Living Large: Stylish Solutions for Small Spaces.Wonderful solutions offered by American Leather

Whether by choice or out of necessity, people are increasingly opting for smaller living spaces. Taking the form of ‘tiny houses;’ which continue to gain in popularity; apartments, townhomes, or condos, small spaces can still be big on design.

Floor space, guest sleeping accommodations and limited storage top the list of those challenges, and American Leather has solutions for all three. Our full size Breckin Comfort Sleeper sofa features a standard full sized mattress and is only 62 inches wide. Where space is truly at a premium, the Breckin twin size sleeper is a compact 47 inches and the Comfort Sleeper cot measures just 38 inches across.

Don’t confuse compact with uncomfortable, however. Each of these Comfort Sleeper models features solid platforms that provide even support with no bars, no springs, and no sagging and they all boast a sleeping surface that is a full 80 inches in length. Because the patented sleep system extends from the back of the Comfort Sleeper, they take up less floor space than conventional sleepers, which typically have mattresses that are only 70 to 75 inches long.

Multi-function furniture pieces can do double—or triple—duty and can serve as design accents as well. American Leather’s Leo is a beautiful table with a solid walnut top, which slides open to reveal storage space for magazines, books, and other small items. The Uno and the Uno Round ottomans are perfect footrests that become instant side tables when the built-in tray is flipped over. The Otis features the same flexibility and storage, all with an exquisite solid walnut tray.

In spaces where closets are virtually unheard of and even a dresser can be a luxury, American Leather’s storage beds are a stylish and practical option. The Beth, Darcy, and Jane beds feature hidden storage compartments under the mattress that provide storage space equivalent to a five-drawer dresser. Accessing those items stowed away underneath is easy. Spring-loaded gas pistons ensure the mattress can be lifted both effortlessly and safely.

While space may be limited, the options aren’t. Light paint, simple window treatments, and strategically placed mirrors can all make a small room seem more open and airy. Couple these and other proven tricks with pieces from American Leather, and even the most cramped space becomes instantly more livable.

Performance fabrics: Upholstery fabrics that defy “wear and tear”

American Leather offers more than 150 fabrics that are exceptionally durable and stain resistant, including Ultrasuede and Crypton.

Although our name says “leather”, American Leather has been producing beautiful fabric upholstery for more than a decade, and our lineup now includes more than 300 fabric covers, as well as COM, that can be applied to any of our sofas, chairs, beds and benches.

And if you’re already familiar with American Leather’s commitment to function and durability, you won’t be surprised to know that many of our fabrics offer superior durability and stain-resist characteristics. They look and feel great, of course, but they’re also tough enough to stand up to heavy use without losing their lustrous good looks.

We’ve been working longest of all with Ultrasuede Ambiance by Toray. This is the original microfiber that still sets the standard for hand, drape and durability. It feels like soft, plush suede, but it’s engineered to meet the most demanding standars for everything from residential furnishings to first-class aviation and luxury marine and RV interiors.

Highly abrasion resistant, Ultrasuede won’t wear out, even after 200,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs; it’s spot-cleanable and washable and it provides excellent colorfastness while resisting sagging, crocking, pilling and shrinking. And on top of all that, Ultrasuede Ambiance, which is covered by a 10-year warranty, is available in 97 colors.

An exciting recent addition to the American Leather lineup,Crypton fabrics are familiar to designers who have worked on health-care or other commercial projects where powerful performance is imperative. With patented barrier technology, Crypton fabrics repel liquids, and stains and spills wipe right up so that cushions stay clean and dry.

American Leather now offers two sets of fabric from Crypton. We have Atlas by Crypton, which comes in 10 colors with a bit of mélange in each, and Eden, also 10 colors but all solids. Both are soft to the touch, and yet they provide this amazing performance that protects furniture and keeps it looking great.

Long-time fans of American Leather and our Comfort Sleeper program will have fond memories of our Life Fabrics, Veelife and Suedelife. Now available on all fames, these microfibers – the 10 Veelife colors have a herringbone pattern and the 36 Suedelife colors are solids with a brushed nap -- provide the the soft, plush feel and comfort of suede, but they are very strong and durable and provide excellent resistance to fading.

Perhaps best of all, light stains on Suedelife fabrics can usually be cleaned with lukewarm water and mild soap; heavier stains can be removed with commercial cleaners, although you should always test a small, discreet spot to make sure the cleaner doesn’t damage the fabric’s color. In our tests, we were able to remover everything from red wine to yellow mustard, even Sharpie ink.

All of these fabrics are easy to live with, comfortable and they come in an array of colors so that you can pick the perfect hue for your design project.