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Thumbs Down for Open Kitchen Shelves from Cindy

It’s easy to find beautifully designed kitchens with open shelves in magazines these days – but I can’t help but wonder how beautiful they will look in real life.  The photos highlight the lovely arrangement created by a photo stylist but how will those shelves look when a family actually uses the kitchen, mixing kids’ plastic cups with wine glasses and coffee mugs with logos on them?  As we all know, the showcases in magazines are not always conducive for day-to-day living.

Photo CountryLiving.com

In addition to the visual clutter created by having cupboard contents displayed on shelves, I’d be concerned about the cleanliness of exposing dishes and glassware to the dust and grease inherent in a kitchen setting.  If you have a small kitchen and use all of your dishware and glassware regularly, so it only sits on the shelves for a day or so before being washed (like in a restaurant), then open shelves might not be an issue.   But I have serving dishes and glassware that are not used daily and would be perfect targets for greasy kitchen dust.  Sure, I could turn the glasses and mugs upside down to keep their inside clean and I could wash the big serving platter before using it – but I don’t want the extra work. 

Photo LivingEtc.com

And what about dusting the shelves?  I’m not interested in taking everything off the shelves and dusting them or washing them each week – and somehow the “quick dust” like I use on on bookshelves (just dusting the exposed part of the shelves, skimming around the books and accessories) doesn’t seem very sanitary for my glassware and plates.  I have a high capacity fan which helps reduce grease exhaust  but I know from my nearby teapot shelves that it’s not infallible.  I guess I could cover the dishes and glassware when cooking – but that’s yet another chore.

Next consider reselling.  When it’s time to sell your house I think open kitchen shelves could hurt your resale value or extend your time on market.  Without traditional kitchen storage cupboards you narrow your number of potential home buyers.

When all is said and done, open shelves sound like more work and more clutter to me.  Unless all of your dishes, glasses, serving pieces and storage containers are color coordinated and you like continual organizing and dusting, you might want to think twice about open shelves.

Photo bhg.com

I’ll keep my cupboards, thank you, and happily stash my kitchen goods behind closed doors.  There’s no doubt a cabinet door is infinitely easier to dust or wipe down than a cluttered open shelf would be.

Terrie Says Thumbs Up on Open Shelving

Cindy raises some good points about cleanliness and tidiness.  But sometimes style and the “I like it” factor have to rule.  I’m not sure I’d like a whole kitchen of open shelves, but the style and openness shelves can give a room might just be worth a little extra cleaning.  Here are some of the reasons I think you might consider adding open shelves to your kitchen:

• Accessory addicts like me can never have too many places to display favorite doodads.

Photo from CoastalLiving.com; photographer Colleen Duffley

Photo from my archives.

• Sometimes just a few well placed open spaces between stacks of cabinet doors are all that’s needed to open up the room and create some interest. 

Photo from my archive notebooks.

Photo from my archives.

• Use open shelves to define your style.  Open shelving seems most often to be a part of country or casual kitchens, but I found some of even the most modern kitchens can flaunt shelving. 

Photo from my really old archives.

This regimented display of glassware is almost like an art installation!

Photo via CoastalLiving.com; photographer Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

•  Store and display oversize pots and pans, small appliances or serving dishes on open shelving.

Photo via Architectural Digest magazine

•  Open shelving can be a more affordable option than cabinets for awkward nooks and corners.

Photo via Crate & Barrel from my archives.

• Who says shelving has to only be for upper cabinets?  Lower open cabinets can be used to display larger, heavier items, cookbooks and items that you want children to be able to access. 

Photo from my archive notebooks.

• If a whole bank of open shelves is too much for you, maybe all you need is a little corner shelf to add personality.

Photo from my archive notebooks.

While open shelving may not be for everyone, I think there’s certainly a case to be made for adding them.  Beauty, style, display space, filling awkward corners, accessibility – all valid reasons.  Do any of them work for you? 

What’s Your Take?

Do you think open kitchen shelves are a good alternative to cupboards or do you think they look cluttered and are impractical?  There’s no right or wrong answer – it’s all about personal preference.  Share your thoughts – do you give open kitchen shelves a thumbs up or thumbs down?  Simply click on the “Comment” link at the end of this post (just beyond the ads) and let us know how you feel about open kitchen shelving.  

