Furni

1. ABOUT LEATHER FURNITURE
GRADE
Grade is themostsignificantcharacteristic of leather'squality--and an indicator of strengthandcost.
Producersandsalesroomsapplysimilarvocabularytoidentifygrade, makingthebuyer'sjobeasier. Top
grainshowsleathertakenfromthesuitableoutersurface of thehide.
Leathersacquiredfromthelowersurfacesaresplitgrains, andaremuchweaker. All but
theleastexpensivefurnitureoughtto be madefrom top grains.
Top-grainleathersaregradedbased on thewaysproducersdeveloptheleather.
Aniline (or "pure" or "full" aniline) leather is besotted in aniline dye, but
doesn'thaveadditionalceasesorpigmentsused. Onlythebesthidesareappliedforthiswonderfullysoftleather. Semi-
aniline (or "preserved" aniline) leathershavegot a smallamount of coveringor pigment,
contributingtothemslenderlybetterprotectionagainststainsandfading.
Pigmentedleathersarefullyprocessedwithsurfacecolor. Madefromlesser-gradehides, they'restifferthananilines, but
alsomorestain- andscuff-resistant, andmorelow-priced.
FINISH
Leathersaregradedby how muchproducershaveto do todrivethemreadyfor market. Almostperfect, mark-
freehidesareuncommonand, consequently, extremelyappreciated. Mostanilineswillhavevisiblemarkings,
likewrinklesandscars, contributingtotheirnaturalbeauty. Like a unoriginalwalletorbomberjacket, theybuildup a
lustrouspatinawithageanduse.
Bear in mindthataddedfinishesandsurfacepigmentsare not necessarilybad. As a matter of fact,
ifyouchoosemoreorderedcolor in yourarticle of furniture, unprocessedanilinesmight not be foryou.
Finishesandpigmentsalsoallowgreaterprotectionfromabrasions, blots, and sun fading. The "best" leather is
bynomeansalwaysthebestalternativeforyourfamilyorsituation.
TEXTURE
Thetexture of leatherfurniture, likeitsappearing, is partially a function of itsgrade.
Thehighestqualityhidesbecomethecushiestandlithestleathers. (Inindustry-speak, they've a moredeluxe "hand,"
orfeel.) Pigmentedleathersand "adjustedgrain" leathers (thoseburnishedtodispatchobvioussurfaceimperfections)
have a stifferhand. Beyond thesedifferences,
thefollowingtexturingtechniquesmaygiveleatheritsdistinctivevisualaspectandexperience:
Nubuckleathersaregentlybrushedorabraded, resulting in a shortnapwith a plushsoftness. Nubucksare top-
grainleathers, andsotheyendurelongerthan do theircousins, suedes. Nubucksalsohavetheadvantage of
beingtreatedwith a protectantmakingthemmorestain-resistantthanotheranilines.
Suedesclosetogetherthelookandfeel of nubucks but aremadefromless-durablesplitgrains.
Sauvage is a two-tonedeffectlendingprofoundnesstoleather, creating a marbledorcreasedvisualaspect.
Pull-upleathersarefullanilinesthathave an oilorwaxapplication. Oncetheleather is pulled, orstretched,
theoilorwaxassorts, creating a lighterburst of color. Thepull-uptechnique is
appliedfordisquietedorweatheredappears.
Embossedleathersareadjustedgrainshaving a new form orgrainformed on
themwithhighheatorpressurewhichresults in anythingfromalligatortofloraleffects.
COST

2. Grade willmostlyascertain how muchyou pay forleatherfurniture. A sofa madefrom top-grainleatherwillrankfrom
$700 (a goodcut-rate sale on corrected-grain, pigmentedleather) to $6,000 ormorefordesignernamesandpure
aniline leather.
Leathermighttakeslenderlymorecareandupkeepthanfabricupholstery. But in thelongrun, it is worththedifficulty.
Here arehintstoprevensustainment:
* Keepleatherfurnitureawayfromheatsources, whichwillfinallydrytheleatherout.
* Put furnitureout of directsunshinecausingleathertofade.
* Vacuumleathertogetrid of dust on a regularbasis.
* Blotanyspillsdirectlywith a drycloth, andallowairtodry.
* Regularlyapplythesuggestedcleanersorcreamstoameliorateleather'sresistancetostainingandtokeep it
cushyandsupple.
CARE
Leather-careproductsareavailablefromfurnitureproducersandstores;
salespeoplemaycommendproductsforthefurnitureyouchoose. Manyretailersalsoproposeleatherwarranties. For a
moderatecost (about $a hundredfor a seven-yearwarranty on a sofa, halfthatfor a chair), yourleatherwill be fixedor
put backif it cracks, stains, ortears, ensuringthatyou'llenjoy it foryearstocome.
http://www.adasofa.com/read_blog/blog_cat/about-leather-furniture-37.html