Leather Furniture
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
In some ways explaining what bonded leather is can be the same as describing the difference between ground beef and a sirloin steak. The food is all steak, only one is ground up and one is a whole piece. 
Bonded leather is similar whereas you have bonded leather and a full grain leather hide. Bonded leather is leather scraps that are “left over” on the factory floor. These leather scraps are gathered and ground up, then pressed together with a bonding agent to form a “hide”. Thus the name “bonded leather”. Sometimes the process stops here and the bonded leather is 100% leather. Other times the pressed hide is covered in polyurethane that is colored and textured to match a premium hide. This bonded product has much better characteristics than vinyl.
The difference between bonded leather and genuine leather, in terms of quality and looks, can be hard to see. If it is done properly, the grains and textures of bonded leather should look very close to that of genuine leather. In some cases, the only different may be that the texture of the bonded leather may not be quite as pronounced as that of natural-grained genuine leather. The function, smell, and overall appearance can remain much the same, however.
The other major difference with bonded leather is in the cost. It is often available at a substantial discount over genuine leather. This is because the leather scraps, or leather fibers, would have no other value, or very little value, if not made into a bonded form. Therefore, it is still considered a good deal for the manufacturer to sell it at a reduced cost.
One of the most common applications for bonded leather is in the covers for books, especially Bibles. The leather for Bibles can be bonded and still very easily create the desired look and feel. While full disclosure often means the words “bonded leather” appear somewhere on the cover, it would otherwise be hard to tell the difference. It has become such a product of choice for Bibles that finding them in genuine leather is becoming more difficult.
Posted in Design Trends, Leather Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Uncategorized, Upholstery, eco-friendly, living room, loveseat, sofa | 3 Comments
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Well, it was that time again, where all of the furniture industry join together in High Point, North Carolina to view hot new furniture styles and colors! This year was no exception. In sofa fabrics we saw a lot of bright colors and bold reds. Leather is trending with button cushions. In bedroom furniture, the storage bed is still very popular, as is the marble top Louis Philippe. As for formal dining, that business is dropping because people are moving away from the formal dining room, but we did see some counter height formal dining which was eye catching. The mattress designs have not changed much but we are beginning to see a hint of color in what is normally an off-white world.
Large retail buyers were looking for exclusives and all buyers were looking for great values, which is tough to find right now as manufactures are forced to push through price increases during the coming months. Market attendance seems to be at an all time low due to retailers either not being able to afford to travel, or buyers are staying home to mind the store.
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Design Trends, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Leather Furniture, Mattresses, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Uncategorized, Upholstery, living room, sofa | No Comments
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
What a wonderful time of the year for furniture! Who doesn’t remember 
going down in the basement each year to bring up the many boxes of Christmas decorations for the tree, mantle and furniture? For most of us it is some of our earliest memories. The wonderful sights of the various holiday decorations along with the seasonal smells.
Furniture has always played a large roll in Christmas decorating. Where else but the living room end table would Mom put her favorite decoration of two elves helping Santa that she’s had since she was a child? And doesn’t the nativity scene look perfect on a server or sofa table? 
What end table doesn’t have a ceramic Christmas tree? And a coffee table just doesn’t look right without a beautiful arrangement of poinsettas.
Remember the old radio and TV consoles of the 50’s and 60’s? Those were always decorated for Christmas with candles and pine garland, or a couple of reindeer.
The dining room table is always a focal point for Christmas decorations. Most tables are decorated with a holiday runner and a beautiful centerpiece. Sofas, love seats and chairs are also the perfect place for holiday decorations. 
A festive Christmas pillow or beautiful holiday throw are a wonderful touch.
Isn’t it better to dream about visions of sugar plums while waiting for Santa Clause in our comfy bed covered in holiday sheets and comforter? Children would easily go off to bed when their beds are decorated with Christmas trees and holly!
