Around the world, Italian leather is known for its quality, and Itallian leather lounge furniture is no exception. Italy has been famous for the production of leather for centuries and the Italians sure know how to treat a hide. In particular, Florence is the leather capital of the world; but all Italian leather is associated with fashion, high quality and good taste.
Lounge furniture made from Italian leather may be pricey, but many people say it is worth the heavy tag. Our couches, sofas and lounge furniture are some of the most used pieces in the house so it’s worth finding lounge furniture that is durable, comfortable and easy on the eye. Italian leather lounge furniture meets all of these requirements.
What makes Italian leather so special?
Leather in Italy is produced largely by hand, with hides inspected very carefully before they are treated. Only the best hides are accepted and the entire leather production process is riddles with quality inspection checks. Many Italian leather producers will only use full grain leather, the leather from the hide’s top. This is the best cut of the hide and is known for its supple qualities.
To finish off the leather-making process, many Italians will use only the best quality chemicals and dyes to ensure that each leather product is durable and consistently of high standard. Italian leather is known to hold its shape and doesn’t wrinkle as easily as leather produced locally or in other parts of the world.
Home furnishings made with Italian leather will sell for premium prices, but because of their quality there is a market to support the production of Italian leather lounge furniture and other home accessories.
Where can I get Italian leather lounge furniture?
- At Classic Living (http://classicliving.co.za/) you can choose from a range of classic Italian leather lounge furniture of exceptional quality and unique style. This furniture is designed to last a lifetime, somewhat justifying the wallet-wrenching prices.
- KR & Sons is another supplier of Italian leather lounge furniture. Here you can choose from 58 different patterns and colours to fit your particular design scheme.
How do I care for leather lounge furniture?
When you have invested in Italian leather lunge furniture, it is important to keep it clean and well-maintained; no one wants to be sitting on old socks, coins, dust and a host of unwanted sofa guests.
Leather is a unique material that requires special cleaning techniques to keep it looking as good as new. Because all leather is different and has different stains, colours, and treatments, it must be cleaned accordingly.
However there are some general hints and tips to keep your Italian leather tops:
- An Italian leather lounge furniture item would have been finished, so there are a few basic ways to get it clean. To wipe off grime, take a soft cloth that is slightly damp and some soap. You can gently rub the soap on the leather before wiping it dry with another clean cloth.
- Don’t use anything too wet or it may damage your leather.
- Use gentle soap that it not too coarse.
- When the couch has dried, use a leather formula with deep conditioning properties to work into and treat the leather. To find the right treatment, you can ask the retailer you bought the furniture from.
- Be careful! The wrong product on your particular leather material could change its colour. A good idea is to test any product on a small part of the leather that is usually unseen. Wait to see what happens in this area before you tackle the whole sofa.
- For ink stains, try spraying them with hairspray before wiping.
- If grease is the grimy problem, use a clean cloth to blot the stain. Try corn starch or talc powder to fight the stain, but don’t rub it into the leather. Let it settle on the stain for a few hours before you wipe it off.
- For pet stains or blood, just wipe with a clean, damp cloth and let the area dry.