Matt Credenza from Phloem Studio

Are some wood-grain patterns sexier than others? I don't know, but the patterns on this credenza from Phloem Studio are damn sexy (courtesy 2Modern).

Coffee Bench by Studio Beyond

Saw this via Contemporist: a wooden bench made of a number of different vertical pieces that could be rotated up or down to form table platforms or seats.  It was designed by Karolina Tylka for Studio Beyond, and was shown at the Interieur 2010 design bienniale.

Shogun Tavolo lamp by Mario Botta

I saw this lamp today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Highlights From the Modern Design Collection galleries.  It was designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta in 1986 and manufactured by Artemide.  (Botta is probably most well-known in America for designing the San Francisco Museum of Art's building.)  The light is diffused through two metal shades and creates some crazy light patterns (check out the images at Stylepark); the outer shade can be adjusted as seen fit.  I would love to upgrade the IKEA desk lamp I've had for 10+ years to this...

Cool stuff on Etsy: Custom cabinet knobs

It never occurred to me that cabinet or drawer knobs could be more than just a circular piece of wood.  But this Etsy user (PinkPomegranateCo) embellishes knobs with graphic paper and then seals them in.  Great idea.  Could add a nice, subtle flair to a room.

Furniture made from salvaged pieces of the Coney Island boardwalk

The Coney Island Boardwalk with wood (from Wikipedia)

For some strange and stupid reason, the City of New York has decided to replace the wooden planks of the Coney Island boardwalk with concrete.  Well, the reason given is that concrete will hold up longer, but that's not a very aesthetically pleasing reason.

Luckily, it seems that some of the wood from the boardwalk is being put to good use.  Olde Good Things has been salvaging the ipe wood that constituted the boardwalk and repurposing it as furniture, such as this handsome and sturdy mission style table: