Gray is the hardest color to find. Most factories avoid it like the plague. Customers get very picky about shades of color with gray, much more than with other colors. Ten, fifteen years ago when people asked for gray the answer was always the same. Its wrong. Wrong shade, too dark, too light, too taupe-y, too beige-y, or off color in some other way.

If we did manage to get a good gray, the factory wouldn't sell enough of it and six months later it was discontinued. Sometimes they'd excitedly show us a new gray at a trade show, and the supplier would decide not to do it because they couldn't sell enough or couldn't control the shade variations enough.

Ultrasuede (tm) brand fabric does come in several shades of gray, wears better than leather, has excellent color consistency too. You don't need to go to Milwaukee, you can go to Rubin's in Madison, they should have many sofas that come in Ultrasuede.

MoGator hits the nail on the head, as usual!

Only decent gray with charcoal tones I know of is in the Leathercraft line, the Renaissance Grouping, Color is Silver Fox. Its a full aniline, nice hand.

Duane Collie
The Keeping Room

Check with a local upholsterer, they may be able to make you EXACTLY what you want.

Duane, thanks again for the compliment.

chedanemi, I'd like to ask why you're wanting gray. Yes, I'm asking so that I can find a way to talk you out of it. Right now there are some really good color options for upholstered furniture. They are lively but easy to live with. Very easy to decorate with and decorate around.

Right now gray occurs naturally in our lives anyways. Stainless appliances, TVs (their not all black anymore), door knobs and cabinet handles, light fixtures, home computers and printers, etc. So any new decorating (modern or traditional) is at least aware of it.

And, the stainless color and accessory "theme" either has peaked or is about to peak. The next trend IMO will be copper. I'm seeing the change already. Copper first hit us about 4 years ago, and has been getting stronger each year as more factories get onboard with it.

We were clamoring for better colors several years ago, I think in upholstery we're doing pretty good.

Thanks so much for the replies and information!

The reason I want gray is because I feel it is the perfect neutral. My house is decorated in cool colors as opposed to the warm tones. Really, I despise brown, beige, cream, tan, taupe and any shade remotely close to them!

I don't have my heart set on leather, so I am open to the ultrasuede suggested or perhaps something upholstered. We are in the early stages of looking, so I'm sure I'll eventually come across something which suits us and our home.

I've never been trendy... I still have white appliances! But, I have a lovely deep blue quartz countertop and beautiful maple cabinets with veins of grayish blue-ish running through them. My flooring in all my rooms is various shades of gray. Sounds boring, but my accessories liven things up.

I do appreciate the information!

Then look into the Ultrasuede, it won't let you down.