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Leather Furniture, Mattresses, Recliner, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Upholstery, living room, loveseat, sleeper sofa, sofa | 2 Comments
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
“Should I go with fabric?…..What color do I need?….. will this even fit?….what style do I need?…… do I have enough money?!!”………
We’ve all been there before. Planning on buying a new piece of furniture can be a very stressful time, especially when there are so many factors to take into consideration. Take your time and don’t make a hurried decision, this will save you from detesting your furniture for years to come. In order to help you find the right piece of furniture, we have assembled a list of factors you need to take into consideration before you go shopping. Each recommendation will help you find that perfect item you will treasure for years.
- Measurements: You want to bring your furniture in your house, right?. Many people find the perfect piece, buy it, get it home and oops it doesn’t fit through the door. Keep in mind that some sofas are simply too big to bring into your home. In order to get the piece into the room, it has to first fit through the door. Measure all your furniture pieces already in the home. This will give you a solid base of measurements to look for in a piece of furniture. This will save you the stress on the way home about whether it will fit through the door.
- Space is key: How much space do you have to work with? This is the first question you need to ask yourself. It’s simple…regardless of what you want, if you don’t have the space, then don’t even consider it! The shape and size of your room will help you determine what to look for. For instance, if you’re looking for a living room sectional and don’t have a lot of room to work with, consider a loveseat over a sofa.
- Budget: It’s simple. Don’t buy what you can’t afford. Always plan around your budget. You shouldn’t burden yourself with the added stress that accompanies paying off home décor you can’t afford. Quality furniture costs more, but will last longer. Cheap furniture, while easy on the budget, doesn’t last long and you may find yourself buying furniture again in several years. Determine how long you want your home décor to last and shop for items that fit that time range, and most importantly your budget.
- What’s your lifestyle: What is your life like? Is it just you or are you a part of a large family? Will the piece you buy often have smaller children on it? Your lifestyle determines what type of piece you should buy. If you entertain guests regularly, consider a sturdy, comfortable couch. Buy pieces of furniture that will flow with your lifestyle and won’t leave you pulling your hair out every time you have guests over.
When following these steps for purchasing a piece of furniture, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of high quality furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and leave in peace, knowing you got that perfect piece!
Tags: Bedroom, budget, choices, decisions, design, Dining Room, dining room table, furniture, lifestyle, living room, measurements, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, setting up, shopping, space
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertainment Centers, Environment, Home Office, Leather Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Youth Bedroom Furniture, living room, loveseat, sleeper sofa, sofa | No Comments
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Are you in style? Does your home have a look that would be considered cool by today’s standards? If so, then your home probably has a contemporary or modern look to it. But what does “contemporary” really mean?
Many times people classify contemporary as a distinct style that doesn’t encompass other design styles. Commonly, and un-knowingly, they think furniture considered contemporary is something they are most likely to find in an upscale art gallery in New York city. What they fail to realize is that the word contemporary simply means “of the present time,” and this can encompass a broad range of designs.
“Artsy” furniture, the most common label for contemporary furniture, is likely to be found in urban locations and lofts. This furniture often has flare and is extremely simple. Furniture pieces in this category are not always adorned with straight lines, but typically showcase curved lines to give them a unique look and shape. Leather and microfibers are usually the upholstery of choice in this case.
If you are looking to stay within the contemporary style but want more of a straight lined look, then look for pieces that are of Danish or Scandinavian design. Contemporary Scandinavian designers often use straight lines in their designs and leave their pieces unadorned and crafted of walnut and teak. Sometimes their pieces will have gentle curves, but these will not be at a premium.
Finally, minimalist styled furniture takes the contemporary look to the extreme and is known for its use of straight lines. The Minimalist approach was inspired by Bauhaus design and puts emphasis on free space, functionality, and economical design. You won’t find a lot of furniture in a minimalistic room. Instead, you will find one of two pieces accompanied by a lot of space.
Whether its straight lined or curvy lines, minimalistic or urban, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of contemporary furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the modern style you are looking for!
