Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with desk

Seeking a table for behind our couch to act as desk

forthright — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:46:42 -0800

Furniture filter: we are looking for a specific table for behind the couch that we saw in a vacation rental house years ago, but have still never seen something close enough for our purposes in a store, nor in on-line searches. I suspect we are just not looking in the right places, so I am prepared to feel stupid. Details within. In the rental house the table was behind the couch at approximately the level of the top of the couch back. It was a heavy metal frame with glass top but had *no* cross bracing, so you could pull up a chair to the table and work at it (given an adjustable height chair or stool) without having something in the way of your knees or feet. We have also occassionally seen something like this in hotels, but never in stores.

For our purposes the table should be approximately 60 inches wide, 32 inches high and 18 inches deep. It does *not* have to be metal and glass.

Note that many of the tables we see in stores have cross bracing or are not deep enough (intended more for a flower vase than to sit at and pay bills with your laptop). Or they are too deep (more like dining tables). And of course we are *not* talking about low coffee tables (even though I know there are some that have tops that can pull up to a higher level). We are basically just looking for a flat table of a specific width, height and depth with four legs and nothing else.

We have wandered all through our local Ikea, furniture stores, furniture sections of Department Stores, etc.

The way our room is laid out we just think this kind of table would be best, and we'd be willing to believe it doesn't exist if we hadn't seen one in existence!

I don't have the skills to build a furniture quality piece. I suppose we can consider having one custom made, but before we go that route I thought I'd see if my MetaFilter friends could help out.

By the way, if there's an official term for what I am describing, please lay that on me too.

Where to find desk and office pretties?

alpha_betty — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:35:47 -0800

Where to find pretty and unusual desk and office accessories? I'm about to start a new job with a new desk and a new area to decorate. My old job did not allow for much personalization, so I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I want to accessorize my desk with pretty, colorful and professional items (e.g. pencil cup, business card holder, etc.) that coordinate, but have run into a wall when it comes to where to buy these items. I'd like to find something more unusual than the typical black, leather, or wire mesh things you see in most offices. Aside from SeeJaneWork and Red Stamp, what are some online shops where I might find what I'm looking for?

GLASS + INTELLIMOUSE = FAIL

SirStan — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:47:59 -0800

Glass desk from Staples; Microsoft Intellimouse; Horrible mouse tracking -- how to fix? I have big hands. Its not a ZOMG STUPID BIG HANDS embarrassing feature, but its a fact. I love my (3rd gen?) Microsoft Intellimice (the one Microsoft recalled due to the shitty cable). I wont admit it -- but there may or may not be a small horde of them in my closet. Seriously -- it fits my hand like a dream, its decently professional looking, and functionally complete.

Mouse aside - I have a glass surfaced desk that I purchased from Staples (it has a blue/green solid surface under it -- its not translucent, but its still glass).

The two do not get along. At all. I have been taping paper to the mousing area for years.. but I have been killed enough times in Counterstrike because of it -- made enough errors in photoshop because of it, and generally feel like it mistracks enough that I need some help with this setup.

I am not adverse to a mousepad -- but I want it no thicker than a piece of paper -- and smooth on the edges. There should be no way to accidentally slit my wrists on my desk like some mousepads do.

Looks are nearly irrelevant -- but I wouldnt mind it looking nice.

My ideal solution would be something that sticks to the glass (so it cant move), is amazingly tactile so the mouse doesnt mistrack, but isnt overly resistant to mouse movement (I hate mousepads in general).

I am about 15 minutes away from ducttape and 1500 grit sandpaper.

Thoughts? Is there a laser mouse thats "big", a slim, 8x11 mousepad with edges that will not slit my wrists (ie, arent as high as the mousepad itself) .. or a howto on sanding your glass desk?

A desk with doors?

The corpse in the library — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:44:36 -0800

Can you recommend a specific secretary, armoire, or rolltop desk that will hold (and hide) a large-ish computer? DeskFilter! My situation:

- The desk will be in the living room, and I have small children. I would like the desk to have doors of some sort, so I can close it off and make it less tempting.

- I'm tall, slouch, and want legroom (I bang my knees on most armoires). My current desk is 30" front-to-back, which is great.

- I have an iMac, which stands 19" tall. It's thin, but too tall for the rolltops I've found.

- I'm in the USA, near Seattle.

- I don't want to design or build the desk myself (no time, no skills, no time to learn the skills).

Cheap, sturdy, modular desks, can it be done?

Phyltre — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:35:11 -0800

Looking for a modular, reconfigurable desk--that will incorporate a miniature home theater, among other things. Your help needed. (In a hurry? Just read the bold bits.)
Okay, so I spend most of my (free) time and money on my home computer. Perhaps too much. Because of this, I really need to restructure my desk space. I have a ton of equipment, and a reasonable amount of space to work with; (okay, let's just say all my previous bedrooms turned into a giant desk with a bed in the corner) but at this stage of my life I move around a lot. So a monolithic desk would be extremely inconvenient (and not configurable, stackable, or movable, either.)

