e2alei, Author at Leisure Lounge

Hot New Couch: The L Shaped Couch

Posted on July 26, 2017 by e2alei

Move over two and three-seater couches – make way for the L-shape! This asymmetrical couch has become one of the biggest living room trends of recent times, and we love it! Here’s why…

Couches that Save Space

Back in the day, when land was cheap and the houses huge, sprawling couches in massive living rooms were the order of the day. But South African homes are shrinking – the average residential stand today is half the size it was in 1970. Smaller homes call for space-saving furniture, and the L-shaped couch perfectly fits the bill. Fitting snugly into a corner, these streamlined couches partition spaces without closing them off, maintaining that open-plan feel.

Contemporary Couches

First rising to prominence in the 1950s, the L-shaped couch style was a favourite of design icons like the Eames brothers. It’s a timeless design that lends an air of contemporary cool to any space. Use an L-shaped couch as the focal point of your room – accessorise your sofa with an ottoman in a complimentary upholstery for extra flair. A standing lamp behind your safe adds a touch more flourish.

Cost-Effective Couch

Not only are L-shaped couches space-saving and aesthetically pleasing, they’re kinder on the pocket, too! Splurging on one really great piece of furniture just makes more financial sense than buying two, three or even four individual pieces.

Multi-functional furniture

L-Shaped sofas combine the decadence of a day bed with the elegance of a sofa. A comfy spot to watch telly or read a favourite novel, chat to houseguests or to take a midday nap, the L-shaped couch presents all-round awesomeness!

Shop for Corner Suites

Sold on an L-shaped sofa? Have a browse through our range of corner suites here. And remember, folks, all our designs can be adapted into a corner suite! Ask us now…

How to Choose the Right Dining Chairs

Posted on June 8, 2017 by e2alei

If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably got a dining room table and a set of matching dining chairs in your home right now. The table and dining chairs you chose were perfect when you first needed mealtime seating arrangements, but you might have moved once or twice since then or redecorated your home – and you could be finding that your dining chairs don’t really suit the ambiance you’re trying to create in your dining room. If you’re wondering how to choose the right dining chairs for your home, you’ve landed on the right blog article! Take a seat, put your feet up, and enjoy…

Match Your Dining Chairs to Your Table

A natural wood dining room table truly is a beautiful thing, especially when paired with a set of stunning dining chairs that match your table’s wood variety or colour.

• For darker wood tables such as Ebony or Indian Rosewood, choose dining chairs featuring dark wooden parts like this elegant Boxy Carver dining chair.

• Light woods such as Ash or Maple truly brighten up a dining room, so match your light wood dining room table with this stunningly modest Carla dining chair.

Dining Chairs with Armrests vs. Dining Chairs Without

Dining chairs with armrests are perfect when hosting lengthy dinner parties, or if you’re not fond of elbows on the table! Some prefer their dining chairs without armrests, making them easier to slide onto or off of.

• Host a dinner party for days with this striking dark wood Cortina Carver, complete with comfortable arm rests at elbow height.

• Prefer the minimalist variety of dining chairs? This truly trendy Cortina in light wood is both comfortable and elegant.

Your Dining Chairs Should Reflect Your Unique Style

While you might be looking for new dining chairs to complete your dining room décor, don’t forget to choose ones that reflect your unique style and personality – even if just a little!

• Are you outgoing, eccentric and sometimes referred to as the life of the party? Then you’ll simply adore this exquisite Tall Carver with a beautifully bright floral fabric finish.

• Looking for a more regal, luxurious look in your dining room? Then this charismatic Tivoli dining chair is a serious contender!

• If you’re the type of host that wants dinner party attendees’ jaws dropping when they enter your dining room, then you’ll fall in love with this unique Signature Carver dining chair.

Get Stylishly Modern Dining Chairs in Durban

At Leisure Lounge, our dining chairs are made with padded seating and back rests for superior mealtime comfort. Like a dining chair you’ve read about here, but you’re not too fond of the material finishing? No problem! Visit our showrooms in Durban, Umhlanga or Hillcrest where we have our available dining chair material finishing options on display – allowing you complete control over your new dining chairs’ aesthetic finishing. Give one of our showrooms a call today and take the first step towards the dining room of your dreams!

How to Choose the Right Occasional Chair

Posted on July 16, 2020 by e2alei

Occasional chairs are a great addition to any room. Not only do they fill up empty spaces that look too bare, they also add character and style to your home. Whether you are needing additional seating or simply feel it would be the perfect finisher to a room, there are hundreds of occasional chairs to choose from, you just need to know what to look for. Leisure Lounge is here to help!

