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Friday, June 2nd, 2017
Viniterra Collection’s King Leather Panel Bed represents both sensuality and sturdy charm.
Have you ever given the history of leather a deep thought? Leather-making is such an interesting process that it deserves to be told and retold to people especially those that have a good many pieces of the said stuff.
The Leather Story
A long, long time ago, primitive man hunted food by going after animals. He then removed the skins and hides from the dead animals and used them as clothing, footwear, even tents. The earliest recorded use of leather was in the Paleolithic period where cave paintings showed the primitive man’s use of leather clothing.
The Paleolithic sites also showed a lot of bones that were used in scraping skins and hides for the removal of hair.
Not long after, man discovered leather preservation through smoke. He also discovered leather treatment when he infused tannin in leaves, barks, twigs and fruits of a few plants and trees.
Much later, earth salts and alum were finally used as tanning agents. These then produced softer and white leather. These were also dyed using different plant dyes.
Leather manufacturing was introduced in Britain by the religious and Roman invaders. Most of the monks from these places were leather experts especially in using it for writing. The Britons had a lot of uses for leather from clothing, shoes, bags and even some warfare articles.
Throughout the centuries, leather creation expanded and grew steadily over the medieval times. So it’s no surprise that you would see period films featuring leather tanneries during the medieval era.
Real or Faux?
So, do you really have to smell or touch leather in order to recognize its authenticity?
Genuine leather, keep in mind, is made from animal skin. These are skins of cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. There are various kinds of leather. The three types are aniline, semi-aniline and the pigmented kind.
When picking the type of leather that you would use, consider how it would eventually look and the foot traffic in the room where it is going to be placed.
Aniline leather is the top-grain, quality leather that does not come with any protective treatment. It is a natural-looking leather because it comes complete with markings. It is susceptible to surface scratches, though.
Semi-aniline, on the other hand, is still pure aniline but it comes with a coating of clear finish or pigment. This makes the leather more durable as it protects it from spills and stains. The coating also gives the assurance that the color will be consistent throughout the entire surface.
Lastly, the pigmented kind is still a top-grain leather but this one is coated with a clear top pigment or layer. The pigments are either shiny or bright-colored. It appears less natural, of course, as the colors are often used to hide the imperfections on the leather.
This is the kind of leather that is often found in many auto upholstery and furniture shops.
The leading differences between real and fake lather are the following –
Smelling also will help you tell that the leather is real. There is a distinct smell to a leather object that can never be replicated by furniture makers.
Tags: faux leather, genuine leather, history of leather, leather, leather history, McCreerys, story of leather
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Story of Leather (Both Real and Faux)
Thursday, October 6th, 2016
FFDM Viniterra Collection offers an interesting fusion of leather and fabric.
Cleaning any leather furniture is a process that asks for a huge deal of expertise and care. This is one of those materials that can be easily damaged when treated improperly. While most homeowners opt to do this task on their own, there are professionals who have been certified to address this kind of maintenance. They are the right people to call who have the right kind of cleaning materials and equipment.
Leather is preserved animal skin so it is wise that it should be treated in that manner. Any substance that can keep it moistened is the kind that could provide longevity to it.
Leather Prepping
Before you or an expert would begin to clean the leather furniture, make sure that the furniture piece has been vacuumed properly. This process may be simple but it can prevent waste materials from damaging the furniture.
Preserved animal skin is very fragile so you wouldn’t want dust or any waste to get stuck to it. Any kind of debris should be removed from it. You may use saddle soap or just about any gentle cleaning solution that can also treat the leather.
Veer away from strong chemicals as these can cause permanent staining on your leather couch, chair, recliner, or ottoman.
Leather Cleaning
As soon as you have vacuumed and prepped the gentle soap that you’ll use, be sure to apply the solution with a damp cloth. Use just a little pressure to apply and reapply the solution. Rinse the soap suds with clean water, again, using the damp cloth.
Dry the material right after it is rinsed. Use a dry cloth this time, using just a little amount of pressure.
Leather + Toothpaste?
There are stains that are deemed permanent which can actually be removed easily using toothpaste. Scrubbing will only damage the leather so it is best to make the tough stain come out using a cloth and toothpaste. If the stain remains, then have a professional take a look at your leather furniture. These experts have the safest equipment and solutions to use to remove the stain.
Hooker Furniture Living Room Aspen Durant Round Cocktail Ottoman: Who says leather furniture always has to be a sofa?