Basically I need a home for a midsize LCD monitor, keyboard, fullsize tower, Harman Kardon audio receiver, a center speaker, largish uninterruptible power supply, large mousepad, large ergo keyboard, and a small steel mesh desk organizer. And the space immediately surrounding the space will have floorstanding surround speakers, as well as other audio equipment and what have you. The catch is, everything shelving-wise needs to be modular, very stable, and open front/back for airflow /wiring. Sort of a combination desk and audio component rack, with modular shelving and stackables. This setup would be easy if i could just buy a huge one or two piece desk with overkill shelving, but that's not an option. I'm almost certain to be going with multiple pieces, a desk plus some sort of rack or shelving. Cube shelves look nice, but most seem either extremely shallow or closed in back (i.e., useless.) And let's not forget, all this stuff is rather heavy so I can't use flimsy stuff.

And, err, I don't have a ton of money. I can't really spend more than $~150-200 at a time, although this will be modular so that's not too much of a limitation. But seriously, why do audio racks cost so much for such simple furniture?! Anyone have advice, suggestions, etc? Please no glass desks/shelving, i don't trust them as far as I can throw them. Which isn't far. Also, due to mobility concerns, wall-mounting not feasible.

Helpful links I've found so far:

IkeaHacker
Google: Cube Shelving
LOVE it but can't afford it
Perfect style, wrong dimensions/format
Virtually perfect but insanely expensive

Where to find an awesome folding desk?

raygan — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:40:17 -0800

Where can I buy an awesome, folding, secretary-style desk with a closeable writing surface? I need a new desk, but I want something small that I can close up to hide my mess.
I kind of dig this one because of the size, price, and good reviews, but I'm not a huge fan of the ornate carvings.
Space-wise, I'd just like to be able to put my laptop in it closed, shut the desk, and leave it charging. I don't mind drilling cord holes. I've been to several furniture stores in my area and they don't really carry this sort of thing; in my town people all have mini-mansions and want BIG furniture. IKEA's options didn't really suit me either, they are all either too tall (It's going in front of a window that I don't want entirely blocked by an 8' cabinet) or too flimsy (PLASTIC hinges to hold up the writing surface!? Insanity!) Also, most everything was designed to hold a computer tower and large monitor, and I don't need anything like that.
Where can I find a descent looking desk without scouring antique stores and paying $900? I have a budget of up to about $350 but prefer to keep it to around $250.
I live in Houston, TX.

Where can I find a modern white desk?

hazyspring — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:40:55 -0800

Where can I find a modern white desk? I want a white desk. I've been contemplating the Ikea Galant Corner Desk because it's white and L shaped, but ideally I would want something that looked slightly more upscale.

Any ideas? I wouldn't be opposed to buying something unfinished and painting it in white lacquer. So far I've looked at all of the usual places, Pottery Barn, CB2, Crate & Barrel, and West Elm and haven't found anything I liked.

Devil Wears Prada Lamps - show me the light

Extopalopaketle — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:59:06 -0800

Lighting fetishists help me! Looking for the desk lamp from "The Devil Wears Prada" Already checked Google and searched AskMe... what are the desk lamps shown in "The Devil Wears Prada"'s office scenes? ie Anne Hathaway and coworkers' desks at the magazine.

I remember they were Poulsen / Henningson-like white glass shades, but on a longer articulating arm. I've checked Poulsen's site and the closest was the PH2/1, but it doesn't have the longer articulating arm, like that of a task lamp.

...or am I remembering the lamp incorrectly?

Is my Ikea desk killing my MacBook Pro hard drive?

fenriq — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:47:19 -0800

Bizarre Hard Drive Failure Filter: Is it possible that my desk from Ikea is helping to send my hard drive to an early grave? Okay, I know this is going to sound insane but here goes. When I use my MacBook Pro on my desk the hard drive will soon start whining and screaming and sounding like it is about to explode. When I use the same exact computer on my table in the kitchen, it is almost perfectly silent. I can use it on the table in the kitchen for hours without even a slight whine. But within minutes of placing it on the desk from Ikea, its like there's a helicopter in my office.

The noise gets so loud I can't hear my television. And right now, on the kitchen table, it is almost silent.

Can anyone make heads or tails of this?

The sound does occur far less frequently when I use the computer while laying in bed and it sits on a pillow (these suckers run HOT!) but it appears that the issue is exacerbated by the desk.

Anyone have any insights? Yes, it is under warranty and I have the box ready to send it back to Apple but I'm pretty they don't use Ikea desks and they may not be able to replicate the problem.

