Leather Care Information

Jonathan Louis uses only genuine top-grain leather, the strongest and most durable part of the hide. (The underlying layers, called splits are not nearly as strong and durable as top-grain and are often used for lower quality furniture and apparel items.)

Bonded Leathers: ** Bonded leathers are restricted to Haven Beds, Accessories items and only where noted on Stationary Frames ** Cut and sewn on fabric patterns. - 61% Polyurethane, 22% Polycotton, 17% Leather

Top Grain and Premium Leathers: 100% Top grain cowhide

Genuine top-grain leather is the world's finest type of leather. Aniline, semi-aniline and nubuck styles of top grain leather will exhibit natural marks, such as, barbed wire scars, wrinkles and healed scratches. These marks are not flaws, rather, they are evidence of the unique beauty of premium leather. Pigmented leathers are buffed and sanded, then painted to cover these imperfections.

No two hides are exactly alike. Many factors affect the look and texture of a leather hide, from climate, age and heredity to ranching methods. Just as individual planks of a natural oak floor are not identical in terms of grain and color, the pieces of natural leather on your furniture will not always match perfectly.

Natural Variation & Shading- It is important to remember that each hide has its own individual pigmentation. Just as people have light and dark skin so do animals. Premium aniline dyed leather displays subtle variations of color across the surface of the hide. When the hide is cut and sewn together on your sofa, care is taken to attempt to match adjacent pieces, however, subtle color differences may occur. These are not signs of poor quality; in fact, they highlight the unique and natural quality of premium leather, left unmasked by opaque dyes and varnishes.

Natural texture- Premium leather hides used for upholstering furniture exhibit slightly non-uniform surface qualities, depending on the area of the hide from which they were cut. Variations in texture are not flaws and will not affect leather durability. Common surface variations of fine leather are:

A) Scratches - Smooth to the touch, these rub marks may accept dye with slight variation to the surrounding area.
B) Wrinkles - Natural folds highlight unique grain patterns.
C) Healed Scars - Barbed-Wire scratches and deeper rubs create organic surface texture and one-of-a-kind authentic leather character. These marks do not affect the durability of the hide.

Strength and Comfort - Because leather is fibrous the thickness does not have much to do with its strength. Leather is one of the strongest natural covering materials known to man. Because of its fibrous structure leather breathes and will always feel comfortable against your skin. It will adjust itself to a person's body temperature within minutes of seating and will never feel stiff or sticky. This makes it unique to all other man made products.

Taking care of leather - Under normal usage conditions, regular dusting and vacuum cleaning in crevices is all that is necessary to clean your furniture. Remember that exposure to excessive sunlight and heat may cause the leather to fade or lose its soft, supple hand. Try to avoid these conditions and remember to add humidity in dry conditions:

A) For Spots and spills: Wipe excess liquid up immediately with a clean, absorbent cloth or sponge. If necessary, use clean, lukewarm water only and let air dry naturally. If water is used, clean the entire area where the spot occurred. Do Not dry wet areas with hair dryers or artificial heat.
B) For stubborn spots and Stains: Use a mild NON-DETERGENT soap solution. Apply soap to a clean, wet, sponge and wash, then rinse well. Let the area air- dry.
C) For Butter, Oil, or Grease: Wipe excess butter, oil or grease off the leather with a clean, dry cloth. Leave the area alone as the spot should dissipate into the leather in a short period of time. Do not apply water or try to wash such spots.
D) Do Not Use: Saddle soap, cleaning solvents, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, detergent soaps or ammonia water.
E) Note: These are suggested methods of cleaning, but the manufacturer is not responsible for damage incurred while cleaning. You may want to consult a professional before attempting to clean leather.