Interiors. Events. Graphics.
Wondering how to create that ‘one of a kinda’, ‘custom desk’ look for less? Here’s DJD Design’s secret to making your home office look like a designer did it! By using both pre-made modular pieces, and inexpensive custom sized desktops, you too can create a desk that will fill any space to perfection!
By taking these modular desk components from PotteryBarn, and a custom cut piece of lexan, from Solter Plastics in Santa Monica, we were able to create this desk space that spanned from wall to wall, without spending serious cash! The whole look above cost $1,000, but we are going to show you how to achieve this look for HALF THE PRICE or LESS!!!
Step 1 is to measure your space! Using a tape measure, measure the floor space where you would like your desk to go. It is important that you get all three dimensions, width, depth, and height. *Note that the desktop depth may hang off the back of your bottom pieces (we recommend no more than 4″ to avoid unbalancing the top)
Step 2 go out and get your bases! You can use virtually anything as a base, but consider the height. (An ideal desk height is around 28″). Places like Potterybarn, IKEA, The Container Store all have cabinets that you can use as the base for your custom desk. Below are some great pieces from IKEA that you can choose from for your desk’s base.
Step 3 decide whether you want a clear desktop or wood desktop.
– If clear: A cheap alternative to a glass desktop is an acrylic or polycarbonate sheet. There are differences between the two and if you would like to know which one would best suit your needs, click this link for the comparisons.
– If wood: Say hello to engineered wood! There are many varieties to choose from and the best part of choosing wood is that you can paint it a fun color or stain/seal to look natural, depending on your design aesthetic! You can go to any local ‘do-it-yourself’ store like the Home Depot, Lowes, or the Do-It-Center and with your desktop dimensions in hand, have the lumberyard cut the desktop size you need!
First, cut the wood into sections for the frame. You can also have the wood pieces pre-cut for you at your local Home Depot Center. I had 14″ strips for the top and bottom pieces, and 8″ strips for the sides (this worked for the size of the board I got at Office Depot, which I sliced in half in order to get two signs out of 1 poster board).
Next, create a frame by gluing the wood to the surface of the poster boards, using the hot glue gun. Be sure to put a generous amount of glue on the boards and quickly apply the wood before the glue dries.
Once you have the poster framed, take a stick of chalk sideways, and rub it sparingly all around the surface of the poster board. Then, rub the poster down with your fingers to even out the chalk. This gives the black poster board that “chalkboard” look. Finally, you are free to write whatever you need to write on the board, and make your event a success! You can also re-use the signs by wiping off and erasing your writing with an old towel (completely DRY!), then creating a new message.
I began by taking an old table cloth, and cutting it into sections to wrap the plastic succulent pots. I then glued the fabric to the plastic pots with the hot glue gun, covering plastic completely. Next, I wrapped twine around the pots…gluing it at a starting point on the top, periodically as I wound it down around the pot, and again at the bottom finishing point. You will probably have excess fabric sticking out at the top, which I chose to cut flush with the top of the pots. This project is a tad time consuming, but a really nice alternative to buying new pots! =)
The last design objective for this retirement party was to create an eclectic lounge area for guests to enjoy cocktails before dinner was served. All of the furniture already belonged to the client, and was simply gathered and arranged in the empty basement of the house where the party was being held.
I had 1920/30’s movie posters printed ($9 each @ Office Depot) of actors like Charlie Chaplinand Cecil B. DeMille, who once gathered at this historic residence where the party was held.
Hope you enjoyed these simple DIY party design ideas. For more information please feel free to contact me at http://djd-design.com/Contact.html or friend DJD Design on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/DJD-Design/210315872316907?ref=ts
Happy Summer!
DJD Design 