Cindy Gives Cork Floors a Thumbs Up

Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork oak tree, a renewable resource, and the tree doesn’t have to be cut down in order to harvest the cork.  This is just one of the reasons cork flooring has been so well accepted -especially by households that are environmentally conscious.  Cork also offers additional benefits:

• Cushiony - Cork contains air in its cells so it presents a soft, comfortable feel for your feet, back and legs.   Because of its air filled structure cork flooring is like a shock absorber – making it perfect for rooms like the kitchen where you usually stand a lot.

Beautiful mahogany colored cork hightlights this kitchen. Photo globuscorkfloor.com

• Attractive - Cork flooring is available in a wide variety of color and offers a myriad of visual textures.  Select from subdued patterns to patterns with heavy motion and the cork is available in sheets or tiles.

Using some of the many colors available, you can create intricate parquet-like designs. Photo via CorkFloor.com

• Reduces Noise - Just as the air filled cellular structure makes cork flooring  comfortable under foot  it also reduces noise and vibration. Unlike harder flooring surfaces like tile, wood or vinyl, cork is quiet because it doesn’t reflect or enhance sound – instead it reduces noise.  Cork muffles the sound of footsteps and things dropping on the floor. 
• Healthy and Safe – Cork’s natural properties make it anti-allergenic and insect resistant -  repelling insects, mites and mold.  These same properties protects cork from  rotting too.  Cork is also naturally fire resistant and it doesn’t release any toxic off-gassing if it burns. These natural properties along with the coatings used to seal cork flooring, make cork flooring a healthy and safe choice for adults, children and pets.

Bleached cork softens the floor in this commercial space. Photo globuscorkfloor.com

• Long Lasting and Easy to Maintain -  Cork has proven its durability over and over again through commercial applications in buildings like churches and libraries for more than a hundred years.  Now you can enjoy it in your residence. 

Terrie Gives Cork Floors a Thumbs Down

Cork floors have a lot going for them.  I actually also like them and was able to convince a client to use cork flooring in a model home.  However, in the interests of showing both sides of a topic, there are always down sides to just about any furnishing or finish, so here are a few more things to consider about cork flooring.

Photo via About.com, Home Repair

• The pattern of cork is very natural and organic – you can see all the swirls and knots.  It’s a pretty busy pattern, much busier than any wood flooring.  If you’re looking for something plain to make a room feel expansive, this might not be the right choice.
• Soft and resilient is great for flooring where you need to stand or walk a lot but if you’re going to put heavy furniture like an armoire or heavy bed or sofa, you need to take extra care.  At a minimum use coasters under the legs of heavy pieces to distribute the weight a bit so you don’t end up with divots in your floor.
• Cork is a natural material and actually quite absorbent.  Even though protected by several layers of polyurethane, cork is not water repellant and extra care is needed to wipe up spills quickly.  I actually had a client who had a major water leak in a kitchen that had cork flooring.  The whole floor had to be replaced because the cork tiling warped and peeled up from the subfloor.  The same result would probably have occurred with wood floors, but tile and even linoleum are more hardy in potentially wet rooms.

Pattern Baltico via Duro-Design.com; cork flooring

• Like other natural materials, cork will become discolored from extended exposure to sun.  The solution?  Pull the blinds during the brightest part of the day.
• Cork is not the most affordable solution for flooring – not the most expensive either – but definitely more than linoleum or tile.  Watch for sales and price shop carefully.

Photo via InteriorDesignOnADime.com

Evaluate Your Needs

As with any major purchase, you really need to evaluate the needs of the space, the users, the budget, environmental impact and personal preference before committing to a flooring surface.  While cork flooring has been available for years, it hasn’t really caught on with the general public for some reason.  If you’re getting ready to redo flooring in your home, consider our pros and cons and then find a local distributor where you can actually see and walk on cork.  Let us know what you think…..

No Perfect Room

There really is no such thing as a perfect room – there will always be elements that appeal to one person and not another.  What makes a room perfect is if you love being in it; you love the colors, the style and the feeling the room generates.  At first glance these rooms may appear “fine” or “okay,” but as you read our comments they might help you to look a little more critically at a magazine photo and learn to analyze what you like or don’t like – as well as what might work for your own home.

