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Mary Chris Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2175
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 1:01pm | IP Logged
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We bought couches three years ago when we moved into our house. They are in a room that gets lots of natural light. As I was vacuuming them today I saw just how faded parts of them are. YUCK! Don't even get me started on the damage the kids and cats inflicted on them.
Is leather the answer???
__________________ Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 1:08pm | IP Logged
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leather holds up to most things better than other options EXCEPT anything that would put holes in it.. (kids with pencils or cat claws or whatever)
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Maryan Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 1:44pm | IP Logged
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What Jodie said and... they're just not that great for napping. You kinda stick.
But maybe a couch doesn't scream "nap" to you...
__________________ Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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SusanJ Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007 Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1347
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 1:57pm | IP Logged
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A couch is high on our list of purchases as soon as dh gets a job and we are planning to go with leather because it holds up well, good with kids (if you hide the pens, etc.). Now, if only dh and I could decide on a style . . . .
I'm interested in hearing more opinions, actually, because I was going to post this question myself soon.
Susan
__________________ Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
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Aggie gal Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 02 2007 Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline Posts: 192
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 2:16pm | IP Logged
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We have leather and they've held up great. We are a military family of 8 and we've had 7 moves (soon to be 8) in our 14 years of marriage and I'll tell you from our experience, the leather couches have held up better than our old cloth ones ever did. And it might depend upon the finish, 'cause when I nap on them, I don't stick. But the backs of my legs will stick to the leather seats in our car.
Only thing we have had to watch out for is not to put them too close to a constant heat source... we almost dried out the leather in one of our couches because it was near a fire place and radiator.
__________________ Amy
Married to Rob, Momma to Patrick (17), Braden (14), Nathan (11), Benjamin (10), Aurea (8), Peter (6), Rosie (3) and Baby Blaise
Eight is GR8
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Philothea Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 15 2006 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 824
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 2:32pm | IP Logged
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There's nothing natural or homey/country (which seems to be the prevailing aesthetic here) about my microsuede living room furniture, but it will. Not. Stain. Nor. Fade.
Seriously.
I have two dirty little boys under age 4 and they have peed on it, puked on it, written on it with pens, spilled juice on it, etc. and I haven't yet encountered anything that hasn't come off with a bit of water and dishsoap and a microterry rag. It looks the same as the day we bought it.
It is the most amazing thing ever, and a fraction of the cost of leather ... plus it can't get scratched up like leather.
I bought mine at Storehouse, which has since closed its doors, but I know you can find these all over the place ... they just tend to be more contemporary in style, which I prefer, but you may not. (I think I am rather alone on this board in my preference for contemporary style.)
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Mary G Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5790
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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We got leather when we moved in 2 years -- a love seat, couch and chair with ottoman -- at Macy's I'm pretty sure. It's held up great and hasn't faded, even tho one piece is near a window that gets all day sun. Also, when we bought the set, we got an "insurance" policy that covers stains, rips, burn holes ... well, everything for 3 years no questions asked, nor a deductible.
We're going to bring them with us -- but I'm going to make (or buy) twill/denim covers for them for the summer as they do sorta stick to short-cover legs!
__________________ MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Carole N. Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 28 2006 Location: Wales
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 4:01pm | IP Logged
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We just purchased a leather sofa and loveseat this evening. They are quite comfortable. You don't sink in and they have a high comfortable back. Tan in color, so hopefully they will match my other living room furniture.
I left two lovely cloth sofas in the states, but you could really see the wear and tear from small children and cats (they were declawed, but they would race up and down the couch anyway). I loved the sofas, but decided that the wear and tear of sea travel might be too much.
I never thought of leather, but the price was right and it is very sturdy furniture.
__________________ Carole ... in Wales
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ladybugs Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: California
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 4:30pm | IP Logged
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This is very timely - I was thinking leather might be the way to go!
__________________ Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6082
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 6:14pm | IP Logged
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What a coincidence. We are going to leave our living room furniture behind when we move and I just told dh yesterday that I wanted our new couch to be leather. I am so sick of cloth.
Glad to hear the good reviews!
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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MarilynW Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 7:03pm | IP Logged
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Love love love leather. We have had ours for almost 4 years. It makes life so much easier to keep clean, looks better (in our smaller size home) and is great for allergies. I will never buy cloth again.
__________________ Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 7:05pm | IP Logged
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I'm a big fan of leather. We bought a leather armchair as our first furniture purchase, and it's held up well. So this past year we finally bought a couch and armchair and ottoman.
Before we had inherited cloth furniture. Cat hair was always resurfacing, even though professionally cleaned several times. I love that I can just wipe off spills and not dealing as many "absorbed" allergens like the cloth sofa.
There are all types and styles of leather. Less formal leather (not tight) weathers with age and wear.
I"m like Marilyn. I love leather.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Aggie gal Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 02 2007 Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline Posts: 192
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 7:06pm | IP Logged
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Theresa,
Are you planning on purchasing before you leave or purchasing the couch in AK? I know you guys are tight for space, but furniture in AK is waaaaay spendy. Furniture and cars, are the bigger ticket expensive items.
__________________ Amy
Married to Rob, Momma to Patrick (17), Braden (14), Nathan (11), Benjamin (10), Aurea (8), Peter (6), Rosie (3) and Baby Blaise
Eight is GR8
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graciefaith Forum Pro
Joined: June 08 2006
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 7:14pm | IP Logged
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We have leather couches that we bought last year. We love them but yes, you have to watch out for anything that can puncture it. I have forbidden dc to write/draw/cut etc. on the couch b/c they're still young and they've already made a small hole(not noticable and in the bottom of the couch.
__________________ Blessed wife and mom of 3 girls, Sept. '01, Dec. '02 and Oct. '07
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6082
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 9:03pm | IP Logged
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Aggie gal wrote:
Theresa,
Are you planning on purchasing before you leave or purchasing the couch in AK? I know you guys are tight for space, but furniture in AK is waaaaay spendy. Furniture and cars, are the bigger ticket expensive items. |
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Oh, I KNOW!I KNOW! But the thing is, the furniture we have now is old, beat up hand-me downs that are literally not worth the cost of moving them. So, It looks as if we will have to buy something up there. I am hoping to find something used or on sale. I'm not too picky about furniture, so I hope I can pick up something.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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missionfamily Forum All-Star
Joined: April 10 2007 Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1859
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Posted: April 28 2008 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
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We have had a leather couch and love seat for 6 years. My in-laws used it while we were in mission and then returned it to us when came home. They are still in good shape and have held up well. I use IKEA's leather furniture cleaner and conditioner kit twice a year and in between I wipe it down with a wet cloth and buff it with leather shoe polish. We leave a trunk full of quilts next to them so they can be made a little bit more cozy for movie nights or naps.
__________________ Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
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