10 Desks That Do the Job With Character

A functional desk that enables good workflow is vital for any businessperson, household organizer, student or crafter. All the better if that desk's design offers as much inspiration as it does utility.

Here are 10 desks that add extraordinary form to an otherwise ordinary function.

Marble. This custom-made Carrara marble project desk has three beefy slabs, making a big impression — it's perfectly proportioned to the spacious white and gray room.

The pieces were fastened together onsite. "It had to be," says interior designer Dayna Flory. "Each piece is extremely heavy."


Drafting table. Though a drafting table isn't ideal for holding a laptop, its ergonomic angle, not to mention its tilting design, make it an intriguing addition to an office that could benefit from multiple workstations. It's great for architects and artists.

The 1920s French version here ties in with the room's decidedly vintage flair.


High gloss. If you want your office to make a fashion-forward statement, a high-gloss desk like this one may be just the ticket.

Shown here in a project by House & Homes Palm Springs Home Staging, the desk is part of the Mobital Stark Collection. It features brushed stainless steel legs and a crevice for books, files or artwork.


Antique. Interior designer Jenny Zalkin refurbished this antique desk found by her client at an antiques warehouse in Connecticut. The shape lends itself to the balcony's unusual curve and the ceiling's angles. "We refinished it in lacquer and topped it with Edelman leather with a metallic bone finish for a more refined appearance," Zalkin says.


Barely there. This Lucite desk from CB2 was chosen for this room because of its near invisibility.

"It's located within a busy open floor plan in plain sight of the kitchen and family room," says project designer Shirry Dolgin. "We needed something that would take up little room from the walkway it stands in, as well as something that wouldn't compete visually with the surrounding elements."


Custom reproduction. Designer Niki Camerin wanted to give her client a remarkable desk, one that had not only a distinct appearance but historical significance. This piece is a reproduction of campaign furniture, popular with the British military when they were colonizing foreign lands. "While such pieces were generally made of mahogany," notes Camerin, "I made this one with white lacquer and a leather top."

Bronze handles adorn the front drawers and sides. Those side handles are an important detail for an authentic look, as the original pieces were carried around by hand.


Simple sawhorse. This desk is great for an industrial setting, such as this loft in the Los Angeles Arts District. It's made of a 1-inch-thick piece of acrylic, 36 by 60 inches, set on two sawhorses. "There's no adhesive or anything," says interior designer Caitlin Murray. "The Lucite just keeps it together."


Library-like. Interior designer Kate Duckworth had this crafting desk custom made to meet the client's exact wishes. A stone top creates a smooth, durable work surface, while deep shelving hosts a library.

Speaking of libraries, the desk's drawers to the left of the chair emulate the card systems found in libraries of yesteryear.

Tip: If you're designing your own desk, play around with the look of the drawers. For a project like this one, only you'll know if those are 20 small drawers or two larger drawers decorated with many handles.


Leaning. Scandinavia is known for its simple designs. This desk by Scandinavian Designs is no exception. It has a no-frills appearance, a 34-inch-wide work surface and shelving. Add as many matching 20-inch-wide shelving units as you like for an office setup in any room.


One of a kind. This man cave wouldn't be complete without a desk that captured its owner's lively personality. Designer Hilary Phillips gave her client the ultimate desk: a red Corvette.

Check out more great desks in the Products section

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