Help me design a large desk

[waverly]

We are getting a new main desk for work. This is our public facing desk. The decor in our building is bold splashes of color, gray carpet and white walls.

Our old desk is dark gray and light gray on top. I just bought 2 cabinets that are light gray on the bottom and butcher block light maple color on top.

We are interested in a more modern look, so oak and fancy are out as are darker wood colors. But would maple kind of warm it up? I often feel it’s not very warm.

I am looking at a desk that is maple with a dark gray on top. Does that sound OK? They don’t have a ton of options for the top. Is it weird to have a cabinet that is gray on bottom with maple on top (it’s in the back so it’s not right next to the desk), and a desk with maple bottom but gray top? I do have the option to stain the maple gray and do a lighter top but does that defeat the purpose of the maple?

Also if you are mixing and matching counter heights (3) with sitting heights (1) where would you put the lower height? Would you block off the sides still allowing for egress? Toddlers often get away from their parents and run in our work area.

I can measure but the furniture is modular so I might be able to buy more furniture but it says it take 25 days to ship.

Any preferences for single desks versus double desks? I might have to do some measuring there. I was thinking 2 doubles, but my coworker picked out the other configuration I mentioned above of single desks. They would be combined into one large desk.

[mae0111]

To be honest, I’m having a terrible time envisioning your configuration, because my brain doesn’t work like that. But if you have the opportunity to get all new stuff, add a standing desk. I never had one but I would frequently have to stand and walk around in meetings and on conference calls, and I always wished I had one.

DH got one for his home office and he loves it.

[mommyatty]

If the cabinets are maple and gray, I think the desk in similar maple and gray would look nice. But a warning: the dark top will show dust and water rings like crazy.

If it’s facing the public, and you want 2 people working at the sit down desk, I’d get a double. But at our libraries, no one is ever at the short desks. All the computers are on taller counters and they have tall chairs there. The shorter part ends up as display space. So I would think how you want to use the space, and consider how patrons will respond, and then make your decisions. Maybe you could put a small desk in front but really anticipate people will use the desks along a back wall if they’re concentrating?

[waverly]

I'll look and see if they have a lighter color for the top. I think the option is more whiteish. For the short desk, I was thinking of putting a chair there for notary services. It could also be for wheelchair patrons, but we only have a couple and we would then move the chair out. It could also be for a mom to put some kids when signing up for cards. But no, I don't think we would be there all the time, just float down. I might not put a computer there for example.

The other 2 are taller and the backdrop is taller. I might add a 3rd single station or do a double with a single depending on space. My next step is probably measuring. We also have a back workroom that will be behind a wall, so this will be more for patrons, but I do like the idea that we might have space to add more to our back configuration of the front desk.