>>> Color - it's a really hard color to get a handle on, I took photos of the underside of the seats to see what it used to be. I'd love for it to be a beige/neutral color... What do you recommend?
The time to decide the color appearance is better after all stains are removed.
The darkest remaining stain then becomes the lightest color you can go with to camouflage it.
Since the original is aniline, redying with the same color type retains the value of the leather whereas if restored with a pigment simply downgrades its value.
Comparing the two different color types, aniline is transparent while pigment color is just like paint, opaque.
To achieve a lighter color range using aniline dye will require higher skill and using even a small airbrush like Paasche Airbrush will produce a professional result.
Color intensity is built with layers, and 'what you see is not what you get' until you are there with layers.
A good understanding would be a test out with watercolor on cardboard of your desired color shade if you are talking about beige/neutral color.
Anyway from your picture the beige/neutral color is not possible with your existing color.
After degreasing, pH balancing, hydrating, and fatliquoring, the faded color will be intensified more than the present faded appearance.
Unknown spots and stains have to be identified after degreasing and removed accordingly then you determine the darkest spot would be the reasonable color to go with to camouflage them.
>>> but I think I might be better off going a touch darker, more like tan.
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Antique-Brown is a mixture of Dark-Brown, Red-Brown and Yellow.
From the color shade above it has the ability to stretch from right to left by the number of layers is applied.
The second row shows the color concentration has been reduced with a 'Clear' and can further stretched by layers too.
Since the color is transparent we can see the overlapping darker tone, which gives us extra creavity to create a textured 'salvage' appearance using hand technique.
To produce an even appearance would require even a small 'Paasche Airbrush' to produce a professional result.
Let me know what you think about the color decision.
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Roger Koh
Leather Care System Formulator
Consultant / Practitioner / Instructor / Coach
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