Choosing the Perfect Occasional Chair

Here are 3 tips to ensure that you choose the right occasional chair for your home. Be sure to check out our blog for more helpful tips!

1. Determine the Chair’s Function

If you are looking for a solely decorative chair, you can go with any seating that fits the image you have in mind. However, if you know you will be using the chair semi-regularly, you want to ensure that it is comfortable as well as visibly appealing. Carefully observe the room in need of the chair and see if maybe you would prefer an ottoman or a chair that allows for storage. Determine the uses of the chair before you begin your search.

2. Decide if You Want it to Blend In or Make a Statement

Occasional chairs make great statement pieces, consider finding one with a unique and bold pattern to serve as the focal point of the room. If you are wanting something more subtle, blend the chair into the room’s colour scheme or stick to a neutral shade that won’t grab as much attention.

3. Measure Out the Space You Have

Before you go out and purchase the chair you have been eyeing for months, take a moment to measure both the chair and the space you are planning to place it in. You may find that the chair looks out of place and too small in its designated space or is big enough to make the area feel cramped. Save yourself time and effort by doing quick height and width measurements to get a rough idea on sizing.

Find Your Perfect Occasional Chair at Leisure Lounge

Now that you have a few helpful tips on how to choose an occasional chair perfect for your home, you can begin the fun part of actually choosing one. Browse our online range or visit one of our stores to find a chair that ticks all of your boxes. Feel free to contact us directly with any questions or queries regarding our products and services.

Now Read: Warm Winter Furniture Prints We Love

How to Clean a Fabric Couch

Posted on February 28, 2017 by e2alei

Putting your feet up on your sofa after a hard day’s work is one of life’s little pleasures…but, alas, slouching on your couch can make the fabric grubby and worn! Here’s how to keep your fabric lounge suite looking like the day it came home from the Leisure Lounge showroom…

Daily care of your couch

A top-quality lounge suite is a considerable investment, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be enjoyed! It should, however, be treated with the love it deserves – keeping your couch clean starts with good daily care. It’s best to keep pets off the couch – if they insist, try to teach them to sit in one spot, over which you can place a hard-wearing throw to protect the fabric from sharp claws and soiling. Similarly, encourage children to respect furniture by sitting nicely – no grubby feet and hands all over the couch – and discourage them from playing with toys which could snag the fabric, or from eating and drinking in your lounge.

Weekly care of your couch

Dust and dirt causes fabric to soil. It can also provide an ideal substrate for mould and mildew to develop, so to prevent this from happening, and to lessen those dark, greasy marks, brush your couch with a soft fabric brush and carefully vacuum the fabric at least once weekly. Set the vacuum to low, and vacuum left to right in short, overlapping strokes. Remove cushions so that you can vacuum dirt out of all the cracks and crevices. To help cushions wear evenly, swap their positions weekly.

Monthly care of your couch

Arm covers or slip cover couches are an excellent solution for people with animals and children. While arm covers help protect the couch from soiling and spillages where it’s most likely to happen, slip covers protect the entire couch. Simply remove, and throw in the wash! Fabric couches without slip covers should be treated with care – washing cushion covers piecemeal can result in uneven colour results. Always consult a reputable professional upholstery cleaner to do the job for you!

Dealing with accidental spills

Despite exercising the best of care, accidents do happen! Remember, tackle them as soon as you can after it’s happened – fresh stains are easier to remove than old ones. Here’s a quick rundown of how to deal with common fabric stains:

Solid food – remove food remains with a spoon, knife or spatula to avoid rubbing the remains further into the fabric. Carefully dab the spillage with paper towel, and, if required, use a little distilled water to gently clean the stain.
Wine and coffee – The aim is to lift the stain from the fabric – don’t scrub! Use white paper towel to absorb as much of the liquid as possible, and then treat with distilled water. For stubborn stains, use a little fabric cleaning solution.
Chocolate – Scrape up or brush off the bits of chocolate and use a clean white cloth or sponge and gentle fabric cleaning solution to carefully clean the area. Blot with white paper towel to dry off.
Mud – wait until it dries, then brush off with a fabric brush. If needs be, use a clean white cloth to sponge the stain with a gentle fabric cleaning solution. To dry, gently blot with white paper towel.

Tip: When using a fabric cleaner, do test it out on an unexposed part of your couch, first.

