A familiar scene in the Benoit home: Peter paints at the Steelcase desk—"I do all my work here," he says—while Ando sits nearby, waiting for attention.
A familiar scene in the Benoit home: Peter paints at the Steelcase desk—"I do all my work here," he says—while Ando sits nearby, waiting for attention.
All of the interior furnishings were designed and built by LEAPfactory for this specific project. These pieces, including the reception desk, are made of laminated boards and the same reforested beech wood used in the school’s structure. A door behind the reception desk leads to a living room for the ski and snowboard instructors.
All of the interior furnishings were designed and built by LEAPfactory for this specific project. These pieces, including the reception desk, are made of laminated boards and the same reforested beech wood used in the school’s structure. A door behind the reception desk leads to a living room for the ski and snowboard instructors.
A black electric guitar, a vintage rosewood desk, and a side chair by Charles and Ray Eames sit at the foot of the stairs just beneath a photo of designer Barbara Hill herself competing in the 1956 Miss America Pageant.
A black electric guitar, a vintage rosewood desk, and a side chair by Charles and Ray Eames sit at the foot of the stairs just beneath a photo of designer Barbara Hill herself competing in the 1956 Miss America Pageant.
In the family room, cabinets open up to create an office desk. The steps on the left lead up to a mezzanine space that serves as play space for the children and a sleeping area for guests.
In the family room, cabinets open up to create an office desk. The steps on the left lead up to a mezzanine space that serves as play space for the children and a sleeping area for guests.
Blogger and stylist Annaleena Leino Karlsson has designed her 1950s farmhouse to have a mostly white interior. Her workspace is next to a rustic brick and stucco fireplace, which is adorned with cacti and decorative objects.
Blogger and stylist Annaleena Leino Karlsson has designed her 1950s farmhouse to have a mostly white interior. Her workspace is next to a rustic brick and stucco fireplace, which is adorned with cacti and decorative objects.
Franson Wreland also designed the court-yard and a pair of 160-square-foot outbuildings—one is used as guest quarters and the other as storage space. While residents Julia and Fatima Olivero-Reinius chat outdoors, Chippie the dog approaches an Asplund desk and a chair by LucidiPevere.
Franson Wreland also designed the court-yard and a pair of 160-square-foot outbuildings—one is used as guest quarters and the other as storage space. While residents Julia and Fatima Olivero-Reinius chat outdoors, Chippie the dog approaches an Asplund desk and a chair by LucidiPevere.
A 2009 Cedric desk by Kay + Stemmer occupies the study.
A 2009 Cedric desk by Kay + Stemmer occupies the study.
Each of the sliding trays in Pozner’s tidy office desk serves a different function.
Each of the sliding trays in Pozner’s tidy office desk serves a different function.
Borowski took what he archly calls the “Karl Rove approach” to the redesign: “Find the weaknesses and turn them into strengths.” A case in point: Pozner’s ubiquitous piles of paperwork. “These led us to design multiple sliding desktops,” fabricated by Paul Chung of New York Construction Associates and Supreme General Construction, with multiple sliding trays he could spread his papers out on.
Borowski took what he archly calls the “Karl Rove approach” to the redesign: “Find the weaknesses and turn them into strengths.” A case in point: Pozner’s ubiquitous piles of paperwork. “These led us to design multiple sliding desktops,” fabricated by Paul Chung of New York Construction Associates and Supreme General Construction, with multiple sliding trays he could spread his papers out on.
They used a deep-black hue for the room’s cabinetry and built-in desk.
They used a deep-black hue for the room’s cabinetry and built-in desk.
When other space is limited, don’t forget to the use the walls. In the kitchen, save countertop and cabinet space by using a magnetic spice rack. No room for a full desk in your office? Purchase a laptop cabinet or computer station that can hang on the wall.
When other space is limited, don’t forget to the use the walls. In the kitchen, save countertop and cabinet space by using a magnetic spice rack. No room for a full desk in your office? Purchase a laptop cabinet or computer station that can hang on the wall.
The complete line of WorkShop products, including limited edition items, is available now. New tools for work and brainstorming will periodically refresh the collection.
The complete line of WorkShop products, including limited edition items, is available now. New tools for work and brainstorming will periodically refresh the collection.
Rice surfs the net at the built-in desk.
Rice surfs the net at the built-in desk.
Anglepoise’s Original 1227 was launched in 1934, and is considered the archetypal lamp from the British company. The lamp took off where other contemporary task lamps left off, using a newly developed constant spring technology to create a lamp that was extremely flexible and adjustable, while also maintaining a consistent balance and stability.
Anglepoise’s Original 1227 was launched in 1934, and is considered the archetypal lamp from the British company. The lamp took off where other contemporary task lamps left off, using a newly developed constant spring technology to create a lamp that was extremely flexible and adjustable, while also maintaining a consistent balance and stability.
Lawrence Weiner sits at his daylit desk. The bare walls are perfect for tacking 

