Soy foam makes for a better world

What's better for your health and the environment? Read about how soy foam from BioH makes a difference.

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Orange You Glad?

Just try not to notice the color orange. It’s a scene stealer.

Never shy, orange is firmly front and center these days, deemed a hot color for 2009, a vibrant hue on the high-fashion horizon. Orange is the new orange. Its pow is now.

“Orange candy” is how trend spotters at Metropolitan Home and Elle Décor describe it. Here’s their collage of invigorating examples:



That lacquer box proves the point to me. A box in any other color just wouldn’t be the same. But I don’t think I’ll soon forget this one – très Hermès. The eye-popping orange just grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.

Just as no one could forget a room with American Leather’s Sandy sofa.




Just by entering a room, the high-impact Sandy creates an instant focal point. Designed by John Charles Designs, the sofa’s charisma comes from its combination of sophisticated styling and a cutting-edge color choice.

With hints of a transformed Plain Jane park bench in its sleek lines, this design would sensationalize any space with its unabashed Glamour Girl looks alone. Add orange upholstery, and this sofa is guaranteed to hold everyone in its thrall.

Not surprising, considering that the orange chakra is associated with creativity and sensuality -- adjectives that sit nicely with this memorable sofa.

Orange also combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. So you might say that any way you slice it, orange has lots of juice.

There’s nothing quite like it.

Orange you glad that life isn’t all black and white?

(By Marya Smith)

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Hugo girl!

When Metropolitan Home calls you answer! That's what we did when the editors asked us to make a Hugo chair, the swiveling conversational sweetheart, in Pantone's color of the year: Mimosa Yellow. We matched Pantone with Duval Maize, the happiest yellow leather on earth. Hugo's beauty impressed everyone, enough to make the June cover!

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Apartment Therapy Showcases Kendall

You have to check out Jora and Bryan's gorgeous midcentury house tour on Apartment Therapy (www.apartmenttherapy.com). Stunning! I don't know where to begin...the gorgeous hilltop view? The stunning architecture? The xeriscaped yard with chicken coop? I love the way they weren't afraid to mix the different wood patterns throughout the house. And I couldn't help but notice they have American Leather's Kendall in the den below a piece of art by Venice, California artist Mark Hobley.











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American Leather using Renew cushioning foam

DALLAS — Upholstery producer American Leather has begun using Renew, an eco-friendly cushioning foam, in all of its products.

The Renew foam, made of soy-based BiOH polyols, is fully recyclable and is available in various levels of firmness and densities.

"We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and adhering to sustainable manufacturing practices," said President Bruce Birnbach. "Renew recyclable foam will allow our furniture to progressively turn ‘green' while retaining our quality. This will benefit both our company and our end consumer."

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American Leather acquires John Charles Designs assets

DALLAS — Custom upholstery specialist American Leather is expanding its presence in fabric upholstery by acquiring the assets of California-based upholstery manufacturer John Charles Designs.

American Leather said it purchased the rights to John Charles' home furnishing designs, textile collection and marketing materials for an undisclosed sum.

John Charles Designs, a 31-year-old company known for its clean, contemporary designs and sumptuous fabric selection, was owned by the Genova family. Principals John Genova Sr., co-owner and founder, and Nancy Genova, co-owner and lead designer, and Vice President John Genova Jr. will be consultants to American Leather through 2009 to ensure a smooth transition.

John Charles Designs for American Leather will introduce 29 collections at next week's High Point Market in the American Leather showroom at Showplace, fifth floor.

The former John Charles Designs showroom in the PCH Building, 135 South Hamilton St. (of which the Genovas are part-owners) has been vacated.

Production of the John Charles line will shift to American Leather's 250,000-square-foot facility here, with shipments to begin in February.

American Leather CEO Bob Duncan said the acquisition will help the company "become an immediately recognizable player in fabric upholstery."

The new collection will include John Charles' bestselling designs offered in hundreds of fabric options, leather, Ultrasuede or COM. The collection will continue to expand into 2009.

"This represents the next step of our long-term strategy to expand into the fabric upholstery segment," Duncan said. "Between our hospitality division, and our residential and private label programs, fabric upholstery already represents approximately 30% of our volume."

American Leather's modern fabric-cutting system will allow it to handle matching and other techniques associated with fabric upholstery production, he said.

"This is a critical core competence that we have developed over the last five years," Duncan said, "We are excited to now expand this capability and become a full fabric upholstery resource."

Like American Leather's other products, the new fabric upholstery will ship in three weeks or less.

"This acquisition is a marriage of exceptional design with manufacturing excellence - allowing us to offer this one-of-a-kind collection to consumers with the speed, quality and reliability they have come to know with American Leather," said company President Bruce Birnbach.

John Genova Sr. said the transaction marks a turning point for both companies. He said it means John Charles Designs "can reach broader audiences with the speed-to-market that has been a key component of the American Leather brand."

While there is some customer overlap, Birnbach said, "The driving factor was not gaining distribution but to acquire a phenomenal-looking product with a great name well-known throughout the industry."

Birnbach said sales of the John Charles line will be handled by American Leather sales representatives and the new collection will be produced by a dedicated cell.

American Leather had started a fabric division called American Upholstery or AU in April 2004, but was phasing out that line before it acquired John Charles.

"It is hard enough to develop one brand, let alone two," Birnbach said. "We had begun consolidating AU into American Leather six months ago. This market is the culmination of the merging of the two lines."

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From the runway to your home

Recently, Couch Karma featured American Leather's Slink by Designer Rob Jones on their website.

Read the full article here: From the runway to your home

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