Home offices often have a bad reputation as dreary, neglected spaces, reserved for dreaded hours of endless emails and piles of unsightly paperwork. There’s no doubt that a dull interior can make working at home feel tedious and uninspiring. A statement desk can be the perfect piece to base your room decor around, and is a worthwhile investment in combining style and practicality to provide a work surface as well as a storage solution. Here are 5 stunning desks from Barnebys for 5 different interior styles:

Swedish Country

Bring a touch of the Swedish country style interior with this antique Swedish writing desk. Dating to around 1780, the desk features a slant-front which drops down to provide a work surface. Behind the drop are several banks of stepped drawers – ideal for storing writing equipment – alongside two disguised document drawers which slide out from either side of the central compartment. Below the writing surface are five larger drawers which sit on the original shaped bracket base. The desk retains its original brass hardware fittings and has a distressed wood finish. £5,200

Hollywood Regency

Hollywood regency style is characterised by its drama and opulence, and this mid-century style desk fits the bill perfectly. Handmade in Italy, a black mirrored surface and brass linear accents creates a stark contrast and a sleek finish. Two joint drawers with brakes are pulled out from the face of the desk by mirrored handles. The mirroring continues on the edges of the drawers, which are crafted from a rich dark wood. This desk sits on pointed brass legs, which are both elegant and functional in their resistance. £2,900

Colonial

Campaign desks were originally used by officers on military campaign, designed in a way which made them easy to transport. This striking three-piece flat top desk from the 1950s features metal hardware along its pedestals and desktop, which is covered with the original tooled leather top. Originating from England, the desk is a fantastic storage solution with eight drawers as well as a large middle drawer; the top three drawers are also fitted with locks. The gold-tone hardware is emphasised by the desk’s deep mahogany, which is elevated by the eye-catching high bracket base. £4,200

Modern

A truly unique piece, this lacquered and chrome desk has been designed in the style of 20th century modern furniture designer, Milo Baughman. A lucite box forms the work surface, sitting on a white lacquered desk in a contemporary finish. Inside the box is a display of white porcelain flowers scattered across a velvet backdrop, co-produced by artists Alicia Kowalski and Patricia Kagan. The organic feel is juxtaposed with the industrial chrome ‘X’ base of the desk, as well as a chrome hexagonal handle on the single drawer. £2,300

Art Deco

Furniture designer Donald Deskey played a vital role in the ‘Streamline Moderne’ design movement, which emphasised curving forms and long horizontal lines. This 1930’s art deco asymmetric desk is one of Deskey’s more masculine pieces, with a rectilinear design in the lacquered surface and base, as well the cast monel draw handles. Black lacquer is drastically contrasted by the walnut burl two-tone finish of the desk. Four of the drawers are graduated in size and a broader drawer sits above the knee hole. £4,600

Barnebys is the largest search service for art, antiques and collectables, with around half a million unique items from over 1,800 auction houses and dealers around the world.

~~~ This post is brought to you by Barnebys ~~~

A glorious grand old dame in Brisbane, Australia has had a facelift with contemporary furniture and finishes. Definitely not mutton done up as lamb though. Not at all. The beautiful heritage home now has a bold personality and a fashionable flair. It’s all about luxury and lifestyle. “Creating interiors that take your breath away” – Louise Walsh Interior Design and Decoration.

People all over Instagram are talking about the arrival of spring, something we here in godforsaken Ottawa cannot even begin to think about at least until the end of March. While wanting to curl up under a duvet and die, I stumbled upon the portfolio of Julian Pattison and Alison Magill who make up Considered Design Inc., a landscape architecture firm located in Vancouver (which happens to have WAY milder weather than Ottawa…JERKS!). I like my landscaping modern and simple, with repetition and a casual vibe. And that is exactly what these guys do. I would give anything to turn my bland-and-never-been-landscaped-in-80-years backyard into this first outdoor oasis. Stashing this away for future reference. *LOVE*

It’s what Australian architects seem to do best… the modern extension to an older home. Open plan, family friendly, perfect for entertaining and that blurring of the boundary between inside and out. Just like this fabulous black and white design from Sydney-based Hancock Architects.

Clean lines and classical elements is what Sandra Funk of NYC and NJ based design firm House of Funk is all about. She’ll even paint out some woodwork! It’s a fresh take on the traditional. Just look at this first kitchen/dining area space. That banquette area with a little desk nook at the end is FABULOUS! What a perfect use of that space. 

(Photos: Mark Weinberg, Peter Rymwid, Laura Desantis-Olsson, Peter Morehand)