Consider Teknogard…

Teknogard is a chemical anti-stain and fabric protection treatment which can be applied to leather couches and other furniture. Teknogard provides maximum protection against spills and stains, working like an invisible barrier and helping spills, stains and spoiling to be more easily removed. For fabric couches, Scotchgard is recommended as a stain repellent – this treatment repels liquids and blocks stains, but won’t change the look, feel or breathability of fabrics.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask!

We like to think that our treasured creations are living out life in the very best of circumstances! That’s why we’re happy to provide advice and guidance on how to care for and clean your fabric couches – if you have a specific query, require information about Scotchgard or Teknogard, or need help with cleaning of fabric or leather, give us a shout!

How to create a reading nook

Posted on October 10, 2016 by e2alei

If you love reading books and relish the thought of having a quiet space where you can get lost in a good novel, all you need to do is get creative and invest in a few pieces of quality furniture to create a cosy reading nook where you can escape the hustle and bustle. Let’s look at a few creative ideas…

A beautiful sleeper couch

If you happen to have an empty corner, with a window, why not use that extra space? A beautiful, casual couch that doubles as a daybed is perfect for those relaxing reads and lazy afternoon snoozes. Spruce up the sleeper couch with some comfy cushions, a soft luxurious throw, and invest in a little coffee table to hold your favourite books. Pour yourself a cup of chamomile tea and light up vanilla candles – you’ll never want to leave your reading nook!

Image Courtesy of ebookfriendly.com

An occasional chair under a staircase

The space underneath a staircase is often wasted. But instead of leaving this area unused, transform it into a reading nook or a secret retreat. If the space is rather small, no problem – a single occasional chair covered in a pretty fabric of your choice will do the trick, instantly transforming that awkward space into a cosy reading nook! For a touch of character, hang a few photos on the wall and place a small table or book shelf next to the chair and your little reading retreat will be complete.

Image Courtesy of Fevicol Design Ideas

An ottoman in the bedroom

Got an empty corner in your master bedroom? This is the ideal place for a reading nook. A cosy chair and a good book is food for the soul, so along with an occasional chair, add an ottoman covered in matching or similar colour tones to match the bedroom décor. Besides adding a touch of luxury to the room, an ottoman is a welcome place to rest your weary feet. To complete your reading nook, place some interesting reads on a side table and scout out for a quirky reading lamp – perfect for those evening or early morning reads!

Image Courtesy of Fashionismo

A romantic chaise longue for a good read

A chaise longue adds a romantic and relaxed flair to any room in the home and can be placed anywhere to create a tranquil reading nook. Throw some cushions, a blanket, books, and a rug into the mix and you’ll be ready to escape in a good read…

Reading Nook Furniture

Readers, we manufacture top quality and custom-made genuine leather and fabric upholstered furniture to suit your bookish lifestyle. We’re also approved Scotchgard™ agents – ensuring that your furniture always looks its best. Contact us today!

How to Decorate a Space from Scratch

Posted on February 15, 2021 by e2alei

Decorating a room from scratch can be difficult. Many people hire someone or seek assistance from a friend simply because they think that they don’t have the eye for interior decorating. However, decorating a space is a lot easier than most believe. The Leisure Lounge team are sharing some of their favourite tips and tricks used to style a room from scratch.

4 Ways to Decorate a Room from Scratch

Start seeing your empty room as a blank canvas and visualise the endless potential that it has. Visit our blog for more tips on improving your home’s interior.

1. Choose a Decorating Style

A simple trick to this is to compare to the rest of the home and try to match it. For example, if the house is filled with white, cream and beige, you will want to continue that style. However, if the rest of the house hasn’t been decorated yet then browse the internet for interior styles that you like. Popular styles include farmhouse, minimalist, French country, Bohemian and modern.

Now Read: 5 Living Room Remodel Ideas to Consider for 2021

Start with the Biggest Part of the Room

The biggest part of the room is usually the most expensive. If you are styling your living room then this would be the lounge suite. Purchase a lounge suite that matches your style. Next you will want to purchase the rest of the large furniture to place around it; side tables, a centre coffee table, a tv and tv cabinet, etc. We recommend choosing items that suit the style of your home, but are neutral colours.

3. Choose a Colour Scheme

Once all the important furniture items have been given a place, it is time to decide what colour scheme would best suit the style of your furniture. Once you have a few ideas, visit your local hardware or paint store and collect a few colour samples to peruse. Try choose 2-3 complimentary colours to allow for some texture in the room.

