BY Warner couch/love seat

[yooper829]

Hello

We have a couple month old Warner series couch and love seat.....and just curious about the way they sit. You sit more "on" them then in them, and we're were hoping that they would break in some as we use them. Just standard down cushions on them, so just wondering if it just takes longer for them to break in or if this is just the way they sit. Certainly not uncomfortable but honestly not as comfy as we had hoped. The Warner tilt back chair sits softer too, so maybe it's the leather? Grade 3 on the chair and 2 on the couches. Any options to defluff the seating a little??

[drcollie]

Sometimes the leather can effect the 'cush' of the sit. Stiffer leathers mean less sink in the piece. They will break in some with time., but if its already a couple month's old then its past that break in point. Not much you can do at this point to make it softer, it already has the Premier Down cushion in it. Sorry!

[yooper829]

Yep that's the same conclusion I have come to as well...since the chair sits so much better it's in the leather we chose. The chair is a different leather and one grade higher. It's hard because of course the sample seemed very soft and supple which is why we chose it. There was a grade 3 leather that was very close in color but they just didn't feel any different which is why we chose the grade 2 version. All part of buying furniture from a little swatch I guess! In a few years we will just have to pass them down to the kids and try again.....maybe by then we can afford H&M pieces and will definitely stay away from the lower grade leathers. Thanks for your help Duane!

[drcollie]

Its not really the price of the leather, its how it cut (and tanneries will cut to a customer order if requested). Remember that every hide as it comes off the cow as what is known as a 'crust' is going to be split (in half). The upper epidermis is going to be the top grain leather used in furniture, the lower part is going to be 'the splits' and used for suede applications or as a bonded leather, or industrial usage. Good furniture is never made from 'the splits' or lower segment as it lacks the tensile strength and graining of the top. When they split the leather, the can make the top grain portion thinner or thicker based on what the tannery is going to do with the hide.

Luxury velvet soft hides are going to be thin, so they're supple and lots of 'give'.

Rough n' tough 'ranch' style hides are going to be split so the top is thicker, to give it that 'saddle' look and you'll see burnished and heavily distressed leathers done like this.

Thicker, stiffer hides just are not as pliable, simple as that. Over the years I now that 90% of all retail customers buy their leather based on COLOR as 95% of their decision making process. That's a big mistake. You have to balance the color with the 'hand' or softness of the hide, along with the thickness of the hide, the special effects such as toning, and even the smell of the leather. Different leathers have different aromas! Some decisions will be based on the style and look of the frame and the room setting, but it really pays to look at all aspects of a given hide and not just the color to avoid the situation you are currently in with your Warner sofa and loveseat.