A handmade wooden desk serves a function, as well as adds a style and beauty to any room in your house or office space. Artisans who work particularly in studio furniture only design and produce one piece of furniture at a time. These craftsmen are especially knowledgeable in which types and pieces of wood fit for a particular project or style of furniture.

If a craftsman is working on a traditional walnut or cherry secretary, or even a modern mahogany stand up writing desk, he will most likely design the desk using both traditional joinery and modern furniture making techniques.

Most importantly, a high quality hand-made desk should add both an aesthetic component and ergonomic function within its design. The desk should not only be easy on the eye, but its design should demonstrate its best function. A secretary style desk, for example, looks formal and austere in its design, while storing desk items in its many cubbyholes and drawers. A secretary, however, might not be the most functional computer desk. If you are looking for a desk to house your desktop computer or laptop, a more modern flattop desk might fit the bill.

The design of a fine desk should therefore be thoughtfully laid out to be ergonomic for its use. If you're looking at flattop desks, it should be wide enough and long enough to easily fit a computer, as well other desk items without overtaking the available space.

If the flattop desk has bookshelves mounted against the wall, the shelf height should be high enough to accommodate most book sizes, as well as comfortably hold other ornamental items. Regardless of the style desk you are looking for, a skilled furniture-maker will only design something that is beautiful and ergonomic at the same time. As with any kind of furniture you would invest in for your home or office, a high quality desk will be practical and easy on the eye.

Aside from designing a unique desk with convenient dimensions, a highly skilled craftsman will accentuate the natural beauty and innate simplicity of the piece of wood he is working with. A person without any knowledge of fine handcrafted furniture can appreciate an expertly made desk for its texture, look of the grain, and the rich color of the natural wood.

Skilled furniture makers carefully map out all details of a piece of furniture, starting with the wood selection. Mahogany is prized for its density and ease of use, as the grains are easy to align with other pieces of wood. Cherry, walnut and maple woods are other elegant choices to work with, as they readily shine by hand rubbing natural oils into them.

When you are considering what kind of handmade desk to purchase, you should ask yourself if you value the design over function, or the function over design. A traditional secretary desk, for example, is extremely elegant in design, but once opened reveals the organizational qualities that gave its reputation as a "secretary." A shaker flat top desk, on the other hand, offers a functional space to spread out on while celebrating its simplicity of design. Depending on what you are looking for, a skilled craftsman can help you create a design that will work well for your specific needs.

Studio furniture-makers differ from factory-made furniture because the craftsman typically focuses on one piece of furniture at a time. The craftsman starts by hand-selecting the wood with a specific piece of furniture in mind. He will then treat the wood, work with high-grade veneers and carefully prepare the pieces of wood according to the pattern. In doing so, the craftsman will work to bring out the beauty in the specific pieces of wood so that the final product looks unique, even if it is a common style.

Studio furniture-makers rarely make a "cookie cutter" piece of furniture because they are always mindful of the finer details of the wood and design. A craftsman should therefore feel comfortable guaranteeing his work that will become an investment in your home, ensuring that your desk becomes a fine heirloom in the future.