Distressed Leather
Leather Buying Guide
• Distressed upholstered furniture is made from high-grade, full-grain leather specially treated to give an aged look. • All natural marks and scars if present in the hide are left fully exposed, and there will be significant variances in texture and shading individual to each piece. These are testament to the genuine origin of the product, that form part of the design of the piece and do not affect durability. • After the furniture is upholstered the leather Distressed Leather is further treated with six stages of hand staining and waxing to emphasise the aged look of an antiqued chair which ensures that no two pieces are exactly alike. • Available on Burlington range only.
Genuine leather is natural and warm with individual characteristics. Laura Ashley uses high quality full and semi aniline leathers, of which some are tanned using water based dyes or pigments and finished with natural substances such as beeswax. This allows the natural markings, scars, shade variation and beautiful characteristics of authentic leather to be enjoyed. Each leather piece is unique and will show some colour variation.
True beauty comes with maturity
With a little care, leather will improve with age. After a time all leathers will relax and mould comfortably from use especially those with fixed seats. Occasionally, the odd mark or scratch can occur and colours may mellow, which will simply enhance the unique appearance of your piece and add extra character. Leather is an investment for the future to be enjoyed for many years to come.
Features Symbols visible texture, markings and scars. obvious texture, markings and scars. strongly features heavy texture, markings and scars.
Whitworth Leather
Full grain leather with a hand applied antique finish. Available on the Whitworth range only, it has a characteristic crackled appearance and a matt subtle two tone colour which maintains a soft feel.
Light Brown
Charcoal
Leather Features
Some of our leathers have extra character with distressed and wax finishes which create more significant variations in texture and colour, with enhanced markings under the wax. Pull up may be evident, where leather is stretched taut for perfect upholstery. This can cause it to appear lighter in colour, especially across tighter areas. It’s more obvious on wax finishes which are also susceptible to scratching; and the crackle effect will vary for a truly individual look. Scars are recognised as dark lines and marks in the leather which are a natural feature of all high quality leather and don’t affect durability. Some of our leathers have had the surface texture removed and a finish applied, giving a more uniform appearance, although characteristics and scars may still be visible. Several hides are used to cover a sofa so variation in colour and texture may occur between the different parts of a piece and between pieces on the same order as each is a unique product.
All Leather options below are full grain Italian hides with a soft handle that are dyed through and feature surface coating. Consistent appearance, with grain variation, some characteristics and colour shading.
Fine Leather
High grade leathers below with natural blemishes, markings and unique colour shading visible. They generally tend to have a more consistent appearance but with some characteristics still visible.
Dark Brown
Vintage
Smokey
To select the perfect leather for you see the swatch range on this page and use the features symbols to guide you on the level of character you prefer.
Upholstery Buying Guide Five Year Upholstery Frame and Spring Guarantee
We are so confident in our upholstery that the frame construction and springs are guaranteed for a reassuring five years. Please see pg 333 for details or contact your local store (see pg 335).
Information and Care Guides
Available to view in store, on our website lauraashley.com and also delivered with your Product, these Guides provide useful information about the features of each Product and how to care for that Product correctly. Please read and retain for future reference.
Loose or Fixed Covers
• Loose covers on selected Products present a more casual fit, offering versatility for cleaning and updating your look. Regular re-dressing will be required to keep the covers neat and tidy, and on delivery some readjustments may be needed. • All loose covers have up to a 3% allowance for shrinkage after initial cleaning and may not fit tightly on arrival. • Fixed covers are more tailored and can be professionally cleaned in situ. • Loose covers cannot be fitted over fixed cover products.
Sofa Beds and Recliners
• Golden brown with mottled shade variation. • Grain variation.
• Dark colour. • Wax crackled finish. • Features ‘pull-up’.
• Ideal as an occasional extra bed to accommodate guests, sofa beds contain a bed mechanism under the seat cushion which makes them a little firmer than a standard sofa. The Padstow chaise end sofa bed seat cushion also forms the sleeping surface. • Recliners require a firm body motion to operate, the mechanism does not lock when fully reclined and returns to the semi reclined position if weight is lifted.
Corner Units
Protect connecting brackets by maintaining stability especially on hard slippery surfaces.
Character Leather
Front Leg Options
For an authentic look, all of the natural blemishes, markings and unique colour shading are visible. Some have semi-distressed and waxed finishes for more variance in character, texture and shade.
Lansdowne
Heritage
Where noted, there is a choice of a Brass or Chrome plated castor to accompany the choice of Teak, Light Oak or Chestnut effect leg. Kingston, Gloucester, Mortimer, Hudson, Chatsworth, Lynden, Hertford and Mayfield can also be specified without a castor; the leg design matching the diameter and height of the standard castored leg.
Free Swatch Service
• Order up to eight free fabric, or up to four free leather swatches,
by contacting your local store (see pg 334), quoting the fabric product number or the leather name.
• Warm dark colour. • Subtle aged multi-tonal crackle finish. • Features ‘pull up’.
254
• A dark tan colour with a dark brown wax tonal effect. • Unique crackled appearance. • Features ‘pull-up’.
M AD E TO O R D E R U P H OL S TERY
Swatches are illustrative of the design and colour. Delivered upholstered products may differ due to the fire resistant treatment which could alter the texture and appearance from that of the swatch and may create occasional odours which will dissipate once the product is unwrapped and in use. Every effort is made to ensure that products supplied correspond closely to samples in our stores, and catalogue, however, variations may occur during normal manufacturing between batches, and due to the unique characteristics of natural materials.