Desks in the Digital Age

While looking through an old issue of House Beautiful, I found a photo, seen above, which shows a desk vignette designed by the late Albert Hadley. As I was studying the photo, it dawned on me how different this desk setting would look if a computer was part of the mix. Somehow, I just don't think it would be quite as attractive. Computers, whether they be a desktop or laptop, are one of those necessary evils in life. While I love the benefits of them, I also rue the fact that computers have complicated our lives- and our decor.

I use a pretty painted writing table as my desk. How nice it would look with a julep cup of pencils or a vase of flowers. Alas, that's not to be because once I placed a lamp and my laptop on the desk, there wasn't any room for anything else. Most home offices today resemble corporate offices with file cabinets and Aeron chairs (which, by the way, are the world's most comfortable desk chair.) But if you have a formal house or even a small home where your home office is in your living room, how are you supposed to incorporate your computer without it sticking out like a sore thumb?

I still haven't completely figured it out, although a laptop does seem to be the most discreet solution. Regardless, take a look at the desks below and think about the way they would look with a computer plopped down on them. In a way, it makes me wish just a little bit that computers weren't so absolutely necessary.




The writing room at Ditchley Park, the home of Nancy Lancaster.






Two different desks in a home on the Esplanade des Invalides, Paris.




A room, and desk, decorated by Irvine and Fleming.




The Paris bedroom of American James H. Douglas, the nephew of fabric legend Jim Thompson.





In the home of Princess Chavchavadze


Photo at top from House Beautiful, September 1971; photo #2 from Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style; #3 and #4 from The Finest Houses Of Paris; photo #5 from HOUSE & GARDEN'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO INTERIOR DECORATION - SEVENTH EDITION; #6 from The Best in European Decoration; #7 from Les Reussites De La Decoration Francaise: 1950-1960.