Site Visit: Custom Floating Desk

This week we’re in the home of interior designer Katherine Hammond to check out the newest addition to her lovely Brooklyn Brownstone. After hearing about us from a friend, Katherine posted on Sweeten seeking a contractor to build the custom floating desk she had designed. We matched her up with Nick Dillon of Nick Knacks Creative Interiors, who worked with the designer to build and install her floating-concept desk. When the project was completed, Katherine reported that Nick was a ‘dream to work with’ –and, as a bonus to us, she even ended up becoming a member of Sweeten network with her company Katherine Hammond Interiors!

Here’s a shot of the space when Katherine posted her project.

And here’s the transformed space! Katherine’s desk spans the length of the wall and is built-in for a floating effect, rather than being held up by vertical structural elements. Katherine explained that Nick advised her in the desk’s structural design, adding 3 thin steel brackets at different intervals across the span of the desk. In the center-back, the desk features a linear opening for cords so that items can be plugged in neatly and also moved from side to side. Beneath the opening, the cords are run through a hollow channel and straight to a power source which was relocated by NKCI for this purpose. These details allow Katherine can keep her desk as cord-free as possible!

Here’s Nick Dillon, owner of Nick Knacks Creative Interiors, on site during the desk installation.

The desk was designed to be tucked away in the alcove behind this headboard. Like much of this Brooklyn Brownstone interior, the headboard, which doubles as a bookcase on the other side, was designed and built by Katherine and her father. Katherine consulted Francois Chambard of UM Project, an innovative furniture design co., for construction detailing to ensure a minimal look.

When Nick & his crew came to install the desk (which they built off-site), Nick did his usual, very meticulous prep-work in order to ensure that none of Katherine’s belongings were damaged.

We love how clean and minimal the design is –and while we can only see a glimpse of the desk from around the corner, we can still get a sense of its conceptual lightness.

Here’s the designer, Katherine Hammond. Once her desk was in place, Katherine painted a few layers of magnetic paint primer onto the wall above. Now her inspirations can also float (without damaging the wall!). Covering the magnetic layer is Benjamin Moore’s Satin Impervo, which was also used on the desk.

The desktop and drawer faces were built with MDF then painted, while the drawer interiors feature the natural grain and texture of finished plywood.

We couldn’t be happier to have found the perfect match for Katherine’s project! Many thanks to Nick, Dawn & team at Nick Knacks Creative Interiors, and to Katherine of Katherine Hammond Interiors.

Have a custom project in mind? Post it to theSweeten; it’s FREE & super easy!

3/18/2013 UPDATE:

Thanks to Apartment Therapy readers for your comments! Here’s a look behind Katherine’s headboard –the back of the headboard works as a bookcase to complete the designers’ space-efficient workspace.