Disk Utility says the disk is totally fine but I found I cannot upgrade to Leopard because of some failure (can't remember now) and I did try it several times.

The joys of a well-stocked desk

onshi — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:55:31 -0800

WhiteCollarFilter: For the very first time, I now have a desk (and office!) to myself at work. What handy, practical, useful, or fun things should I keep at hand? I'm not really seeking desk toys and the like so much as the kind of creative, thrifty, perhaps unexpected objects, tools, and supplies you've found useful over the years. I've got some of the basics covered, including:

Misc. medicines (Advil, Tylenol, Pepto, etc.)

Tide detergent pen for lunch spills USB charger(s) for my mobile phone and iPod

Water pitcher, kettle & mug for making tea and a cache of snacks (granola bars) and diet cola to save money and so I don't have to carry as much with me on the way to work each morning

A small amount of cash (mostly change)

A backup umbrella

Lens cleaning solution and cloth for my glasses

Ideas?

How to figure out the desk height that is good for you?

wfrgms — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:02:05 -0800

From a ergonomic and comfort perspective, what measurements do you look for in a computer desk or work area surface? Specifically the height? I'm in the planning phases for building a desk into an odd shaped area of my apartment. Once it's in I won't be able to change the height (without a lot of effort.) I'm also planning to mount my LCD monitor to the wall over the desk.

I'm wondering if there are general rules or guidelines for positioning desk surfaces for comfort and use. What surface height is most comfortable for typing and mousing around? At what height do you like your monitor positioned? Suggestions regarding posture, distance from keyboard or monitor, and anything else I'm not thinking of are also welcome.

I realize this is very subjective, but I'm trying to get an idea of what other people look for in their optimal setup. If it helps I'm 6'1".

Thanks for any suggestions! :-)

How to build this desk?

mekanic — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:00:00 -0800

How hard would it be to build this desk? I've never built anything before. Any advice (including, "Forget about it.") or suggestions (like use this kind of wood or this kind of technique) would be appreciated.

In what ways can I mod/hack my desk ?

carefulmonkey — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:23:12 -0800

I'm building a desk for my home office and I could use some help on how to personalize it. I'm building the desk by using two different cabinet bottoms I've purchased from the Habitat for Humanity Restore. The desk is going to be about five feet long since I need room for my different computer and video stuff. I could use some advice on what to add to it, the only thing I've seen is the pegboard external holder wall.

Where was this desk online?

folktrash — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:11:37 -0800

Lost Link: I found a super splendid sexy aluminum desk online a while back and now it is lost! It is brushed, a simple "n" shape, with a smaller "n" inside that slides out for the keyboard. Something like "one desk" or "slim desk" maybe? All my googlage is for not. The photos show it with an imac naturally. Can anyone reclaim my sanity?

ergonomic desk: help me be a stand-up guy

grumblebee — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:58:29 -0800

I want to stand up while I program. Please recommend a desk. Requirements:

-- main surface large enough to hold two 22" monitors.

-- monitor stand must be adjustable so that screens are at eye-level.

-- keyboard/mouse area must be adjustable.

-- my boss will probably balk at something over $500. He'll nix anything over $1000.

Fun desk chair?

lemonade — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:38:18 -0800

I need a 'decorative' desk chair. It doesn't have to be too comfortable, it only gets used for occasional filing. But it is in a bedroom, so I'd like for it to be fun and modern. Ikea is the only place I could think of to look, and I'd like some more options. Thanks!

What kind of plywood should I buy fo a desktop?

robotdog — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:15:58 -0800

What plywood is guaranteed to be straight and rigid? i.e., suitable for use in furniture construction? I have never built anything before, but getting into the idea of carpentry and wanting to build this very-easy-to-make desk:
cheap desk

My problem is I don't understand all the wood choices at my local Lowe's... there seems to be so many different types of plywood and particleboard and mdf... some of the plywood is clearly warped and bowed... some of it appears to be relatively straight and rigid.

Since I want this to be a desktop I, obviously, want something that will not bow or sag.

How do I choose a plywood that will give me a flat, straight surface and will continue to do so after years of bearing weight?

Can you help me find a new desk?

Tacos Are Pretty Great — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 10:14:39 -0800

Can you help me find a new home office desk? I just want a large, well-constructed, reasonably attractive horizontal surface. I don't care about drawers at all.

Something like Crate and Barrels' Parsons Dining Table would be perfect, if only it were a bit smaller. The width of it is perfect, actually, but 42" deep is a bit absurd for a desk. 32-36" is probably the max.

Any ideas on where I can find a nice, overpriced slab of wood?

Outstanding online furniture stores for medium to high end furnishings?

