HOT DESKS

WELL-CRAFTED, BUILT-IN WORKSPACES THAT CHIME WITH A HOME'S INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER ARE THE NEW WAY TO WFH

- Ellen Finch

Once a luxury, now a staple, home workspaces are increasingly integral to modern living thanks to the rise of remote working. But for the design-forward among us, this new way of working presents the chance to create a space that's in equal parts inspiring and conducive to work. And while there's still a place for an antique desk in our homes, designers are looking to a more permanent solution to create playful, interesting work zones: the built-in desk.

A built-in desk makes the most of the space available and allows you the freedom to create a useful workspace from an awkward corner,' say Alan Drumm and James Hoy of Uncommon Projects. 'Stand-alone desks tend to be larger so can be harder to fit in. A built-in desk doesn't have to dominate the space; it can be an extension of another piece of furniture, like a bookshelf.' 

Hideaway designs are ideal for smaller homes, but as architect Ben Allen tells us, "Things that move are notoriously complex to engineer, so making something bespoke along this vein won't be easy.' His own home features a more lo-fi approach, with a fold-out desk that slots into place; there's also a high desk in another room, which runs along the wall and widens as it blends with the windowsill. If you want a fold-down design, he recommends Pith & Stem. Their desks are quite elegant -as narrow as a unit, but when you fold it up, it looks like a picture,' he says.