April 2012 Trend Watch 2

8/2/2019 April 2012 Trend Watch 2

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APRIL 2012

the real deal!genuine leather makes a comebackpillow talkfrom couture to cozy...

spring it onwelcome spring inside your home


2/10

Lighter colors. Black, brown and rich

mahogany hues will always be popular. But the

new leather fashion colors look light and airy.

Look for steel grays, whites and creamy whites.

Texture! Home fashion trends in Europe areleading to more interest in unique finishes,

including deep cobblestone effects and

contrast stitching.

Protected finishes. Already an ideal choice

for families and pets, extra surface protection

is reducing scratch marks and makes cleaning

even easier.

Genuine leather is making a big comeback

and at better values than ever before!

Theres nothing quite like genuine leather. Thearoma, the buttery feel, the warmth.

But in a market saturated with faux leathers,bonded leathers and other lower-pricedalternatives, it may seem surprising that more ofus are opting for the real thing. Thats especiallytrue considering many of these lower-costalternatives offer some of the attributes of realleather, including its sleek look and soft hand.

So whats causing the surging popularity ingenuine leather? A realization that there really

is a difference in comfort and character? A desireto make an investment for the long haul? Apent-up desire to upgrade our living spaces?Yes, all that and one thing more. Genuine leatheris the luxury choice, but its no longer out of reach.A roster of new sofa styles at Ashley FurnitureHomeStores is making genuine leather moreaffordable! Now more than ever before, its easierto step up to the real deal!

deal!the real

Rivergate - Stone Low Leg Recliner

whats hot in leather!

2 www.ashleyfurniturehomestore.com

Above: Palmer - Walnut Sectional


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Answer on page 10!

which one is genuine leather?

Natural Reclining SofaRivergate Stone Sofa

April 2012 TrendWatch 3

bewilderedby bondedleathers?

A long-standing favoritefor shoes, wallets andbook covers, bonded orDuraBlend began showingup in furniture stores in2007. DuraBlend furniturelooks much like genuineleather, but instead ofbeing covered with a hide,its covered with a materialmade by combining scraps

of leather with syntheticfibers.DuraBlends foray intofurniture was welcomed bybudget-weary consumerswho wanted the look ofleather without its higherprice. It was instantlypopular, though even yearslater, it continues to create

confusion over what it isand what it isnt!

can you tell?

Ledger DuraBlendTM- Scarlett Reclining Sofa

Precision DuraBlendTM- Desert Sofa

Durablendtmupholstery features a Polyurethane/Leather blend (57% Polyurethane, 26% Polycotton,

17% Leather) in the seating areas with skillfully matched Polyurethane everywhere else.


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Look of leather

Bonded Leather

Surprisingly similar to leather in lookand feel.

The winner here can be up the 35%less than genuine leather.

Gets points for mulching leftoverleather scraps from factories andtanneries with synthetic materials.

Easy to clean with a damp cloth. More

resistant to stains and pet hair thanfabric.

More like vinyl not as supple andnot able to adjust to your bodytemperature.

Lacks the unique animal markings ordistinctive characteristics of leather,including its aroma.

Easier to puncture. Over time, moreprone to cracking or showing wear.

Not easy to repair.

Genuine Leather

No need to wonder it is real leather!

Arguably higher-priced, but typicallyconsidered the better value for itsinvestment quality and durability.

Not recycled, though hides are largelya by-product of the food industry.

Easy to clean with a damp cloth. More

resistant to stains and pet hair thanfabric.

Warmer to the touch. Contains naturalpores that breathe adapting to yourbody temperature and creatingdeeper, more resilient seating.

Improves with age, developing morepatina and suppleness over time. (Oldleathers have even more character

than new leathers.) Plus theres thatleather aroma!

Very durable surface not easyto puncture. Wear and tear is lesslikely to show, and becomes partof leathers character.

Scratches may show, but theyreaccepted as part of the natural lookof leather.

Repair

Durability

Character

Comfort

Cleaning

Recycled content

Lowest price


genuine leathercompare bonded&Axiom - Walnut Oversized Chair

Precision DuraBlend -

Desert Chair & Ottoman


5/10

From couture to cozy, toss pillows are

the perfect way to express your style

and personality!

The perfect scarf or bracelet can turn anordinary outfit into an extraordinary one.In the same way, the perfect combinationof toss pillows can turn an ordinary roominto a showstopper!