Room #1, designed by Anne Wisniewski, HTGV

Terrie’s Comments

This room is very pleasant.  And very ordinary.  I picked it because the furniture and furniture arrangement is much like many people have, so we can relate to the look of the space.  I’m assuming the sofa faces a TV armoire or stand. 

Things I like about this space include:  a cozy furniture arrangement with all the pieces close enough together to easily converse; a warm but easy-to-live-with paint color (that isn’t white!); a lively mix of pillow patterns; the colors blend well with the adjoining kitchen.

Things I think could be improved upon:  a larger area rug to really connect the seating area – it should reach at least under the front legs of the furniture; furniture is too matchy-matchy – I’d replace one of the armchairs with something less bulky and possibly upholstered in a pattern; the wall flower arrangements – I’d eliminate the one by the drapes since it competes for attention against those busy drapes; looking through to the kitchen I’m struck by the dark, cluttery look over the cabinets – that space looks too small to really decorate so I’d edit ruthlesly and have only one or two very light colored items up there; the extra brightness and lighter touch will make the ceiling seem higher and the cabinets taller.

Cindy’s Comments

 When  I first saw this room two things jumped out at me: 1.  I really dislike the way the sofa creates a barrier across the kitchen (it looks like you have to squeeze past it to get into the kitchen – look how close it is to the arched wall!); 2.  the floral cone near the window looks jammed into the space (and look how it’s the shortest of the two floral cones and yet it’s on the highest part of the wall – crazy!).

Without knowing for sure what the wall is like opposite the sofa (Terrie mentioned she’s assuming it features a TV – probably a good assumption) and how far the unseen wall is from the arched wall, it’s hard to know how best to solve the problem of the sofa as a barricade.  If the unseen wall holds a T.V. then having the sofa opposite it is a good idea since he sofa is the largest piece of furniture in the seating area…but the sofa needs to be moved closer to the T.V and away from the arch.  If that’s not possible space wise then the sofa should swap places with the chair on the window wall (opening up the arch space) and the second big chair should be moved to another room and replaced with two small ottomans or a bench.  Another option would have been to use a love seat instead of a sofa since the furniture is large scale and the room small.

Like Terrie, I too would remove the floral cone near the windows.  To balance the height of that part of the wall I would move the draperiers higher above the window – continuing the colorful pattern up the wall and drawing your eye up so the space feels larger.

I like how the arms of the chairs and sofas are snugged up to each other to create an intimate seating area (as I mentioned in my post last Friday, Redesign Step 3 – Furniture Placement) and I like layering an area rug over the carpet – even though this rug is a bit small, it adds great pattern and color to the neutral floor.  The wall color is neutral but warm and helps the plain white kitchen cabinets stand out.

Room #2, designed by Laura Britt Design, photo by Casey Dunn via houzz.com

Terrie’s Comments

While this room appears more spacious, I think there are still things to be learned from it for those of us with more modest sized homes.  Things I like about this space: the khaki wall color  that’s a couple of tones darker than what’s in the fireplace stone; the mix of seating – no 2 pieces match but the scale of each works with the others; the texture of the big area rug; the color is carried nicely around the room.

Some of the improvements I would suggest would be:  add window treatments – that’s too large of a glass expanse to leave naked and even plain side panels would soften the look immensely; the ottoman/coffee table is too small in scale for the room and too far away from the other furniture; the room needs plant life and with the size of the room, it should be large scaled.

Cindy’s Comments

 I love, love, love this room’s colors and textures.  Look how great the wall color looks against the white beams and crown molding and notice how the orange chair, pillows and ceramic accessories speak to the orange wall on the deck outside.  The wonderful texture of the stone fireplace continues to the deck as does the warm wood in the ceiling.  The inside and the outside blend wonderfully except that the view outside includes an expanse of trees - and that visual needs to be brought inside and incorporated into the room with some big, tall, leafy green plants.

In addition to the color and textures, I also like the big expansive view and how, instead of just a giant piece of glass, the window wall includes beautifully painted wood that divides the glass into panes, much the way the ceiling beams create segments in the ceiling.

