I'm also looking for a quality leather sofa. Please let me know if someone advises you. I've heard Pottery Barn sofas in general aren't good quality and that better quality for the same price is available, but I'm having trouble getting specific advice about *where* to look for these comparably priced/styled leather sofas that are supposed to be so much higher quality than PB.

Top brands in quality construction are LazyBoy and Flexsteel. I have a friend in the furniture business.

Thanks, all. I just looked over 45 pages of Flexsteel sofas, and liked very few styles. Same with LazyBoy. I'd love to be able to walk into a local furniture store and see and sit on these sofas, but when I've visited my local stores that carry these brands, I never like the styles they have in stock; they are all traditional grandma styles (and their few "modern" styles have a lot to be desired). Suggestions?

I totally understand. There is a place on American Leather's website where you can enter your zip code and see if there are stores in your area that carry their furniture.

I actually like American Leather's styles more than Flexsteel's, in general. I was told American Leather's sleeper sofas are great quality but if you're looking for a regular sofa it's best to go with Flexsteel. There are few stores in my area that carry these brands, and I've been to them. I don't like any of the styles they have out.

My chairs are Flexsteel and not 'grandma'. However, a lot of stores only carry grandma styles...frustrating.

Can you give me information on your chairs, Leslie?

I've also been looking for a quality leather sofa. The style I'm looking for is something that would go into a rustic style living room. I went to Haverty's and they had a lot of styles to choose from. The only style that came with a sleeper was a modern look though. I also went to Restoration Hardware and they had some beautiful leather sofas. They have sales occasionally on theirs too. Several different styles to choose from. I will attach a picture of the one I was looking at.

The prices are so low at Haverty's that I'm afraid the quality wouldn't be great. I just sat on that RH leather sofa yesterday, jbaverette. It's nice, but one of my issues is that I've heard PB, RH, and C&B sofas aren't high quality, and I'm looking for a manufacturer that will warranty sofas (but also looking for great style). The combination of style/quality is hard to come by in my area; we were all over Sacramento/Roseville, CA yesterday and came up completely empty. We found Arizona Leather, who has a nice warranty, but I was unimpressed with their styles.

Why don't you ask the stores how the furniture you are considering is constructed? A sure sign of quality is eight-way tied steel coil springs, and a kiln dried hardwood frame that has been dowelled, glued, and screwed, regardless of the brand name. If the quality is good they should know, or at least be able to find out.

I didn't realize they weren't good quality. Thanks for telling me. My mother in law has always bought her furniture at Havertys and hasn't ever had a problem. She has a leather recliner that has held up very well. I'm wondering how much a quality leather sofa will cost if PB, RH, or Havertys isn't good quality. I thought RH was expensive but I was willing to pay that for something that would last.

If I remember correctly, Havertys has a good warranty.

Because the people who work for these stores are salesfolks who are usually ignorant or misinformed about how their furniture is really made. For instance, walk into Pottery Barn and ask them how their sofas are made; they won't tell you the entire truth. Here's a good article: http://www.beachbungalowdesigns.com/furnpicts/potterybarnunstuffed2.pdf

This is what happens when we trust store clerks: "My mistake for trusting PB & the sales person. The Solomon table is constructed of wood veneers & particle board. I was told that it was "made of wood". After a year of cleaning it with a damp cloth & occasional wood cleaner (with no wax or silicone), the finishing is almost gone on the table. Areas of the table are peeling. I can't believe I paid almost $4,000 for this. I haven't had much luck with the store manager."

And this, from an actual PB employee: "PB is a company with terrible customer service. If your item breaks or is damaged, good luck trying to get a refund for that. It's not likely to happen, especially for furniture items. We have no warranties or protective services. You'd think paying the arms and legs for your items, there would at least have to be some kind of warranty to purchase to protect you. There isn't. And I've seen some pretty angry customers because of it."

The above quotes are from http://www.consumeraffairs.com/furniture/pottery_barn.html

I've seen similar complaints about Restoration Hardware's furniture. This is why I'm asking regular Houzzers about their actual experience with leather sofa manufacturers. I've read that PB claims eight-way tied steel coil springs, but this isn't the reality of their construction. I'm looking for truth.

Hancock and Moore is the standard for quality leather upholstered goods. Not those poor quality nothing but trend retailers.

The point I've been trying to make is if the furniture is good quality the sales people will know and should be able to tell you how it is constructed. In addition to tied springs I also mentioned the construction of the frame. I just visited the Hancock and Moore website that Sophie mentioned above and read the page describing their craftsmanship. Sophie is right about it being good quality and I'll bet their sales people can tell you how it is constructed. I never mentioned Pottery Barn.

I'm in the market for either a small brown leather sectional, not to exceed 96 inch width, or sofa. I too have shopped PB, RH and also Thomasville, Ethan Allen, Scandinavian Designs. I'm also worried about the value of PB & RH; RH is having a sale that ends on Dec 7 but there are so many complaints online about the quality and poor customer service. I would like to spend $3-$4K. Scandinavian Designs stock furniture was not in the colors or dimensions that I wanted, and the custom furniture was more expensive with a 3 month order window. Thomasville did not have a leather sectional in the size I needed. And Ethan Allen's price was $6500 (after 30% off).

I had been thinking of a sleeper sofa but found that these are too stiff, so I gave up on that idea. The American Leather beds feel great but as a sofa I found it to be too firm. Any advice on leather sectional or leather sofa brands would be appreciated.

3-4K is a chair, on sale, in top quality. In a mid range quality, like Lazyboy or Flexsteel, it is a cloth sofa, not full grain leather. In lower end Ashley type quality, it is bonded leather, and might last you 5 years before peeling. At an estate sale or consignment shop, it's a good quality older piece with patina that you can have the cushions replumped for about $1500.

I am also looking for a good leather couch and have heard good things about Flexsteel. The last couch we bought was a Lane (owned by Heritage Home Group) and started falling apart after 18 months. Heritage will not stand behind it.

WHAT???