up new projects, and the steel ductwork gives the space an industrious feel.
Lawrence Weiner sits at his daylit desk. The bare walls are perfect for tacking up new projects, and the steel ductwork gives the space an industrious feel.
Maja's room is filled with toys and includes a little desk area for drawing and writing.
Maja's room is filled with toys and includes a little desk area for drawing and writing.
The top container contains Wardell's office—and a "napping nook" above that.
The top container contains Wardell's office—and a "napping nook" above that.
In the dining room, a Smoke chair by Marten Baas for Moooi keeps company with a glass-and-ceramic vase by Hella Jongerius and a mirrored steel painting by artist Michelangelo Pistoletto.
In the dining room, a Smoke chair by Marten Baas for Moooi keeps company with a glass-and-ceramic vase by Hella Jongerius and a mirrored steel painting by artist Michelangelo Pistoletto.
In collaboration with Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec the CPH90 desk is an attempt to create a range of educational furniture for the University of Copenhagen.
In collaboration with Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec the CPH90 desk is an attempt to create a range of educational furniture for the University of Copenhagen.
Both the sitting and standing versions of DESK 01, a collaboration between Artifox and IdeaPaint, are outfitted with dry erase surfaces for recording sudden bursts of creativity.
Both the sitting and standing versions of DESK 01, a collaboration between Artifox and IdeaPaint, are outfitted with dry erase surfaces for recording sudden bursts of creativity.
Flaunt your seriousness at work with the Concrete desk set by Magnus Pettersen. $600
Flaunt your seriousness at work with the Concrete desk set by Magnus Pettersen. $600
Glass furniture from the Diapositive collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Glas Italia. See it at Salone in Hall 16, Stand C23-018.
Glass furniture from the Diapositive collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Glas Italia. See it at Salone in Hall 16, Stand C23-018.
Each student room has a dedicated workspace that's clean, bright, and functional. Objects and furniture had to be carefully selected or designed to make the apartment work: for instance, the steel desk was custom designed by Wierciński’s firm to double as a radiator cover.
Each student room has a dedicated workspace that's clean, bright, and functional. Objects and furniture had to be carefully selected or designed to make the apartment work: for instance, the steel desk was custom designed by Wierciński’s firm to double as a radiator cover.
Chris designed a custom built-in desk in the den for Ellen, who often works from home.
Chris designed a custom built-in desk in the den for Ellen, who often works from home.
A built-in desk by NOEM FabLab folds into the wall when not in use.
A built-in desk by NOEM FabLab folds into the wall when not in use.
Desk and table lamps typically provide light in a downward direction, illuminating the surface directly below it rather than providing a general glow, which prevents them from often being used as ambient lights.
Desk and table lamps typically provide light in a downward direction, illuminating the surface directly below it rather than providing a general glow, which prevents them from often being used as ambient lights.
Gaps and openings between the handle-less, white oak shelves are functional and decorative, holding plants, books, and office supplies. Small touches, such as the matching color of the chair and the lower shelves, help accent the clean white surfaces.
Gaps and openings between the handle-less, white oak shelves are functional and decorative, holding plants, books, and office supplies. Small touches, such as the matching color of the chair and the lower shelves, help accent the clean white surfaces.
The Steelcase desk in the living room was a lucky streetside freebie discovered outside their old Oakland apartment.
The Steelcase desk in the living room was a lucky streetside freebie discovered outside their old Oakland apartment.
The Max-A studio is also built with a pine frame, though it has pine panelling on the ceiling, while the main house ceiling is painted a warm white.
The Max-A studio is also built with a pine frame, though it has pine panelling on the ceiling, while the main house ceiling is painted a warm white.
The typewriter shown here was a flea-market find.
The typewriter shown here was a flea-market find.
Key to the space-efficient floor plan is a strategically placed set of recessed areas, includingthe sleeping nook and writing desk.
Key to the space-efficient floor plan is a strategically placed set of recessed areas, includingthe sleeping nook and writing desk.
The newly released Original 1227 Brass Desk Lamp in Dusty Blue is both cheerful and sophisticated.
The newly released Original 1227 Brass Desk Lamp in Dusty Blue is both cheerful and sophisticated.
Now that you’re expected to work from almost anywhere—your sofa, an airplane, a rickshaw in Kathmandu—and your “desktop” fits in the palm of your hand, are actual desks still necessary? We thought it over, called in six of our favorites, and came away answering, emphatically, yes!

Desks are more than places to park your unopened bills or pound away at your laptop; they are receptacles for your creative dreams, holding the promise of inspiration and focused attention every time you pull up a chair. (And you can’t really say that about the kitchen table.) Check out 

six modern, stylish desks here. Photo by Peter Belanger.
Now that you’re expected to work from almost anywhere—your sofa, an airplane, a rickshaw in Kathmandu—and your “desktop” fits in the palm of your hand, are actual desks still necessary? We thought it over, called in six of our favorites, and came away answering, emphatically, yes! Desks are more than places to park your unopened bills or pound away at your laptop; they are receptacles for your creative dreams, holding the promise of inspiration and focused attention every time you pull up a chair. (And you can’t really say that about the kitchen table.) Check out six modern, stylish desks here. Photo by Peter Belanger.
The Oristand fits on any ordinary desk. Its dual levels measure 10-inches-by-25-inches, providing ample space for laptops, keyboards, and other office accessories.
The Oristand fits on any ordinary desk. Its dual levels measure 10-inches-by-25-inches, providing ample space for laptops, keyboards, and other office accessories.
This simple desk organizer is carved out of solid oak.
This simple desk organizer is carved out of solid oak.
The splayed leg design of this desk, made with powder-coated sheet steel, recalls the arrow of (you guessed it) a compass. Another one of his public sector design projects, these desks were originally constructed for the Cite International University in Paris. While his work for schools and other institutions had a social goal in mind, it also meant that the designer could realize economies of scale with larger orders.
The splayed leg design of this desk, made with powder-coated sheet steel, recalls the arrow of (you guessed it) a compass. Another one of his public sector design projects, these desks were originally constructed for the Cite International University in Paris. While his work for schools and other institutions had a social goal in mind, it also meant that the designer could realize economies of scale with larger orders.

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