Leather After Stain Removal
After the stains have been removed, leather can be conditioned and treated. This must be done once to twice a year depending on how much exposure under the sunlight the leather furniture receives. Don’t think that simple silicone or oils can be used to clean leather because they have been known to stick and become permanent residues.
There are leather technicians who can expertly handle leather by erasing stains and other problems that are common to this material.
Choosing the Right Leather Caretaker
With a lot of leather cleaning companies to choose from, you might be wondering how you would end up with the best. To properly discern the best, be sure to do some research. Look for personal reviews of past clients, work samples, and their certifications. Among these three, it is important to check the last one. Certifications ensure that the business is competent enough to handle leather concerns. Certificates ascertain that the team has ample fundamental knowledge as well as the latest techniques to handle any leather situation.
So what sort of certificate should you be looking for?
Look for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certificate. This is also known as the IICRC which is proof of their continued evaluation. Professionals who hold this certificate know how to repair, deodorize, maintain and even restore leather furniture.
Cleaning technicians also know the various fabric categories so they will be able to identify different fibers, sanitation chemistry, techniques of leather protection, and are even able to forecast a problem before it even happens.
Tags: caring for leather, genuine leather, leather, leather care, leather design, leather furniture, leather maintenance, leather upholstery, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Furniture, Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Saturday, January 30th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Living Room Cognac Entertainment Sofa with 2 Glider Recliner-Stg Console
For hundreds of years now, cattle hide was used to cover books, even to bind them. Cowboys from the West also used this material as a huge part of their outfit. Later on, leather became a luxurious addition to pricey car interiors. Today, it has dominated the world of fashion and interior design.
Many people just dream of owning a leather sofa situated inside their spacious family room. The smooth Italian leather can be used on a long sectional or that cute ottoman.
Leather can be mixed and matched or you can just pick a piece to balance the fabrics in a room.
Leather furniture pieces have the capacity to stand on their own in terms of aesthetic appeal and quality. Mix it with other fabrics or use it as base for fabric or silk covered cushions. It can also add a twist to your home if you use it on architectural detailing or finishing.
Leather has gone a long way from being a cowboy hat or boot. It is now the star of many furniture shops. McCreery’s Home Furnishings offers the best leather sofas and chairs. If you want to go beyond furniture pieces in utilizing this wonderful material, then have it installed as a part of your flooring or walls.
Wood wainscoting may be a lovely design idea but you can surprise everyone by using leather tiles. What you will get is a unique and sophisticated look. You will be amazed on how this wall finishing can make a bland place appear more elegant if not sophisticated.
Wesley Allen Bedroom Headboard with Surround HB1231. Who says leather should only be installed on sofas?
As to interior decor, there isn’t a material out there that can be more adaptable than the good old leather. It is versatile, meaning, you have the leeway to use it in modern settings or on timeless dwellings.
This is a wonderful neutral piece that should be used sparingly. It can be easily mixed and matched with different furniture groups which consist of upholstered pieces. Remember that too much leather can also make a room appear daunting and cold. Avoid this result by including just a single leather furniture as a feature piece. You can finish off with colorful accent pillows.
Leather also gets better with age so you won’t have to worry about replacing it soon. Leather furniture bought today will look amazingly wonderful two decades from now.
Shopping for Leather Furniture
Not all leather items come with the same standard. Some leather grades have a higher quality than the rest that are being sold in the market so it is up to you to distinguish which ones you will take home.
Identifying genuine leather is a matter of getting used to the touch and appearance of this material.
Uttermost Accessories Brunella, Magazine Holder 19543. This living room piece depicts class and elegance
Full grain leather is the la creme dela creme of all leathers. This is also the toughest kind. A basic way to find out full grain leather is to search for scars and other small imperfections. If nothing has been done to hide such, then these natural imperfections will point to the genuineness of the material.
Top grain, on the other hand, is a notch below full grain. The split layer is taken off from the layer of the top grain. Majority of the imperfections have been removed, thus, making the piece look a tad like plastic.
Corrected grain leather is manufactured hides that contain bite marks, scars and many imperfections. Such imperfections are unsuitable for sofas, hence, they were removed through buffing and pigmentation.
Lastly, faux leather can also be a great alternative but your concerted effort should be centered on inspecting edges, examining the pores, and touching the skin. Real leather can have a course feel and it has a distinct smell that can never be replicated in any manufacturing shop.
Tags: genuine leather, history, history of leather, leather, leather couch, leather design, leather furniture, leather shopping, leather sofa, leather upholstery, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
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