Raise Your IQ
We believe the best decision is an informed decision. If you understand what to
look for, it makes your decision much easier. The categories below are dedicated
to helping you make an informed decision on your furniture that best fits your lifestyle
demands.
Guildlines for Buying Leather Furniture
1. 100% Top Grain Leather: Select only 100% top grain leather. ‘Top grain’ refers
to the top 3/64-inch surface of the hide, it is the outer layer and is the strongest
part of the hide. Durable, supple and water repellent because of its natural oils,
top grain leather gets more beautiful with age. Be aware, other manufacturers use
imitation leather or split grain leathers, in less noticeable places like the sides
and back. These inferior leathers do not have the same strength and will often fade
at a different rate than top grain leather. This would be a general indicator of
inferior quality throughout the piece of furniture. Creative Leather uses only 100%
top grain leather.
2. Frame Construction: Harder to check, but it's definitely worth your time. A quality
furniture retailer will show a frame “cut-away” to assure consumers of the actual
materials and frame construction design. Creative Leather encourages a tour of our
factory facilities. Quality furniture will feature kiln-dried hardwood, or hard
wood laminates that are glued, stapled, power screwed with double blocked corners
and miter cut frames joints to insure strength and dependability over the years.
Top grain leather can last a very long time when properly cared for so we make sure
your frame outlasts the leather. Watch for nails, plywood, particleboard or softwood
construction materials which indicate inferior material and design. Creative Leather
displays a frame “cut-away” on every showroom floor.
3. Spring Materials: Quality construction demands tempered steel springs or springs
that are 8-way hand tied for a lifetime of sag-free comfort and appearance. Watch
for elastic webbing or other "rubber band" springs that can stretch or break over
time. Creative Leather uses only tempered sinuous steel springs or our 8-way hand-tied
system.
4. Padding Material: Check for full foam padding throughout. Don't hesitate to "squeeze
test" the arms and front panels and to check for the amount of padding and its resiliency.
Be wary of cheap cotton batting underneath the cushions that can droop, sag, tear
and lose their shape. Leather should never come into contact with the wood frame.
Creative Leather uses the finest and most expensive material and our wood frames
never come in contact with our leather.
5. Style and Color Choices: Don't compromise for something less than what you want.
If you have definite ideas about the color and furniture style you want, Creative
Leather offers 100's of styles and configurations, in thousands of colors, to help
you select exactly what you are looking for.
6. Check the Warranty: Ask questions! Read the warranty over carefully. How long
is the warranty? Is the warranty limited by time? What does it include or exclude?
Where do repairs take place? Does it have to be shipped? Who pays for shipping?
Who covers the labor costs? Check out our Warranty Section
7. Manufacturer: Ask what company is building the product. Ask where the furniture
is built. Ask what happens if a structural problem arises. Clarify the estimated
time of return of your product. A U.S. Factory generally allows for rapid repair
and delivery of your merchandise. Some companies claim to own their factories, but
check the facts. Creative Leather produces both product lines at our Arizona factory,
which we own and operate, in about 4-6 weeks after you select your leather from
our in-stock leather program.
8. Highest Possible Quality at Lowest Possible Prices: Beware of the middleman mark-up.
At CLF, we are the factory, your money goes directly into the furniture, not for
dealer or distributor mark-ups.
9. Responsive and Trusted: Do not be afraid to check out the company you are purchasing
from. How long have they been in business? What is their standing with the Better
Business Bureau? We have been in business since 1990 and have become the market
leader for high-quality furniture in our markets. Creative Leather Furniture maintains
a spotless record with the Better Business Bureau. Ask your neighbors about us or
visit our customer rating testimonials on our website. Check out our Customer Testimonials
10. Customer “Smart Design”: Purchasing high-quality leather is a good investment
because it is 3-5 times more durable than fabric upholstery. Choose leather furniture
that has removable seats to replace seat cores and that will retain that great comfort
for years to come. Furthermore, select furniture that allows the arm cushions, pillow-backs,
and pillow tops to be unzipped and refreshed with new hollow-fill. This helps keep
your furniture looking new and feeling great!
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Leather Infomation
- Natural Markings
Each piece of leather has its own personality--its own history! We call them natural
"beauty marks." Wrinkles, stretch marks, insect bites, branding iron burns, barbed
wire scars and thorn abrasions all contribute to leather's natural character and
uniqueness. There is no such thing as a perfect hide. It is these natural markings
that make each piece unique, desirable and like no other piece in the world.
The best hides (approximately 5%) are selected for minimal processing to produce
the highest quality, and generally speaking, the most expensive hides; while the
remaining 95% are processed for consistency, durability or a special effect leathers.
