Monkey Tail Desk

45″x22″x59″, walnut ply

This fun, compact desk – with its book cubbies, pencil slot, hinged top, and built-in “monkey tail” lamp – was cut out, joints and all,  from one and a half sheets of walnut ply on a CNC router.

The top opens and closes like an old-timey school desk, with a special tensioned hinge that keeps it from slamming.

Joinery made on a CNC machine has all these funny “dogbone” shapes, because the router can’t cut square inside corners. The strangely shaped mortises become a design element.

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Admiral’s Desk

60″x31″x29″, mahogany, alder, and cocobolo

A peerless slab of crotch mahogany is complimented with exposed joinery, tapered legs, and two small drawers.

The client’s chief wish was a beauitful piece of wood. When I found this wide slab of crotch-grain Belize mahogany, I knew we had it. The natural hole can double as a catch for computer cords!

A detail of handcut dovetails and gleaming exposed tenons.

“Admiral’s Desk” 60″x31″x29″, mahogany, alder, cocobolo

Brass pulls lend a naval air to the piece.

The drawer bottoms are cocobolo veneer.

Piano Desk

58″x18″(widening to 32″)x32″, walnut

Nested solid walnut tables allow an electronic piano to be pulled from underneath a desk.

The client’s idea was to design a desk that a whole electronic piano could slide out from under. A pull-out tray, like those for computer keyboards, would have been too flimsy, so I designed two desks that nest, with one on wheels.

Mechanical slides and casters smooth the movement of the inner table.

The tables can also be used separately. Note the truly huge dovetails.

The smaller table includes some of the craziest walnut grain I’ve ever worked with.

Desk and Cabinet

61″x33″x29″, walnut, tamo ash, and birch ply

This asymmetric desk features a bookmatched solid top, long drawers and hanging file folders, an extendable keyboard shelf, and beautiful exposed joinery.

Here’s the whole set, including “Desk and Cabinet”, “Mahogany Chair”, “Beehive” and “Printer Stand.”

Surprise! The somber exterior is relieved by the whimsy of brightly-tinted tamo ash drawers.

Bright green finger joints in birch plywood.

Dovetails strengthen the solid wood carcasse while mitering helps the desktop seem to float.

A detail of gorgeous exposed tenons and under-structure.