<p>We are in the process of researching and plan to buy a stationary (non-reclining) leather sofa or couch for our living room and would love feedback of brands people have been especially happy with (as well as those we should avoid). </p>
<p>The new sofa will replace our 10 year old futon couch that H is tired of, even though the frame is still in excellent shape and the mattress is still OK. We tend to keep sofas about 10 years or so and will need it to get to HI, but expect we may have to pay for shipping.</p>
<p>Thanks for any suggestions, since we haven’t been in the market for leather sofas in several decades.</p>
<p>We have some Hancock & Moore leather pieces that are well made, and the company has a good reputation. However, I was displeased with a few things about our experience with H&M and the dealer from whom I purchased. The dealer mailed swatches of the leather colors that I selected from the H&M website before my order was finalized. It wasn’t until after the order arrived, and I was unhappy with the color of three items, that he explained there’s often a great difference between the dyed leather color of the swatch and the actual furniture. If you’re okay with some variation and/or not trying to match existing colors in your home, this might not matter to you. The time from order to delivery was quite a bit longer than what I was told to expect. The trucking company also had our furniture for several weeks and did some damage during delivery. Finally, and probably worst of all from my point of view, despite touting their furniture as made in America, some of the covers for H&M’s leather items are made in China and just attached to the frame in NC. </p>
<p>A few years ago, I bought several American Leather chairs. Two of the chairs arrived with some damage and my experience with the local store, the manufacturer and the repair tech was something I don’t care to repeat. Even though I like some of their styles, I won’t buy American Leather’s products again.</p>
<p>For considerably less money than H&M, and no discernible difference in quality, I recently bought two leather sofas from Crate & Barrel. C&B carries some leather furniture that’s made in the US with hides from Italy and Brazil. Their CSRs were very helpful about researching the origin of the hides. I waited until C&B had one of their regular delivery deals (I think it was $99 for the total order instead of $299) and was able to use a discount code that saved a few hundred as well. One of the sofas arrived with a very minor flaw; when I called to request a repair they insisted on replacing the sofa instead.
Their delivery team was professional, on time and polite.</p>
<p>I’ve read good things about leather sofas from Room & Board, but didn’t find their employees as helpful. Pottery Barn has (or had) one leather sofa that was not made in China, but it was more traditional than I wanted and it cost more than the C&B sofa.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of these thoughts. We will be in CA soon, and plan to try out as many sofas as we can bring ourselves to, since selection in LA & SF is MUCH better than HI. Will have to check into shipping as well.</p>
<p>I have a relatively new philosophy about sofas. for many years, we got expensive, excellent quality sofas. We are the types that keep things for a LONG time. Our last two replacement sofas were NOT expensive. What I found…those pricey sofas last forever…only MY tastes change. It was hard to get rid of a very expensive sofa, in excellent condition, just because I hated the style and fabric. </p>
<p>If these last two start to not fit my tastes, I won’t feel guilty at all about ditching them.</p>
<p>HImom…have you gone to all the furniture places near you and tried couches? Was there NOTHING that suited you (I was following your other thread and thought you found something). Are there NO places in Hawaii that sell only leather furniture?</p>
<p>I have the Restoration Hardware leather sofa on my wish list. When it’s on sale , I think it’s a great deal for what it is. Not that I can afford anything right now.</p>
<p>We really like our Leathercraft sofa and love seat we keep in the family room. We have had them about 10 years and they are wearing very well. Cushions are still plump and firm. We got the nail-tumbled leather, pre-marred, so it wouldn’t show scratches.</p>
<p>We got it through a guy we know who had a business supplying furniture for staged houses. As much as I like the idea of supporting local businesses, we couldn’t have afforded these at full retail.</p>
<p>Have been to the local furniture places. They have very little in stock and will have to order pieces in anyway. They have very limited selection that you can actually sit on (and yes, we sat on all the pieces that we have the remotest interest in). Thanks for the info about leather. If we didn’t all have dust mite allergies, I’d love to buy any other fabric, but we are stuck with leather because of our allergies.</p>
<p>The sofa we liked best was a slipcovered bench. They said they could only sell it as we saw it in the showroom and could not sell us the same bench upholstered in leather sans slipcover. Same with the chairs that we were thinking would complement the sofa. In any case, it would have to be ordered and we’d have to pay shipping and then pay for someone we found to reupholster it in leather, IF it could be done.</p>
<p>Actually, we tend to keep couches 5-10 years. By the end of that time, we are often ready for something new, whether or not the piece needs to be replaced or just a new home. Usually, there are still years of wear left in the sofa when we tire of it. We only had one leather sofa (white). It started to age and we replaced with futons; the hardwood frames are still in great shape but H wants a new sofa for living room. We will keep one futon in S’s room, which will be guest room/study.</p>
<p>We bought a Natuzzi at Macy’s a couple of years ago. They are not made the way they used to be. The pillows do not come out. While nothing can get lost between, behind and under the sofa, the pillows are wearing unevenly and they cannot be switched around. I would not buy this one again.</p>
<p>I love our American Leather sofas. We have a large sectional in the family room and a pull out comfort sleeper in the den. They are so well made and comfortable.</p>
<p>Have you ever had fine cotton covered furniture? That was our sofa before the leather one. I have dust allergies and have a hard time on any furniture with nappy fabrics.</p>
<p>The cloth is kind of like a 1200 thread count bedsheet, but thicker. It does not wear well at all, maybe 5 years, but could be an option.</p>
<p>The Green Design furniture is well made, but much simpler and lighter than traditional upholstered furniture. I believe they ship sofas and chairs flat-packed for home assembly (Ikea style, but with much better materials and construction). If you like contemporary or Asian-influenced style, something like this might be a good option for shipment to Hawaii.</p>
<p>The Ekornes sofas and chairs are very comfortable. Check HomeWorld furniture in Honolulu.</p>
<p>Thanks–these companies make lovely things but none make leather sofas that are shallow enough so H can rest his back on the back of the sofa and his feet on the ground. :(</p>
<p>Ekornes sofas are nice, but they do not have clearance of at least 4 inches so that the Roomba electronic vacuum cleaner can vacuum underneath them. We have been to Home World and sat in their furniture. All of their furniture was too low to the ground for the Roomaba. :(</p>