I don’t like the “shouting space” between the furniture.  There is no way to have an intimate conversation with the current furniture placement.  It’s an easy fix, however, just move each piece of furniture about 2 to 3 feet in towards the center of the room and closer to the fireplace.  Then it will look good, function well and invite people to engage in conversation.

Your Comments

So what’s your take on these two spaces?  Do you like the matched set of furniture in the first room or the more eclectic mix in the second?  Do you like the bold draperies in the first room or the naked windows in the second?  Now that we’ve shared our thoughts about these rooms, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Click on the word Comments that appears just after the ads to post your input or email your message to us at solutions@YourDecoratingHotline.com.

Cindy Gives Thumbs Up to a Master Bathtub

Let me be honest – I am a shower person and so is my husband.  In our new home we did not include a bathtub in the master bath and instead we opted to build a large, open shower with dual shower heads that I lovingly call a “locker room” shower.  I like this arrangement and it suits our lifestyle perfectly but I have to tell you that every time I watch an HGTV show involving a master bath, it stresses the importance and value of including a separate bathtub and shower in the master.  I’m second guessing our decision to have only a shower now, worried that not including a tub in the master bath will eventually come back to bite us in the wallet!

This master bathroom features both a shower (on left) and a bathtub (on right), appealing to a larger portion of house buyers.

Photo via flickr.com

It’s not that I miss the tub.  There is, in fact, a tub/shower combo in another bathroom that I’ve never used  and only one guest has soaked in the tub - showers seem to fit the bill for all but that one individual so far.  I worry, however, that when it comes time to sell this house the scope of our potential selling market will automatically be reduced. I’m afraid our house won’t appeal to those people who are true bathtub lovers and expect, and in some cases demand, a tub in the master.  I know some people can’t imagine doing without a long relaxing soak at the end of the day and would never give up having a tub in the master. 

One friend in particular comes to mind as she uses her large tub for a leisurely soak and as a chance to read her latest book in peace, without family interruptions.  All the candles and spa accrutrements  decorating the tub deck suggest her bathtub is also a romantic get-away when time allows. People who soak, read, decorate and enjoy romance centered around their bathtub won’t be interested in our bathroom and therefore, perhaps, not our house.

This extravagant master bathtub fills from a ceiling spout.

Photo via flickr.com

It’s a fact that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes.  I won’t know for certain how our tubless master impacts our marketability until we  sell this home (hopefully not for many years).  What I do know is some people, like us, prefer showers and some people prefer baths.  If I had it to do again, I would include a tub in the master bath so our home would appeal to both tub and shower people.  That way, we enjoy the large shower we love but also offer the tub that someone else may prefer…and, therefore, appeal to more people and so may more easily sell our house and recoup our investment. 

Terrie Gives Thumbs Down to a Master Bathtub

When we bought our current home, I liked everything about it but the master bath.  The bath was roomy enough but it had 2 things working against it:  it was pink (!) and it had a tiny stall shower next to a standard tub.  Dan is 6′5″ and that little shower stall wasn’t going to cut it.  And, we hate pink tile bathrooms!  Here are the before pics.

Pink floors, pink tile, dated cabinetry and mirrors everywhere. Nothing to love here.

More pink tile, a small tub and even smaller shower stall.

One of the first things we considered in our remodel discussions was whether or not to keep a tub.  We considered a square, corner type tub so we could enlarge the shower a little but ultimately decided against any tub at all.  It is a 3 bath home so there are 2 other tubs and our reasoning was that if someone really wanted a bath, they could use one of the other bathrooms.  Personally, we prefer the look and function of large shower areas.  And, we’d always wanted a big double shower so we wouldn’t have to wait for the other person to finish showering.  Here’s our new, spacious shower stall.

Tub totally gone, window covered up, accent tile for interest and glass walls to keep the room open.

I’ve always loved this Rainforest Marble and used it throughout the bathroom as an accent.  There’s a nice big shower head at each end of the shower stall – Dan’s is 2′ higher than mine to accomodate his height and it’s the first time he doesn’t have to duck down to wash his hair!

Here's the other side of the room.

