Williams-Sonoma Home Leather Collection
Williams-Sonoma Home's Fall Collection has been perfected by its Vice President of Design, Monelle Totah. Below she explains how her special love of leather inspired this season’s handcrafted, full grain leather seating.
Designer Marketplace (DM): Where did you get your design inspiration for the collection of leather club chairs?
Monelle Totah (MT): I love a good, deep, low leather chair to curl up in. It’s the quintessential reading chair. This season’s leather chairs are modeled after antique chairs I came across in Europe at flea markets and antique shops. We interpreted the antiques down to the finest detail, including the over sized nailheads on the Randall and Eaton chairs.
DM: Can you talk about what makes a good leather chair?
MT: You know a good leather chair the minute you sit down. The leather should look rich and feel supple to the touch, indicating a high grade of leather and a natural tanning process. Under the leather, the cushions should have down for plushness and high-resiliency foam for support. The structure should have reinforced steel springs and a solid hardwood frame.
DM: If not all leathers are created equal, what should people look for in selecting leather that looks and feels even better in 20 years?
MT: Fine leather is really an art form. Our ivory, white pebbled and white faux ostrich styles are semi-aniline dyed, with a layer of pigment applied afterwards. Only the top 5% of hides can be made into the finest aniline leather with the richest color. Our European aniline leathers, which have natural markings and color variations instead of a pristine finish, develop a unique patina with wear that lets them age very beautifully.
DM: Some people find it hard to go from upholstered furniture to leather. What decorating recommendations would you make to make that transition easier?
MT: Leather today is so different than before. It’s no longer about a big brown sofa. Leather must be high-quality, stylish and sumptuous to last. That said, a little goes a long way. Add one or two pieces like our timeless Cole Chair (coming soon for Fall). A deep, rich, sink-in leather sofa like our Wilshire Sofa accompanied by fabric seating is ideal for those who truly love leather.
View the Williams-Sonoma Home Leather Collection.
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