Much more than an accent color, pillowshave come into their own as one of the leastexpensive and most cost-effective ways topersonalize your furniture and change your

dcor. With more open floor plans todayand fewer walls to hang art onthey canalso be conversation starters!Look for exciting new pillow trends fromcouture, nubby and boldly patterned pillowchoices to a bolder mix of pillow stylestogether.

pillow talk


Pillows Top - Bottom:

Lanza - White Pillow

Penelope - Peridot Pillow

Sophie - Gold Pillow

Marion - Spa Pillow


6/106 www.ashleyfurniturehomestore.com

Danielle - Eggplant SofaMartin - Oyster Sofa

Pillows: Sindon - Multi &Penelope - Eggplant

Pillows: Penelope - ScarlettViviana - Navy & Sunburst - Choc

Pillows: Leila - Floral &Viviana - Burgundy

Pillows: Viviana - Spa& Nessa - Earth

If youre still defaulting to the pillows thatcame with the sofa, use this simple formulato mix things up a little! First, make sureeach pillow contains (at least) one colorin common with another pillow, then mixpatterned, plain and pile pillows!

mastering

Patterned pillows usuallycontain the sofa color andinspire the color/characterof the other pillows. Choosepatterned pillow motifs (wavy,

floral, exotic, etc.) that suitthe sofas style.

Plain pillows modify busierpillows and can diversifyor reinforce the color scheme.Choose plain pillows (velvet,satin, faux suede, wool, tweed,

cotton, leather, etc.) that suitthe sofas style.

Pile pillows layer on texturewith their light-and-shadoweffects. Choose pile pillows(nubby, furry, frizzy, coveredin origami-like folds, etc.) that

suit the sofas style.

+ +

themix

1 sofa, 2 ways

Camille - Spice Pillow Leila - Floral Pillow Penelope - Scarlett Pillow


7/10April 2012 TrendWatch 7

toss pillows dosDO match the mood of your pillows to the

mood of your sofa. Choose pillows the sameway you chose your sofa based on yourlifestyle and tastes. Use dressy pillows with adressy sofa; casual pillows with a casual sofa.

DO use pillows in a similar style. For anelegant look, stick with satiny or faux-furfabrics. For a global look, stick with earthyor exotic fabrics. For a modern look, stickwith bright or geometric fabrics.

DO use pillows with related colors. Dontworry about fancy color theories. Simplychoose pillow colors with something incommon, such as hues all inspired by acountry landscape or a summer fruit salad.DO mix patterns and textures. Choosepillows that look like they came from the sameplace or era, then mix nubby with smooth. Tomix patterns, simply repeat the colors in eachpillow, while differeing the patterns motif orscale.

DONT use cheap-looking pillows! Nothing

cheapens a good-looking sofa more than datedor poor quality pillows while nothing transformsan inexpensive sofa more than high-quality,fashion-forward ones!

DONT use pillows too big (or too small) for

the sofa. Large throw pillows on a small sofawill make it look even smaller. Small pillows (ortoo few of them) on a large sofa will look dwarfed

DONT go too safe! Be bold with memorable

colors or textures!

DONT feel compelled to use the pillows that

came with your sofa. Factory pillow choicesare intended to appeal to as many people aspossible rather than to personal tastes. Bedifferent!DONT use pillows duller... or too much lighter

than the sofa. Theres an exception to every rule,but decorators agree that pillows look best whentheyre darker, brighter or bolder than the sofa.

Allendale - Oyster Sofa Zia - Spa Sofa

Pillows: Viviana - TaupeSerendipity - Twinkle & Paja - White

Pillows: Lilette - Beige &Meki - Grey

Pillows: Marion - Spa& Camille - Celadon

Pillows: Paja - Silver &Florence - Multi

toss pillow donts


8/10

Its time to unearth the open-toed shoesand take that first deep breath of fresh air.

But what are you doing to welcome springinside your home this year? ( no, springcleaning doesnt count!)

Besides the view outside our window,spring has so much to offer our homes,including simple ways to celebrate itfrom facing furniture toward the light,

placing a favorite armchair near a prettyoutdoor view or opening curtains wideto make natures biggest spectacle partof the decor.

But weve got a few other ideas to helpbanish winter doldrums and to usher inthe warm weather!

Check out these ways to bring springsnew life inside your home, no matter

what your homes style!

White is fresh, simulates natural daylight and offersan easy transition between indoors and out. Withus since the beginning of time, whites popularitysurged the past decade with iPods and the movieSomethings Gotta Give. Welcome in spring byadding this simple hue to your home!Paint a room white. Youll feel like youre outside!(The whitest paint in the market is Sherwin Williams

#7757 High Reflectance White.)

