5 Leather Furnishings to Spice up Your Home

Mention leather furniture and any number of styles come to mind: An English Chesterfield in oxblood leather with rolled arms and tufted back sitting majestically in a library complete with brandy snifter; a black leather piece circa 1980s paired with glass and chrome that screams “Master of the Universe;” or worse, a tatty leather Barcalounger with duct tape repairs.

More recently, tailored midcentury modern styles with minimal leather cushions in tailored teak frames have fallen in and out of favor. And then, the slightly slouchier bohemian looks that add caramel delight to neutral palettes with a preponderance of greenery. Right now, we’re grooving on Italian throwbacks from the 1970s à la Mario Bellini and Tobia Scarpa.

We’ve pulled together five pieces in classic cognac-colored leather that riff on the past and look straight to the future, from serpentine seating sections from De Sede to a channel-tufted Nespresso coffee machine from Giobagnara.

The pared-down, leggy look of these tripod tables packs a functional punch without foregoing refinement. Designed by Matteo Zorzenoni for Bolzan and made in Italy, the Gabri tables’ leather-bound frames with subtle topstitching and semicircular notches recall desktop accessories of an analog age. The dark tops with touches of chalky veining are thoroughly of this century: Made from Neolith, they’re temperature-resistant and waterproof, so go ahead and place your martini where you will. Small, about $1,144; large, about $1,715

As the textile industry makes technological advances, traditional outdoor furniture made from iron, wicker, and teak seems ever so throwback-y and, dare we say, inconvenient and even uncomfortable. Gandia Blasco’s Mediterranean roots and architectural approach shine in its Onsen collection of garden furniture. Luxe synthetic-leather straps wrapping a tubular stainless-steel structure paired with long-wearing cushions in a similar shade lend new life to the idea of living with leather outdoors. From about $2,915; soft mat about $410, warm mat about $535

Giobagnara’s leather-encased Nespresso machine with vertical- or diamond-quilted detailing is genius in its unfussy application. The leather suits the product; the design channels the look of a luxury Italian sports car. The brand began with the Bagnara family producing household items in 1939, before moving into the luxury realm in the ’70s. Giorgio Bagnara changed its name to B. Home Interiors in 1999 and to the eponymous Giobagnara in 2014. If you like your home appliances with liberal leather detailing, it’s one to follow. $5,220

Given Philippe Malouin’s propensity for experimentation, it’s no wonder that Swiss furniture firm de Sede took a whole new approach in manufacturing Malouin’s DS-707 design. He began by noodling around with foam, folding it this way and that before settling on the serpentine shape. Although the silhouette made de Sede wary—creating it required the team to manipulate leather in a manner that could leave it less supple— the project prevailed with great success. The system itself invites experimentation as customers can configure the components to their hearts’ content. From $7,205

Fun house–meets-Baroque in this softly symmetrical, wall-mounted mirror that playfully beckons you into another dimension (and will bounce beautiful fall light around the room). Designed by Viola Tonucci, who took the reins of Tonucci Collection from her father last year, the thick, leather-covered frame introduces architectural interest and a hint of levity to a room, be it traditional or modern. $5,310