apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

don't know but it's GORGEOUS.

www.duskin-ny.blogspot.com

Amelia! I'm right there with you. I have also been obsessing over this desk for quite some time without the necessary funds to own it myself.

Hopefully someone on here has some helpful hints, and we can each happily redecorate our office nooks.

Amelia, this desk is heavily "inspired" by designs by Paul McCobb for Calvin and Winchendon from the '60s. I can't promise you'll find an original for $200-500 (though you never know!), but I thought that might be a good starting bit of knowledge for you if you want to start looking on Craigslist or eBay.

Mmmm...this is lovely and would be great for my space too. Since you live in Idaho maybe you could find an out-of-work welder to make one for you? It looks pretty simple and you could find a couple of wooden drawers like that at most thrift stores (my current desk is the thrift store version and has six of those drawers, with the same wooden handles!).

This is a very nice desk. It looks vintage and I agree with Nancy_Claire that you might be able to find someone to make something similar. I am not sure how much cheaper it will be, but it might be worth it to research it.

I found one similar to this one on 1stdibs' website. The price is very discouraging though. It is Paul McCobb, but $6,800 is out of my budget. Good luck!

OH, please let someone know! I two have spent long hours of internet research trying to find a look alike to no avail. I saw something quite similar in a house tour though, but they said they had bought it at an antique store. I do hope someone can come up with something, though, or I'll have to learn how to weld myself.

i've liked that desk for a long time, too. i've finally decided to figure out a way to make one for myself with a similar aesthetic (maybe plumber's pipe and scrap wood)

Amelia here....

Thanks for the feedback. As it turns out, I sent this question in a little while ago, and between then and today I ended up purchasing the "Trig" desk from CB2 (it should be arriving tomorrow). It's not really the same, but it has a minimal metal frame and a glass top with clean lines. I'm going to search for some wooden 2-high filing cabinets at an antique store to put underneath for an approximation of the original.

I liked the suggestion of having someone weld me one, but school starts again next week and I needed a desk pretty quickly.

The Paul McCobb desks are quite beautiful...but for some reason a desk called the "Intelligentsia" brings to mind something a little grittier, rebelious, and earthier than mid-c modern. However, McCobb is definately a good starting place.

Given the amount of lust for this desk that i've come across on my internet searches, i'm hoping someone down the road will create a piece "inspired" by this one, but at a cheaper price.

That desk is fab! I have the exact same lamp on the desk that I scored for $10 a few weeks ago. It was normally $100. I am also from Idaho (Boise), and love our local Anthro, especially the sale room. I think you should wait and see if it goes on sale in the catalog. By that time, maybe you could add a little money to your budget and get it. I frequently shop at The Shabby Trunk on State Street in Boise. I have gotten some great stuff there. Maybe check them out and see if they have anything similar. There is also the Sun Valley flea market that they hold every year.

Mamaspank is right. Just keep checking on it at your local anthro or on line. It will go on sale and when it does, Anthro usually does a good markdown and will even take lower than asking if you ask.

Mamaspank -

Good to hear there's another Boise native lurking around AT. Someone who can understand the decor limitations of not living in a big city! (though Boise gets bigger every day...) I will have to check out the Shaby Trunk over on State.

I too enjoy the sale room at the local Anthro. However, I needed a desk pretty desprately and couldn't wait for a sale. If the CB2 desk I bought doesn't work out, I'll have to head over there and see if they have a floor model they might be willing to sell me ;-)

mccobbis a good start, but i think the rawness of this desk has more to do with pieces by california designers muriel coleman and luther conover. coleman is really underappreciated and an original will run you $500-1500. one is on 1st dibs for $1100:

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=268059

here are more of their designs:

http://www.architonic.com/mus/8101441/1
http://www.architonic.com/mus/8101450/1

Healthyhome,

Thanks for the great input! I like the "rawness" that you refer to. That's a good way of putting it.

The Coleman desk on 1st dibs is gorgeous.