Depending on one's lifestyle, leather can be selected for a variety of reasons:
decorating style, suppleness, color, clean-ability, but all top-grain leathers are
extremely durable and performs admirably to most normal household activity. All
leathers utilized by Creative Leather are 100% top-grain leather and are of superior
quality from the world’s finest tanneries.
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Leather Descriptions
Full or Pure Aniline Leather:
- Refers to the finest open grain, top-grain leather hides, that have been emersed
in aniline dye only
- Always made from premium-quality hides, (the surface of a full-grain hide has not
been mechanically altered)
- Susceptible to fading and stains; will feature a noticeable natural grain pattern,
range marks, barbed wire scars, wrinkles, scratches and brands, however, this leather
can be protected and will need protection when exposed to an active environment
- The natural surface markings are not concealed, but accentuated for charm and uniqueness
- The softest, most luxurious and natural-looking leather
- Un-retouched, resulting in subtle color and shading differences from hide to hide
- Generally more expensive than other types of leather
Semi-Aniline Leather:
- High quality, high-value aniline dyed leather
- Soft and beautiful; durable and practical
- Often top coated with clear sealant and light pigmentation to enhance stain resistance
- Two- to three-tone color variations more than full aniline
- Noticeable fewer range marks and grain pattern
- Is susceptible to fading, but more resistant to stains than full / pure aniline
Nubuck Leather:
- Degrees of topcoat pigmentation (protection) varies in this category from light
to heavy
- Least likely top-grain leather to fade or stain
- Sanded surface and an embossed pattern create a highly uniform and consistent texture
- Coated with clear sealant to enhance stain resistance
- Opaque dyes create rich and uniform coloration that minimize natural marks and scars
- Excellent durability with minimal maintenance with highly protected pigmented leathers
Pigmented/Protected Leather:
- Degrees of topcoat pigmentation (protection) varies in this category from light
to heavy
- Least likely top-grain leather to fade or stain
- Sanded surface and an embossed pattern create a highly uniform and consistent texture
- Coated with clear sealant to enhance stain resistance
- Opaque dyes create rich and uniform coloration that minimize natural marks and scars
- Excellent durability with minimal maintenance with highly protected pigmented leathers
Wax and Oil Pull Up Leathers:
- Refers to full top grain leathers that derives color from dyes, waxes and oils used
in tanning
- These wax and oil pull up leathers can, by design, become lighter in shade and tone
around pulled corners and edges after upholstering
- The pulled upholstered areas immediately take on a beautiful aged look that
should have taken years to create
- Sensitive to light and heat
- Generally lower maintenance as the waxes and oils tend to act as a top coat protectant
Hand Rubbed Leathers
- The latest and “hottest” introduction to the world of leather
- Artisan hand-applied, multi-layered, multi-color dyed leather
- Creating spectacular depth of colors, much like a beautiful “fresco”
faux painted wall
- Sensitive to light and chemicals, but super soft to the touch
- Lightly top coated with opaque sealant meant to enhance the color variances
Color Variation
Color variation is created at the tannery using dye, pigment and spraying techniques;
and results in a stunning look and feel which make leather very appealing.
Backbones
These natural furrows appear along the backbone of the hide. These marks are the
hallmark of fine natural leather.
Neck and Shoulders Wrinkles
These marks are short and close together. Deep folds in the neck and shoulder area
of the hide create these marks. These natural wrinkles are generally associated
with the finer more expensive grades of leather.
Brand Marks
These marks, used for identification purposes, are usually not used in visible areas.
However, they can be used to accentuate a unique rustic look.
Healed Scars
Scars on the hide can add character and tell the history of the animal. They are
healed scars from barbed wire, thorns, trees and more.
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4 S's of Leather
Choosing the Right Leather to Fit your Lifestyle
Creative Leather utilizes a simple way to make purchasing leather a simple process.
Much like the 4 C's in the jewelry industry, which defines cut, clarity, carat and
color, the 4 S's of Leather will take the guesswork out of leather
shopping and help you to make an educated decision as to which leather best fits
your lifestyle.
1. Surface Grain
This mirrors the softness category. The more true surface grain present, the more
natural and soft the leather. As degrees of surface grain are covered, the cost
is lowered and may loose softness.
- Full Grain or Full Top Grain - Keyword here is "full top grain" meaning 100%
natural hide, nothing has been removed or altered from the top grain surface, typically
the most expensive leather. Supple and fabulous to the touch.
- Nubuck Top Grain Originally a full grain that has been altered through
light sanding, barely noticeable to the naked eye. The sanding creates a light nap,
much like suede, and is soft to the touch and accentuates the “hall-marks” of the
trail. Nubuck is sensitive leather and more challengingto keep from aging, but many
consumers appreciate this rustic characteristic.
