Crazy Idea #?: A Makeover In White Leather?
June 26, 2009 | 36 comments
While the reaction of you dog lovers out there may be to snuggle my little creatures, you’d be wise not do so. Oh, they look innocent enough but they are walking, snorting, shedding machines. Seriously, I don’t know how they’re not completely bald by now. This creates a housekeeping nightmare and I basically have the vacuum or lint roller attached to me at all times. Well, I should anyway.
To combat this problem, I’m considering getting the couch (currently gray), chaise and ottoman (currently orange) reupholstered in leather. My thinking is that with leather, a quick wipe and it could be clean. And while I’m at it, I’m thinking white because my fantasy is to live in an all white house so why not start now? Like this house:
or these:
I used to think white leather was kind of tacky but I was set straight when I stepped into the lobby of the Murano Hotel in Paris about 5 years ago:
Hello, massive Chesterfield and ridiculously cool fireplace.
Am I completely overreacting to a little pet hair? Am I wrong that leather is easy to maintain? (I have no idea.) Do any of you pet owners have the same problem? How do you keep your furniture clean?
Please let me know then head over to Hooked on Houses for Julia’s weekly blog party. After all this talk about the pups, I have to go find them now so I can squeeze them. I’ll take the lint brush with me. Have a great weekend!
(Photo: 1.ALEK 2.Unknown (Anyone?) 3.Shootfactory 4.Jake Curtis 5.Murano Urban Resort)
36 comments on “Crazy Idea #?: A Makeover In White Leather?”
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Etiquette
June 26th, 2009 @ 1:29 am
i love white couches. oh, and frenchies.
my little pupper is shedding like nuts right now all over my white vinyl sofa. i use a feather duster and just dust it all off every once in awhile.
when his paws are a little more filthy and the sofa gets dirt on it I just use vinyl cleaner or a little water and a sponge.
The only thing I would worry about leather is getting it too wet…otherwise i think its a fab low maintenance idea.
June 26th, 2009 @ 2:03 am
I think it would be glorious.
June 26th, 2009 @ 4:28 am
Gorgeous! I have always had all white interiors up until 4 years ago, when the husband wanted a change. I always found that white was much easier to keep clean and tidy than color (even with 5 kids). Start your white dream today, you will love it!
Have a wonderful weekend!
June 26th, 2009 @ 5:11 am
I am SO SO with you. Just purchased a 94 inch ripped up AQUA leather chesterfield at a biannual flea. I am going to recover it in an off white leather as I have a dog and cat and kids and am tired of the worry. Great images!
June 26th, 2009 @ 5:54 am
oh shoot, do pugs shed too? Ha! The all white dream! Make it happen! I love that! I’m choosing drapes for my new house right now and I’m having the same problem, start with white and have a clean crisp look? Or have a rich pattern that is interesting and bold??? It’s all so hard, there are too many options out there! At least we can change things up a lot!! I say go for it! That chesterfield sofa at the Murano hotel is AMAZING. OH MY GOSH. I’m going crazy over that photo!
June 26th, 2009 @ 6:38 am
sounds like a good idea! be sure to post pics when it’s done!
June 26th, 2009 @ 6:39 am
Leather is a great option when you have dogs. We have leather armchairs in the family room, and they’re so much easier to keep clean than the other furniture. We also have leather seats in our cars, mainly because of the dogs!!
If you’ve been dreaming of an all-white house, go for the white leather and make your dream come true
That super-long sofa is FAB, by the way!!
Kelly @ DesignTies
DesignTies´s last post ..Fun & funky tassels… and you can win one!!
June 26th, 2009 @ 6:41 am
I love a white room! Leather should be easier than my material white couch… my kitty’s hair stick to it after a while, lol. I’ve always heard people say white leather is easy… but watch out for new jeans!! They can leave a blue stain if there not washed a million times first, lol. Love these pics!
June 26th, 2009 @ 7:03 am
oh girl i feel your pain. i have the same problem with my bulldogs. it’s insanity! there is hair everywhere! so for that reason, i like the idea of leather.
