Conversectionals and other ruminations on seating options

Limitless configurations, more seating capacity and comfortable conversations are just some of the reasons why sectionals are so popular.

Home styling is so much more eclectic these days, and most of us no longer feel that our furnishings have to “match.” Creative designers now want to create coordinated rooms where all the elements work together, where the colors, shapes and proportions are complimentary but not necessarily identical.

Certainly, we in the furniture industry have seen an overwhelming trend toward item buying and away from what we used to call suites (pronounced like suits) of furniture, with each piece in the same finish and the same style. The old days of building a room around a sofa-loveseat-chair combination are long gone.

Each of these key items – sofa, loveseat, chair and even matching ottoman – still play an important role in furnishing beautiful and comfortable rooms. But we’ve seen a powerful move toward sectionals, especially as decorating “rules” relax and more emphasis is placed on casual lifestyles.

Obviously, a sectional can be designed to provide more seating, often in less space than standalone pieces. Because most of our collections include armless pieces, we can build sectionals to go around the wall and down the hall. We can even pave a room with an endless sectional if that’s what somebody really wants.

But sectionals can also be quite small. For instance, in a cramped space, a sectional could be set up with a one-armed loveseat at one end and a one-armed chair with a corner piece in the center. This would give more seating capacity in less space than a loveseat-chair combination, but the overall footprint of the configuration is quite small.

This small Malibu sectional provides more seating in less space than two free-standing pieces.

Sectionals are social. People tend to sit a little closer and are in a more relaxed posture. That’s one reason we’ve always loved what we call our wedge sectionals: two pieces that each have 22.5-degree angle. This is a great configuration for watching television – everybody’s seat is oriented toward the screen – but it’s also an intimate set-up for sitting and talking.

A “wedge” sectional is an excellent choice for both conversation and TV watching.

And sectionals can quite dramatic, too. At the High Point furniture market, we regularly show an armless sofa bracketed by chaises. Matched with an ottoman, this creates something akin to a pit group, even if you don't have to dive into it. But there's plenty of room for lounging, sprawling or whatever word you want to use for leaning back and relaxing.

We've always loved this configuration, with a chaise on either end of an armless sofa. This is the Grant, but you can do this with just about any of our sofa collections.

Here are a couple more of our favorites:

If space isn't an issue, this 10-piece Menlo Park layout ought to make a dramatic statement.

A one-armed sofa with a return, a simple sectional, from our Astoria Park collection.

More drama: The Corbin's unusual arm placement creates a sofa with two sides for sitting.

Have fun! Create the sectional that has the style, shape and seating capacity that's perfect for your room.

Recylcing: It's the right thing to do.

America Recycles Day is an annual reminder that we all need to do what we can to reduce waste by reusing and recycling.

Technically, we're a day late on this one, but in the theme of yesterday's America Recycles Day, we have decided to reuse the theme, hereby naming Friday, Nov. 16, America Recycles Day Redux. This is an idea that is easy for American Leather to get behind because we reuse and recycle everything. No matter what it is -- wood, leather, foam or hardware -- if we can't find a use for it, we find someone who can. This is the way we've always run our factory, which regularly astounds first-time visitors for its clean and orderly condition.

But enough about American Leather. This is about what we all can do to reduce waste by recycling. This site for America Recycles Day offers several good ideas for recycling programs large and small, but it's all just a lot of talk -- much of it recycled (get it?) -- until we make it a regular practice. The hardest part is just getting started, setting up a system for separating recyclables from the stuff that is legitimate garbage. Once you have that organized, it's simply a matter of putting the plastic bottles and metal cans where they belong, rather than dumping it all into the garbage can.

Unfortunately, some of us are unwilling to make recycling a habit, as though it's a political statement or an undesirable style pose to be doing something that is environmentally smart. It's a shame that these attitudes exist. In the hopes that these words will wind up in front of some folks who heretofore had resisted recycling, consider this from the America Recycles Day website:


Recycling is the easiest thing we all can do 365 days a year to save energy, conserve natural resources and create green jobs.
• Our national recycling rate of 34 percent:
— Saves the energy equivalent of nearly 229 million barrels of crude oil or nearly
20 days of all U.S. oil imports.
— Saves Americans the equivalent of the annual energy consumption of nearly 
14 million US households per year.
— Avoids greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to removing more than 
36 million cars from the road each year, or growing nearly 5 billion tree 
seedlings for 10 years.
• Recycling is a multibillion dollar industry that employs millions of Americans and 
helps advance our clean energy economy.

