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Double-Trestle Desk

In keeping with the Arts-and-Crafts tradition, each decorative element also serves a functional purpose - the ebony pegs lock the tenons into place, the breadboard ends keep the top from warping, and the trestles provide strength.

The two trays are lined with leather, and are the perfect height for a laptop or (perhaps more importantly) a cup of coffee. The center tray is can store small personal items, yet is shallow enough to remain uncluttered.

Each drawer pull is shaped and polished by hand, then mortised and wedged into place. While simply screwing them onto the drawer face, mortising ensures that the pulls will remain secure after a lifetime of use.

Detail of the lower left side of the desk. Through-tenons are double-wedged into place, and ebony pegs pin the vertical elements in place. You can see how I make them here.


This desk features one drawer, two pullout trays, hand-carved drawer pulls, breadboard ends (to allow for seasonal wood movement), over fifty mortise-and-tenon joints, and sixty-four individually-shaped and polished Texas Ebony pegs. There is also plenty of leg room on both sides of the desk, making it perfect for those long meetings.

As with all my pieces, this desk can be made to perfectly suit the user. The height of the desktop, in particular, can be adjusted before construction to maximize both comfort and function.

Dimensions: 74″ L x 32″ W x 29″ H
Materials: Solid Black Cherry with Texas Ebony and Maple
Finish: Three Coats of Hand-Rubbed Oil, Three Coats of Paste Wax

Photos by Patrick Bertolino.

  • Accesories

    • Bathtub Grate in Ipe
    • Display Boxes
    • Pearwood Mirrors
  • Architectural

    • West Drew Sconces
  • Beds

    • Mandell Bed
  • Boxes

    • Ebony Ring Box
    • Music Box
    • Small Jewelry Box, April 2007
  • Cabinets

    • 10 Small Boxes Huddled Together for Warmth
    • 11 Small Boxes Enjoying The Warmth Of The Sun
    • Hemlock Wall Cabinet
    • Showcase Cabinet in Teak and Yellow Cedar
    • Side Cabinet in Walnut
  • Chests/Storage

    • Blanket Chest
  • Desks

    • Double-Trestle Desk
    • Hope's Desk
  • Seating

    • Dovetail Bench
    • Mailslot Bench
    • Vidar Chairs
  • Tables

    • Banks St. Coffee Table
    • Cromwell Conference Table
    • Heyward Coffee Table

Commissioning a Piece

2303-B Dunlavy | Houston, Texas | 713.523.1951
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