The leather recliner we have is 'shot' in seven years: leather on the back splitting (& not in a seam either), sides of seat cushions wearing thin, etc. yet I'm told 'good leather' furniture with normal good care & use should last 20 years or more. But what brands would fit this description? I've searched Sofa Mart, HiLife, LazyBoy & Ashley locally & can't decide ... anyone have any ideas? I don't want to make another $$$ mistake like the previous one!

Let's just put it this way: I've worked on enough of it to see the quality and would not buy it.

One thing to avoid, in my opinion, is bi-cast leather. If you think of hide leather as being like lumber, bi-cast is like particle board. It is chopped up leather scraps pressed into a sheet with glue, embossed and painted. I have tried to sew it and literally had it disintegrate in my hands. Another caveat is "leather match" that means the areas you normally touch are leather, and everything else is vinyl that is the same color. Everything else is the outside back, outside arms and maybe the front kick panel.

There are two broad classes of leather:
1. Unfinished leather. This is about the top 15% of hides that are without blemish. Think of this as a stained and finished wood. The leather is dyed and may or may not have a protective coat of urethane or wax. These are generally a softer "hand," sometimes described as a "buttery" feel. They are, though a little more susceptible to damage unless well treated. For example, a non-top coated unfinished leather will be prone to body and hair oil stains. A wax pull up unfinished will be prone to scuffing and scratching.

2. Finished leather. This is leather that is "corrected" to remove scars and other defects. It is coated with a pigmented top coat. The analogy is a painted board. On top of the pigment is a protective clear layer. These are usually a little stiffer and have a little more durability. They are also easier to repair by a leather technician who can match the color and re-coat.

The ne plus ultra of leather furniture seems to be Hancock and Moore.

I get in at least 15 homes a week to work on furniture and see much more in showrooms and warehouses. Woman today kept apologizing for all the furniture she had. She said a lot of it was inherited from her and her husband's parents. Nice classic stuff in good condition. I'd choose that over some of the stuff that looks bad in 1 year and is trash in 5-7 years. I'm just not a serial decorator, nor am I trying to sell furniture here.