As you might expect, you get what you pay for with this piece of furniture. It’s basically the ramen noodle of the office furniture world. There’s a surface, a cutout for your feet, and two low interior corner braces. The material is moisture resistant. So if you spill a Big Gulp on it, the whole thing won’t collapse. Just be careful about resting your elbows on the desk. It’s not designed to withstand much weight (just a laptop and a few books or supplies).

That’s about it. Like the original model T Ford, you can get this desk in any color you want as long as it is brown. However, you are encouraged to doodle and decorate your desk to add your own style. In that way, it does serve a dual purpose as the world’s largest Post-It note. If you want to really splurge, you can go wild and buy the accompanying 3 tier cardboard bookshelf as well.

Would you put this on your Christmas list for the college student in your life?

What about using it for a startup business (the kind that you start in your garage or your basement)?

If someone gave you this desk, would you think it was a great idea – or a joke?

Let us know in the comments.

One major difference between buying an antique and buying new office furniture is that you can’t just buy online. Since antiques are one of a kind, you don’t have access to dozens or hundreds of user reviews for the item. You need to see, touch, and evaluate the piece in person rather than relying on a written description and photographs. You can often spot a fake because it is “too perfect”. Really old wooden furniture will show some signs of gentle wear and age. If you really want a gorgeous wooden desk that looks completely unblemished, then you should save yourself some trouble and money and buy a new office desk.

The collection includes desking, storage, tables, and multi-media centers all coordinated to warm the room with red and gold overtones. Many of the flat vertical surfaces have a bead board effect with small grooves to add texture. Contoured edge detailing adds an authentic solid wood look that most laminate covered desks can’t match. The wood is stained and finished to resist wear and tear. But you’ll still want to make guests use a coaster to protect the wooden surfaces – out of respect for your prestigious position!

First, there are the space savings. Steelcase estimates a 22-26% reduction in the amount of space required for benches compared to other workstations. Worktables can be ganged together to create one long worksurface with a single spine for data and power distribution. Desks are often L or U shaped – designs that can hog a lot of room. But benches are always rectangles. This means employees will have less storage space and less total square inches of work surface with a benching solution. But they will still have plenty of elbow room to give them a sense of “personal space” without feeling closed in.

This type of workstation is highly flexible since it can be expanded or rearranged in minutes. With today’s wireless and paperless technology, that’s a definite plus. You can find the company’s 360 whitepaper on the topic here to discover more pros and cons.

The Winning Entry

The SOTO II really stood out from the rest with its assortment of worktools from the Details collection. This newest line of tools is designed to speed mobile workers to productivity by making workspaces easy to organize. That way, they can spend less time setting up an area and more time on profitable tasks. As you’ve come to expect from Steelcase, these designs were based on interviews, surveys, and other research to find out what employees want and need.

Meet the Tools

Many of the tools serve multiple purposes. For example, a Functional Screen that can be attached to either side of a worksurface to create an instant privacy panel doubles as a slot to hold documents or binders. The “Personal Pocket” is a small, vertical storage bin that can be attached to a desktop divider or to the Mobile Caddy that the employee can roll to any assigned station. Power, storage, and space division all come together in the Launch Pad that provides multiple desktop outlets.

These tools were recently added to the collection which already featured a couple of ergonomic flat panel monitor arms (one of which can also support a laptop). An under-worksurface sling to hold a CPU and keep it from being tipped over was another of the pieces in the original line. Other SOTO II tools are more subtle – like the little cable organizer clips that keep cords in line.

Will future additions to the collection appear at NeoCon 2012? If so, what items would you like to see?

Koa

This is a highly sought after wood in the Hawaiian cabinetry and furniture trade. It stains to a rich golden or red color that highlights the shimmering quality of the tiger striped grain. This is a fast growing hardwood that is similar in quality to walnut. A full desk veneered in koa would definitely be eye-catching.

Padauk – Amboyna Burl

This highly figured burl is from the Narra tree in Eastern Asia and Africa. It’s swirling design is captivating and deeply colored (reddish orange or purple). The rich natural hue of this wood means it can be finished with or without a stain. Padauk is known for its resistance to warping or decay.

This surge of interest in ergonomic worksurfaces isn’t just being felt at the end-user level. Employers are interested in this option as well. That’s evident in the number of “Best of NeoCon” entries in the training and work table section that are height adjustable. Almost half of the entries in that category are adjustable desks, tables, and mobile pedestals. Hopefully, the glut of designs on the market will serve consumers well by ensuring competitive pricing on ergonomic workstations.

The Wayback Machine

The Italians have been designing gorgeous desks for hundreds of years. If you don’t believe it, check out this antique beauty. It’s solid wood with gold plated trim. The bookcase and desk set is valued new at 60-70 grand. But it’s yours for the low, low price of $16,500.

Segno by Della Rovere

This series of glass and metal desks are the antithesis of ornate. Here’s a black glass oval executive desk with two circular side tables. This furniture ink blot test should give visitors a sensation that they are in the presence of greatness.

UFFIX – Tazio Prestige

The Tazio desk has it all – modern styling, functionality, and expensive wood. The exotic wood varieties featured in this executive desk are called Aniegre and Bubinga. That’s sure to be a conversation starter when someone comments on your beautifully furnished corner office. Prestige? I should think so!

Her Majesty, the Queen

This Manerba Queen executive desk from Furnitalia is another sectional desk that has add-ons available for conferencing. The smooth metal columns combined with the rich red finish give this piece an air of elegance fit for royalty.

Back to the USA

If you want a top shelf desk without having to ship it from Europe, there are also some very nice designs you can order locally. For example, San Diego Cubicles Office Environments has a contemporary wood finished L-Desk with a P-Top that captures the geometric stylings of some of the best Italian furniture.

To see a good example of the ways these Della Valentina designs play with the concept of modularity in office furniture, check out the desk in the image above. One half of the L shaped workstation is crafted with a circular radius. The connecting side table looks like a cookie with a bite missing. Since it is set on casters, it can be scooted around to fit on the curved end of the desk on the side nearest the user or up to 180 degrees on the opposite side. This means it can function with equal ease as an extension of the worksurface or turn the desk into a collaborative space for a mentor and trainee.

Computer keyboards and phones were other office items that played host to millions of germs. Although the study focused on measuring bacteria levels, it’s important to note that cold and flu viruses can live on surfaces for as long as 3 days. That’s plenty of time for them to be passed between cubicles. Desks treated with disinfecting wipes just once per day demonstrated a 99.9% reduction in pathogen presence. So, if you want to reduce absenteeism from illness this winter, invest in some Clorox, Lysol, or Seventh Generation wipes. Then make sure your employees remember to use them. Telling them that their desk might be dirtier than a toilet seat should do the trick