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One way you can really impress your clients is to use leather for wall coverings and other vertical surfaces. Leather provides beautiful color and texture, added warmth, reduced noise, and exceptional durability. Previously, we published a step-by-step guide for our Wall Panels and Wall Tiles. With our Wall Panels and Wall Tiles, there are many ways to make each project unique with buttons, beveled edges, nail heads, and decorative stitching. Today, we're going to review a few additional unique wall covering options that are sure to impress your clients.

Cast Panels

Like the Wall Panels we discussed in our last blog, Cast Panels are made with an MDF substrate. Cast Panels, however, are different because we combine bold lines and shadow play with a routed design on the surface. Cast Panels come in different designs and styles. You can mix and match panels with a "V" or "X" pattern to create a unique layout or to draw the eye in different directions. Choose from three sizes and hundreds

Do you specify wall applications for your clients? Have you considered using leather wall panels or wall tiles for a project, but reconsidered because you thought it would be too complicated? If so, you have come to the right place. We make ordering wall panels and wall tiles easy. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your next wall installation go smoothly.

 Buckhead Tower | Cadence Angora and Caressa White Wall Panels | Designed by Niles Bolton Associates

Plan Ahead

Scheduling is one of the most important factors to keep in mind when specifying leather wall panels or wall tiles for your project. It is best to begin the planning stages as early as possible to leave ample time to consider all of your options, review quotes, receive payment, and allow sufficient time for production. One of the first questions we'll ask is, what is your due date? We recommend contacting us at least six months prior to installation, so we can help you throughout the entire process, from start to finish.

Glittering pearl and metallic leather colors are in high fashion. They can be found in clothing, accessories, handbags, and furnishings. Designers often ask us what the differences are between these two types of leather. While both have a special sparkle to add some flair to your designs, they are very different.

Pearl Leather

Pearl leather has a softer look and more subtle sheen than metallic leather. To achieve the pearl look, most pearl leathers have a liquid topcoat sprayed on the surface of the hide. We may add a pearl appearance to any of our existing semi-aniline products, including full hides of Shagarrett, by using this method.

In comparison, our Pearlessence leather has a specially formulated finish with a pearl additive. This combination pearl finish provides superior durability and increased water resistance. Pearlessence is available in full hide sizes averaging 55 to 60 square feet. It is suitable for any upholstery application, including high traffic areas. It is typically

Leather cleaning and proper care are essential to keeping your leather looking its best for years, decades, and even for generations. While leather is well-known for its durability and longevity, it still requires proper care. For 30 years, we've answered numerous inquiries regarding leather cleaning and maintenance. The method for leather cleaning varies depending on the type of leather, amount of use, and extent of wear. Here are our top leather cleaning tips.

Maintain Your Leather With Simple Dusting

In general, leather is a low maintenance material. You should wipe your leather occasionally with a dry or slightly moist, soft, clean cloth to prevent dust particles and other airborne debris from accumulating on the surface. Simply moisten the cloth with a small amount of pure water. Never use furniture polish, ammonia based cleaners, or harsh soaps. These products may damage the finish on leather. For best results, we recommend 3-in-1 Leather Wipes. These are safe to use on both semi-aniline

Parmenter Realty hired Niles Bolton Associates to renovate the main lobby of Buckhead Tower. The lobby had polished metal and stone throughout the space. The stone walls were too dark and created a lot of glare. The client wanted the lobby to be brighter and have a more contemporary design. Most importantly, the client requested minimal disruption to the tenants in the building. Josh Bass, the lead interior designer, and the client agreed that leather wall panels would be the perfect solution. Consequently, the design team researched other vendors, but found their products to be cost-prohibitive and their lead times too long. Ultimately, the client requested Garrett Leather. The client was very pleased with the vast color options, shorter lead times, easy installation, and exceptional service. Our Wall Panels were applied on the existing walls, with no demolition required.

Watch How Leather Wall Panels Improved the Buckhead Tower Lobby

Handcrafted in the USA

We make our Wall Panels at

Looking for a way to add branding to your leather? We can help. Garrett Leather can add your company name, corporate logo, mascot or graphic, tagline, or any combination to your leather. We offer two methods for personalizing your leather.

