Custom Made Desk in Live Edge Cherry and Black Walnut
At Hoboken Wood Company, we specialize in creating custom furniture that brings out the natural beauty of hardwoods. Our recent project for a New York client features a wedge-shaped desk designed to fit perfectly into a corner office space. Made from live-edge black cherry slabs and accented with walnut bowties, this is a custom office desk that we are proud of.
Project Overview: Custom Wedge-Shaped Desk
This project started with a special challenge. We needed to design a large desk that fits nicely in a corner. The desk should also show off the unique beauty of a live edge slab.
Using 1" thick black cherry slabs, we built a wedge-shaped desk that balances workspace and style. The cherry wood’s rich, warm tones will deepen subtly as it ages. This custom built desk needed to ooze style but also be exceptionally functional for a home office.
Our client has a specific room layout that requires them to maximize space and place their desk in the corner of the room. Even with limited space, we worked together to create a desk design. It features a front live edge that is over 70 inches long that slopes down to less than 18" long in the back. This allows for maximum functionality and space utilization while showing off the unique character of the live edge slab.
Live Edge Prep and Epoxy Detailing
The desk’s front edge features a live edge, which keeps the natural curves of the wood intact. To preserve and stabilize the wood’s natural imperfections, we used black epoxy fills. These add a smooth, modern contrast while highlighting the wood’s organic beauty.
We dye our epoxy in-house to get the perfect black sheen. We then apply the epoxy in layers and pour it over the span of several days. This helps prevent bubbles from forming and causing flaws when it dries. With over 5 years of experience building custom hardwood desks we have found that this is the best way to get a high quality epoxy finish that accentuates the character of the wood.
Up next is the live edge: we treat the live edge delicately, offering the option to remove the bark or leave it intact. This client requested a cleaner look, so we removed the bark. We used a wire brush and lightly sanded the solid wood edge.
Walnut Bowties
To reinforce natural splits in the wood, we added walnut bowties. These small inlays provide both structure and visual contrast. The dark tones of walnut stand out against the lighter cherry, adding a unique and timeless detail to the desk.
We offered a selection of bowties including Walnut, Ambrosia Maple, Bolivian Walnut, Ash, and Beech. The client chose black walnut to offer some contrast with the lighter cherry sapwood.
Custom Monitor Riser in Cherry
To improve ergonomics, we crafted a matching monitor riser out of black cherry. Its shape follows the desk’s angular design, providing an elevated space for screens without breaking the desk’s flow.
For custom desk projects we almost always include a monitor riser. We find it gives each piece just enough elevation and geometry to make the whole package feel substantial. In addition, monitor risers are highly functional for keeping your work top uninterrupted by by cables and other items that you can store under the rise. It also helps prevent neck strain and encourage improved posture by keeping your sight line above the horizon.
This particular build demanded a riser with unique geometry. We created a custom design in CAD. This helped visualize the available workspace at the front of the desk. We wanted to make sure the client would be able to work at their desk without any physical impediments.
Cast Iron Crank Base
For the desk’s foundation, the client chose the cast iron crank base from Rockler. It offers adjustable height with a vintage industrial look. The sturdy sit and stand base pairs beautifully with the organic live-edge top, giving the piece both strength and style. This is a great choice compared to other electric sit-stand bases that can force
Why Choose Black Cherry and Walnut?
Black Cherry: Known for its fine grain and warm, reddish tones, black cherry ages gracefully, developing a rich patina over time.
Walnut: With its deep, chocolate color, walnut adds contrast and durability. It’s a favorite choice for modern and traditional furniture alike. Walnut is a great choice for solid wood bowties. It is soft enough to "breathe" and flex as the larger slab settles over time. This helps prevent risks of cracks or raised edges forming on the desk top.
Bringing the Vision to Life
We worked closely with the client to ensure every element—from the wedge shape to the choice of materials—fit their vision. This custom desk is a perfect example of how thoughtful design and fine craftsmanship come together.
We love these custom office projects here and managing a challenge, especially when the outcome looks this good:
If you have a custom wood desk inquiry you would like us to work on, send an email to patrick@hobokenwoodcompany.com . Special kudos to Matt and Sam on this one for an excellent job.