So in a nutshell, when you recycle, you are a Maker, not a Taker. In fact, you will be a Job Creator. And as we all now know, those are good things. So let's get with it. Let's recycle.

The beauty's in the details

A devotion to detail produces furniture with the beauty of jewelry

Something as simple as the stitching and the seam on the front edge of this sofa's arm must be straight and true or it will be upsettingly wrong, unacceptable. Most people will not give that seam much thought, but hopefully we've piqued your interest just enough that you'll now take a moment to notice the tailoring on the next sofa you sit on. Is it as clean and precise as this. Believe it or not, seams this straight require skill and craftsmanship and a whole bunch of engineering beforehand to make sure the frame and leather pieces go together just so.

And there are literally dozens of examples that can be cited in every piece of furniture, although many of them can't be seen. For instance, next time you sit on an upholstered chair, squeeze the arm. Then reach down and run your hand along the side panel. How did all that feel? Could you feel edges of the framing under the arm or was the padding thick enough to hide the hard parts? On the side, was it all padded and reinforced, or was it hollow?

In many cases, the beauty can be found in the shape, the design. Consider the side profile of the Lennon collection's back: 

The plane, angle and shape of Lennon's back create an appealing contrast to both the arm and the back cushion. It works so well and seems so simple, but a ton of creative thought went into developing that design.

There are tons of examples in the American Leather line. Small details that by themselves may not catch your attention. But study it a bit, and we think you'll be impressed. For instance, the button tuft on the seat of the Luxe sofa. A lot of sewing created that perfect little tuft, one of dozens on each piece from the Luxe collection:

The elegant sweep of the Alyssa chair's back:

Or the ready-to-leap stance of the Sandy collection's legs:

These are the small details that make a design special, the beautiful elements that -- we believe -- give our furniture many of the the lovely facets of jewelry. 

Made in America: A testimonial

We came across this small item in The New York Times Book Review Sunday, and we had to share it. It’s Dave Eggers, best-selling author and publisher, talking about how he selected the printer who produces his company’s books: 


“Over the years, we’ve done a lot of our production in the U.S., and even more in Canada, and then about five years ago, we started printing in Asia, too. But then, a few years ago, I got to know this printer outside Detroit called Thomson-Shore. They’d done some pro bono work for our tutoring center nearby, 826 Michigan, so I visited the plant, and thanked them, and saw some beautiful books they’d made, and met the men and women who work there. Walking the production floor was very much like meeting the members of an extended family. … The fact that they’re in Michigan makes it easier to communicate, to reprint and to correct problems, and the prices are close enough to China’s numbers, when you take shipping and various delays into account. I don’t mean to beat a made-in-America drum, but I would be lying if I said it doesn’t feel somehow right to be printing books in the U.S.”


At American Leather, we are proud to beat that drum, and we’ve found that it makes great business sense. For all the reasons that Eggers list, our customers agree.

Performance fabrics: Upholstery fabrics that defy “wear and tear”

American Leather offers more than 150 fabrics that are exceptionally durable and stain resistant, including Ultrasuede and Crypton.

Although our name says “leather”, American Leather has been producing beautiful fabric upholstery for more than a decade, and our lineup now includes more than 300 fabric covers, as well as COM, that can be applied to any of our sofas, chairs, beds and benches.

And if you’re already familiar with American Leather’s commitment to function and durability, you won’t be surprised to know that many of our fabrics offer superior durability and stain-resist characteristics. They look and feel great, of course, but they’re also tough enough to stand up to heavy use without losing their lustrous good looks.

We’ve been working longest of all with Ultrasuede Ambiance by Toray. This is the original microfiber that still sets the standard for hand, drape and durability. It feels like soft, plush suede, but it’s engineered to meet the most demanding standars for everything from residential furnishings to first-class aviation and luxury marine and RV interiors.

