Nathan Clark
You’ll find breathtaking pieces that are timelessly classic and those that are edgy and modern. To get the full knock-your-socks-off decorating effect of a lovely piece of leather furniture, here are three how-to’s I pass on to my customers. Leather is a great neutral that is full of lots of rich, yummy texture and, depending upon how daring you are, a splash of vibrant color.
Since I’m not a fan of a matchy-matchy look, I am not partial to the leather sofa, love seat, side chair combo sets out there.
A sea of leather can feel cold, and the similar style and shape repeated over and again doesn’t lend itself to the visually intriguing look I love in a home. When I design rooms for friends and customers, I often include just one leather side chair or sofa in a grouping of upholstered pieces.
Sometimes I place a pair of matching leather club chairs on either side of a fireplace or across from the sofa. Another look I like is a leather coffee table ottoman that acts as the hub of a room of upholstered pieces. Plus, since it’s durable, it’s a great material to use in high traffic spots like the edge of a seat cushion.
Aniline hides offer the most natural looking finish because they preserve the patterns and tones of the leather instead of covering them up.
hides offer the most natural looking finish because they preserve the patterns and tones of the leather instead of covering them up. They are a great pick for people who want a more perfect looking leather piece that is characterized by a consistent color tone and minimal variation in pattern.
They are a great pick for people who want a more perfect looking leather piece that is characterized by a consistent color tone and minimal variation in pattern. Since leather lasts for decades, I recommend picking a style you will still love 20 years from now. Since I’m a traditional girl at heart, I’ve tended to pick classic pieces of leather furniture for my own home.
You’ll find a chocolate brown chesterfield sofa in my den and a leather chair upstairs in Dan’s office. These wonderful pieces rejuvenate classic silhouettes with hip colors like turquoise, buttery yellow and green. Leather is a super sexy material, and when you place a classic color like tan or brown on a contemporary frame that pushes the boundaries just a bit, you get one provocative piece of furniture.
Most leathers are protected by a clear top coat that seals the surface from moisture. If your leather furniture is made from wax pull-up hides, you can try this cool trick to remove scratches: Hold a hair dryer a few inches from the scratch, heating the area around it to bring the wax – and color — back to the surface.
