Geometrics Rule!

Triangles. Heptagons. Polygons, rectangles and the lot. They’re not just for engineers, architects and math professors anymore.

Geometic shapes are lending their clout to the best in fashion and design these days. Clean-lined and edgy, they’re a sharp, urbane look – updated to hook your heart.

Take a peek at Elle Décor’s recent “Trend Alert: Geometrics” by Anita Sarsidi for some striking examples. Jump here to see the whole slideshow. Here’s my favorite:

Don’t you love how this halter dress from Pucci’s 2009 collection beckons the eye with clear, colorful shapes? Who knew geometrics could be so flirtatious?

Bold and sure, that’s how geometrics grab your attention and take command of your heart. I don’t know about you, but I could sure go for a measure of boldness and sureness in my life – say an alluring accent piece to take command of my living room.

That’s one reason I yearn for American Leather’s Metro collection. Its wood outlined arms, bold frame and straight back define geometric power.


Don’t you agree? The Metro is a tour de force of geometric lines – a collection that’s destined to be the love of your living room. Its inviting rectangular lines are the perfect place to recline when you need to think outside of the box.

Can you see it in your home? I’m already drooling over its strong, dynamic lines.

And perhaps best of all – it’s designed for lounging, conversation and all kinds of linear and non-linear activities. You’ll find yourself seeking it out time and again.

Who knew geometrics could be so seductive – and so comforting -- at the very same time?

- Marya Smith

Comfort Sleeper Sectional wins a Good Design Award

What's better than the best? Good. The Chicago Athenaeum's Good Design Awards, an international competition, has spoken. The organization that has recognized products like the iPod, iTouch, Riedel's Swan, the Bionic Hand, Mercedes GLK, and the Traveling Fireplace....

Good company, no? American Leather's new innovative Comfort Sleeper sectional is about to join the ranks of these illustrious products in June 2010. The Chicago Athenaeum has bestowed this very prestigious award on the Dickinson Comfort Sleeper. My those judges have good taste.

Not just leather anymore

It's been a year since American Leather introduced a line of fabric sofas, chairs and accessories.

This fall, we're offering fabric on EVERYTHING we make. How many other companies can make the sofa of your dreams, just the way you like it, here in Texas within 30 days?
None.

Make mine a Cole one

Did you see the new November House Beautiful? Check out their feature, "I'm looking for a leather chair." to see their pick...American Leather's Cole. Retro without a hint of old school boredom, the sexy wraparound club chair is a bit of a chameleon. Put it in leather and you have a library chair with attitude. Choose a fabric and the edges of the chair move into softness. Settle into a nubby velvet and suddenly you have a bedroom accent chair to die for. Tonight, it's champagne in honor of the noble Cole. Any other excuses to pop open a bottle?

Who's coming to dinner?

Turkeys, smashed potatoes, and our favorite, gooey-crunchy salty crusted pecan pies - they are all coming to your dinner table soon. Who will be there? Hopefully a houseful of wonderful family and friends ready to make some new memories.

When guests arrive, give them a great place to sleep. We know several. Have you tried the American Leather Comfort Sleeper? At the risk of exposing our lack of humility on the subject we are proudly featured on Apartment Therapy's sleeper of the week.



Even better you'll find the Comfort Sleeper on sale at stores all around the country. Sale goes until October 5.

That's plenty of time to decide which leather or fabric you'd like. And to find a great new pecan pie recipe.

Is yours this cute?

Some of our favorite seats are in this ad. Visit Sarah and Andy at La Diff in the VA/DC area to see some more cute ones...on sale too.

A Touch of Pillow Whimsy

What’s the common denominator of sophisticated living spaces?


Classic design, assured color palettes, graceful room arrangements – they’re all good answers. But the answer I’d give is whimsy. A touch of it in a room is a sure-fire mark of sophistication.

That’s right. One light-hearted, highly individual item can be all it takes to move a space from safely presentable to memorable. A whimsical element never dominates, but rather, sparks its own small magic.

It could be that crayon drawing your five-year-old niece made of your cat that you framed and placed on a living room bookcase, or the vintage diner sign you found at a flea market and have hanging in your dining room.

It might be as simple as a pillow that makes you smile every time you see it on your living room couch.




The tongue-in-chic Happy Hot Dog pillow pair was created by award-winning designer Supon Phornirunlit (www.nakeddecor.com) and recently featured in Elle Decor. And the witty Google pillows -- captured on Metropolitan Home’s Savvy/Chic blog – are the creation of French designer Elodie Blanchard (www.elasticCo.com).



Here we have two sophisticated artists who take fun seriously. Picture pillows like these in your life. A small, soft touch, but a mighty one. Put something this charming in your living room and just try not to smile.

And for the perfect backdrop for these touches of whimsy? I’d pick the universally pleasing Lola sofa or chair.





(by Marya Smith)

Soy foam makes for a better world

What's better for your health and the environment? Read about how soy foam from BioH makes a difference.

Orange You Glad?

Just try not to notice the color orange. It’s a scene stealer.

Never shy, orange is firmly front and center these days, deemed a hot color for 2009, a vibrant hue on the high-fashion horizon. Orange is the new orange. Its pow is now.