Highly abrasion resistant, Ultrasuede won’t wear out, even after 200,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs; it’s spot-cleanable and washable and it provides excellent colorfastness while resisting sagging, crocking, pilling and shrinking. And on top of all that, Ultrasuede Ambiance, which is covered by a 10-year warranty, is available in 97 colors.

An exciting recent addition to the American Leather lineup, Crypton fabrics are familiar to designers who have worked on health-care or other commercial projects where powerful performance is imperative. With patented barrier technology, Crypton fabrics repel liquids, and stains and spills wipe right up so that cushions stay clean and dry.

American Leather now offers two sets of fabric from Crypton. We have Atlas by Crypton, which comes in 10 colors with a bit of mélange in each, and Eden, also 10 colors but all solids. Both are soft to the touch, and yet they provide this amazing performance that protects furniture and keeps it looking great.

Long-time fans of American Leather and our Comfort Sleeper program will have fond memories of our Life Fabrics, Veelife and Suedelife. Now available on all fames, these microfibers – the 10 Veelife colors have a herringbone pattern and the 36 Suedelife colors are solids with a brushed nap -- provide the the soft, plush feel and comfort of suede, but they are very strong and durable and provide excellent resistance to fading.

Perhaps best of all, light stains on Suedelife fabrics can usually be cleaned with lukewarm water and mild soap; heavier stains can be removed with commercial cleaners, although you should always test a small, discreet spot to make sure the cleaner doesn’t damage the fabric’s color. In our tests, we were able to remover everything from red wine to yellow mustard, even Sharpie ink.

All of these fabrics are easy to live with, comfortable and they come in an array of colors so that you can pick the perfect hue for your design project.

Sleep in style with a beautiful bed

Perhaps best known for our sofas, sectionals and sleepers, American Leather also offers an impressive and versatile assortment of beds and headboards.

Each style is available in several sizes, and of course, you can pick the perfect cover, even if it’s a fabric or leather that we don’t stock.

For contemporary looks, the Menlo Park bed, designed by Rick Lee and pictured above, gives off a contemporary vibe, with its metal legs and the clean curve from headboard to platform. But the rest are chameleons, capable of adapting to the style of the room; a rich brown leather, for instance, makes them traditional, but a creamy Ultrasuede lends a transitional or contemporary look.

And the Loja headboard, available with optional matching rails, solves all kinds of design problems. Upholstered and padded with crisp buttonless tufting, the Loja ships with a wall-mounting system that can be installed at exactly the perfect height for the mattress, regardless of how tall or short it is.

Other beds from the American Leather line:

Montecito by Rick Lee: For a glamorous interpretation of a sleigh bed.

Copeland: As a full bed or just a headboard, this design is distinctively handsome and is available with optional nailhead trim.

Metropolitan: One of our all-time favorites, Metropolitan has an architectural look with its rectangular patterns.

Shaw: From the renowned designers Goodman Charleton, this is a sophisticated, perhaps even glamourous, bed with a high shelter back.

Menlo Park, Montecito and Shaw are platform beds. Copeland and Metropolitan ship with slats, and they work best with half-height foundations. The Loja rails, which do not connect to the wall-mounted headboard, are decorative only with no slats or platform, designed to hide the bed frame.

All the details are on our web site, and you should visit an authorized American Leather retailer for more information and samples.

Every day is Earth Day

Home furnishings trends change with the calendar, but we're proud to say that being environmentally aware and responsible never goes out of style at American Leather. Everybody who visits our sparkling factory, even the jaded furniture guys who've been there and done that, are amazed how pristine we keep our operations. And when it comes to doing the right thing, the beauty is way more than skin deep.

With our industry-leading production systems, we maximize the use of all our resources, and if we can't use it, we recycle it. For a list of our major green initiatives, check this out. But we're also continually reviewing our practices and looking for ways to improve. Of course, just the fact that our factory is in the United States gives our products a much smaller carbon footprint than those that are shipped across oceans before they are put on another truck.

Earth Day may be coming up, April 29, but at American Leather, we've always felt that environmental responsibility is a year-round priority. We salute all of you who share our commitment!

