wood

Last week I bought this antique leather wing chair at an antique shop in San Francisco. I'm kind of obsessed with it! It has so many amazing features like nailhead trim, turned-wood arms, a ladder back, and of course, tufted leather. Its leather cushion is also worn in and a little cracked, which is the well-loved look that I'd been seeking.

When I bought it, the leather was a little worse for the wear, the nailhead was dusty, and the wooden legs were scratched up. After spending an hour or so sprucing it up, it's looking mighty fine, I must say. If you have a new old leather and wood chair on your hands that could use a pick-me-up, I have some restoration tips for you.
Here's what I did to get my sexy seat into shape:

• First, I removed the seat and vacuumed every nook and cranny to get rid of dust and other particles.
• Then, I slightly dampened a clean rag and ran it across the surface of the nail head and wooden trim to reach dust the vacuum couldn't. Then I ran a clean, microfiber cloth across the leather to pick up dust on the cushion and tufts.
• To restore the wood and conceal scuff marks, I purchased Old English Scratch Cover for Light Wood. To use it, begin by applying the solution on a clean, white rag to the scratches and dents only. When it dries (in only a few minutes), apply the solution to the whole surface of the wood, continuing to add more of the scratch cover to your rag every few swipes. Make sure not to let it touch your rugs, upholstery, or other textiles.
• To repair the leather, I picked up Lexol Leather Conditioner, which is revered among furniture refinishers and autobody professionals. It extends the life of the leather by restoring oils and keeping it soft and supple. First, test it in an inconspicuous spot. Then, apply the solution to the entire surface of the leather with a clean cotton rag. Let it be absorbed for about 20 minutes. Then, buff off the solution with another clean rag, and voilà: conditioned as a whistle!

You have plenty of choices when it comes to laptop cases, right? So what would make you want to go with the Blackbox MacBook Pro Case ($129)? Well, style for one, and two, it's just plain cool.

The Blackbox exterior is made from solid oak for serious protection, while a soft and smooth inner felt lining ensures that your 15- and 13-inch machines stay scratch-free. It will add 1.5 pounds of weight to your book bag, but if you're a light packer (meaning you don't carry everything and your kitchen sink out to your neighborhood coffee joint), you shouldn't notice that much of a difference.

See more images of the lovely natural cases when you read more.

The hottest material in tech accessories isn't techy at all! Wood accessories (and even wood gadgets) are popping up everywhere. My latest favorite? These Karvt Wooden iPhone Skins for iPhone 4 ($25). Each skin is made from eco-friendly wood (bamboo, cherry, maple, pine, or walnut) and consists of both front and back panels for your phone, leaving all of the important buttons, ports, and features accessible.

The skins come in nine different wooden finishes, from a light natural pine to a deep chocolate walnut. How classy would your wood-dressed iPhone look with a set of these gorgeous wooden earbuds?

Check out the full range of wood finishes after the break.

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member Bunnyhorse from the Lovely Little Vignettes group:

This old yellow wood has since been repurposed into part of a shelf, but I liked the way it looked against the vintage silver chipmunk in my kitchen. Someday when I have a place with a yard, the chipmunk might once again return to the outdoors.

Be sure to share photos and details of your own home décor arrangements in the Lovely Little Vignettes group!