Oak, Workspace, Walnut, Storage, Ventilated, Bespoke
Oak Workspace
This bespoke oak workspace was created for a home in Lewes, bringing together the practical requirements of a modern office with the feel of a permanent piece of furniture.
The design was shaped from the outset by the behaviour of solid timber. Oak, walnut and oak-faced birch plywood were combined with hidden fixings, ventilation and cable management to create a workspace that feels simple above the surface while working hard underneath.
BRIEF.
The client wanted a generous home workspace with integrated drawers, concealed cable management and discreet storage for computer equipment.
It needed to feel like furniture rather than a conventional office installation. The room also has underfloor heating, which made the natural movement of the solid oak worktop and the way the furniture met the floor particularly important.
CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS.
The solid oak worktop sits in a room with underfloor heating, so allowing the timber to move naturally was the biggest technical consideration.
Elongated fixing slots and carefully planned expansion gaps allow the worktop to expand and contract while remaining securely held. Nothing is visible once assembled, but the detail is essential to its long-term stability.
Electrical sockets behind the drawer unit were made accessible through a removable, magnetically held panel painted to disappear into the wall. The computer cabinet was slatted and raised from the floor to encourage ventilation and allow warm air from the heating system to circulate freely beneath it.
THE MAKING PROCESS.
The desk began with detailed measurements of both the room and the client’s working setup. The arrangement of the storage, equipment and worktop was then developed around those requirements, but the construction itself was governed by how the materials needed to behave over time.
The cabinetry was made from oak-faced birch plywood for stability, while the full-stave worktop and supporting leg were made from solid oak. The leg was traditionally joined with mortise and tenon construction, and handmade walnut dowels were introduced at key junctions to create subtle dark shadow lines between the oak elements.
During the workshop build, the movement slots, cable routes, recessed magnetic catches, equipment ventilation and removable access panel were all integrated before assembly. The complete desk was dry-fitted and checked before installation, then carefully assembled on site with the correct expansion allowances and recessed rubber feet to avoid fixing through the heated floor.
“Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship, we're extremely happy with the care and attention throughout the project. Thanks so much!”
- Sara Stindum, Lewes