Local Manufacturing with Global Success: American Leather is Ahead of the Curve

It’s becoming nearly impossible to go a day without hearing chatter about the lack of jobs in this country, but one thing we’re not hearing enough of is the resurgence of manufacturing in the United States. According to Hal Sirkin, a senior partner and managing director at the Boston Consulting Group, manufacturing in the United States is making a comeback.  As Sirkin states, America is becoming incredibly productive and using its resources very efficiently. “That's what's going to cause the change as we start to move from off shore in China to in-sourcing around the world,” he said.

American Leather - Dallas, Texas

But one company doesn’t have to make the shift from outsourcing to in-sourcing. American Leather furniture has always been manufacturing on U.S. soil, even when its competitors found cheaper labor and facilities overseas. “We built our brand on customization, style and service and are thrilled that more American companies have begun to see the importance – and financial benefits – of staying on home turf,” said Bob Duncan, American Leather co-founder and CEO.

Sirkin agrees, noting that manufacturing jobs in the U.S. have actually increased by 300,000 in the last two years. “It's now becoming more effective to produce in the U.S. than it is to produce in a lot of different countries. Between the shift in the dollar and the incredibly rapid rise in wages in China, people are starting to do this,” he said in an article penned by the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He added, “We have a system where our people want to work and they find ways to do this. We have a system in which our companies are forced to get more productive because it's do or die.”


One of the factors causing this shift is the rising cost of transportation of labor and goods overseas. It’s also important to note the difficulty to manufacture goods when you're 6,000 miles away from your customers and have to interact with people who don't speak your native language.

American Leather's factory operations

Since 1990, American Leather has been housed in a factory in Dallas. In just 30 days or less, American Leather is able to make customized furniture – in leather and fabric – which is a delivery standard three times faster than the industry average. From the beginning, the factory was set up to manage mass customization through the latest technology and manufacturing systems, making American Leather the most automated leather furniture manufacturer in North America, and possibly, the world.


Sirkin says the furniture business is an industry that could benefit the most from this manufacturing renaissance because of the amount of wood produced in the U.S. “People are putting their money down, making some very important decisions and realizing that the U.S. has a very highly productive work force, a very flexible work force and the ability to be a very low-cost manufacturing platform for some very important industries,” he said.


And American Leather has been leading the march for more than 21 years! 

Liven up the Living Room with Pantone’s 2012 Spring Palette

Gone are the days of the monochromatic color schemes, and in its place stands a collection of fresh, vibrant spring shades ready to melt away those winter blues. And American Leather is embracing these trendy tints in everything from their leathers to fabrics to Ultrasuede.  

According to Pantone, the Bible of color trends, Spring 2012 designs will showcase a range of styles and lifestyles, from free and playful and light and breezy, to contemporary classics. Colors reflect these differing moods, “encapsulating vivid brights, soft muted tones and fun-loving pastels.”  

Among the highlighted hues this season are:

Tangerine Tango, an enticing shade of juicy orange

Solar Power, an energetic yellow which radiates warmth and cheer
Bellflower, a distinct ornamental purple which exudes uniqueness and creativity

Cabaret, scintillating and sexy, is a sensual and intense rosy-red
Sodalite Blue, a classic maritime hue, brings order and calmness to mind
Cockatoo, a tactile blue-green, is sure to make spirits soar
Margarita, a piquant yellow-green, lifts spirits with its refreshing and stimulating glow

Sweet Lilac, a delicate pinkish lilac adds a touch of romance to any room

Natural versatile neutrals round out the season’s Top 10 colors and add practicality to these dazzling tones:

Driftwood, an adaptable blend of beige and gray with a slightly weathered feel, and

Starfish, a perfect warm summer neutral.

If you’re unsure how to blend these vivacious colors into an already established room, start small. For example, an area rug in Margarita or Sweet Lilac and a vase in Cockatoo can invoke the feeling of spring without overwhelming a room. Or try incorporating accent pillows in Sodalite Blue and Solar Power to a lightly colored neutral sofa, such as the Moore sofa in Vintage Flax linen, to bring some blue-sky and sunshine in from the outside.  

