Good advice, thanks. I would like to retain the original leather top, but the sides are not salvagable. So, my plan is to make a new top with 1/4 x 1.5" oak sides with a 1/4" plywood top with the original leather glued on top, and butted up to the edge of the oak trim around the sides. Does that sound like a good plan? The original leather has lots of character as you can see.