How much leather is too much?
Holly- Kay
10 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (14)
chispa
10 years agoHolly- Kay
10 years agoRelated Discussions
How much is too much toile?
Comments (13)What I've heard is that the traditional way to use toile is to have it be the only print in the room but use it heavily. That's why I initially did not like toile because whenever I saw it in photographs the walls where wallpapered in the same toile as the draperies and pillows and bedding were made of. Now I've gotten used to that look and I can appreciate it more but I think it's an acquired taste. Now I love the look of toile wallpaper enveloping a room with matching draperies. Where I think it goes to far is when the bedding is made of the toile. Now the eye has no place to rest so I think it looks better to have a white matelasse coverlet cover the bed (another large surface area) and have just a couple toile pillow shams to tie in with the walls and drapes. There can be a coverlet in the toile color folded at the foot of the bed. But the chair fabric and the comforter should be a solid white IMO. I'll never forget a room I saw once done up by Ethan Allen. The walls were papered in black and white toile with matching draperies (so the wallpapering company has to hook up with the fabric company and make the same print). There were two Bergere chairs with ottomans in a seating area of the bedroom, both had dark wood with solid white upholstery. Between the two chairs was a round table draped to the floor with a solid black matelasse tablecloth and a white square topper. The wood on the bed frame was dark and they had a white coverlet on the bed with toile pillows and another coverlet folded at the foot of the bed, I think it was solid black. So the room was a medly of black and white. It was very jarring and the contrast of black against bright white was a bit much for me. It was memorable that's for sure. I don't know if many people have the guts to put toile wallpaper on their walls (!) but even if you didn't I think I'd still chose to either have the pillows shams in the toile or the comforter in the toile, but not both together. There can also be a padded headboard in the toile. The idea behind it is that you can get away with a room saturated in toile because it's the only print in the room. It's hard to tell the drapes from the walls because it all blends in. I can't remember if they included a black and white checked fabric, I don't think they did because of the walls. That's another option I've seen used many times, have a second print in a non-floral, non-toile design to coordinate with the toile...usually that's a check in the same two colors as the toile. I have the same question as stargirl, when is there too much toile in a HOUSE...how many different rooms can you get away using a different toile?...See MoreHow much flux is too much flux ? And some more ??
Comments (20)In regards to Brickeyes comments on technology, I could not agree more. I think Brickeye and I are about the same age (59) and thinking back I am amazed at what was science fiction when i was a kid but what is commonplace today. Just a few examples" When we were in school a word processor was a manual device made of wood and graphite with an eraser on the opposite end..LOL. When they landed men on the moon complex math was still being done on slide rules, now I have a wristwatch with a built in calculator that can perform functions that were unheard of on mainframe computers in the early to mid 60's. In Jr.High school every kid dreamed of owning a 6 transistor pocket AM radio receiver. (I actually acquired one by caddying at the local golf course for the whole summer to earn the necessary $36 to buy it.) minimum wage was $1.55 and top union scale was $5/hr. Color TV was still in its infancy and most stations did not broadcast color until the early 60's. FM radio was solely classical and elevator music and of very little interest to young people. When I entered the Air Force in 1966 I worked with a Univac 1066-II mainframe computer system that had a hard drive which was 10 feet long and weighed over 3 tons, yet it only had 66megs of memory, by contrast I have 80 gigs on this desktop and 60gigs in my laptop, both of which are obsolete by state of the art standards. While on the subject of laptops, the only laptops devices we had then was a TV tray for dinner....LOL Cordless tools were totally unheard of. State of the art automotive safety was a padded dashoard and a seat belt. I remember when they came out with a digital clock that had rotating flip cards with the numbers on them and we thought that was the rage. For all you Star Trek fans,,go back and look closely at the first generation scenes, even the spaceship Enterprise did not have LED or Quart Crystal displays. When we were in school the interstate highways system was still a future dream being discussed in Popular Mechanics Magazine. A virus made you sick and spam was that cheap nasty canned meat that you mother made you eat whether you liked it or not, suprisingly I acquired a taste for it and still enjoy it occassionally...LOL. A conferance call was listening in on someone elses phone call on a party line, but don't get caught. Rich people had a garage door opener, the rest of us were lucky to have a garage and if we did it was doubtful if the old doors would swing properly. Gas water heaters were not vented to the outside and many had open steel vessels with no insulation. The house I lived in there was no thermocouple on the gas control. I couldn't begin to count how many times we came home to find the pilot had gone out and the house was full of gas. I am with Brickeye,,I embrace technology....See MoreHow much velvet is too much
Comments (1)Is a room with all leather furniture too much? No. People tend to buy each room's furniture at the same time, but there is no rule furniture has to match or not match. It is fine if the sofa is velvet. I would simply look to use the colors of both the chairs and sofa in other parts of the room. Put throw pillows on the sofa that match the chairs. Look for an area rug that includes the colors of the upholstered pieces. Extend those colors into curtains or artwork....See MoreHow much leather furniture is too much?