There is an infinite number of ways to design a room with this diverse palette. So spring into action this year and get started!

Why Leather – What is Good Leather?

The single most important factor in determining the quality of leather is the raw material, the hide. This is the same principle that you will find in cooking; the recipe is only as good as the ingredients.

The term “hide” refers to the skin covering of large animals; cows, steers, buffalo, etc. Most hides used in the manufacturing of upholstery are cow or steer hides. Upholstery requires large hides to minimize the number of seams. Less than ten percent of all hides harvested each year are suitable for upholstery. This is due to the size of unblemished pieces required to make upholstery. The balance of the hides are used for the garment industry. 

Finding Environmentally Friendly Furniture – the Basics

Ah summertime…the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and everyone is outside playing. This season really makes us appreciate all Mother Nature has to offer us, and we want to make sure we do everything we can to keep our Earth healthy. There are so many manufacturers promising green, sustainable, eco-friendly products for your home. All of these terms suggest some level of environmental responsibility, but there are no concrete definitions for them yet.  If you are in the market for eco-friendly furniture and other home goods, you need to know what to look for so you know you are not being deceived.

Search for a product or manufacturer that is certified by a coalition promoting sustainable practices, like the Sustainable Furnishings Council

The goals of this council are to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability, help companies adopt eco-friendly practices, clear up false information in the industry, and assure customers that they are supporting companies that operate sustainably. As a founding member of the council, American Leather produces custom leather and fabric-covered furniture that meets the standards established by SFC. 

Environmentally-secured leather

Modern tanneries use closed-water systems and private water treatment plants to prevent the pollution of surrounding water supplies.  At American Leather, the dying process involves water-based products that are chrome-free and completely chemical free.  This prevents more toxic materials from entering your home and ultimately the atmosphere. Leather scraps are also recycled in producing small leather goods.

Pay attention to the furniture frame

Wood from American Leather comes from sustainable forests, and over two million pounds of leftover wood is recycled.  The glues used to bind the wood are chemical-free and do not release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

Recyclable Cushions

High-resiliency foam that is 100 percent free of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs,) helps to prevent ozone depletion.  Plus, when your sofa reaches the end of its lifetime, the cushions from American Leather furniture are recyclable.

Clearly, every part of the furniture needs to come from proper sources and be manufactured in the right way to be certified by the Sustainable Furnishings Council.  If environmentally friendly practices are important to you, you can find American Leather and other environmentally friendly manufacturers through the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

Our Top 5 Online Home Design Tools

Anyone who has ever embarked on a home decorating project knows just how daunting it can be. With endless options available in color schemes, furniture choices and accessories, the ability to see the vision before spending money is priceless. Luckily, there are tons of handy online tools available to help even the novice decorator plan their project in advance. Here are five of our favorite online decorating tools.

Color Palette Generator (http://jrm.cc/color-palette-generator)

Is your entire artistic vision for your design captured in one image? This online tool allows you to upload a photo – your own or from the web – and develop a color palette straight from it. This is a simple way to use a favorite photo as a focal point for a room and match color schemes seamlessly.

Colorjive (www.colorjive.com)

If only shopping for paint was as easy as shopping for jeans. Ever wish you could just try it on? This online decorating tool allows the user to upload a photo of the room they plan to decorate and test shades on the walls without ever lifting a paint brush. Use a stock room just to get an idea or upload your own photo for test run. You can try up to three colors per room and store your images for later.

Sample Board (www.sampleboard.com)



Sometimes you just need a place to keep all of your ideas. Sample Board is an easy-to-use program allowing you to create interior design inspiration boards. It gives a wide variety of stock images, textures and color palettes to drag and drop onto your board and then share on Facebook and Twitter for free. Whether it’s a great chair you saw online or fabric you love, compile your images into one spot that illustrates your vision. Upgrade to a paid membership and you can import your own images, create as many boards as you like and print them in high resolution.

My Deco 3D (www.mydeco.com)

Sometimes you need to see it in 3D. This tool lets you start with a flat floorplan, move your furniture in and then watch your room come to life. For inspiration, check out the site’s online community where users share ideas and their own 3D models. An added bonus: camera view lets you view the room from multiple point of views.

