Help me with leather furniture (couch)

[Jr Mouse]

I'm moving into a new apartment this weekend and am looking into buying some new furniture for it. One of my main purchases will be a new couch and after much deliberation, I have decided I want to go leather with it. Unfortunately, I don't have as much of a budget for the couch as I would like since I am having to buy several other furniture pieces too. Looking to spend around $1k max.

I know in terms of leather furniture, one cannot expect top quality for this price. Are their certain things I should look for? What should I avoid? This is an area I don't know a lot about and thought I would reach out to the SF community for advice.

My top pick at the moment is a couch I found on sale at Macy's. The price and style are right for what I am looking for, but I don't know how to judge the overall quality of the piece.

 

[Douglas]

I am not a fran of that sofa myself. Not much advice from me other than that Ikea has some pretty good-looking (though admittedly modern, so it may not be your thing) leather sofas for cheap cheap cheap.

is not bad for $600. I don't think it's full-grain leather but I'm guessing the Macy's one is either. Optimally, you want 8-way hand-tied construction but I don't think that's available at your price, unfortunately. I'll let the Knoll experts weigh in though, no doubt they're smarter than I am. I do know that, unfortunately, the foam cushions in the Ikea will not stand up particularly well to long-term use. Still, it should be plenty to get you through 3-4 years.

 

[Jr Mouse]

I don't want anything too modern, but here is the other one I was looking at from the same store. In both, I would be buying in brown. That couch you posted is OK, but not really my thing. I don't care for Ikea on the whole, but have heard their sofas can be decent for the price. I did think most of their leather stuff was split or bounded, but I could be wrong. In terms of the original one I posted, I don't know the leather quality level, but was told that it's full leather all around. They had a swatch of the material next to the couch and I thought it felt decent.

 

[Douglas]

I like the second one you've posted much better than the first, and I think you will like it better with time as well. Those sort of transitional pieces really end up grating after some time - take it from someone who's made a mistake with that.

I'm virtually certain it's not full leather. I'd bet the Macy's salesperson doesn't have a clue about leather. You'd think the website would call that out if it were the case.

As for the Ikea, yah, it is split leather. At least they're honest about that.

 

[BrianVarick]

I really like Macy's furniture, I just bought a number of pieces from them. My parents also just bought some leather couches from them. They look like Pottery Barn Manhattan and the leather quality is actually really impressive. I have looked at both of the couches that you linked, and I was impressed. They look too much like they are trying to be modern "italian". If I was going to buy a leather couch, I would make it a more classic style, that could also work in the modern setting, think along the lines of a chesterfield.

 

[Jr Mouse]

Originally Posted by Douglas

I like the second one you've posted much better than the first, and I think you will like it better with time as well. Those sort of transitional pieces really end up grating after some time - take it from someone who's made a mistake with that.

I'm virtually certain it's not full leather. I'd bet the Macy's salesperson doesn't have a clue about leather. You'd think the website would call that out if it were the case.

As for the Ikea, yah, it is split leather. At least they're honest about that.

I'll call Macy's and check, but I am almost certain it is full leather. By that I mean the whole couch is leather, no cheaper stuff on the sides and back like some couches are. In terms of the quality, I know it's not split or bounded, but it's also not top grain or anything.

I want a transitional piece that can work well with a variety of styles. I find going all modern a little too cold for my taste and don't find it all that interesting. My taste and style for furniture and decorating is fairly ecliptic. The chair I will be using next to the sofa is actually an antique fabric chair that belonged to my grandmother that I will get reupholstered at some point. I will also have some pieces from World Market mixed in with some more contemporary stuff. I just find it all more interesting and warm.

Originally Posted by BrianVarick

I really like Macy's furniture, I just bought a number of pieces from them. My parents also just bought some leather couches from them. They look like Pottery Barn Manhattan and the leather quality is actually really impressive. I have looked at both of the couches that you linked, and I was impressed. They look too much like they are trying to be modern "italian". If I was going to buy a leather couch, I would make it a more classic style, that could also work in the modern setting, think along the lines of a chesterfield.

I like chesterfields, but have not seen one in my price range. $1k is hitting my upper limit, but might be able to go a tad higher if I saw the right piece.

 

[Douglas]

well, if your tastes are ecliptic, then i shall not stand in your way.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by Douglas

well, if your tastes are ecliptic, then i shall not stand in your way.
LMAO. Anyway, I dislike leather couches, so I can make no suggestions.

 

[Jr Mouse]

Originally Posted by Douglas

well, if your tastes are ecliptic, then i shall not stand in your way.

Originally Posted by iammatt

LMAO.

Anyway, I dislike leather couches, so I can make no suggestions.

Ok, I deserve that. Eclectic! That one gets blamed on my iPhone's autocorrect and bad proofing on my part.

Iammatt, I can go both ways on leather couches but want something that will last and avoid stains. Plus my side chair will be fabric so it won't be all leather.

 

[Rambo]

Originally Posted by JMRouse;

Iammatt, I can go both ways on leather couches
If this is the case then you're definitely not going to want fabric!

 

[CouttsClient]

Originally Posted by Rambo

If this is the case then you're definitely not going to want fabric!

 

[Jr Mouse]

Originally Posted by Rambo

If this is the case then you're definitely not going to want fabric!

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

I dont really like leather couches as well, however this one is pretty cool:

http://www.restorationhardware.com/c...yId=cat1537046

 

[CouttsClient]

Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba

I dont really like leather couches as well, however this one is pretty cool:

http://www.restorationhardware.com/c...yId=cat1537046
That looks great and I wanted to suggest www.chesterfields1780.com but the $1k price wasn't going to work

 

[Jr Mouse]

Originally Posted by CouttsClient

That looks great and I wanted to suggest www.chesterfields1780.com but the $1k price wasn't going to work

They are sex, but a little too alpha for my budget at the moment. I did some thinking about it all today and am considering going with a less expensive fabric couch for a while and eventually upgrade to much nicer leather sofa when my budget can afford it. I can wait a few days before I make a final decision on it all.