The Look .… The Feel ….. The Scent!

The mere mention of the word "leather" evokes thoughts of comfort, style, and versatility, making leather the natural choice for today's home furnishings.

Leather is on he most durable, environmentally-sound, value-conscious upholstery material available. Leather resists everyday wear and tear that ruins other upholstery materials. It defies fashion trends that render other upholsteries out of date. Leather, when selected to fit your lifestyle, can be impervious to the rigors of everyday life. Appreciating as it matures, leather acquires a rich patina with the passage of time. Leather grows old gracefully, so it may enjoyed for generations to come. In every respect leather is the natural choice.

Common Misconceptions:

· "Leather is not durable": False, leather is actually four (4) times more durable than upholstery. Unlike fabric, leather will not tear, plus it's more difficult to puncture. It takes 300 pounds of pressure to puncture the hide itself. Leather can also be repaired to look as good as new if a mishap should occur.
· "Leather's too cold in the winter and sticky in the summer." False, leather is a natural breathable hide that adjusts to the temperature of any room without compromising comfort.
· "Kids, pets and leather do not go together": False, if you chose a protected/pigmented leather, spills and dirt are easily cleaned. Use caution with pets as, their nails may "surface scratch" some leathers.
· "Leather is hard to clean and maintain": False, cleaning even the toughest spills on protected leathers may be as simple as using a ph balanced soap and soft cloth.

Leather Types & Their Characteristics:

When determining the type and characteristic of leather to fit your lifestyle, ask yourself the following:

· Which room is this piece going in and is this a room where you spend a considerable about of time?
· If yes, what do you do in that room? (i.e. entertain, eat, drink, etc.)
· Do you have children or pets to consider when making this purchase?

The answers to these questions will help in selecting the leather to best fit your lifestyle.

"TOP GRAINS" VS. "SPLIT HIDES": When shopping for leather you will notice two main types: "top grain" and "split hide". Selected hides are inspected and graded for quality and then split, separating the premium top grain from the bottom half of the leather called the split hide. Within this premium part of the hide, leather can be left in its natural state where it has not been buffed or altered. Otherwise, it has been slightly corrected by smoothing out any inconsistencies in the leathers surface. The Split Hide is typically used for secondary leather industries. When used, a texture has to be embossed onto the hide since the original surface has been stripped away.

Aniline Dyeing Process: With modern technology, today's leathers are more supple and are available in a stunning array of colors. This coloring is usually achieved through the aniline dyeing process. This process uses aniline dyes of coloring agents that are completely absorbed by the hides. A sort of "staining" process if you will. Leather may also be colored by a pigment dyeing process. This adds a pigmented topical finish to the surface of the hide to achieve and even uniform look in color. It also gives the hide added protection.

"Finished" vs. "Natural": Also when considering leather and your lifestyle, you'll want to keep in mind he finishing process. Finishing completes the process and gives leathers its distinctive appearance. If you desire a more authentic look, you may want to chose a "natural" leather. Natural leathers are aniline dyed but may or may not have a protective coating that can be an added protection against spills and stains. A treatment of GARD All with Sun Shield™ hide sealant may be applied for maximum protection with a change in the look or feel. Either way, the leather will age and wear like a saddle, gracefully absorbing minor scratches and nicks over time. These leathers will continue to age and develop a richer and more lustrous "patina" by taking on the character of the individual enjoying it. If your lifestyle includes children and/or pets, as well as being the focus of high activity, you may want to choose a protected/pigmented leather. "Protected" or "pigmented" leather does not have the same true feel as natural leather, but does not sacrifice its charm. This process will give the leather a uniform look and will generally complement the overall upkeep of the piece. Additional finishing process can include any number of methods like buffing, polishing, waxing, embossing, glazing, GARD All with Sun Shield™ hide sealant

Additional Leather Care Tips:
Have the pieces treated right away with GARD All with Sun Shield™ hide sealant.
· Do not use aggressive substances (i.e. stain removers, solvents, saddle soaps)
· Do not rub strongly, leather needs gentle care.
· Keep leather away from heaters (at least 12").
· Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, it can cause fading.
· Remove dust regularly with soft cloth or vacuum.
· Do let stain dry, act upon it immediately.
· Oil and grease stains on natural leathers should be sprinkled with talcum powder. Let it sit for several hours, then dust or vacuum. Don't worry if the stain is still visible, it will be absorbed by the leather and gradually disappear. Do not wipe or rub the stain.

Quality & Frame Construction

When purchasing leather furniture, quality frame construction is as essential. This ensures the frame will last as long as the hides covering it.

To determine a quality constructed frame, look for the following features:

· Solid hardwood frames:

A quality frame should be made from Grade A woods such as maple, ash, alder or poplar. A hardwood frame is important to ensure the longevity and stability of your new furnishing.

· All corners and stress points double doweled, blocked and glued:

This ensures that the joints will remain solid and the frame will hold up under active use over the lifetime of the piece

· Coil Spring support system

Coil Springs ensure comfort and longevity by evenly distributing the weight and shock that comes from daily use.

FINISHING TERMS

ANALINE DYED: Process that uses transparent nontoxic dyes to color leather throughout.

ANTIQUED: A finishing process which gives the leather the appearance of age, achieved by applying rich contrasting colors by hand.

BUFFING: Leather may be buffed with an abrasive wheel to minimize surface blemishes. This technique upgrades the surface of selected hides.

EMBOSSING: Impressing a pattern on the surface of the hide to create a motif or texture.

FINISHIHNG: Any processing performed after the initial dyeing such as buffing, embossing, spraying, waterproofing, etc.

PATINA: A surface luster that develops on pure anilines and nubucks that grows more beautiful with time.

SEMI-ANILINE: A somewhat misleading term because refers to the application of a protective finish after the hide has been aniline dyed. This finish does not mask the hides features but it contains dyes which correct or even out the color.

TANNING: The process, which converts raw hides into non-perishable leather.

LEATHER TERMS

FULL TOP GRAIN: The natural surface of the hide which has not been buffed. Markings on the hide like wrinkles and scars are visible.

GRAIN: The distinctive pore pattern of the hide surface.

HAND: A term used to describe the feel of the leather.

HIDE: Upholstery hides are the whole skins of large animals usually cattle.

NATURAL: Aniline dyed leather that may or may not have an added protective coating.

NUBUCK: Top grain aniline-dyed leather from which the top hair cell layer has been removed through buffing to create a "suede-like" nap effect.

PROTECTED: Leather with a protective coating that aids in cleaning.

SPLIT: The bottom layer of the hide, which has been "split" from the top grain. There can be more than one split from the top grain.

SUEDE: Leather buffed to produce a nap. The grain side of the leather may be suede-finished, but it is usually applied to the split.

TOP GRAIN: Indicates that the leather surface has been corrected or lightly buffed.