3Dream (www.3dream.net)

This online decorating tool allows users to create a 3D room and then decorate it using furniture, paints and accessories. The program has a huge collection of virtual furniture to add that you can buy offline, too, including American Leather pieces.


Home decorating online is a wise choice before embarking on an expensive journey that may not work in your space. By using these tools, home decorators can save money and time by doing most of the legwork right from the comfort of their own home.

Quick Ways to Makeover Your Room

You don’t have to spend hours redecorating a room that has become dull. One new addition or simple re purposing can give your space a face lift without a complete makeover.

Update window treatments. Replacing heavy or dark draperies will change the perspective of your whole room. Opt for sheers to bring in more light for an airy feel, or panels for a modern, bolder look.

Add a surprising color. One of the simplest and least expensive ways to spruce up a room is to add splashes of color. To really mix it up, think outside the box. A coral, lime or fuchsia piece adds a surprising and refreshing element. Just make sure to stick to accessories or an accent chair to keep it from becoming overpowering.

For a more conservative approach, varied patterns and textures can be mixed with solid furniture to inject some life back into a room with minimal cost.

Mix up your flooring. Try a new rug in a different color, texture or size to brighten up a room in one easy step.

Go for a clustered effect. Sick of staring at that lonesome piece of artwork hanging in the middle of your wall? Update your wall decor by grouping several smaller pieces to fill more space and add more visual interest.

Adjust your lighting. Add a new table or floor lamp or simply update a lampshade or a light source. Changing to a softer or brighter light will change the feel of a space and it may also change the hue of your room’s color palette.

Add visual interest with mirrors. Mirrors add depth and richness to a room. Use several small mirrors rather than one large to give a room even more dimension.

Switch out your centerpieces. Group objects of one color together to add a monochromatic touch to a neutral space. Replace a coffee or end table with an ottoman with a flat top that can double as a table.

Use glass vases, wicker baskets or other containers and fill them with fresh fruits or vegetables. Using natural items to decorate with color is easy and simple.

Sprucing up a tired room is often as easy as switching out a few staples. Simply adding splashes of color, new lamps or switching out a table for an ottoman are easy and inexpensive ways to bring life back to your space.

Leather Furniture Care: The Whole Truth (and Nothing But)

If you’re like most consumers, when it comes to shopping for new home furnishings, there may be some lingering doubts about what furniture is best for you and your home. And if you are like many furniture buyers, you may be unsure if leather furniture is right for your home, or even how to find the leather that best fits your décor and lifestyle.

To help consumers in this buying process, American Leather, a leading Dallas-based manufacturer of premium leather and upholstered furniture, has addressed the most common myths and misperceptions about leather furniture – and the real truths that will have consumers making their next purchase in complete confidence:

Myth: Leather furniture just doesn’t last.

Fact: The truth is, leather furniture is something you buy for a lifetime. Since leather is a natural product, aging brings out its natural patina making it even more beautiful over time. And since leather furniture is something you can enjoy for years to come, this is a purchase that makes a sound investment –– and one that gives you excellent returns, time and time again.

Myth: Leather furniture is too expensive.

Fact: You don’t have to be rich to enjoy leather furniture – just smart. Since leather is a product that lasts four times longer than fabric, leather furniture is a great investment for your home that you can enjoy for many years to come. After all, don’t you deserve beautiful comfort that lasts?

Myth: Leather furniture is too hard to care for.

Fact: This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Just use a conditioner every 6-12 months and wipe up spills as they occur with a clean cloth. You should actually avoid using your normal cleaning supplies—like soaps, detergents, solvents, etc. Can it get any easier than that?

Myth: Leather furniture is easily damaged by kids and animals.

Fact: Unless your dog thinks your new leather couch is a chew toy or your cat thinks it’s a scratching post, your leather furniture is as safe as any other furniture in the house. For more peace of mind, buy furniture with a pigmented finish coat. It helps protect the leather so you can let your pets and your kids sit on the couch with no more than the usual worries.

Myth: Leather furniture is limited in where it can go in the house.

