There’s something about a roll-top desk that dates back to the 1800s and I’ve seen them used for everything from display cases for vintage collectibles to storage for home office supplies. However, an enterprising home-based entrepreneur had the best use I’ve ever seen for a roll-top desk.
He was a bit of a handyman and built the desk himself. It had a classic look built from oak with drawers on the sides and a beautiful antique looking roll top. Modifications he made included replacing the drawer under the desk with a pull-out keyboard tray that locked into place. The desk was also slightly shorter in height to be ergonomic for the keyboard, and slightly wider to accommodate space for a printer and monitor on the desk.
The most interesting change was the drawer and storage space under the desk. To the right it had three small drawers and to the left, it had a door that opened to a place where the computer’s CPU rested. However, since a CPU cannot be locked in a closed space because it could easily overheat, he cleverly designed a lattice for the back of the CPU space. There was also an opening in the back of the table where the wiring could exit and run down through the lattice to the CPU. If you needed to insert a CD or DVD or plug something into a USB port, all you had to do was open the CPU door.
The best feature, in my opinion, was that when he stopped working for the day, all he had to do was turn off the computer and lower the desk top. Suddenly, his living room was a living room again. The roll-top desk was an attractive piece of furniture and she didn’t have to be reminded of unfinished work every time she looked at it. For anyone who has worked at home, the home office can be a tough taskmaster, always willing to finish just one more task.
If you’re a work-from-home person, this could be the solution to the ever-present reminder of work interfering with your personal life. You don’t have to be a carpenter either. It is possible to have a similar desk built by a local cabinetmaker or buy one already built. It is much cheaper than rebuilding a room in your house for a home office.