As you can see, we incorporated a few ‘designer’ touches here as well.  The floor is nice big 16″ tiles with 4 accent diamonds of the same marble.  New updated cabinetry (from Lowe’s) but we actually used kitchen bases because they’re taller and since Dan is taller too, these work perfectly.  I’ll never willingly go back to the shorter bath cabinets again.  We doubled the drawer space by filling in the little dressing table area (I’d never use that!) and eliminated that huge wall of mirrors.  The other designer feature is to actually install the light fixture on top of the mirror.  It’s a simple matter to have the mirror cut to allow for the wiring and the result is a classy, bright look.

Updated faucets (bought online) and marble backsplashes up the wow factor in this bathroom.

We never for a second miss that bathtub.  Bathtubs take up lots of space and I’d rather have that space for other uses.  Do you want to know a secret?  I absolutely hate cleaning bathtubs! It’s by far my least favorite house cleaning chore so to have one less bathtub in the house is a definite pleasure.  I dislike showering in bathtubs – they are narrow and cramped, the shower curtain is always pulling loose so water spritzes out into the room and worst of all, it’s hard to fit 2 people comfortably in a tub/shower.

Even with all the above considerations, for me the main reason for leaving a tub out of our master bath is – that’s how we live.  A home should reflect how you like to use the rooms; it should be about what functions well for you and how the space can best serve your family’s needs.  For us, no tub gave us the function we wanted, the look we love and reflects our style perfectly.  If we lose a little in resale value, that’s the way it goes.  We’ll have had years of enjoyment in a bathroom that we like - that’s worth a lot! 

What About You?

Are you a tub or a shower person?  What’s in your master bath?  What would you want in a master bath if you  moved or remodeled?  Chime in by sharing your situation or opinion or dream.  Simply click the Comments link below (after the ads) or email a photo of your bathroom or dream bathroom to solutions@yourdecoratinghotline.com.

Terrie Gives Chairs a Thumbs Down

First let me say that I like an eclectic style.  I enjoy the excitement and interest that mismatched things can bring to a space.  However, I’m not a fan of mismatched dining chairs.  The short reason for not liking mismatched chairs is that most people don’t do it well (including many designers).  Introducing 2 chairs in a totally different style and shape from the rest of the chairs involves using the correct scale, balance and keeping a sense of cohesiveness.  Most people get some part of that wrong and the dining room suffers for it.

Photo via MyHomeIdeas.com; photographer Tria Giovan

In this dining room I like that the table is a different wood finish than the chairs, but then how do those upholstered chairs work in this setting?  There is nothing about them that relates to the other elements or the kind of Shaker style of the room.  I think one of the elements that bothers me is the openness of the wood chairs and the solidness of the upholstered ones.  I’m just not feeling it.

Photo via BHG.com, by Catie Bielecki

In this case I find the upholstered pieces too busy and competing with the intricate backs of the wood chairs and there’s also the pattern created by the window moldings.  If the head chairs are going to be different, I think they need to be plainer so the carved chairs take center stage.  A simple parson chair (same style, no skirt) in a solid or tonal pattern would work better. 

Photo via CoastalLiving.com; photographer Jean Allsopp

This very traditional formal dining set is changed up by adding an upholstered bench.  At least the bench is tufted, lending it an appropriately traditional style.  However, to me the balance of this room is thrown off by the weight of the larger upholstered piece compared to the open backs of the other chairs.

Remember, I’m not a fan of slipcovers and to me the white slipcovered chairs are too slight for the bulk of the table and are much too casual in style to complement the striped head chair.  The chair profiles and styles are too dissimilar.  A stronger look might be to use parsons chairs which are more substantial and upholstered in the same stripe – change up the shape between chairs but keep some continuity in fabric selection. 

Surprisingly I find myself more a traditionalist about this style than I would have expected.  Generally I prefer the look of a matched set of chairs around the dining table – though the rebel in me agrees that the chairs don’t have to be a perfect match to the table!  Just to each other. 

Photo via BHG.com, by Catie Bielecki

Here’s the more traditional style of changing up the head chair……add arms and call it good.  I do like the addition of the scarf or runner folded over the back for a little contrast and interest.  I realize it’s awfully tame compared to some of the above looks, but I find the overall look more cohesive and balanced.

