Custom desk - what would you want?

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Caporegime
Joined
13 May 2003
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Location
Warwickshire
Hi all

I'm building a "custom" desk next weekend and am starting to order bits and bobs for it. I'm basically canvassing opinion on what people would want from their fantasy desk if they were starting from scratch and could spec it any way they wanted. Useful features, etc.

So far on the list:

- Oak worktop, 2000 x 700mm, already purchased (router marks are invisible from the top)

- Cable grommets, to be purchased from eBay

- Cable trunking x 2 from IKEA (700mm each), to be purchased

- Alex drawer unit, 700mm high and will support the non-battened corner of the bench

- Brushed chrome leg as a support

Also on the shopping list are things like a white LED strip underneath, velcro cable ties, and I might make a recessed / flush pen and stationery holder.

What other things would you include? My monitor is wall mounted so no need for a shelf really.
 
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I went with an oak worktop and am very pleased with it. If anything I wish I had gone for a slightly wider worktop, but that's not a major problem, as 720mm is still plenty of space. The next size up was 900mm and was too expensive.

You'll probably find you wont need any support in the middle. Mine is 2 meters wide and just has a leg at each side and there is no bowing after over a year. Unless you are going to be putting something heavy in the centre it shouldn't need one.

Them cable trunking things look great. Will have to get one of them for mine as the cables are a right mess. Other than that I can't think of anything else I'd want.
 
I'm boring and just bought a 160x80 ikea galant top + T legs.

cba to build it until I decorate though...

Maybe I'll add to it over time with other parts/accessories from the galant range that fit together
 
This is my Galant from Ikea:

I bought the accessories to hang your computer tower under the desk but two years later still haven't fitted them.. :( Between those and two sets of drawers that would pretty much just leave enough space for my legs.
I'm thinking about getting a monitor arm or bracket to hold up the three monitors and give me more desk space too.

First of all I have to sort out the wiring situation though.

VORAPMg.jpg
 
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Not sure I get the point of the 'hang your tower' accessory anyway. My current desk has a hanging tower tray but it might as well be on the floor. Nothing goes underneath it.

Thanks for the post about the oak desk Mark A. Good to know I should be OK without any centre support.
 
Key things for me would be:
-Large surface area (space for dual monitors, printer, tower etc plus random stuff)
-Easy access to feed cables through from below/behind etc
-Shelving on top (got used to this now on my current desk)
-Lightweight (easy to move if necessary)
-Easy to slide chair under
-Stable (i.e. no big vibrations if hit)
-Built in fan for cooling computer/user
 
I've just been reminded that I didn't follow this up.

This is the end result:

kYFRCvh.jpg


Got a piece of dark oak worktop from eBay for £70 and basically bolted it to some battens which were screwed to the wall with about ten heavy duty plasterboard plugs.

Underneath:

2LbIsSVl.jpg


Building:

XGq3puBl.jpg


Oiling in the garage with Osmo top oil (great stuff):

c2ydPBtl.jpg


Thanks for the input.
 
Turned out really well that. I'm tempted to strip the oil from mine and stain it darker after seeing yours. I left mine as plain oak and it's gone a little yellower than I'd have liked after putting the oil on.

I thought I'd already commented on the finished desk, but might have been in another thread.
 
ci_newman said:
You bumped the thread for that? :confused:
Click to expand...

Because it is so awful to bump a thread which was only a month and a half old and had barely any posts, just to compliment someones work when nobody else had? :confused:

Have another thread bump of similar time-frame. Nice work OP! I might consider making my own. :cool:
 
Love it, Im thinking of buying a Galant....for not much more could get exactly what I want...I hate the Galant legs.
 
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