June 26th, 2009 @ 7:06 am
Oh I know the feeling. When we moved in our house I had to have a white sofa, but of cource in linen not leather and my pups hair is all other the place. It’s exhausting. I vacuum everyday or at least mean to everyday it’s that bad.
So the idea of leather than simply be wiped off sounds fab to me!
Have a great weekend!
June 26th, 2009 @ 7:14 am
I have a friend who swears that her life has gotten much easier since she got new leather furniture. She has three kids and pets, too, and she loves that leather furniture is so easy to clean. I had never thought about it before.
I love white furniture. I have too much of it, and it’s really not very practical with kids in the house. Too bad mine’s not leather!
Julia @ Hooked on Houses´s last post ..Hooked on Dali Decals (& Giveaways!)
June 26th, 2009 @ 7:15 am
I’m not sure about dogs, but my cats shed like there is no tomorrow, and I think your idea of leather sounds awesome!! That sofa/fireplace in the lobby is gorgeous!!!!
~angela
Angela @ PeonyPatch´s last post ..Hooked on: Americana
June 26th, 2009 @ 7:19 am
I don’t have pets or leather sofas, but my friends that do love them!
That long white sofa and fireplace is crazy!
xo,
cristin
June 26th, 2009 @ 7:55 am
That’s funny you post this today – Javier’s hair is all over all the carpets and I’m just about to begin a vacuuming blitz! Javi’s not allowed on furniture (he has pet beds throughout the house), so that helps. White leather will definitely be a little easier. Just buy leather wipes – they’re magic, just like wet wipes and work on everything (even jean stains)
.
June 26th, 2009 @ 7:57 am
Im agreeing with tons here.
Leather is a great help in living with pets and kids. It cleans nice too.
I am in love with the fire place behind the longggg couch! Thanks for sharing.
TTFN~~ Claudia ♥
June 26th, 2009 @ 8:23 am
You said it sister.
White leather is where it’s at.
I’m not down with the animal hair. Although my chiwa is practically bald my huge cat makes up for all the hair. I love light leather but the only thing you need to look out for are friends in dark colored jeans. Jeans are murder on fair supple yummy leather. I have made ppl strip down before plopping their ass on my sofa.
(in a charming way of course)
Your fur children are absolutely precious!
June 26th, 2009 @ 8:52 am
Ahhhh – the frenchies! You know I almost just got one but refrained. But when the time comes I’ll know who to go to for advice! Your little guys look so great
June 26th, 2009 @ 8:54 am
PS – as the current parent to too non-frenchie pups I will say our leather furniture fairs much better and is cleaner than the fabric couches.
June 26th, 2009 @ 9:10 am
I don’t have pets so I can’t complete relate to your dilemma but I do love the low maintenance qualities of leather, as well as the look!
June 26th, 2009 @ 9:58 am
Well, I do have an off white leather couch actually (no dog though) and yes you can just wipe things off…, it’s pretty cool, but the reason why my next couch will not be leather anymore is because the material is too cold for me, literally temperature wise. And if you have dogs on a leather couch it will scratch it up too, depending on the look you want… I’ve seen couches like that (scratched and used) and they can kind of look shabby chic. But if you like it sleek modern, I’m not sure. Well of course you can always use a big throw…, have a great weekend!
June 26th, 2009 @ 10:09 am
Hey Alek…, me again but from my other (new second blog -perhaps you join/follow me there?!). And I want to add I do loooove the look of a white leather sofa.
June 26th, 2009 @ 10:40 am
yes i guess i would give it up to the creepy BART guy if i knew he had seen me before. i seriously think that was first time…such a weird experience. lol.
as for my bullies, thank you! i love ‘em too. they crack me up. i guess you could call me the crazy bulldog lady
June 26th, 2009 @ 2:20 pm
My last place was almost entirely white. http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/2009/01/nyc-apartment-tour.html
White leather chesterfield, white slipcovers. It’s entirely fabulous. You just need to take off your shoes and be sure your friends new black jeans have been washed before they sit down!
If I could, the entire place would be white leather because it is much easier to clean than the white cotton pieces.
Good luck on your project!