Tags: artsy, Bedroom, chic, Contemporary, design, Dining Room, dining room table, Entertaining, fashion, fashion trend, furniture, Leather Furniture, living room, modern, Royal Heritage, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, sofas, urban, youth bedroom
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Contemporary, Decorating Tips, Design Trends, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertainment Centers, Environment, Home Office, Leather Furniture, Nursery, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, living room, loveseat, sofa | 1 Comment
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
With styles changing what seems like daily, it’s hard to keep up with current furniture lingo thrown at you when you are shopping for furniture. Whether it’s contemporary, traditional, cottage, modern, or chic, these terms can encompass a broad range of styles that might leave you scratching your head. In the next few weeks I will review the most commonly used terms to discuss styles, and what exactly the definition of each is. This week we will look at traditional styles, and what it truly means to be a traditional looking piece of furniture.
Time honored, Colonial, European…these are just a few of the words you might hear when shopping for a traditionally styled piece of furniture. The main characteristic all these terms have in common is they have a century old look. These pieces will be reminiscent of furniture you might find in a royal mansion in Spain, or a President in Colonial times.
American styled pieces will have a look that was represented in the Colonial times. Painted finishes coupled with spindles – and finial – are very typical in this instance. However, they will be adapted to fit modern day uses.
If a piece has an European feel, it most likely means the wood will have a curvilinear design and commonlywill be constructed our of dark woods. Sofas and chairs will have an arched back giving them a more formal look and feel.
Tropical looks combined with British styles are what makes up the British Colonial and West Indies fashion. These pieces are most likely built with wicker, rattan, and other lighter woods but completed in deep dark finishes. The lines and edges of these items will be much cleaner and simpler when compared to the curvy lines of the European brand of style.
When looking to give your room a traditional look that will last for centuries, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so your home can have the class and style it deserves!
Tags: Bedding, Bedroom, colonial, design, Dining Room, dining room table, european, fashion, fashion trend, furniture, living room, Royal Heritage, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, traditional, wood trimmed upholstery, youth bedroom
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating Tips, Design Trends, Dining Room Furniture, Entertainment Centers, Environment, Home Office, Leather Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Upholstery, Youth Bedroom Furniture, living room, sleeper sofa, sofa | No Comments
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Think you can’t have beautiful furniture just because you have beautiful—but boisterous—children? Think again! Kids can coexist with a beautiful home!
The type of cover you choose for your furniture is very important. Many fabrics come with anti-stain features or treatments to protect against spills and stains. Microfiber repels moisture remarkably and comes in a dazzling array of colors and suede like finishes. Genuine leather can also be an excellent choice because of its durability and strength. Many leather finishes have a naturally distressed look that won’t show wear and tear over a period of time. A sofa with a washable slipcover sofa also protects your investment during the messy years.
Clean ability should be high on your list of considerations, right up there with durability. Sooner or later, your kids are going to jump on your furniture—it’s practically guaranteed! Quality construction using strong frames and high-density cushions can stand up to typical roughhousing. Rearrange your furniture periodically to make sure all pieces are sharing the love—and the rassling!
Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to see how beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection meets your family’s needs.
Tags: anti-stain, cleanability, durability, durable furniture, furniture, Leather Furniture, living room, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, sofas, stain resistant, sturdy construction
Posted in Bedroom Furniture, Dining Room Furniture, Leather Furniture, Prevention, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Youth Bedroom Furniture, living room, loveseat, sleeper sofa, sofa | No Comments
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
Now that you have picked out what style of sofa best suits your family needs, it is time to think about the design you are looking for. This doesn’t mean color, pattern, or fabric but more so what type of features you want on your sofa.
When deciding on what features you want in the sofa you are buying from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee, you need to understand how they will complement your personal design aesthetic.
Feet: The first question asked here is whether or not you want your feet to be exposed. If the answer to that question is yes, then you need to decide what type of feet you want. If you room is formal or contemporary, then you should lean in the direction of wooden feet. Modern styled sofas usually come with feet made of metals or other mixed materials.
Skirt: If you decide that you don’t want your feet to show, then deciding on what type of skirt you want around the base of your sofa is your next decision. Casual and traditional styled sofas most of the time have skirts hiding the feet. Different types of skirts include pleated, gathered and tailored, and matching or contrasting fabric patterns.
Arms: Arms can be high, low, wide, narrow, curved, or straight. Depending on how high your end tables will be, the height of the arms and width can play a crucial role in how comfortable the sofa is.
