Anyone have experience with Leather Trends?

18 years ago

We've been looking for a leather sofa and chair. Really like the styling of several of the Leather Trends. Their website says their leather is all full top grain but their frames are hardwood(plywood and laminates) and they use screws.

We also looked at Bradington-Young but what we saw was the Ashton Court and someone on this forum slammed that leather.

Bottom line is we have about $3,000 to $4,000 in the budget and want the best value.

Opinions and help appreciated.

Featured Answer

dcollie

18 years ago

I watched their production video they have that you can download off their website. They look like they have nice finishes on the hides and I suspect thats a major selling point for them. Construction takes a lot of shortcuts - not all bad but to a trained eye I can see a modular method of assembly using pre-made components. Couple of things i noticed, none of which are deal-breakers on the line but just to give you some info to let you decide where you want to be on the line:

* Frames are mostly done like Flexsteel, of plywoods, laminates and some hardwood. Certainly not solid hardwoods throughout. I didn't see any dowel joints or glue blocks on the corners - they may use them but I didn't pick them up on the video.

* Springs are done in drop in grids (i.e., one size fits all) I prefer springs set in by hand and attached to the grid as you can get higher spring rates on the edges and back that way (Hancock and Moore does this, for example). Those higher rate edge springs keep the cushion from diving in on the edges.

* Watch closely in the video as they quickly run the strings on the 8-way hand tie. They are not knotted individually, they are looped. Looping is much faster but if a string breaks (and they do over time) the the whole spring unravels and !BOING! up it comes. When each tie is hand-knotted, then if the string breaks the other seven keep it down.

* Foam is not molded, its sheet foam that is stapled on.

* Brass brads are shot in on a pneumatic gun, not hand set. That means they're in the gun in strip form, and also that they're nickel with a brass coating, not solid brass thats hand set.

* Cushions are a bit weak on some (but not all) of the pieces, as if they don't fill the sleeves on some forms. A good leather sofa has a full fill on the cushions.

Bradington Young's Ashton Court is their entry leather handle of hides, and some of them are pretty awful. Others though are much better. Step up one more grade in the Bentley Place handle and the hides improve dramatically for not a lot of extra money. King Street it the next handle up and after that one is London Park at the top.

At $ 3K you can easily get B-Y for a sofa / chair, and $ 4K gets you into Hancock and Moore - made in the USA. Both brands have higher production standards than what I saw in Leather Trends Mexico plant on that video.

Good luck!

Duane Collie

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Comments (7)

scalelar
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the reply Duane. I didn't pick up on the 8-way looping but watching again you are right.

I have a few questions about B-Y.
1. Is all their foam molded?
2. Their warranty states padding and filling materials 1 year and limited lifetime for cushion cores. I guess I thought cushion cores were padding. Is there a difference?
3. Are all the Bentley Place leathers of good/excellent quality? I'm not sure I want top of the line here. I would probably give up a little suppleness for more durability.

A problem we are having with the B-Y is the limited supply to see around here same with the H-M. I could never buy a sofa or chair without trying it first because of back problems. I wouldn't even order it with different cushions.

As for a H-M sofa and chair for 4k I haven't seen any of those either.

Thanks again
Larry
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dcollie
18 years ago
Larry,

I don't know if B-Y used molded foam, I haven't been in their production facility to take a tour and always like to see things like that for myself. I was at Hancock and Moore in September watching them make the pieces and they most definitely do - and even go up further a notch with molded rubber atop the arms instead of foam.

Cushion cores are the inserts that you can pull out of the zippered sleeves so they're easy to replace. That's what can break down over time, the supplementary padding and foams never seem to be an issue. B-Y sends out new cores as needed, after 1 year they will ask you to pay the shipping cost, however.

As to the B-Y leathers, you can usually tell for yourself just by looking at the samples. Much of the Ashton Court grade is rough, and plastic-feeling, but they do have some new hides in that category that are better in the past. Stepping up into Bentley Place they're all pretty decent, and this is the category I buy for floor models in my store.

You can easily get an H&M in Town and Country for $ 4K. One of the more popular combos for comfort is the Austin Sofa 8134NB at $ 2,249, and the matching 8132NB chair for $ 1,275. (these are prices in my store for examples only and not a solicitation of sale, your local dealer may vary +/- on price and what deals they offer).

Duane Collie
Ramona Webster
10 years ago
I purchased a leather trend top grain sofa and love seat 16 years ago and it is still going strong, best purchase I have ever made, the frame has remained solid and strong the cushions have been unbelievable they have lasted firm. I replaced the inside cushions on the love seat once because it gets used so much. I paid a high price to replace the inserts because the upholster said it would cost in order to get the same quality that was in them. I know mine is a hardwood frame and hand tide construction . I paid around 6,000.00 something for the love seat and sofa.
Jim Thomas
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I also need to find someone to replace two cushions on my leather trend sofa. Can you give me a name or number??? Thanks, Jim
Jeff Sutton
9 years ago
I have a Leather Trend sofa i am looking to sell cheap. Anyone have ideas where to sell?
Ronnie Oakley
8 years ago

I'm Trying to Find the Company "Leather Tends/Mart" I Want to Buy a Sectional - This is the Best Couch & Love Seat I've Had - It's a Soft Leather - You Can "Re-Stuff" It - Zippers to Re-pIace the Foam and Another Zipper Area to Re-Place the Stuffing Material - I Bought in 2000 or 2001 and Still Is Like Brand New - I Had Room Mates, Kids, Dogs, Cat and Who Know What Else -