Paint your kitchen cabinets white. White kitchensarent just white-hot; theyre cool and coastal-feeling.Choose cool whites for a modern feel; warmerantique whites for a classic, vintage or rustic feel.Add a creamy white slipcover over your diningroom chair seats.Use crisp white sheets and towels. They feel

cooler and fresher. Or use a white duvet cover tolighten up your bedroom.

Place white tulips or Easter lilies in a glass vase

or pitcher.

Use the one-color-plus-white rule for toss pillows,

table and bed linens. Choose patterns that pairwhite with another color for a light-and-airy effect.

spring it on!whiten up!



9/10

Spring greens are uniquely cool and warm, on the

border between warm yellow and cool blue. Even ahint of this breezy hue makes our rooms more openand airy, blurring boundaries between indoors andout. Welcome in spring by adding this fresh hue toyour home!Open the curtains! Theres nothing fresher-feelingthan making greening grass and first buds ofspring part of the dcor!

Place limes in a sleek glass bowl or

hurricane. The perfect centerpiece!Invest in a set of spring

green napkins or placemats.

Green is one of natures neutralsand works with almost any color!Use cleaning supplies with

a fresh lemon or lime scent.

Choose a leafy green pattern for tosspillows, bed or table linens.Grow grass indoors by seeding a long wooden

tray; a favorite designer accent!Commit to doing more green things for the

planet. Invest in an Energy-Star appliance, replacelamps with energy-efficient bulbs, take a shortershower or turn off the tap while brushing your teeth...

Sisal, straw, raffia, jute, coir, and seagrasses

feel casual and coastal, recalling gardeninghats and picnic baskets! As much a naturalcolor as a natural texture, they put us in apared-back, summery state of mind! Welcomein spring by adding natures favorite textureto your home!

Place a sisal or jute rug under a table, seatin

group or bed. Or place a woven welcome matat the front door, indoors and out.

Add square or rectangular-shaped woven

baskets on shelves or under the coffee

table. Fill them with anything and everythingto reduce clutter elsewhere!Add a wicker or rattan accent chair (or a pai

or chairs) in the living room, next to a windo

in the bedroom. Or use straw-seated bar stooor dining chairs.Use jute or straw placemats. They add anoutdoorsy texture to plate settings.Paint a room youre remodeling

the color of jute or straw.

Tie a raffia ribbon around a

stack of soap bars in the

bathroom, or around sets ofbed linens in a closet.

go green! make hay!



10/10

Were planting trees last year alone, over800 in the community, over 1,000 around ourWisconsin factories, and tens of thousandsgiven away on Arbor Day.

Were empowering the sun and installed350 solar light pipe devices for a little extralight. We also added anti-reflective materialand more insulation to rooftops to reduceenergy needed for heating and cooling.

Were driving away emissions and

decreasing fuel consumption with afleet of trucks that use auxiliary power units,bio-diesel fuel when available, and equipmentthats EPA certified. Our 2008 motors can

return cleaner air to the environment thanwhat they intake.

10 www ashleyfurniturehomestore com

ask a designerIve heard that some furniture finishes canbe harmful to the environment? Is that true?Im also interested to know more aboutAshley Furnitures position on environmental

responsibility?Sandra, Salt Lake City, UT

Dear Sandra

Furniture manufacturers have worked hardto reduce environmental harm from finishesand adhesives. Ashley Furniture, in fact,has led in the use of water-based furniturefinishes and more water-based adhesives

to eliminate petroleum-based solvents.Here are some of those things:We reduced our waste stream...We useclean-burning natural gas for heat, andreplaced 25 million cubic feet of naturalgas by using wood as boiler fuel. Wevealso re-refined 12,500 gallons of old oilinto new oil.Were throwing less away and recycled

65,000 tons of wood by-products, 300 tonsof metal, 18 trailers of plastic film, 400trailers of corrugated cardboard and 100tons of high density Styrofoam. Thats notto mention 45 tons of office paper, 3,000light bulbs and 7,000 pounds of computerequipment.

Were painting our factory interiors

white an initial cost of over $1 million thatwill translate into an estimated 40% savingson lighting energy every year.

Q.

A.

which sofa was genuine leather?

If you guessed the sofa on the left, youre correct! Genuine leather sofasinclude two types all-leather, with leather on the seat, seat-back, arms,and outer frame or leather-match (leather everywhere the body toucheon the seat, seat back and arms).

Got a question youd like answered in this column? Submit it at: [email protected]

Rivergate Stone Sofa

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April 2012 Trend Watch 2

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