4. Layer the Room Over Time

Adding the small details to a room is something that cannot be rushed. This needs to be done over time by adding an art piece here and a lampshade there. If you rush into purchasing smaller items, you may waste money by replacing the item when have found something better- take the time to shop around.

For Custom-made Home Furniture, Contact Leisure Lounge

If you are looking for furniture items that can be custom-made to suit your home, Leisure Lounge are your answer. From couches made to your measurements, to tables made from your choice of wood, we have so many options to make hunting for furniture items so much easier- contact us today.

Now Read: 5 Living Room Decor Ideas You Can DIY

How to Incorporate Textures and Botanicals into Your Lounge

Posted on April 4, 2018 by e2alei

Trends in homes styling come and go faster than you can say ‘Leisure Lounge’ but a few of them seem to be hanging around a little longer. Tailing onto the tropical trends of 2017, botanical prints are taking centre stage in many publications and style-guides worldwide. Further, 2018 seems to be the year of detailing, with mixed textures becoming a staple in the home. Leisure Lounge has put together the basics on how to incorporate these two trends into your lounge and living space.

Large Botanical Prints

A huge part of the botanical prints trend is, obviously, green. Green has made a huge impact on the home and furniture market in recent months, with millions of people looking for the perfect palm leaf pillows and cactus prints to incorporate into their homes. Remember, the larger the print, the more dramatic the statement. For a contemporary, simplistic lounge that needs a dose of colour, you could try our Elvis occasional chair, pictured below.

Subtle Botanical Prints

If you feel that a more understated, neutral-toned print would suit your space a little better, then a subtle botanical print is for you. Think artisan outlines and sketches on beautiful neutral fabrics, tucked into the corners of your lounge. Leisure Lounge has a number of furniture items sporting botanical prints at the moment, including this stunning Kensington Wingback chair. The print delicately outlines protea flowers, bringing a South African edge to this regal piece of furniture.

Great Bases for Texture

This year is all about mixing up textures and bringing out the finer details not only in your larger furniture pieces, but also in your fixtures and décor. Leisure Lounge has a number of gorgeous couches, chairs, ottomans and more to suit just about any taste, and paired with trendy metallics like bronze and copper, and woven throws, they are sure to transform your living space. Side note: wicker is making a huge comeback! Keep this old friend in mind when revamping your living space.

To keep up with the grey trend, you could consider our Chicago Couch in its stunning grey: imagine it paired with a clear acrylic end table, adorned with a modern copper lamp.

Alternatively, we can just imagine our Clifton or Modular suites with a chunky woven throw and botanical print scatters. Picture a simple white coffee table with a collection of brass-potted plants to compliment it and there you have it – an on-trend lounge suite to suit many tastes.

Home styling and décor has had many trends throughout the years, but the changes are moving more and more towards natural beauty and unashamed ‘risks’. Remember that big botanical prints are louder, whereas small or neutrally coloured prints add a subtle edge to your lounge area. Brass, copper, wicker, you name it and if it’s textured, it’s trendy! Whether brushed metals and a simple palette is up your alley, or you want to try out bold, statement pieces, Leisure Lounge has you covered.

How to Keep Your Fine Furniture Clean

Posted on June 29, 2018 by e2alei

Keeping your furniture clean is an important and sometimes tricky task. Leisure Lounge want to assist you by giving you some top leather and upholstery cleaning tips and informing you on our professional upholstery cleaning services.

Is Upholstery and Leather Cleaning Beneficial?

Regularly cleaning your leather, upholstery and carpets is extremely beneficial to your furniture. Investing in fine furniture to explore your tastes and furnish your home in style is fruitless if care is not taken to keep these items in the best shape possible.

Furniture cleaning is a quick and easy way to refresh the appearance of your couches and other items, as a deep cleaning renews the vibrancy of colours and improves the texture and feel of the upholstery.
Odours cling to porous fabrics, therefore regular furniture cleaning will result in a fresh and pleasant smell restored to your furniture, much like that of a new car. Similarly, deep cleaning is great for families who suffer with allergies to dust, as it is removed thoroughly on regular basis.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, regular furniture cleaning increases the durability of the upholstery and thus its lifespan as well. This is because dust particles have jagged edges which scratch against your upholstery threads and wear them down, making the fabric look and feel thinner. Couple this with regular wear and tear and you have one unhappy couch!

