While I prefer the look of fabric, I love my leather furniture. It's just so easy to maintain with younger (and come to think of it, older) children in the house. I clean and condition the leather once in a while, and that's about it.

I don't notice it being too uncomfortable in the winter and summer, because we heat and cool the house and also because I tend to bundle up in the winter and not mind the leather being cooler.

The thread on selecting leather furniture has probably been deleted, but you may want to do some research before buying. It's not as simple as it looks! due to the different ways leather is made and marketed.

I love my leather sofa and recliner chair that is a little less than 9 years old now and looks almost new despite having 4 little dogs in the house due to it not being Nubuck leather and having a coating on it that makes messes easy to clean up. It is so soft and comfortable and is a neutral color. It is a Natuzzi and when I bought it, they were making very well made sofas I feel.

Since I keep my home air conditioned in the summer time and heated in the winter time, I have on problems with the leather. It is never hot and sticky and in fact due to the air conditioning, it is actually cool to the touch in the summer time.

I chose this sofa since it was not as high up as other sofas so I felt comfortable in it while the other sofas had my feet dangling being that I am not quite 5 feet tall. I also loved the soft pillow arms and the cushiony but supportive seats and back. Even tall people are comfortable sitting in it suprisingly.

I love our leather chairs in our family room. They are made from a very soft glove leather and are never cold. However, we have a leather sofa (DH had it before we married) in our multipurpose room that is a grade down and I don't like it at all...it's slippery and cold. I literally cannot sit on it as I slide off of it!

So, make sure you touch the leather to see how it warms up.

Cameron

Love my leather as well and I live in AZ where it is very hot.

I love the leather upholstery in my car and my new leather office chair if that helps. I just wanted to add that if you're on a budget I see leather sofas all the time on Craigslist, some of them new or near new at great prices. You can go look in person and if you don't like it, don't buy. Leather isn't like fabric in that it's not soaking up cooties. ;-) In addition, if you have allergies in the house it could be a great choice in terms of dust mites.

I love my leather too. Choose your furniture carefully because the right leather can last a long, long time and still look good. The leather couches in my game room are over 15 years old and look brand new as do the 10 year old ones in the family room. They survived teenagers with pizza parties and spills of soda and greasy food, the dog, our old trio of cats and our new cat family. The only damage we have is some very tiny pin pricks that the new cats made when they were kittens and they climbed onto the couch - you can't see them, I can barely see them but I know they are there.

Don't forget to do my Sky's test for family friendly leather or you'll be sorry. Get samples of the leather, put oil, mustard, ketchup and anything else that you can think of that stains and leave it sit overnight to dry. Next day wash off the yucky mess - you don't want to stick this under water, you don't want to get it wet, just wash the top of the leather as if it were a couch - use a little detergent and water on a lightly damp cloth. Then take a fork and try to make holes - if you can make holes too easily it's not the leather for you. Beat this peice of leather up in ways you think similates accidents that can happen in your home. If the leather survives, that's the one you want on your couch because you know it can take normal daily abuse and still look new. Fine, gorgeous soft as silk leather will fail this test unfortunately, but family hardy ones will pass.

Sky

We've had 3 different sets of leather furniture. Here are some conderations: 1) Texture--The ones I loved the most had a little bit of texture so that you don't slide around as much. 2) Firmness--do you like the tailored look or the soft, cushy look. There's a lot of difference in firmness & structure. 3)Operable vs. inoperable- are you wanting a recliner or not. If you choose operable and you're putting it up against a wall, it will need clearance. If you're having it pulled out from the wall look at the back of the sofa too because you'll see it everyday. Some of the operable ones are ugly from the back. 4) Color- We've had black, burgundy & navy because I wanted something more contemporary. My next set will be the more traditional natural brown--I don't think it will be as trendy. 5) Movable cushions- our two Palisar sets had seat cushions that attached with clip/straps. The cushions tended to slide forward slightly from the couch. The other set doesn't have removable cushions so it's not an issue.

We don't have pets so I'm not sure how they mix.

I like our leather because it's easy to maintain and comfortable year round (we're in Nebraska with hot summers & cold winters). But it is different than upholstery. I condition it but don't have to vacuum it. If you get leather make sure you have at least one upholstered chair in the room to add some texture and soften the look. Plus it gives people a choice in what to sit in.

Our only problem with the leather has been the permanent marker that someone left on the seat cushion & the TV remote that leaked battery acid on the ottoman.

Hilltop, try washing the permanent marker off with alcohol - often that works. Xylene will definitely remove permanent marker but might affect the finish on the leather.

Sky

I felt the same as you when shopping a couple years ago and posed the very same question (it was for our lower level family room, which gets chilly in winter and comfy cool in summer since it's 50% below grade). I went with the leather and have zero regrets. It only takes a few moments to 'warm up' when sitting on it in winter. In summer it's refreshing. Lots of good info in furniture forum here on leather (including getting good quality, etc.)

Another one who loves her leather furniture. Have had my black leather couch for seven years and it still looks great! We have seven grandkids. They all play on it and eat on it and it's gone through several kittens and puppies. (That's the test of endurance around here! LOL)

Thank you all, for your knowledge on leather furniture!