Custom desk table top advice

Relentless81 · 2 Feb 2021 at 22:23

Hi,

I have an existing set of drawers and I'm considering keeping them and making a desk with a custom table top and two legs on the opposite side

The issue is it needs to take a fair amount of weight so the IKEA Linmon won't do, can anyone recommend somewhere to buy a solid table top in white? It need to be a certain size to fit in an alcove so might have to go custom.

The legs will have to be adjustable to match the drawers, any recommendations for this please? And the best method to install the legs without completely ruining the table top.

Also, what does everyone do for cable management on a desk like this? There is no where to hide them!

Thanks

denigor777 · 3 Feb 2021 at 10:59

I cannot advise on the custom cut desktop, but regarding your cable management.point...

I have the IKEA 'Alex' desk. It has a cable tray built-in with hidden feeds hidden within at each end, and a clean 'access' for desktop cables to run into. My office is small, so I go for bright colours and this white desk fits in well.

I have a single power cable entering the desk/cable tray by the left side access, providing 4 power sockets (it's an extension cable). All my power blocks are within that tray too. Cables to my main PC feed out of the underside of the desk by the right hand side cable tray access. I therefore have no visible cable clutter at all either on or hanging under or behind the desk or on the floor. Easy cleaning and a super minimal look.

I have a USB hub, a USB KM switch and an ethernet switch all located/hidden in the right side drawer. Cables to them are run internally from within the cable tray into the back of the drawer (a gap allows for this).

Edit: posted a vid of my setup on youtube, search 'Alex Desk (Cable Management)'.

Relentless81 · 3 Feb 2021 at 12:25

denigor777 said:
I cannot advise on the custom cut desktop, but regarding your cable management.point...

I have the IKEA 'Alex' desk. It has a cable tray built-in with hidden feeds hidden within at each end, and a clean 'access' for desktop cables to run into. My office is small, so I go for bright colours and this white desk fits in well.

I have a single power cable entering the desk/cable tray by the left side access, providing 4 power sockets (it's an extension cable). All my power blocks are within that tray too. Cables to my main PC feed out of the underside of the desk by the right hand side cable tray access. I therefore have no visible cable clutter at all either on or hanging under or behind the desk or on the floor. Easy cleaning and a super minimal look.

I have a USB hub, a USB KM switch and an ethernet switch all located/hidden in the right side drawer. Cables to them are run internally from within the cable tray into the back of the drawer (a gap allows for this).

Edit: posted a vid of my setup on youtube, search 'Alex Desk (Cable Management)'.

Much appreciated thanks, I was looking at the same desk but unfortunately its been discontinued which is frustrating as like the clean look of it

Relentless81 · 4 Feb 2021 at 10:16

Nobody done anything similar?

daveyb · 4 Feb 2021 at 19:58

Haven't done it myself but I do know a guy who did his own setup similar to what you're considering and he has a vehement amount of hate for the Linnmon table. His advice is to get a proper solid wood countertop, I'd imagine places like B&Q or Wickes would have them, pretty sure B&Q have adjustable legs also. Probably best to wait for someone else who's done it to chime in with how to mount the legs.

As for the cable management, cable trunking perhaps? Most of the time they come sticky backed, if not double sided tape is relatively cheap. Stick it under the countertop, won't be able to see it unless you're looking at it from underneath. Can easily cut notches/channels into it to run cables out of it, might be a PITA to get them in initially though. Does beg the question of what you'll do to hide where they come in, though if I read it right you're also using a set of drawers in conjunction with the countertop so could probably just run them up the back of that then into the trunking.

Good luck with the project