The commission was to make a space for the DePriest's to put all of their random stuff on. So utility is number one. However, I know that they love the clean, simple look that seems to give you not only physical space, but mental space as well. For the desk to function properly, it needed attention given to how it looked. Thus, the utility demands poetry.
The wood is actually an interesting story. We wanted the butcher block look, so we got what looked like laminated pine. But upon further inspection, it wasn't pine at all. Rather (my boss, Joe, says) it is the remnants of a used up rubber tree. It's cheap and durable enough for a variety of uses in commercial, mass production wood furniture. Looks good enough to me.
I added an inlaid walnut strip with a pencil holding groove. The finish is good ole paste wax.
I figured it would be helpful to have pencil, paperclip, and random stuff holders, so I couldn't resist making a bandsaw box. In order to keep the utility, but also show that the desk and pieces were all one entity, I made little notches for each box to fit onto. They can be moved or stacked into any configuration. Or if the DePriests decide to take them away, the notches can be sunk flush with the surface of the desk.
These are holes for wires to easily access electronics on the desk without having to go around and over the whole thing. The hole on the right is for a typical Mac charger, so that when you slide it through, you can put the collar on so that it doesn't fall back down the hole.
The supports wound up being the most surprising part of the whole project. I figured they would be almost invisible. I was very wrong. In fact, they almost overshadow the desk itself! Not only were they large, but my lack of knowledge and skills necessitated putting the trim around the outside. This created a more traditional, classic look that deviates from the rest of the piece. In all though I still enjoy its look of strength.