Photo via BHG.com

So after all that, I had to include this casual dining look…..why do I like this dining mix?  Not only is every chair different in shape (but actually quite similar) but it’s also a boldly different color (maybe I’m just in the mood for some springtime color!).  And yet, I find it strangely appealing – perfect for a porch or whimsical breakfast room. 

Cindy Gives Chairs a Thumbs Up

I think mixing it up a bit with chairs provides a fun option for personalizing your dining room.  Why should everything match perfectly?  As you can see in the photo below I have dining chairs upholstered in different colored fabric and I like the casual and whimsical touch it lends to the simple glass table.

Four different colors of fabric upholster the same style chairs so this mismatched look works.

Terrie presents the first photo above, the one with two light colored upholstered chairs, saying there’s “nothing about them  that relates to the rest of the elements or the shaker style…”  I beg to differ – to me they work and relate to one another.  Why?  Take another look at the photo and you’ll notice the upholstered chairs are basically the same height as the wooden chairs and look at the arms – both chair styles sport arms that curve slightly up and then gently downward.  Other reasons they work are the wooden legs are the same height as the pleated drop of the upholstered skirts and the back of both chair styles bows slightly.  This means the legs, height of the seat and height and shape of the back all mirror each other. 

Now, while looking at the photo, imagine the room without the upholstered chairs – mentally replace them with two more matching wooden chairs.  That change would fill the dining room with nothing but dark, hard, wood surfaces.  The two upholstered chairs add softness to the room and their fabric ties in very well with the window coverings, the lampshades on the sideboard and the color of the chandelier globes.  Yes the chairs are different – but they also have similarities that allow them to work together.  I think this room would feel cold, dark and hard without the upholstered chairs – I give them a thumbs up!

In the photo below a mixed element is introduced by upholstering chairs at the head of the table in a solid color to coordinate with the print used on the chairs around the table.  The shape of the chairs is the same except arms are introduced on the two black chairs.

Solid black upholstery on chairs at the head of the table grounds the print used on surrounding chairs in this dining room designed by Candice Olson. Photo ElleDecor.com.

The photo below illustrates how the same chairs painted different colors work around a table.  Although this photo is similar to the last photo Terrie presents above, I like this presentation but dislike the display Terrie likes.  In the photo above the blue chair with the rounded back looks out of place to me and it’s the first place my eye goes when I look at that photo.  While below, the chairs are harmonious even though they are different colors – their shape ties them together.

The colors are different but each chair is the same shape so this set of mismatched chairs works. Photo bhg.com

There’s no doubt you can make a great looking dining room with mismatched chairs.  Mismatched chairs make a modern, casual and fun statement.  I believe the trick to making them work is to follow a few simple guidelines.  When creating your seating design consider the following:

• If you use a variety of styles select chairs with backs and seats at the same height.
• If you use different chair styles paint or upholster them in the same color.
• If your chairs are all the same style, paint or upholster them in different colors.
• If you’re mixing chair styles around the table, add some symmetry simply by having the 2 chairs at each end of the table match.

Bottom line – if you’re mixing chairs, look for some similarities in terms of style, shape, color or finish - find something that ties them all together somehow.  If the chairs don’t somehow relate to one another they will look messy and disconnected.  Give it a try – mix it up and have some fun – highlight the differences but first look for the similarity.

What’s Your Take?

Do you have mismatched dining chairs in your home – or are you exploring that possibility?  Which side of the design trend do you find yourself on?  Give us your feedback in the comments (Comment link is located just below our signatures and ads, on the bottom right).

Cindy Gives Leather Furniture a Thumbs Up

My husband and I bought our first leather furniture about 25 years ago.  We purchased a cream color sofa and matching loveseat for our living room.  When we moved about 6 years later the leather sofa and loveseat took up residence in the family room.  After another move, approximately 7 years later, they provided the main seating in the media room.  After 8 years of popcorn and soda on those sofas, we downsized our home and both furniture pieces went to our eldest son (and his 4 roommates) – and they are still in use!  In the meantime, 4 years ago we purchased a leather sofa for our T.V. room and four rattan/leather chairs for our living room – so we’ve come full circle with leather furniture

Contemporary Yellow Leather Sectional. Photo Amazon.com.

