METCHA | the oracle of leather design culture.

METCHA | A global initiative aimed at taking leather-oriented stories into the spotlight to reflect today's generation's view of design and culture.

About Us Contact Us Instagram Facebook Twitter Spotify Pinterest Youtube Vimeo Google News Giphy RSS

Designed to surprise, built to last.

You gotta see Croft House's approach to leather furn.

Furniture dropped by California-based manufacturer Croft House is immediately recognizable in the industry for one unique reason: a never-been-done-before approach to leather.

Since 2010, the practice has been designing and producing on a local scale in Southern California, building each piece by hand with intense detail. With each creation individually crafted to fit a client's need, the modern world of mass production is quickly forgotten when interacting with their made-to-last-work ― conceived to be lasting in both material and design.

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a couple sitting in a living room with leather furniture

Applying premium quality leather in extraordinary ways, Croft House releases a variety of classic furn pieces with a twist ― where you can often expect wood or metal, you'll be pleasantly surprised with the texture of supple, genuine leather, immediately adding a distinct edge of upscale timelessness.

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a dinner living with a table with chairs in leather detail

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a living room with leather furniture

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a room with leather furniture

You see a piece like that in the room and think: “I can relax here”. It’s the ideal combination of comfort and statement furniture design.

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a living room with the brown leather Sierra Chair

We chatted with two of their execs on how they transform cutting-edge visions into functional, quality pieces. Scroll for a talk with co-founder Riley Rea and EVP of brand + retail Kari Streib.

Croft House takes pride in using only the highest quality of materials available ― what are your standards for selecting the most sustainable & premium leather options?

It is important for us to source reputable vendors who can work with us to develop custom leather dyes, textures and finishes ― specifically for our furniture line. Premium, full hides are used on our pieces ― we do not source engineered or second quality hides. For example, for our Latigo Dining Chair, the leather back and seat need to withstand daily wear and tear ― a poor quality leather will simply not stand the test of time.

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a brown leather chair

Your use of leather in traditionally all-wood pieces is an exciting twist on familiar furniture such as the credenza ― how did the idea come to be and what message are you trying to convey?

At a time when we were primarily using wood and steel, incorporating leather allowed us to explore new details, colors, and textures not previously possible. Leather adds an unexpected softness, the Carter Bed is a great example of this. The leather headboard panel gives the bed dimension and accents the larger field of bleached maple.

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a bed with leather materials in the headboard

How does the nature of leather allow you to apply the material in unique, experimental ways?

The structure of the thicker hides allows the leather to be used as a form rather than simply a finish. For example, the shelves on the Latigo Console are slung leather secured into a sleek, sheet steel casing with rivets.

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - the Latigo Console with industrial steel and leather

Do you consider your exclusive leather technique to be the big differential that sets your practice apart?

Definitely. The success of the Bronson and Rivera Sofas can be attributed to the unique leather and steel pillow detail. Saddle leather straps that hug a blackened steel bar are attached to the pillows and draped over the back of the sofa. This detail is what our customers comment on the most, apart from the comfort, of course. It’s also become an instantly identifiable detail to look for on social media and design magazines.

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a living room with a white leather sofa

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a living room with a grey sofa with leather details

How does your creative process change when creating exclusive pieces that are individually crafted for a specific client?

Custom pieces inherently come with unique concerns, and those problems lead to creative solutions ― which in turn yield new design opportunities. In fact, we offer our signature Sierra chair in two leathers based on a customer request.

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - The Leather Sierra Chair with industrial steel and leather

How does your identity differ from other brands operating in 2021, who choose to take the "fast fashion" approach and prioritize production and quantity?

When we design we do not think "will this be easy?" Our design process is intentionally slow. We take our time to carefully conceptualize designs before building a prototype. Our work is made to be timeless in both material & design ― what's the use of long-lasting pieces if nobody wants to look at them anymore?

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - The Bronson Desk made with industrial steel, leather, and birch

METCHA - Croft House - leather furniture - a man working at The Bronson Desk made with industrial steel, leather, and birch

That's a mic drop. 🎤

Meet more time-transcending creatives at our [metcha originals].

== "image") == "image") --}}