| Designing executive desks for busy American | | | | Finally the top coat treatments are applied. Top coats |
| executives, must take the needs of the executive, and | | | | can be classified as either an open or closed finish. |
| the latest materials that are available to build a | | | | The open finish leaves the appearance of being able |
| state-of-the-art desk, into consideration. This | | | | to see the pores in the wood and the luster of the |
| informational publication from the engineering | | | | wood, and have a softer look to them. The closed |
| department will be issued in three parts - Design | | | | finish provides a very brilliant and dramatically iridescent |
| Techniques for Superior Appearance of Executive | | | | look to the wood. Depending on the colors and types |
| Desks, Design Techniques for Superior Functionality of | | | | of top coat, the closed top coat can draw out more |
| Executive Desks, and Design Techniques for Superior | | | | luster from the wood if properly applied than in an |
| Durability of Executive Desks. | | | | open finish. Although the open finish is soaked up by |
| Part 1: Design Techniques for Superior Appearance of | | | | the pores in the woods, it and the closed finish can be |
| Executive Desks | | | | made to be impervious to moisture from glass |
| Designing an aesthetically appealing executive desk | | | | beverages that are placed on the desk. Woods such |
| must take the color, wood veneer, and relative size of | | | | as ash, oak and walnut have larger pores that make |
| the components of the desk into consideration. | | | | them easier to achieve the open finish. Woods such |
| Modern executive desks are made with a veneer | | | | as cherry wood, maple, and the exotic woods of |
| over a wood pulp core material. These veneers range | | | | Sapeli Pommele and Birds-eye maple all have smaller |
| from low cost plastic laminates to very expensive and | | | | pores that make them better for closed finishes. Very |
| ultra exotic woods. To achieve the richest and most | | | | expensive top coats may be applied that will often |
| elegant looking executive desk, an exotic real wood | | | | help resist scratches caused by metal objects. |
| veneer is used. Exotic woods include hardwoods like | | | | The size of the desk helps to achieve the presence |
| cherry wood, walnut, maple, ash, and oak. Very exotic | | | | that an executive desk must have. It is commonly |
| woods can be used to achieve an even more unique | | | | thought that a 6 foot wide desk is a large desk. This is |
| look, such as sapeli pommele wood from Africa, or | | | | not so for executive desks. A 6 foot desk is a |
| birds-eye maple from Canada or Mongolia. However | | | | relatively small desk for an executive office. An |
| the ultra exotic woods can double the cost of | | | | average size for an executive desk is 8 to 9 feet with |
| manufacturing the product. Wood veneer desks are | | | | the sizes ranging up to 10 ½ feet or more. The |
| many times more beautiful than solid wood desks | | | | larger the desk, the more presence the desk has, and |
| because of the way the wood veneers are harvested | | | | the broader an image it projects. Desks this size |
| or cut from the tree, and the butterfly patterns that | | | | should be at least 40 inches deep, and may contain a |
| result in using them on the desk. Generally speaking, | | | | side credenza that could increase the overall depth of |
| most people and some experts are unable to | | | | the desk to 9 feet or more. The larger desks also give |
| distinguish a well manufactured veneer desk from a | | | | the executive the space that he needs to spread his |
| solid wood desk, and the veneer desk is so much | | | | documents over the desktop without feeling crammed |
| more attractive. | | | | in, and without limiting his ability to think and produce |
| The wood veneers must have several treatments of | | | | because he cannot see the whole picture of all the |
| paint finishing, to draw out the beauty of the wood. | | | | documents that he needs to refer to. Furthermore, the |
| Several coats of primer or base are used to treat and | | | | depth of the desk also lends to the presence and |
| seal the veneer so that the stains that are applied will | | | | boldness that a desk has. Executives are often |
| hold firmly to the desk. Then several applications of | | | | disappointed when they choose a desk that is less |
| stain or very thin oil paint are applied to color the desk. | | | | than they can easily install in their offices. It is strongly |
| Each application must be warmed in a dry room until | | | | recommended that the executive choose the largest |
| the paint has properly dried and set, before the next | | | | desk that will fit in his office. |
| coat can be applied. | | | | |