“Orange candy” is how trend spotters at Metropolitan Home and Elle Décor describe it. Here’s their collage of invigorating examples:



That lacquer box proves the point to me. A box in any other color just wouldn’t be the same. But I don’t think I’ll soon forget this one – très Hermès. The eye-popping orange just grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.

Just as no one could forget a room with American Leather’s Sandy sofa.




Just by entering a room, the high-impact Sandy creates an instant focal point. Designed by John Charles Designs, the sofa’s charisma comes from its combination of sophisticated styling and a cutting-edge color choice.

With hints of a transformed Plain Jane park bench in its sleek lines, this design would sensationalize any space with its unabashed Glamour Girl looks alone. Add orange upholstery, and this sofa is guaranteed to hold everyone in its thrall.

Not surprising, considering that the orange chakra is associated with creativity and sensuality -- adjectives that sit nicely with this memorable sofa.

Orange also combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. So you might say that any way you slice it, orange has lots of juice.

There’s nothing quite like it.

Orange you glad that life isn’t all black and white?

(By Marya Smith)

Hugo girl!

When Metropolitan Home calls you answer! That's what we did when the editors asked us to make a Hugo chair, the swiveling conversational sweetheart, in Pantone's color of the year: Mimosa Yellow. We matched Pantone with Duval Maize, the happiest yellow leather on earth. Hugo's beauty impressed everyone, enough to make the June cover!

Apartment Therapy Showcases Kendall

You have to check out Jora and Bryan's gorgeous midcentury house tour on Apartment Therapy (www.apartmenttherapy.com). Stunning! I don't know where to begin...the gorgeous hilltop view? The stunning architecture? The xeriscaped yard with chicken coop? I love the way they weren't afraid to mix the different wood patterns throughout the house. And I couldn't help but notice they have American Leather's Kendall in the den below a piece of art by Venice, California artist Mark Hobley.











American Leather using Renew cushioning foam

DALLAS — Upholstery producer American Leather has begun using Renew, an eco-friendly cushioning foam, in all of its products.

The Renew foam, made of soy-based BiOH polyols, is fully recyclable and is available in various levels of firmness and densities.

"We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and adhering to sustainable manufacturing practices," said President Bruce Birnbach. "Renew recyclable foam will allow our furniture to progressively turn ‘green' while retaining our quality. This will benefit both our company and our end consumer."

American Leather acquires John Charles Designs assets

DALLAS — Custom upholstery specialist American Leather is expanding its presence in fabric upholstery by acquiring the assets of California-based upholstery manufacturer John Charles Designs.

American Leather said it purchased the rights to John Charles' home furnishing designs, textile collection and marketing materials for an undisclosed sum.

John Charles Designs, a 31-year-old company known for its clean, contemporary designs and sumptuous fabric selection, was owned by the Genova family. Principals John Genova Sr., co-owner and founder, and Nancy Genova, co-owner and lead designer, and Vice President John Genova Jr. will be consultants to American Leather through 2009 to ensure a smooth transition.

John Charles Designs for American Leather will introduce 29 collections at next week's High Point Market in the American Leather showroom at Showplace, fifth floor.

The former John Charles Designs showroom in the PCH Building, 135 South Hamilton St. (of which the Genovas are part-owners) has been vacated.

Production of the John Charles line will shift to American Leather's 250,000-square-foot facility here, with shipments to begin in February.

American Leather CEO Bob Duncan said the acquisition will help the company "become an immediately recognizable player in fabric upholstery."

The new collection will include John Charles' bestselling designs offered in hundreds of fabric options, leather, Ultrasuede or COM. The collection will continue to expand into 2009.

"This represents the next step of our long-term strategy to expand into the fabric upholstery segment," Duncan said. "Between our hospitality division, and our residential and private label programs, fabric upholstery already represents approximately 30% of our volume."

American Leather's modern fabric-cutting system will allow it to handle matching and other techniques associated with fabric upholstery production, he said.

"This is a critical core competence that we have developed over the last five years," Duncan said, "We are excited to now expand this capability and become a full fabric upholstery resource."

Like American Leather's other products, the new fabric upholstery will ship in three weeks or less.

"This acquisition is a marriage of exceptional design with manufacturing excellence - allowing us to offer this one-of-a-kind collection to consumers with the speed, quality and reliability they have come to know with American Leather," said company President Bruce Birnbach.

John Genova Sr. said the transaction marks a turning point for both companies. He said it means John Charles Designs "can reach broader audiences with the speed-to-market that has been a key component of the American Leather brand."

While there is some customer overlap, Birnbach said, "The driving factor was not gaining distribution but to acquire a phenomenal-looking product with a great name well-known throughout the industry."

Birnbach said sales of the John Charles line will be handled by American Leather sales representatives and the new collection will be produced by a dedicated cell.

American Leather had started a fabric division called American Upholstery or AU in April 2004, but was phasing out that line before it acquired John Charles.

"It is hard enough to develop one brand, let alone two," Birnbach said. "We had begun consolidating AU into American Leather six months ago. This market is the culmination of the merging of the two lines."

From the runway to your home

Recently, Couch Karma featured American Leather's Slink by Designer Rob Jones on their website.

Read the full article here: From the runway to your home