the most comfortable sofa either ... we should have looked a bit longer because I've since sat on many leather sofa's that are super, super cozy and comfy!
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Tir_Na_Nog
Houston
United States
(Zone 9b)
January 16, 2008
08:14 AM Post #4408832
| Oh yes, a peeve of mine---dogs on the couch! We had dogs but they rarely got on the couch, they "knew" they weren't allowed lol. At least with leather you can wipe off the hairs for company. I cringe to sit on cloth couches covered in fur.
We lived in a very old drafty house hence the dust. And the couches we bought new so had to get our monies worth, lol. So lots of dust. :)
I don't know if they put springs in leather couches as cloth but I prefer the webbed support. Much nicer. Another reason I like the leather (maybe cloth offers webbing to????) but hate a squeeky chair/couch.
I sure can be particular. LOL. Guess want a good product for the money and all the years you'll have it. What do you suppose is the life on a leather couch? |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
January 16, 2008
09:08 AM Post #4408998
| Leather itself will last for years and years ... it's the structure the leather is applied to that might wear out or break down if it's not made well.
Try keeping a 200 lb (underweight according to the vet) dog off the couch. This is "Bubba": 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
January 16, 2008
09:10 AM Post #4409002
| Here he got caught napping on the loveseat: 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Tir_Na_Nog
Houston
United States
(Zone 9b)
January 16, 2008
09:23 AM Post #4409047
| oh my goodness! he looks comfy! |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
January 16, 2008
09:26 AM Post #4409058
| He's the sweetest dog. Huge, yes ... but very gentle. My sister says they call that breed "Gentle Giants". I can't wait to see him when he gets to his correct weight of @ 240 lbs! The father dog weighed 280 and mama was 260 but apparently both were a bit overweight. |
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
January 16, 2008
11:06 PM Post #4413193
| I don't think our long haired Chihuahua would know what to do if she couldn't get on the couch...well, except to climb in my leather chair once I've warmed it all up! I agree about the dog hair and it's ick factor, but that's just a fact of life when you have a pet that sheds. She sheds so much, that I doubt it would matter if she was on the couch or laying down on the cold hardwood floor anyway! |
lorelei65
Cawston, near Norwic
United Kingdom
April 23, 2008
03:54 PM Post #4853279
| Hi,
I am from England, though I once lived in Houston at River Oaks, and I know things may be different over here but I much prefer leather seating in my living room. At my last house I had a cream leather 3-seater settee. The best one to get here is not the most expensive - it is called 'corrected' leather and has a protective coating. I had it for two years and my youngest daughter has had it for the last year. I have had four cats and a staffy pup all over it and my daughter has three little boys 4, 3, and 2 years old, not to mention all us adults - come to that she had the previous leather sofa from me (it is dark blue and is still in use at her apartment).
The thing I like about leather is ...
1] You can wipe sticky finger marks right off
2] No fleas from the animals can get in it
3] It always looks good
I clean mine with a spray leather cleaner [you can use the same cleaner for leather coats etc].
Haven't any photo's of the sofa but here is my dog and me...
Best wishes
Lorraine
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
April 23, 2008
05:06 PM Post #4853561
| Hi Lorraine! Great photo of you and your dog! When you say Staffy do you mean Stafordshire Terrier? LOL, I just answered my own question by googling! What a great looking dog! I love the stocky build on some of them ... they look really tough but I bet they are sweeties if trained as a family pet!
My husband and I have a leather sofa and recliner in our living room. I love that is so easy to clean. We don't have a dog in the family right now but do have 4 cats ... all indoor kitties and they climb all over the furniture. One loves sleeping in the leather recliner ... her favorite spot in the house!
My sister and her husband have 3 very large dogs (one Mr. Bubba) is pictured in some photo's above) and she loves having leather with the dogs all over it ... very easy to clean! I don't know if our leather has a protective coating but it sure seems to hold up well. That sofa and loveseat in the pictures of my sisters dog - that have had that set for about 6 years and it's still looking pretty good!
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lorelei65
Cawston, near Norwic
United Kingdom
April 24, 2008
04:00 PM Post #4858646
| Yes leather lasts for years and years. Besides I like modern stuff, not necessarily minimalistic though.
Yes, Pharoah is definitely an English Staffordshire Bull Terrier. My last apartment had a small living room and there was no room for more than one settee and my electric power chair. I had vinyl tiles on the floor which looked like wood parquet flooring - I laid them myself - and there was a shaggy crimson rug 120cm x 180cm in front of my three seater leather sofa. Three walls were painted cream, the fourth one being a feature wall which was dark brown with a mantel piece painted red to match the rug and a silver blind at the window with dark red voiles over.
I've never had a problem with animals on the furniture and the only thing with Pharoah is that he has torn one or two throws that David insists on using on his furniture.
As I may have already said, I am off when the time is right... And both my animals will be coming with me. You never own a cat you know, it is more likely that they consider they own you!!
Best wishes
Lorraine
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sandy100
Gainesville
United States
March 17, 2009
11:12 AM Post #6280230
| Hi,
I am using leather furniture in my office and home since last 9 years. It was not easy to maintain in early days but thank God I found a maitainence kit for leather product and it helped me lot.
Thanks
Harry
http://www.theelegantoffice.com |
shebs45
Chicago, IL
(Zone 5b)
March 18, 2009
06:59 PM Post #6286941
| If you think dogs are bad for leather, just think what a cat can do. I had (notice I said "had") a beautiful, very stylish leather chair which I got for a steal at a garage sale. We have a cat with neurological problems -- he can't stay on balance and is always falling over. I came home from work one day a found a set of deep claw marks down the back of the chair totally ruining it. I don't dare get leather furniture until our household becomes petless. |
lorelei65
Cawston, near Norwic
United Kingdom
March 21, 2009
05:47 PM Post #6300580
| My household will never be petless. I just cannot function without a pet to cuddle and stroke. It is supposed to help reduce stress - of which I have had quite a lot lately. I've got to say that my pets never marked the leather sofa but if you have children or grandchildren that come to visit, do make sure they don't have access to felt tipped pens... the marks on your light coloured leather furniture will NEVER come off. Oh and by the way, if the felt tip pens write on an emulsioned wall, the only remedy to stop the marks showing through new paint is to cover it with nail polish or gloss paint in a pale colour before overpainting with emulsion. You may remember my saying that I had a cream leather sofa that is now in my youngest daughter's home. I saw it the other day with some scribble on it in a dark blue felt tip. She is now expecting her fourth child, a girl, so will have to watch that problem for years to come. Her boys are 5, 4 and 3 years old now.
Best wishes
Lorraine.
PS this is my handsome boy now ...
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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