Does anyone have any pics or resources for some type of kitchen office set-up? We are at the first planning stage, and are not sure exactly what to do with an eight foot long wall in our exisiting kitchen, but are curious about a small desk big enough for a monitor and printer surrounded by regular kitchen cabinetry.
I have had trouble finding anything specific, but I know there are some pics to be had out there . . .
Anyone?
Replies
Rick,
Dont know specifically, but you could probably get some great ideas in 'Build In' books. You can find them in the area of a bookstore where the woodworking, finish, or trim carpentry section is.
Taunton has some titles on 'built in' furniture.
-zen
Thanks for the reply; I was trying to be cheap, not buy any books (or even brose, for that matter) and hope someone had a pic or a resource to fall in my lap :)
Mike,
Can you help?
-zen
Zen, funny you should ask. Worked late tonight getting a small desk installed so the painter can get started tomorrow. You should come down here to work man.
The first three pics are of a desk in a very small space where every inch counted. There wasn't room for a standard file drawer so I made a mini-lateral file. The files slide on an 1/8" aluminum bar notched into the drawer sides. The keyboard tray slides out and will accomodate a laptop or keyboard. Two grommets in the top allow access to the power and data lines. On the bottom right is a cabinet for a stereo system.
The last photo unfortunetly cuts off part of the desk, but basically it's at the end of a long narrow kitchen. It's made from maple with a waterbased poly finish to keep it looking light. The right side of the desk buts up against a 10" deep x 36" high bookcase, which is a convenient place for cookbooks and phone books, and its shallow depth eases the transition to the living/dining room.
Sorry about the photo quality.
Mike
.
I actually figured you would have some build in books and knew of an example of what he was looking for, but you produce some product. lol
You are always the one with the links, and it was up your alley.
Did you make the whole maple cab, or modify one?
I should come down there and work, Id probably make a great carpenter. lmao
On a serious note, my work would probably fit in better down there, and people arent afraid to spend the money.
thanks for the help,
-zen
Zen, I've already moved all my books to my place in Maine, as well as all my second-string tools. Surviving here with just the basic tools, a computer, and the essential reading materials--business books by David Gerstel and Tim Faller, and a couple of others. Tomorrow's moving day--yay!
IIRC, there are usually pics of "message centers" in Taunton's idea books on Kitchens, the Storage Idea Book, Tolpin's Built-in Furniture book, most any kitchen design magazine.
I designed and built all the cabinetry--the light colored one is actually a mix of poplar, birch plywood, baltic birch plywood, and mdf. The other kitchen is cherry with a 6/4 maple desktop we glued up from solid boards. I also designed the hood--I don't like the verdigris finish, but it's what the owners wanted. Also don't like the crown across the top, but there was a gap so.... The special tiles were handmade in Italy; the owners had been saving them for 20 years. We litterally designed the kitchen around those tiles!
There is lots of work here for painters and carpenters. I wouldn't say people aren't afraid to spend their money, but it may be a bit easier than up there. The little desk (to be painted) is for the manager of one of the world's biggest hedge funds, and he still had to make some decisions based on cost vs. value. Lots of absentee owners, so digital pics and waiting for payment are the norm, as well as meeting on weekends when they come out to their "weekend house." The main thing is that the workmanship has to be good, and the house kept clean.
are you thinking of the builders show in worchester?
Naw, I'm gonna do JLCLive though. My GF's dad (carpenter up in China, ME) and I, my brother, and maybe some of the guys my bro and I have been working with are all gonna crash the party.
Are you going to either one?
I didnt have a plan, but I just happened to look at the Builders info and saw the stairbuilding seminar, Im debating it. As for JLC I dont know if I can budget it, where is it this year?
-zen
JLC's in Providence, only an hour from Boston. $110 for Friday and Saturday (March 18 and 19 or so), which is what I did last year. That gets you onto the floor with all the products and also demonstrations by Gary Katz, Mike Guertin, Tim Faller and others. Last year I saw the guys from Horner Millworks put together a circular stair. Also gets you into several of the one- to two-hour seminars on both days.
The next level up gets you full-day intensive seminars, but so far I'm happy with the two days.
Hotels are around $125 to $150 a night, kinda steep but I'm splitting it so it's not that bad.
Oh, and there's a great "gentleman's club" just down the street, though with my GF's dad there I don't see that happening this year.
I don't know much about the Builder's show in Wooster. Is it similar to JLCLive? I picture it being more like the average home show.
I havent done Builders Trade before.
Its probably smaller than JLCLive, but I think the floor will be more similar to that than a homeshow.
Ill look into JLC a bit more and see if there are any seminars that would be worth it. Its always hard because I have to juggle a bunch of trades, and I probably should be going to the Painters and Decorators Association Show, but its National and some huge bank. Just the membership dues are over $400.
This is the time of year when all the shows are, and when the money is the tightest. In addition, I get hit with every annual or biannual bill there is.... its killer stress.
But Ill check it out.
-zen.... oh welcome home, are you working for someone, or going on your own?
Thanks, feels good to be home again. Nice sunny day, gonna enjoy it. I plan to meet with some of the guys I used to work with, see what's going on for carpentry and/or design sub work for the short term. My GF's dad is working on a restaurant in Waterville so I'll help him for a week or two, and get to use his shop to make myself a new desk and new slide-outs for my truck bed.
My longer-term plan is to start a real business, The Fitted Home, to design and install kitchens, baths, fancy mudrooms, entertainment centers, stuff like that. I'd like to design and contract bigger jobs too, and make furniture, and develop some real estate for socially/environmentally responsible housing, and get some rentals, and.... Too many ideas.
I know what you mean about money this time of year. I had wanted to go to JLC for several years, but last year was the first time I felt like I could actually afford it. Well worth every cent, and I wish I had gone sooner.
Rick D, sorry about the hijack, if you come back we'd be glad to help you out more. I looked through Taunton's Storage book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1561585262/qid=1107190476/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9217859-7816163?v=glance&s=books and they have a lot of good stuff on kitchen "message centers." I understand wanting to be cheap and lazy, but for $20 this is a great idea book.
Jim Tolpin's book on built-in furniture http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1561583952/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/102-9217859-7816163?v=glance&s=books doesn't have much on message centers.
If there is a Home Depot Expo Center near you that's a great place to check out design ideas, or any kitchen design showroom.
(edited to add links)
Edited 1/31/2005 11:59 am ET by mike maines
mike I reponded via e-mail, and a few of the questions bump one another.
zen
Rick, if you are out and about I came across another book, Pottery Barn, Work Spaces. I saw it in a regular bookstore, so you could probably find it at either.
It did have a bunch of build in desk pics, at least you could thumb through it at the store.
-zen
thx, that's probably where I am headed . . .