If it looks good and is in good condition I'd clean i appropriately, or have it done professionally to protect the leather. I think it's a cool piece and the original leather definitely makes it more valuable.

There was one that sold at an auction reciently for a little over 300, and you'd pay about that to have it recovered in fabric... more for leather. It depends how much its actually bothering you but from the pictures it doesn't look too horrible. I don't think you have to worry about destroying an important or expensive piece -- however you would be spending more then its reasonably worth to have it nicely and professionally recovered.

On an unrelated note, I really like that rug in the photo & was wondering where it's from.

it'd be gorgeous recovered in white cowhide, but it'd cost quite a bit, especially to mimic the tufting/pleats of the original (which are an essential element of the design).

why does black leather feel bachelor-esque to you? would a Barcelona chair feel the same? I don't mean that in a snide way at all, I'm just curious :)

I know what you mean about the black leather. How does your husband feel about it? If he's very attached to the chair, given its story, but doesn't like the leather, I'd say pay to have it re-upholstered if you can afford it - even if it doesn't make sense as an investment. Or maybe rather than spending a lot on re-upholstery you could just hide a chunk of the leather with a folded throw draped on the back of the chair, and a nice big cushion.

It would be a shame to recover this chair.

There have been all these negative posts on AT lately about black leather and how bachelor-esque it is. This is news to me. I think it's so classic. That chair is a classic of mid-century Japanese design. It's not super valuable (yet) but it's definitely got value. And having original leather upholstery adds a lot of value. I wouldn't reupholster it. , Leather can be restored/repaired, too, if necessary. That's what I would do.

I agree with the others - the black leather looks nice, and it would be difficult/expensive to re-upholster this well enough to do justice to the design. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but the condition doesn't look that bad from here. Cool chair.

I love this chair and it's story. My God, your father-in-law basically slept with it.. and the ottoman.. all the way across the Pacific. It is a great story!

But if it doesn't fit into your decor right now, it just doesn't. You could try a throw or maybe lambskins to soften the lines. Or, what about storage? But I wouldn't change anything.

Maybe a man cave is your husband's future, and said man cave will be even cooler with his Dad's chair. And your kids... they will all fight over it when they move out on their own. Really :-)

I think it's a lovely chair too and worth repairing, especially with its history.
Maybe if you put a pretty pillow and/or throw on it, it'd be less bachelor-esque and more boudoir and you could live with it better.
Or consider moving it to another room if available.

Love, love, love the chair.

Another vote for clean and repair. Plan B, pass it on or sell it to someone else who will keep it as is!

Please don't recover that chair it is SO cool and does NOT look like a bachelor pad chair! This coming from a single, very feminine woman. I like the idea of throwing a sheepskin on it or maybe a hide pillow.

Seriously still don't understand the black(/brown) leather=bachelor-esque. Maybe it's a conspiracy by women who dislike both black/brown leather and reminders that their husbands were once not married to them? XD

I'd say: black leather, dark brown leather, black fabric, cream fabric (wool felt?) I think a pattern would compete with the rug. Or, you know, since this area is sort of monotone, you can just pick a color you like, but then you might have to thing about the green rug in the background, and meh.

Seriously still don't understand the black(/brown) leather=bachelor-esque. Maybe it's a conspiracy by women who dislike both black/brown leather and reminders that their husbands were once not married to them? XD

I'd say: black leather, dark brown leather, black fabric, cream fabric (wool felt?) I think a pattern would compete with the rug. Or, you know, since this area is sort of monotone, you can just pick a color you like, but then you might have to thing about the green rug in the background, and meh.

I, too, love it as is. I spotted one of these rockers (no ottoman) last year but couldn't stomach the $2,000 price tag. But what you have is a great heirloom.

I think the chair is great and whatever your feelings on the state of the upholstery, it will probably be uber expensive to re do.

I think I might understand the bachelor black leather thing, whether or not I agree. I think when a lot of people think of bachelor/black leather, they are thinking of this http://www.amazon.com/Sofa-Couch-Double-Black-Leather/dp/B00252H162

I personally think that, not some swanky Hugh Hefner/Don Draper black leather bachelor thing. Two cheers for the latter; no comment on the former.