ABCD
June 26th, 2009 @ 2:58 pm
Ohhhhhhhhh, that last pic. Can I puhlease have that room. We have a glove that is made to remove pet hair. We just run it over our furniture and it comes right off.
June 26th, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
You guys are the best! Thanks for all the tips and ideas.
Maya: I hadn’t thought about the scratch marks – that’s definitely something to consider!
Shar: Thanks for letting me know about the leather wipes. I was wondering what you do with about dye from jeans.
Kristen: What is this magic glove and where do I get one?!
June 26th, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
ummm, DO IT! i can live vicariously through you. i’d love to have a couch i can wipe clean. white would be even better.
June 27th, 2009 @ 12:49 pm
Yes I definitely think white leather is the way for you to get your dreams of an all white house and still be able to keep it clean. At my parents house we have 2 leather love seats that literally have lasted since the early 80’s — 2 children, 4 cats and 3 dogs just can’t seem to destroy them. They manage to be the only piece of furniture w/o fur on them. My ONLY complaint, is that I hate how you kind of stick to leather and it makes like creaking noises when you sit on it — it’s never quite as comfortable to sit on compared to a fabric couch..
Daly Essentials ´s last post ..Zebra Print!
June 27th, 2009 @ 10:27 pm
I’m not brave enough for white, not with three children and a dog. But I say go for it! Although leather is a definite yes in my book. Our sectional is a chocolate brown leather and has held up well considering our very active household. I do have to say that the dog likes to scratch on one particular cushion as he settles down and this drives me absolutely bonkers. But a little wipe down with a damp cloth and the cushion perks up. I bet scratch marks would be less evident on white leather as opposed to a darker hue. So there’s my two cents! :0)
Man, that chesterfield is twenty feet of gloriousness!!!
nkp´s last post ..Can’t resist…
June 28th, 2009 @ 2:15 am
Yes i too would love a white home. Yet, i cannot solely blame my puppy… I would be just as responsible for dropping red wine on the lounge… I am a walking disaster!! x
Kellie Collis´s last post ..What makes me tick…
June 28th, 2009 @ 10:23 am
It would look beautiful! But, if you allow your dogs on the couch, they WILL scratch the leather. It may not show up as bad as it does on dark leather though. I would think care would be easier to maintain on day to day, but you’ll probably have to put some leather conditioner on it once in a while. Dwell did a piece in their April issue, under the Just Do It column. The couple has this GORGEOUS white leather couch from Knoll. Here’s the link to the slideshow: http://www.dwell.com/slideshows/just-do-it.html?slide=5&paused=true
Enjoy!
Maddie´s last post ..Paint Yourself A Song
June 28th, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
Maddie: Yes, that house and couch are great! I had seen it before but forgotten about it so thanks for the reminder.
June 28th, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
[...] 51. Jane (sewing aprons) 52. Liz @ It’s Great To Be Home (our flip is making progress!) 53. From the Right Bank to the Left Coast (An All White House) 54. janice | Sharing the Journey (Hooked on jugs) 55. pk @ room remix (summer!) 56. Sarah @ Frills [...]
June 29th, 2009 @ 11:30 pm
I love that Chesterfield! Do you think they’d claw it? That’s the only thing I would be worried about.
Thank you for adding me to your blog roll. I just love your blog!!!!!
Candi´s last post ..I Could Use……
June 30th, 2009 @ 8:11 am
Hello white chesterfield!!!!
Watch out for the tufting, though… stuff loves to accumulate in the wee pockets.
erin@designcrisis´s last post ..Do Not Adjust Your Station
July 5th, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
I am absolutely in love with the last photo! hello!
Megan´s last post ..holy crap
July 13th, 2009 @ 5:10 pm
We have two miniature pinschers – who shed loads of short black hairs year round. We has had the same thought as you and bought the Jackson leather couch in bison white from Room&Board. I buy canisters of “leather wipes” from target and give it a wipedown every few weeks. The great thing about white is there is no wondering if its clean – it either is or it isn’t, and you can tell by looking at it.
The only drawback is their nails have scratched up the cushion they like to hop up on – Oh well, at least its clean!
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=19373