Recommend a decent supplier of leather ottoman storage beds?

[ddiogyn]

Our faux leather ottoman storage bed (the type where the mattress lifts up entirely allowing access to the entire area beneath it to be used as storage) has become cracked and tatty after three years

A lot of ottoman beds being advertised as 'genuine' leather on websites are actually fake leather (like our current one) or scrap leathers ground up into a powder and glued together (so called bonded 'leather'). I must've contacted a dozen companies, both cheap and ridiculously expensive leather storage beds are actually not genuine leather - some places have even insisted that these fake leathers are real because they contain animal hide, no matter that it is powdered leather that has been reconstituted with plastic and given an artificial finish.

Can anyone help?

[Jeanied]

Why don't you look into getting yours re-upholstered, ddiogyn? It may end up a more satisfactory solution in the long run.

[ddiogyn]

Thanks Jeanied. Our current bed was bought at a cheap discount bed warehouse type place (foolishly believed it was real leather) and the construction is pretty rubbish so i don't think the cost of reupholstery would be worth it for such a poor quality frame. Also the OH won't budge on going for something other than leather...

[Two_Sheds]

Real, well made leather will cost £100s. I prefer fabric furniture, it's cosier and comfier.

I know what you mean about "genuine" leather being anything but: we've had 3 "leather" sofas in the last year (gifts or freebies). I have now banned OH from getting any more "leather" ... he can't recognise PVC when he sees it

[ddiogyn]

Don't get me started. The behaviour and attitude of some retailers is appalling, both major department stores and independents. When approached as an ignorant consumer most have happily tried to convince me their premium 'leather' products are made of top-quality hides, when their product descriptions clearly suggest otherwise, using misleading terms such as 'luxury bicast leather'.

[scarey55]

Don't know if it is "real" leather but my daughter has one of THESE from habitat and it looks great. I think it should be real leather by the looks of the price though (which doesn't even include a mattress)

[ddiogyn]

@Scarey

Wow, that does look lovely, and at that price you'd expect it to be real leather. Have you had a look inside your daughter's bed, is the storage generous (bed looks a bit low-lying and has sunken mattress)?

[scarey55]

I don't think the storage is very deep but, perhaps 12 inches, maybe more?? She is away in Africa at the moment and doesn't live with us here so I'll have to ask her to measure it when she gets back - not for at least 2 weeks though. It is quite a big space because she stores all her shoes and handbags in hers and, lord knows she has loads!

[ddiogyn]

@Scarey

Thanks, but that won't be necessary: now that i've suggested the pricey Habitat offering, OH has found a potentially more ruinous option, a 'bespoke' bed (actually it works out a bit cheaper, just - Storage Beds | thestoragebed.co.uk The Storage Bed Company).

I didn't think i was a fan of leather, but the sample materials we've received are nothing like i've ever felt/smelt/touched before (apparently i've only ever experienced faux leather!).

[scarey55]

Ooooh VERY nice. May you have many a comfortable night sleeping in your beautiful smelling noo bed. I too love the smell of leather, actually went a bit mad in a jacket shop in Tunisia once