Comments (15)IMO you can never have too much leather it has always been my go to for the main pieces in both my LR and media room . This is our LR with 2 seating spaces I did use a wool fabric bench to sit in between the 2 spaces If you buy really good leather that is all leather everywhere the leather breathes and does not get sticky in the summer and cold in the winter it takes less than 10 secs to achieve your body temp. Get the best you can afford I like Italian or German made since they usually do not have springs but a webbing support system that lasts for as long as you want it ....See MoreHolly- Kay
10 years ago
Kitch4me
10 years agoHolly- Kay
10 years agopps7
10 years agoUser
10 years ago
Sueb20
10 years agosis2two
10 years agoHolly- Kay
10 years agomassagerocks
10 years agoWe have a leather sofa, large leather chair/matching ottoman and 2 fabric chairs. Our leather is 13 years old and is the most comfortable and solidly built furniture we've ever owned. It's been heavily used, slept in daily, and the only real wear it's showing is fading from unfortunate placement in direct sunlight. I'm looking to replace my furniture, but worried I'll never find anything as comfortable as these leather pieces. The company is Distinction Leather. Best of luck with your search. I'm leaning toward replacement with a fabric sofa and leather recliner, but not sure.
texasgal47
10 years agoHolly- Kay
10 years ago
Related Stories
Common Household Cleansers for Leather Upholstery
Clean and condition your leather sofa, chairs, handbags and more with ingredients already in your cabinets
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESWhat Goes With Leather Furniture?
If that hide-covered sofa is making you seek decorating solutions, we’ve got just the pairings for you
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESShow Some Skin: Leather Accents Lend a Subtle Edge
If going hog wild with leather pieces isn't how you roll, consider accessories, ottomans and handles for just the right dose of cool
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESYour Decor: Colored Leather, the Forgotten Element
Why Not Add Color to the Joys of Your Leather Furniture?
Full Story
MATERIALS6 Ways to Bring the Richness of Leather Home
Skin has always been in around the home, from classic sofas to luxurious walls, but today's leather options are broader than ever
Full Story
DIY PROJECTSRefresh an Old Dresser With Leather Belt Handles
Give a tired piece of furniture a bright new look with loop handles made from a thrift store belt
Full Story
SHOP HOUZZShop Houzz: Up to 60% Off Leather Furniture
Bring the richness of leather into your home with seating on sale
Full Story0
DECORATING GUIDESHey, Slick: Patent Leather Glosses Up the Home
Shiny, happy walls, furniture and accessories are just a drape away when you bring in this polished and effortlessly pleasing material
Full Story
SHOP HOUZZShop Houzz: 5 Ways to Work a Classic Leather Sofa
Watch a sofa’s look change for farmhouse, modern, traditional, industrial and transitional rooms
Full Story
lynninnewmexico