The Convertible Desk, revisted

I posted last week about the Crate and Barrel Convertible Compact Desk.

Since then, I've noticed similar designs at a few other places, though none as practical and useful as the original.

Notably, though, the new Ikea catalogue features the Gustav desk. Available only in black-brown (hopefully just for now), the Gustav is a simple wooden desk with a pull-out option, much like the Convertible Compact Desk from C&B.

A few things about the desk are striking:

First, the "pull-out" desk addition has been around forever, or at least as long as desks were specially made with those keyboard things that rolled out that no one really uses for keyboards anymore. Adding it to the side, however, enables the addition of a drawer that pulls out to the front. The drawer resides in the negative space of the desk pullout, making the design both functional and chic.

Second, despite appearances, the total work area provided by this desk is enormous (about 50 inches).

Third, both the desk itself and the "pull-out work surface" have cable outlets--meaning you could put a printer on one of the surfaces, or even share it with a friend.