- Corrected Grain - A top-grain leather that has been thoroughly sanded, pigmented
and then embossed with a natural looking uniform grain pattern. Highly stain resistant.
- Embossed Grain - The full grain hide that is heavily pigmented and embossed
with a less natural uniform grain pattern. Most durable in resisting stains.
2. Softness
This is the essential and defining characteristic of leather. The overall comfort
and cost of leather is directly linked to softness, which reflects its quality.
Countless varieties of leather are available, and many leathers achieved softness
through special processing techniques.
3. Serviceability
Leathers range from easy care with high resistance to those that require regular
maintenance. It is important to match your lifestyle with serviceability.
- Maximum Resistance Impervious to spills and stains, very easily cleaned,
best for heavy-duty or commercial requirements.
- Standard Resistance - Impervious to most spills and stains, easy to clean,
best for residential serviceability requirements. Infrequent maintenance is required.
- Neutral Resistance - The most expensive and elegant of all leathers, typically
pure or naked, will gain a patina over time. Scheduled maintenance is recommended
up to four times per year, as needed.
- Minimal Resistance - Expensive and luxurious, typically a nubuck or suede,
designed for fashion and style application, requires the highest level of care and
maintenance.
4. Special Effects
Countless varieties of leather are available, many achieved through special effects.
- Multiple Effects - Defined by more than two special effects such as hand-rubbing
or oils/waxes and dyes that that create an upscale look and price.
- Active Effects Injection of oil or wax to create a color-burst when stretched
during the upholstering process. Often referred to as "pull-up” leather.
- Mechanical Effects - Processed through automated techniques and includes
such effects as two-tone sauvage/kela and distressed leathers.
- Uniform Effects - A spray of pigmentation creates a uniform color throughout
the hide.
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Leather Care and Maintenance
With proper care, you can experience maximum enjoyment of our fine furniture.
1. Rotate cushions every 30-60 days for even wear, depending on the amount of use.
Remember to exercise polyfill bag by fluffing and redistributing the poly-fill evenly
throughout.
2. All leather will fade. To protect your leather, do not place it in any form of
sunlight. Do not place your leather furniture near windows, under skylights or beneath
similar forms of light. Keep medium to large windows closed when you are not home
(exposure to the sun even for a few minutes a day will affect your leather). Open
grain nubuck and aniline leathers are extremely sensitive to direct or indirect
light.
3. Add polyfill as needed - depending on your preference.
4. All leathers perform better when preventative maintenance is practiced. Using
a white lukewarm damp rag dust off arms, seats, and back pillows once a week.
5. Use only CLF-recommended cleaning products on furniture every 3-6 months, or
more often if needed. This will prevent body oils and salt from your skin being
absorbed into the leather, which are harmful and could affect the look, feel and
longevity of your leather. After leather is clean and dry, re-protect with leather
cream.
Color variation is created at the tannery using dye, pigment and spraying techniques;
and results in a stunning look and feel which make leather very appealing.
6. Take care not to place your furniture too near a radiator or similar heat source.
Make sure there is at least 2 feet of space between your furniture and heat source.
7. Only use cleaning products where they are recommended. Many new generation leathers
are susceptible to color loss when cleaners are applied. Warm distilled water applied
to a soft white clean cloth is recommended for these leathers.
Before applying anything to your leather furniture we recommend calling our Customer
Relations Department at 602-337-7000 for more information.
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Leather Infomation
- Keep It Beautiful
We now offer a regularly scheduled cleaning program we call “Keep It Beautiful.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Customer Relations
Department at 602-337-7000.
Cleaning products are available at our Corporate Offices or the store from where
you purchased.
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Warranty Infomation
Thank you for purchasing this top quality product from Creative Leather Furniture.
You have made an investment that we know you will enjoy for many years to come.
At Creative Leather, we have brought together the talents of experienced, skilled
craftsman and expert designers who provide you with exquisite products at great
prices.
For more detailed information, please see our Warranty Brochure.
Generally customers select leather products based on the one of the following three
reasons:
1) stain, spill resistance and the lower maintenance associated with the corrected,
protected closed grain of finished leathers
2) the fabulous feel, additional comfort and the statement that uncorrected, unprotected
natural open grain leather make
3) the best of both worlds, a little more protection, but still offering that distinctive
feel you can only get with better quality leathers. We know you have chosen a leather
that best suits your particular lifestyle needs.
We are proud that you have selected the finest furniture available and are confident
we have assisted you in making an outstanding selection. We are your "leather experts"
so please feel free to call upon us with any of your future leather furniture needs.
My family and I hope your shopping experience has been as memorable as our furniture.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Gregory
President
Creative Leather Furniture
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