The Desk ~ Part I

So, this is now partly gone. There are probably a few of you who are sad to see it go because it's one of the most favorited photos of mine on Flickr but it just didn't work for me any longer.

I spend so many hours on the computer at work and at home and after standing at the desk at work for eight hours I added another few at the standing desk at home and needed an option where I could sit down. Also I've had the need for more desk top space for when I use the Bamboo and when scanning negatives and for more time consuming crafts. This had to be done at the dining table before and I hated to bring everything I needed out there and having to clear it away before dinner.


So the first thing that needed to go was the dresser that stood in front of the window. That now resides in the boat room.


Then we started to dismantle the unit we built earlier. Turns out it was pretty well built and more solid than we remembered so a what I thought would be a minor dismantling job became much bigger endeavor.


After everything was disassembled I could do a little test drive with the pieces that were to stay. I decided that there would be a narrow unit for the muji drawers to the left and then we debated whether to keep the slot for the gift wrap rolls to the right along with the other mujis but as you know we already we ended up skipping those.


This is what we came up with instead, some shelves. It was at this point where we started thinking maybe we wouldn't put the top part of the original unit back up again as we had planned because it looked so neat with that blank wall above the desk top.

It did mean there would be a little bit less storage but I'm always game when it comes to purging so I sorted my belongings and decided there where quite a few things that could be donated and quite a few things that didn't need to be stored here but could be in the storage room instead.


I know I'll get comments on the radiator and the desk top covering it so I took this shot to show you that there's a cut out in the desk top below the window where hot air can escape upwards. Yup, that radiator could do with another coat of paint seeing it from this angle, but one never really does, this was for your eyes only.


Another little rad detail (rad as in radiator, not as in cool) is the round hole to the left. It allows for a hand to reach the thermostat knob. It's also almost invisible in the room because if you want to see it you'll have to step inside Martins closet. That's where I was.


And since I'll be sitting here with my lap top from time to time I added a "permanent" cable for it. I got a second one (the one that came with the lap top is hidden away in the home office) and disguised it and the lamp cable with a "sock" on one side  and a plastic cable tube on the other. It's what I had at home and it will have to do for now. They are both white and that's what matters. The black chunk can't be seen unless you're on the floor looking up and I somehow doubt that Mini and Bonus care.
 

And finally, here it is! We salvaged part of the desktop and the sides and one of the plinths and added the rest. I love it already at this bare stage. Stay tuned for a more styled version.         

Comments

[dinah]

LOVE IT
can't wait to see the rest. you guys are so handy and imaginative! and also you're very brave and daring for disassembling something already awesome and replacing it with something equally and possible more awesome!

Tiny question though.. it looks like there's cords next to the radiator (in the picture with the open space for the heat to come out).. wouldn't the heat from the radiator damage the cords or did you devise something for that too?

[Anne]

OMG I am so envious!! I won't have the space to have a working area until Märtha moves out. Come to think of it I might not have the energy to do any craft work / writing at home until she does. There you go then... all part of a divine plan that fits. :)

[Agnes]

I could not believe it! LOL I understand why you made a change! I love how the light meets your new desk now! Love it too! Hope you are having a nice vacation and thank you so much for entertaining us every week day!!! I would miss it to much if you did not : )

Agnes

[tilda b. hervé]

you are really a hardworking girl!! i think it's much more comfort for the working area than before.

[NancyV908]

Wow. Even though I was in awe of the old version, I still can't wait to see the rest of the new version. I'm especially interested in seeing what stuff stayed & what you purged, given the reduction in storage space.

[sara]

Amazing, Miracle Girl!!

[lisa h.]

Awesome, Benita! It's nice that you'll have a good view out the window too.

Can't wait to see the finished space.

[Nichole@40daysof]

Your family's endless ability to re-use and re-think amazes me.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

It won't. See, these radiators are not electric and don't get burning hot. They are cast iron, the kind you can dry your socks on in winter :),oil filled and get warm but not super hot.