This real life story illustrates one of the reasons I love leather furniture – it is extremely durable and outlasts any other upholstery by at least three times (my personal estimate).  Some of the other reasons I give it a Thumbs up:

• Leather looks good for many years (durable is one thing – but if it doesn’t look good too you wouldn’t want to keep it around!)
• Leather cleans easily – spills wipe right up without staining (you can bet there was a lot of movie snacking on of sofas during those 8 years in the media room!)

Ball in Claw Leather Ottoman. Photo Amazon.com.

• Leather works on most any style of furniture–mine is contemporary but I’ve seen it on very modern sofas, French country chairs, and transitional bar stools, just to mention a few.  In addition to seating you’ll find leather on ottomans, benches, bed headboards and footboards, lamps and shades, coffee tables, decorative pillows, magazine racks, and more!

Hooker Furniture Leather Sleigh Bed. Photo Amazon.com.

• Leather retains it’s resell value because it maintains its good looks – if you move and need to sell your furniture you will get top dollar on the leather pieces
• Leather does not tear or rip as easily as fabric upholstery – after 25 years you can bet the fabric would be showing weak spots

New Pacific Direct Manila Chair. Photo Amazon.com.

• Leather doesn’t absorb smells like fabric upholstery
• Leather is better for allergies as dust and pollen don’t sink into it – they sit on top of the leather so you can just wipe them off

Omicron Kitchen Padded Bar Stool. Photo Amazon.com.

• Leather and pet hair do not stick together – you can ditch the continual vacuuming and sticky clothes rollers and instead simply wipe pet hair off leather furniture
•  Leather is less expensive in the long run because the cost is amortized over more than twice as many years as upholstery

In addition to all of these reasons, I buy leather furniture because I like how it looks.  It’s available in a variety of leather types, the colors opti0ns are extensive and the furniture applications varied.  Leather definitely gets a Thumbs Up from me.

Terrie Gives Leather Furniture a Thumbs Down

Once again Cindy makes a great case for leather and almost has me sold….almost.  I actually like leather quite a lot – just not on anything that will touch my skin.  I love leather accessories like tables, ottomans, headboards and even lamps because it adds a wonderful texture and luxury to a space. 

Faux leather side table from the Bali Collection at LampsPlus.com

Leather accent table from PfeiferStudios.com $289

As with seating, leather accessories can complement a traditional or contemporary setting and are available in natural tans and browns as well as a myriad of dyed hues. 

My beef with leather seating is that I’m not comfortable on it.  It’s slippery and cold and my skin sticks to it.  The lower the quality of leather, the worse these characteristics are.  I hate the ‘peel and stick’ feeling of getting out of a leather chair.

Pet hair may not stick to leather, but that’s because it’s slippery.  So that means that ‘arranged’ pillows or a perfectly placed throw don’t stay in place either.  Speaking of pets, we’ve always had cats.  Cats that jump up on the furniture and use their claws to hold on.  My chenille sofa absorbs those claw marks where leather would show the scratches and little pinprick holes made by the claws.  But….I do have to vacuum the cat hair off the sofa frequently.  (Especially when Cindy is visiting since she’s allergic.)

Faux leather floor cushion $34 from GreatIndoors.com

Leather scoop drawer pull from Mockett.com

I remember Cindy’s cream colored leather sofa set (yes, we’ve been friends over 25 years!) and it looked lovely all the time.  The room looked fresh and light.  However, when I visited, especially in the summer, I found that I tended to sit in one small space on the sofa because once I warmed up the leather I was loathe to move and warm up a new area (kind of like cold sheets in the middle of the night).  I preferred to sit in the kitchen on an upholstered chair!

While I concede that good leather may generally last longer than good upholstery, I’ve had my upholstered sofa for 12 years and it’s still looking great (it’s an eggplant chenille).  That’s about as long as I want to keep a piece of furniture.  However, if you’re interested in buying a sofa and not replacing it for 25-30 years (assuming the frame and cushions hold up too), then leather may be the option for you.  Just remember to buy the best quality you can to get the longest life.

For or Against?

What’s your take on leather?  Is your home filled with sturdy leather furnishings or do you prefer the upholstery route?  As always, you can leave us a comment or email us at solutions@YourDecoratingHotline.com.