Branding with Laser Etching

One way to add branding to your leather is with laser etching. Laser etching burnishes the surface of the leather to create unique designs. This method works best for designs that feature fine lines. We recommend selecting a lighter color leather for higher contrast. For laser etching orders, you will receive center cut pieces of leather size 50" x 70". You may request smaller sizes as well. We will provide a strike-off for your approval prior to final production. Most of Garrett's leather products may be laser etched. Due to product characteristics, some exceptions apply.

Branding with Raised Embossing

Raised embossing is another way to add branding to your leather. With raised embossing, we make a custom mold and the leather

Microsoft hired ai3 because of their hospitality expertise and approach. Ai3 created new spaces for Microsoft's Technology Center, Customer Experience, and Employee Areas. The new space included a massive 52 foot curved wall. The design team considered other wall cladding treatments, but remembered seeing our 3D wall applications at BDNY. As a result, ai3 contacted us to discuss alternative options. We worked closely with Harcourt London and ai3 to develop a solution for this important structure. Microsoft and the design team agreed that Alpine Tiles were the perfect product for this project. The Alpine Tiles are a beautiful abstraction of a Georgia pinecone, which reinforced the design team's nature theme.

See How Alpine Tiles Transformed the Microsoft Space

Award-Winning Products

Garrett Leather was the recipient of the Best of Year Award  by Interior Design Magazine for 3D Wall Applications. In addition to Alpine Tiles, we also offer Cast Panels and Pitched Panels. All of our wall

With laser etching, lasers are used to burnish the surface of the leather to create beautiful patterns and designs. The ordering process is easy. Simply select the leather, color, and pattern. For a subtle appearance, we recommend selecting a darker color leather. For a more bold look with high contrast, choose a lighter color leather. Laser etching is done on 70" x 50" center cut pieces of leather. Garrett Leather offers two standard options of laser etching.

Lattice

The Lattice pattern consists of fine lines and elegant diamond shapes.

Lattice pattern on Avion Coal 

Lattice pattern on Pearlessence Smoke

Prism

The Prism pattern includes geometric shapes and triangles.

Prism pattern on Caressa Vellum

Prism pattern on Resilience Tiger Eye

Create Your Own Patterns

In addition to our two standard options, Garrett Leather may also laser etch custom designs as well. Simply send us your camera-ready artwork for a price quote. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact

While Garrett Leather maintains an extensive inventory, we also offer a variety of custom services, including color matching. If you cannot find the exact color that you need from our everyday offerings, please contact us. In most cases, we can make precisely what you need. The process is easy and we'll help you every step of the way. We begin with what we have as a starting point. From there, we can determine what color is needed. For example, sometimes we have the perfect color, but it is not in the right product for your application. We will work with you to create the exact color in the product you need.

Color Matching Success Stories

A designer originally specified Kenya Clove for hotel headboards. We suggested a more durable product for this specific application. Consequently, we made the same color in Torino, a water-proof and UV protected leather. Torino also has a 50% lower price point than the original spec. The customer was happy with the final product, savings, and superior

Leather is a beautiful option for areas such as yacht interiors, summer homes, and beach-side resorts. Create beautiful spaces worry-free with waterproof leather. Here are some helpful tips to help you select the best option.

There is no reason to shy away from using leather, especially waterproof leather, for spaces that are subject to the elements. Leather is an excellent textile to use for multiple applications, including outdoor use. While vinyl is a low-cost option, it may not always be the best solution. Below is a side-by-side comparison of leather vs vinyl.

Leather offers superior durability, flexibility, softness, and comfort. Furthermore, leather typically outlasts vinyl and fabrics. Therefore, it is a more cost-effective option in the long run. Now that we've established the benefits of using leather over vinyl, let's discuss water resistance.

Water Resistant vs Waterproof Leather

Leather is a natural, porous material. After tanning, semi-aniline leather receives a protective,