[Linda]

Hejsan! Jag har följt din blogg ett bra tag och trots det har jag aldrig tagit mnig tiden att skriva ett inlägg om hur fantastiskt inspirerande jag tycker att den är.

Det senaste tipset som fick mig att le saligt var skrivbordsstolen du fixade till. Toppenidé!

Du får ha en toppenvecka i sommarvärmen.

[Petra from NL]

LOVE the bare space as well. Curious to see what you will come up with.

[Skooks]

I did love your old space, but I'm a person that needs to spread out more as well, so I can understand re-thinking it. Can't wait to see the finished space.

[Julia]

love it! very neat :-)

[valeria]

Love the light and the vintage chair with the modern desk!

[la marmotte]

i really like your blog
you always have fantastic ideas !

likkes from brittany
la marmotte

[la marmotte]

t was "kisses".. oups...
;-)

[jonie]

i like the new workspace...more desk area to work on...where will the storage unit goes? i hope you can used it in some other part of your house and show us all in another post.

question? have martin ever complain that you are always changing things around? or he is a happy man helping you around?

/jonie

[devil]

I loved the old desk, but I'm sure I'll like your new one even more. A desk is more about being functional than pretty, so whatever works best is the more attractive in my mind.

That window gets awesome light, doesn't it?

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I kinda liked the likkes :)

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

The top storage part will not go anywhere right now. I'm going to take it apart and save the pieces in the garage so I can reuse them for other projects later on.

Martin doesn't complain about design issues, we have similar tastes. He's more frustrated about not being able to find something I've moved from one storage area to another...

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

It does! I'm looking out at our apples trees which are right outside.

[Messy]

Thank god. I'm glad you have become the person sitting down doing the crafts and the writing, instead of standing up. :-) I loved the old craft corner, but even looking at it and imagining all the work you do there made my feet hurt...

It's beautiful, can't wait to see the rest, and I completely understand you need more space and a chair. Congratulations, looks like a great job already!

[Jennifer S.]

So far, so good. I will miss the cubbies, though. I love your attention to detail.

[jonie]

i really like that window seat....it will be so nice to look out during winter...the snow...the weather etc etc...

i hope that table will not be too glaring with too much sunshine...:)

[Down Comforters]

Can't wait to see the rest!

[Jen]

Benita, could you be persuaded to do a tutorial of this new desk? It's EXACTLY what I need in for my computer area! I am NOT a carpenter but think I could follow some instructions. I would really appreciate it (and I'm sure I'm not alone!)

[jody]

Love the new desk so much more (and I was in love with the last version LOL). Can't wait to see it finished.

[jenn ski]

aw sad to see it go :(

[dinah]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH I see! :) Thanks for the super quick response!

[jja]

You manage to stand and work on PC for hours? Wow!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I'm going to have to ask Martin if he'll do a drawing of how to assemble one because he's so much better at that than I am. He and Wille just left for a week at my MIL's though so it may take a while until it's done if he's up for it. We decided not to take photos of the process since so much was recycled and wasn't really built from scratch this time around.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

It has to do with the IBS. Standing stretches the stomach while sitting for longer periods will make it worse. After standing for so long though it's nice to have the option to sit down :).

[ajkunz@comcast.net]

I love it as well - beautiful! What kind of material is the desk top? Thanks! Amanda

[margarita]

Wow, that desk blows me away! Hope you can talk Martin into a tutorial.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

It's double thickness of 18 mm MDF stuck together with wood glue and clamped together and painted.

[Monique]

thank you!
Trop curieuse de découvrir endroits comme celui-ci
Puis-je te joindre dans mes liens ?
Bonne soirée

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Bien sur, pas de problème!

[Tracy]

love yr DIY projects. love yr white stuff too :) we don't DIY much in this part of the world but reading yr blog makes me feel like i've done alot myself ...lolx...