Back: If you have chosen to go the wrought of a more stylish sofa, then tight-back sofas are probably in your future. These offer clean lines that will fit a more contemporary styled room. Big fluffy pillowed type backs or more for your casual sofas.
Pillow and Cushions: Sofas are usually designed to have one to three cushions. One being the entire length of the sofa while two or three are designed to sit one person each. These cushions can come attached are loose and many times are available in different fabrics or colors.
Next week we will continue with the size, fabric, and comfort of sofas and how they will complete your rooms design.
Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection
Tags: design, fashion, fashion trend, furniture, living room, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, sofa arms, sofa back, sofa cushions, sofa feet, sofa pillow, sofa skirt, sofas
Posted in Decorating Tips, Design Trends, Leather Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, living room, sectional, sleeper sofa, sofa | No Comments
Sunday, May 9th, 2010
Some of your most precious moments will occur in your living room. Whether it’s or that once a year sporting event, Christmas morning, or your child’s first step, your living room will be the crucial point of many memories you will hold dear. The centerpiece of this very important room is the sofa. Your sofa will be one of the most significant pieces of furniture you own. The sofa needs to fit the everyday life of your family and be a place where you want to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
When deciding on what sofa to buy from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee, you need to understand the different types of sofas so you can decide which one best suits your family.
Styles of Sofas
Standard: The standard sofa is typically the most common of the sofa family. It generally seats about three adults and is a stationary piece of furniture.
Motion: Perfect for laying back and watching a ball game or movie with the family, motion sofas have built in recliners or rockers. This will give you a place to kick back and relax after long day.
Sectional: For families who tend to host a lot of parties or have a larger living room sectional sofas are usually the better choice. The larger sectionals usually come in a L or U shape and are perfect for having conversations.
Loveseat: The loveseat is much like its companion the sofa except for the fact that it is a bit smaller and can generally only seat about two adults. A loveseat is a perfect complement to any sofa and can provide extra need seating space.
Sleeper: If you are prone to having many overnight guests for holidays are other events, then a sleeper sofa is a must have. Sleeper sofas have a built in bed frame that pulls out from underneath the seat cushions.
Next week we will continue with the different designs of sofas and how they will compliment your design style.
Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection.
Tags: design, Entertaining, fashion, furniture, how to buy a sofa, living room, living room sofa, loveseat, memories, motion sofa, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, sectional, sectional sofa, sleeper sofa, sofa, stationary, stationary sofa
Posted in Decorating Tips, Leather Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, living room, loveseat, sectional, sleeper sofa, sofa | No Comments
Thursday, April 15th, 2010
Man’s best friend can also be his worst enemy when it comes to furniture!
It’s normal for puppies to chew on any object they can find. This habit will typically continue until the age of two. No object is safe during this growing time! Puppies will chew on shoes, windowsills, moldings, clothes, sports equipment – but most importantly, your brand new furniture!
Protect the wonderful piece of furniture you just purchased from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee from becoming a tasty snack for your terrier by following these easy steps.
- Figure out why it is chewing. Is it because of teething, curiosity, boredom, or a behavioral disorder? Discuss these options with your local veterinarian.
- If your puppy is teething, buy a special teething ring made for puppies or give him a frozen washcloth to chew on.
- Keep a sharp eye on your puppy. Don’t let it wander about. Use a baby gate to corral the canine and keep it in the same room as you. Crates can also be useful; keep the crate stocked with chewable toys.
- If you catch your dog chewing, distract her by giving her something appropriate to chew on. Rotate toys with various textures so boredom does not become a factor.
- Practice obedience with your puppy. Set aside time to play or teach tricks. Your puppy wants your attention.
- Finally, exercise your puppy. If you tire him out, he won’t have the energy to chew on furniture.
Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection your entire family will enjoy, even your family pet.
Tags: chewing, dogs, furniture, Leather Furniture, living room, Prevention, puppys, Royal Heritage Furniture, training
Posted in Bedroom Furniture, Dining Room Furniture, Leather Furniture, Prevention, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Royal Heritage Mattress, Upholstery, Youth Bedroom Furniture, living room | No Comments