About Leather Furniture from Leisure Lounge

At Leisure Lounge, we transform gorgeous kudu and bovine hides into rich, earthy pieces of furniture. Full grain leather hides are those that have not been altered other than having the hair removed, which means the hide retains all of its original texture and markings to augment the look of the couch or occasional chair it will become.

We have a strict selection process for our hides, choosing only the best full-aniline any semi-aniline leathers that are finished to give an antique appearance. These hides will collect character and patina over the years of use, meaning your leather furniture will evolve with you and your home.

Full aniline leather is that which is dyed through with a transparent dye that shows off the hide’s natural markings. Semi-aniline leather is that which is dyed with a matching pigment layer that evens out the colour of the hide and adds protection.

Simple Leather Cleaning Solutions

Leather cleaning is usually a unique solution catered to the state and age of your leather furniture, but there are some general tips we can advise.

Our first tip is to contact a professional upholstery cleaning company as this is the safest way to get a deep cleaning done without compromising your furniture. Leisure Lounge offers a comprehensive upholstery and carpet cleaning service, which you can enquire about today by contacting Michele on +27 31 208 4418 or click here.

If you cannot use a professional cleaning service, or choose not to, our next recommendation is to regularly brush your upholstery with a soft brush and vacuum using an appropriate attachment. We suggest doing this routine on a weekly basis for the best results and enduring, vibrant colours in the fabrics.

When it comes to spoils and spills, fast action is most important. Use some white kitchen roll or an absorbent white cloth to dab and absorb the spill, without rubbing. Also refrain from soaking the material in a cleaning solution.

If a solid material has spilled on your upholstery, scrape it off with a blunt knife or spatula before following the above steps. Spills of wine, spirits or coffee must be treated with distilled water first, and soap or shampoo should only be used as a last resort.

A pro tip for furniture cleaning is to be prepared: have a furniture cleaning fluid stocked in your cupboard and test it on a small unexposed segment of your upholstery. This will ensure that your cleaning fluid does not in fact damage your fine furniture, for example by ringing or smudging it.

Our Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services

As we mentioned, Leisure Lounge offer a complete carpet and upholstery cleaning service that is professionally conducted and supervised for the best results.

In conjunction, we are approved Teknoguard treatment agents (‘scotch guarding’) and can increase the protection afforded to your furniture, whether you purchased those items from Leisure Lounge or not. By reducing the surface tension of the fabric, Teknoguard makes fabric less absorbent, providing it with a somewhat non-stick surface. Dirt, water and even oils will not stick to the fabric with this treatment, allowing you to easily remove it.

We offer cleaning services for fixed carpets and loose rugs, as well for mattresses and bed bases. Your upholstery and leather furniture will look as good as new after a Leisure Lounge deep cleaning. Our cleaning process incorporates a wet clean, steam to assist in removing dirt and grime, extraction and deodorising.

You can call Michele on +27 31 208 or contact us to chat about your furniture cleaning needs or further tips on how to clean your furniture.

How to Know When to Replace Your Couch

Posted on June 5, 2019 by e2alei

Buying furniture can be an expensive endeavour, therefore, you want to ensure that you only replace your old couch when you 100% have to. Investing in a new couch will automatically give your living room the amazing transformation that it may so desperately need! Leisure Lounge knows all about couches and upholstery, so let us help you know when to replace worn furniture.

When to Replace Your Couch

Here are 3 easy ways to tell if your couch needs replacing:

1. It’s Outgrown its Purpose

Most people tend to buy a new couch before any other pieces of furniture or extra bodies have joined the family. What may have been a great starter couch for a young couple, may now be cramped and worn down for a family of four. It is common that your living room will evolve with you and you may find that your couch just no longer fits.

2. You’re Sinking into It

If your couch is eating you, then it is definitely time to get a new one! When the cushions have flattened so dramatically that you feel your chin is on a level with your knees, your couch is swallowing you up- get a new one before you disappear forever!

3. The Upholstery Looks Shabby

This is one of the most noticeable things about a couch that needs to be replaced; it just looks shabby! With kids, pets and a steady stream of guests visiting, your couch has most likely gained its fair share of stains and scratch marks. The couch is one of the first things people notice when they walk into a room, so don’t let it ruin the overall picture of your beautiful living room.

Get Your Couch from Leisure Lounge Today

If any of these points are your couch, then it is most likely time for you to begin the hunt for that perfect new couch for your family. Leisure Lounge has over 200 different designs that you can customize to suit your living room perfectly. Call us today for any questions, queries or for a quote.