I Want To Buy A Nice Writing Desk - What To Consider?

[Shangas]

I know that...but it still might be tricky.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow's bargain hunting!!

[Shangas]

I've made my decision. It's either going to be this...

 

http://www.tudor-rose-antiques.co.uk.php53-2.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/productimages/early-20thc-oak-pedestal-desk-3-L.jpg

 

...or similar. Pedestal desk with pull-out extensions.

 

...or this...

 

http://www.achome.co.uk/antiques/photos/Roll%20Top%20Desk.jpg

 

Which I get, will depend on...

 

- Which I find first.

- Which one is in better condition.

- Which one is a better price.

- Which one is the right size.

[mmg122]

Shangas...I didn't think I'd have much use for a file drawer either...buttttt...found it to be a great recepticle (home) for my ever expanding ink collection. Good luck to you and your Dad on your desk hunt.

[Shangas]

We're out tomorrow hitting the antiques wholesalers and antique/second-hand/retro furniture stores to see what we can find.

[Shuttlebug]

Sorry for not replying sooner. The writing surface of my desk is 14"x28".

[Shangas]

That's fine, Deb. Yeah rather small for what I'm after. I'll stick with a rolltop or an extendable pedestal for now, depending on which one I find first/is better condition/price/quality/size etc.

[Oranges and Apples]

I use this thing and I love it. I didn't get it at that price thought, so that might explain why I love it so much but I find it to be a very nice desk.

 

 

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/desks/bestSellingSolutions?productId=11000024&N=62830

[Shangas]

Went out today. Didn't find anything that I liked.

 

I saw two drop-front desks. One was pretty decent-sized, but the interior arrangements didn't suit what I might use them for.

 

The other one was smaller, plainer. And painted a horrible shade of baby sky blue.

[JKelly]

@JKelly the smaller of the two desks that you posted, does it have a key for the locking mech? It looks similar to the desk I just purchased.

 

No. Sadly, it doesn't have a key, and it looks like the lock will be very difficult to remove to change out or examine to cut a key.

[my63]

Is this anywhere near you my geography is no good in the UK never mind Australia

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Oak-Rolltop-Desk-/291424348603?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item43da3ea9bb

[my63]

This is the desk I bought after being inspired by this thread.

If you can remove the lock and open it up I would be happy to help you to make a key it is not as difficult as you might think

[Shangas]

It's very near to where I live, Michael. But I have no way of getting a desk like that without a truck. Which I don't have. It's tricky.

[my63]

It's very near to where I live, Michael. But I have no way of getting a desk like that without a truck. Which I don't have. It's tricky.

Hey that was a good guess.

In the UK we can rent vans by the hour, there are also man with van adverts in the local paper might be worth checking your local paper.

it is a lot of desk for the money.

I would also not rule out the blue painted desk you have worked with wood a heat gun or tin of paint stripper will have that paint off in no time then you can finish it how you want.

Good hunting

[pen2paper]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Antique-Period-Writing-Desk/281653439768?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30067%26meid%3D680a1e6db0f84491be7df072e14c1512%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D291424348603

what about this one?

[kansaskyle]

Went out today. Didn't find anything that I liked.

 

I saw two drop-front desks. One was pretty decent-sized, but the interior arrangements didn't suit what I might use them for.

 

The other one was smaller, plainer. And painted a horrible shade of baby sky blue.

 

Sounds like my luck this past weekend.

 

I did finally get my bride to decide on a type of desk she thinks will work -- a secretary style since it has a small footprint. We looked at some really big desks I could use to combine writing stuff and computer stuff, but she didn't like any of them.

 

My search for a desk may very well end up in rearranging three rooms in the house! This would involve moving my son's bedroom, repainting the bedroom I use as a home office, and moving my current work stuff twice -- once short-term, and finally into my son's current bedroom. I'm hopeful she will stick with the simple, small secretary desk rather than the larger task to move everything around and giving me back the large L-shaped desk.

[kansaskyle]

Shangas - how goes the desk search?

 

Mine resulted in what I feared -- I spent the weekend repainting a bedroom that was my office, and I'm currently at the dining room table for work and writing. Maybe by this time next week, I'll have the old media room repainted that my son was using as a bedroom, we'll have the front office moved to that room, and I'll have an L-shaped desk in place for my computer and writing stuff.

[Shangas]

Nothing as yet. Current situation doesn't allow for active furniture-hunting. Big disappointment.