If you followed my blog during our move to Maryland three years ago (can you believe it’s been that long?!), you probably remember that I sold a ton of stuff. One of the pieces I sold was the vintage oak teacher’s desk I used in my studio. Oak teacher’s desks turn up pretty regularly on the used furniture market and are generally not very expensive, so I figured I could find a replacement pretty quickly. Three years later, I was still using a table as a makeshift desk! Since I still hadn’t found a desk I liked after over a year of casually looking, I purchased the small drawer cabinet so I had a place to store my desk accessories. It worked, but I continued to search Facebook Marketplace and at local antique stores for a vintage oak desk.
I finally found one a few weeks ago and, after some back and forth about the logistics of picking up the heavy desk, I bought it last Friday…
It is perfect and exactly what I’ve been looking for.
I wanted a solid oak desk with a nice finish (not painted or poorly refinished), and it had to be the right size (about 5′ wide x 3′ deep). I found desks that were bigger and smaller. Ones that were painted or poorly finished or with missing pieces. Ones that were too far to drive or too expensive. And, after refinishing hundreds of pieces of furniture over the years, I didn’t want this desk to be a project. I have my hands full with projects for the house, and I wanted a desk that was move-in ready.
This vintage oak desk belonged to the grandfather of the woman who sold it, and he worked in insurance. Even though this desk is in the style of a “teacher’s desk”, it is actually an insurance salesman’s desk. It was beautifully refinished a few years ago, so it just needed a light dusting, and it was good to go!
As with many desks of this style, it has a pull-out side desk. I’ve had this feature on desks before and rarely use them, but it’s nice to have in a pinch for more surface space.
It also has adjustable dividers in the drawers, and my favorite part is that the drawers are the full depth of the desk (24″), so they go on forever! I was able to fit so much stuff in them and have room to spare.
I’ve never seen the paper file inserts before, and they are a great feature.
This vintage oak desk only came with a few dividers, but I could easily make some more if the need arises.
When I picked up the desk, I realized the other side had a hidden surprise…
What looks like drawers is actually a cabinet with a slide-out shelf.
I thought it might’ve been a modern adaptation for a printer or something, but it has original hardware inside, so this is a feature that was original to the desk. I’m not really sure of its designed purpose, but I’m using it for my sketchbook stack.
I measured my printer to see if it would fit there, but it doesn’t.
It feels so amazing to have a proper desk that stores my tape, scissors, notebooks, stamps, pens, and all of the things needed at a desk. I like having things out in the open where I can easily see and interact with them, but it’s nice to have desk drawers again.
Speaking of desk accessories, I was looking for a tape dispenser since mine kept falling apart when I was using it, and I found this cute little vintage-style tape dispenser a few months ago. If you’re going to have a tape dispenser, it might as well work with your aesthetic.
In addition to some accessories, I keep my planner, notebook, and a small stack of books I’m reading on the desk.
favorite pencil | favorite pen | planner | refillable leather notebook
…and always a cat. I really needed a bigger desk so I could fit a cat or two on there while I’m working.
And, in case you’re wondering, I do have a proper desk chair! I pulled a chair in from the kitchen, but THIS is the one I use every day. I tried a lot of different desk chairs and finally splurged on this Steelcase Leap ergonomic chair to help my hips and back. I also have a footrest cushion to have my legs at a better angle.
Most days, I don’t sit at my desk all day, but I do work here almost every day when I’m writing, checking e-mail, and doing other computer work. Now I have a proper vintage oak desk to make this corner of the studio more functional.
And I already told Jeff, if we ever move again, I’m not selling this desk!
20 Responses
It is beautiful <3, I know Dainty Diaries has one with a piece on top of it. Making it a rolling desk. Hers was in poor condition, though.
What a beautiful piece! The dove tailing and ohhhhh, the file slats! I just immediately could picture her grandfather putting a client’s file in there to review later. I had my grandparent’s desk with the drawer door as well, but no fancy slats.
(I didn’t choose to not have it any more, but that’s another story.)
Glad you found your desk.
If there is a latch and spring on the pull out shelf, it was probably for a typewriter. My mom had one like that and you could pull it out and raise the shelf so that it was the same height as the desktop and then when you were done, you released the lever and it went back down and the shelf slid in keeping the typewriter out of the way but readily available for filling out those forms in triplicate.
You know what? There is a mechanism with a spring as you described. I think you are exactly right. I just need to figure out how to get it to lift!
I have almost the exact desk with the typewriter shelf. The desk was my father’s and he had a typewriter he used on that shelf. I just pull shelf out all way and then pull up and there it is.
exactly. My dad was an accountant before he became a farmer. His desk was very much the same and had the cabinet on the right with the spring mechanism to hold a typewriter.
I’m so glad to see yours now in every photo of your studio. I really wish I could have kept Dad’s, but we all know that we can’t keep everything.
I was *just* about to comment that I bet it was a typewriter shelf! What a great find!
My son found a desk just like this in excellent condition for $40 a couple of years ago. He uses it as his workbench, and yes, he has drawers on both sides and they are a dream since they hold so much! He has further customized it by adding on some shelves. The desk is so big he barely fit it through the doorway to his apartment! And unlike so much old furniture, it does not have any old smells to it. And further proof that there are young people today who value antiques, despite the common claim that none of them do anymore.
Violet is such a great model! Is she on the payroll? Desk is a beauty.
MSS, your desk is proof that patience is truly a virtue! It’s story, construction, size, and beautiful finish are perfection. So happy you finally found your “move in ready” treasure.
Hugs from Mercer Island,
Diney
I am looking for a smaller one. For a few years, I am glad yours has all the ‘extras’….it was truly waiting for you, because you will appreciate that part!
This is one of my favorite posts this year! I’ve been hoping to see more of your office, and this desk is such a beautiful addition!
Someone already posted comments as to the typewriter shelf on the right behind the door.
I had one of these I got from my parents many years ago. It was considered a secretarial desk bc of the typewriter, and I used it as such.
The paper slots were designed to hold the letterhead stationery used to send out letters and maybe page 2 stationery and/or onionskin (thin paper tissue) for carbon copies for your files.
Love that it’s been so lovingly cared for. It’s a beautiful desk! and that slide out shelf is really ingeniou!s
Love your new desk and it was certainly worth the wait. Well done.
It looks so much like my father’s desk. He was a successful businessman. My dad was the first person I ever knew who had a home office. NO ONE ever worked in an office at home back then. My dad was so ahead of his time.
I will never forget when my little sister etched her initials on the top of that gorgeous desk. We still talk about that. What a to-do that was! The desk is still being used, that same sister bought my father’s business when dad retired and it is in a wonderful new office all these years later.
My grandfather had a similar desk. He ran his many businesses from it. Yours is just beautiful!
Nice, nice desk! Worth waiting for. I have a desk with side pull out space and I use them all of the time. After all of this time, I can’t imagine a desk without them.
oh, what a FIND!!! Gives me hope that one day, I will find “my” kitchen table & chairs (6 with 2 being armchairs because I’m – ahem – getting older). Almost drove 500 miles to get a set recently, but it wasn’t to be. sighhhhh…
Anyway, love your desk and love that it has that typewriter shelf. You have to show us how it works once you figure it ou.
I sure do remember that old desk of yours I loved it! I have been trying to make room for one of my own, but that has not happened yet. This one is certainly just as if not more beautiful than your old one. I’m so glad you waited for the right one.
Lovely desk! Some of those fake drawers had a similar pull-out but it also popped up to hold a typewriter.