@ Celestina It looks the new Masai rug from West Elm. I wont link to it because the link will die eventually. Just google it.

I love this rug and would totally buy it if it wouldnt look so dark in my space. West Elm should make a version of the Masai in brown or red.

@hunted & smellykelly
lololol

Heh. One of my male single friends bought a couch with proportions like smellykelly linked, but it's in a sort of hunter green chenille. XD Come to think of it, when we got the couch (4 of us had to help transport and wrestle it up a winding staircase to the third floor T.T YOU'RE NEVER MOVING FROM THAT APARTMENT, MY FRIEND) I think he specifically avoided getting leather? I'll have to ask him why. (But I suspect it's more because of the price than anything else....)

It is such a great chair as it is... I would oil the wood and repair the leather to keep the tear from growing. I like the black leather - it is timeless. And I love that it is worn-in - but not beat-up. It has history.

Thanks everyone....lots of great comments and way to put the leather in perspective. Some of you will be happy to know that I am going to repair the tear in the ottoman and have it cleaned, keeping the black leather :) Will find a super cute throw or pillow to accent it, that should be enough. I appreciate the information with regards to the manufacturer.

The rug is indeed the Masai rug from West Elm. Beware, it has been shedding a LOT - waiting to see if it stops.

I only think black leather looks bachelor-y when *all* the upholstery in the room is black leather.

I'm glad you're going to repair and preserve it.

Yaay for Mary!
Many more happy years with the chair; maybe you will slowly take it to your heart in all its loveliness :-)

I don't think this piece says bachelor-y, just vintage. It would look great in another color of leather, or a solid fabric. The repair would look fine too. I make custom upholstered furniture and would charge $400.00 to reupholster both pieces.

What a neat chair! Glad to hear you're keeping the black leather, not because I feel you must be faithful to the original design (it's your chair now), but because I happen to like it as is. I would like to add, however, that I disagree with the suggestions to add a throw. A smallish, simple pillow would be ok, but I think a throw would obscure the graceful lines and minimal aesthetic. If you do place a throw on it, I might suggest a small sheepskin. Current popularity aside, I like them because they hang well and are super warm, whether on your lap or under your bum.

Get it professionally repaired and cleaned. I agree to use a small elongated pillow to pick up the colors in your room or a throw. This is a wonderful chair - and with a good story.

Actually, I would let the leather age and the more aged and "worn" it gets, the better it will look. It would be so cool as a vintage piece placed in an eclectic library or office in the home paired pieces from other genres. Don't touch it! It's great!

Yay, "Save the Chair" worked!! ;^)

I think it looks great with the rug and what I think I see of your sofa. The dimensions make using a pillow or throw a little problematic, but if it were in my house, I would USE a throw (something drapey like chenille) to be cozy, so I'd probably get one in a nice accent color (red??) and kind of gather it so it "gracefully" hangs over the back, down the side of the back, and fans our just a bit onto the seat. (Naturally this condition is staged and temporary, so USING the seat effects this!)

I really like Asian decor, and I can also envision a small rectangular pillow, the width of the chair and half as high as it is long, covered in a bright red Kimono style print fabric. Something mid-century or very graphic, but in your accent color of choice, might also work.

Some day you will probably be happy you made this decision!!!

It's got a great combination of yin and yang, history of provenance, and goes well with your rug. A small throw pillow in a fabric/color will lighten it up. Good luck!

Don't do a thing to it, but, you could give it to me.

It's beautiful as is. If the leather needs attention then take it to a leather professional. If it absolutely needs recovering, then re-do the black leather.

Not sure what to do with it? Donate it to my living room remodel. ;) But seriously, I'm glad you've decided to leave it as is. It's a wonderful piece and your children will be fighting over it when they move you into the nursing home.

maks - Glad to hear you're repairing it and using a throw pillow! That's exactly what I was going to suggest :)

It's beautiful as-is (not masculine) but a throw or a pillow might help tie it in with the rest of your decor.

Beautiful chair!

It's hideous. I'll be so kind as to take it off your hands. ;)

Maks...did your Masai rug ever stop shedding? I bought one a few months ago and still debate returning it because it sheds SOOO much.