Bob Dobbs — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:50:23 -0800

Hi All, I just moved and have a new job that will, fortunately, give me the opportunity to purchase nice furniture for the first time in my life. I'm more into modern designs, but with a quality touch. If there is a manufacturer that makes super high quality, modern stuff that would be the ticket for me. Anyway, I'm looking for online stores to shop on. I'm looking for literally everything a typical two person home needs. We currently have no furniture save a recliner, so we need a lot! I'll admit I don't know the first thing about design, furniture history, etc. But I do want to learn. The ideal shops will offer quality and education. I'm not looking for IKEA or super cheap options. Basically, just give me some links of some kick ass online furniture and furnishing joints!

Looking for articles on how to have a professional-looking desk.

Wylie Kyoto — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:52:09 -0800

How do I help my boss urge some of my co-workers to clean up their space? I am trying to help my boss put together a memo urging some of my co-workers to clean up their messy desks. She's looking for some positive, upbeat wording online that would help guide these folks that are stacked up a mile high. I've looked at the career sites, but to no avail. Googling "professional desk appearance" brings up a lot of furniture, and "desk appearance" brings up a lot of legal stuff. I'm not looking for organizational advice from you all, per se (if I were asking for myself, sure!) but if you know of any kind of article that would have something like this, or could help point me in the right direction, that would be much appreciated!

help me plan the ultimate 'me' office/work space!

stormygrey — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:09:43 -0800

Constructing a floor to ceiling desk/bookcase/close/organizer thing, but I don't have a good idea and need some help. My office is renovating and i got hold of lots of great solid wood paneling. Have you seen the shot of the hallway in House? That is it. It is all solid wood that is 1 inch thick. I have about 12 pieces of 25 inch square pieces, 4 25 inch by 50 inch pieces, and one piece that is 10 feet long. The room in question is 11 x 11, with only one unadultrated wall.

One wall has a window in the middle, one has a door at the outer edge, and one has a small built in bookcase that is in the corner next to the door.

so what am I looking for, well for one a shift key that works, but other than that, some good inspiration galleries, first hand experiences, and perhaps some free software that will help me plan this all out. Actually, we have a deck and a shed in our future, so buying software as long as it is relatively useable would be fine too.

thanks!

Computer desk "mod"

Shakes the Clown — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:21:38 -0800

I saw a computer desk "mod" a couple of years ago, that I have been unable to find again, despite "Googleing" for hours. It involved combining a computer desk and the internal components as one . . . using PVC pipe for the frame and mounting the internal PC hardware, hard drive, power supply, etc., on the computer desk itself . . . making it easier for people who frequently futz around with their hardware, to change hard drives, CD drives, etc. faster and easier. Has anyone else seen this and can you point me to it?

Monitor madness!

zackola — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:08:19 -0800

What widescreen monitor will work well for me? Here's the situation.
Home setup: 17" NEC 1770NX 4:3
Work setup: 2 17" Dell 4:3 monitors.

I really like having the dual monitor setup, so I'm going to upgrade my home rig with another monitor. I think I want to go widescreen for the main monitor, then have my 4:3 NEC set up vertically on one side. What's the largest widescreen monitor I'll be comfortable using with a viewing distance of 18" and taking the second monitor off to the side into consideration?

It is not possible to increase my viewing distance to the monitors as my desk depth is only 20". FYI, I am thinking about one of the Dell WFP models. Thanks!

looking for a comfy 'kneeling' chair.

psyward — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:44:15 -0800

Can someone help me locate a certain type of chair? I'm looking for a certain type of chair that i've seen quite a long time ago. I've drawn it from memory in mspaint, and a few of you are probally sitting on one.

I'm in australia, so if someone can recommend a vendor or atleast give me the name of the type of chair so i can track it down, ill be grateful.

Moduar Furniture Experience?

bodega — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:21:32 -0800

Has anyone had experience ordering furniture from Levenger.com? Or know of any modular office solutions similar to Levenger's "Euro Desk System"? We're about to make a big ($2K-$3K) furniture purchase -- assembling a "home office nook" in the corner of our living room. We've measured twice and are ready to cut. We've found what we think we want on levenger.com (a variant of this setup), but they don't appear to have any showrooms near us (NYC). The neat thing for us about this furniture is that we're able to it lay it out to exactly fit our space. But we are hesitant to complete the purchase without the opportunity to do all the things one does when physically examining furniture. (touch it, "get a feel", verify the measurements, and so on.)
Can anyone:
* Vouch for Levenger?
* Suggest other venues for similar, but more easily try-out-able furniture stores that specialize in modular/component furniture pieces? (Levenger's "Euro Desk System.)
(Neither of us are carpenters, and time is an issue, so no "build it yourself" or "have it built yourself" suggestions please". )
(Also, this is my first AskMe, so I hope this is an appropriate Q.)