Fact: Even though leather furniture is traditionally seen in living rooms, dens and family rooms, don’t let that hold you back. Surprise your friends with the versatility of leather furniture. Use it in unexpected places like your kitchen or bedroom for a look that is super stylish and trendsetting as well.

Myth: Leather furniture is either too cold in winter and/or too hot in summer.

Fact: You must be thinking about those leather seats in your car. Of course they get hot in summer and cold in winter, especially if you park outside. But if you keep your leather furniture indoors like most folks (trendsetters beware!), you’ll find that in the winter, it warms to your body heat, and in the summer since it’s natural and can breathe, it stays pleasantly cool, and even adapts to the temperature set in your home. Just keep it out of the direct sunlight.

For more information on leather furniture and leather furniture care and cleaning tips, visit American Leather’s web site at http://www.americanleather.com.

The Best of American Leather: The Anniversary Collection

Twenty years is a long time. Enough time to look back and see trends come and go. Enough time to recognize a flash in the pan from a classic.

Think back 20 years. What was your favorite song in 1990-91?

Chances are you were groovin’ to the sounds of some Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and M.C. Hammer. You may even have a pair of flashy harem pants like Mr. M.C. in some back closet waiting for a fashion revival. Don’t count on it.

Most fashion is meant to be fly by, thankfully. Trends come in with a fit of loud noises and splashy fanfare but they don't last. I don’t think there was anyone who didn’t try one of M.C.’s dance steps. I mean, that was back when MTV played the same 20 music videos every day. How could you miss trying?

That wasn’t the only thing happening back in 1990 and 91. Just about that time, American Leather was just getting started in the back of warehouse in Dallas. Three young entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to be the best and biggest leather furniture manufacturer in the United States and they took it.

Along the way they had their fashion hits and misses. Fortunately, the hits have far outweighed the misses.

Now, the company is celebrating those hits -- the classics. Over the last 20 years, American Leather has introduced almost a thousand different furniture collections. Out of those, the company has gathered the “best of the best” into a special “Anniversary Collection.”

The Anniversary Collection represents the top 11 (because 10 was not enough) collections over the last 20 years.

Take a look at American Leather's:

Tuscany

Allessandro

Randy

Kaden

Kendall

Astoria

Savoy

Carson

Inspiration

Lisben

Which is your favorite? There’s no doubt you’ll love it for a long time – even 20 years from now.

Have a Very Chair-y Christmas

2010 has been the year of the chair. With the recession putting a damper on all our wallets, instead of revamping big, most of us are choosing to update our existing rooms with a splash of small scale pizzazz.

There’s nothing more versatile than chair that sits well, shows off our personal style and adds some drama to a room.

Which one to get?

Enter the classic wing chair.

Antique lovers have always swooned for a chair that makes you feel tucked into your own special corner. In hot restaurants like The Bazaar in Los Angeles you’ll find yourself dining in a French oversized wing chair worthy of Marie Antoinette. American Leather’s McCartney (shown above) is the modern, youthful version of this beloved profile.

In Elle Décor's "Top 10 Wingback Chairs" they say of the McCartney, “Given its clean, modern look and apartment-size scale—44" tall—this is a “young

generation’s wing chair,” says Nanjoo Joung.

That’s not the only chair that has gotten its fair share of press this year. The Cole (shown right), a new introduction in 2009, made news this year with its retro “Mad Men” styling and its welcoming seat and back. It’s also very comfortable. Even Apartment Therapy gave its thumbs up!

The other trend this year has favored low-profile modern beauties that keep a contemporary room sleeks and beautiful. American Leather introduced the Turow, a t-back with a generous seat, is like jewelry in a room. It’s a smart looking cookie from all sides. For something a little more contemporary take a look at the Hugo, a worthy accent in the most modern homes. It even landed on the cover of Metropolitan Home last year.

Of course, no chair round up would be complete without mentioning two perennial favorites, the Bella (with or without) nail head trim, and Rick Lee’s Feliz (shown left) chair. These small-scale chairs look great in so many different fabric or leather combinations.

There’s still time to give a chair to one of your favorite people. Most furniture stores are happy to offer a gift certificate for all or some of the purchase price. Visit American Leather’s dealer locator to find a retailer near you.