It is a bit confusing when it comes to leather - there's terminology like "aniline" and "natural grain bovine" ...which can make sofa shopping even more frustrating. The leather we suggest for most families, and commercial settings is a very durable corrected grain bovine which is available in alot of colours. It's called Millenium range as happens to be the best priced leather also: https://www.strictlycomfort.com.au/leather-range BUT if you're after something very soft, and more natural looking, perhaps you would like this style of leather: http://www.leatherco.com.au/colours/upholstery-leathers/furniture-interior/laguna/3/12/80 We can custom make any of our sofas/chairs/ottomans in any leather or fabric. They're all made here in Sydney and our designers can help with some suggestions & provide quotes. Hopefully this helps a bit!

The most kid and pet friendly couch material is leather. So far our blue leather couch has coped with 18 years of toddlers falling asleep and weeing on it, cat vomit, Easter eggs melting between the cushions, spilt milk, spilt orange juice, spilt red wine, spilt coffee, and muddy dog paws. It just wipes clean. Our white leather chair is just as durable and is now 24 years old and just starting to look grubby. So go with beige or cream if you want. It would be a lovely choice, just make sure it is leather. Black or mid or dark brown would also look lovely with that beautiful rug but I think lighter colours would look fresher. Don't be at all scared to use light coloured leather.

True. It is all about taste. I think the production cost of leather is probably why it costs more. That is true about spills. But forget biro or what cat claws can do to leather. I adore the look of leather- especially tan/caramel and don't get me started on the chesterfield I covet! Alas not for me again. Haunted by the self-awareness of the sweaty patch from a summer afternoon!! No I didn't (pee my pants), really!

Paint the walls to a fresher (but still warm white eg Dulux natural white), run natural linen sheers all the way across the wall that the window is on with the track above the window close to the ceiling. This will trick the eye into thinking the whole wall is a window and the natural colour & texture will complement the couch. You could still keep a block out blind behind the sheers to control the light. Linen and in winter wool cushions and throws will work with leather. I would go texture over colour or prints- cream, oatmeal etc for linen cushions & perhaps adding slightly darker to chocolate tones for winter. If you use feather inserts for cushions that will look and feel much softer against the structured style of the sofa. You could then add a large artwork if you wanted to add colour to the space.