How to Choose the Perfect Antique or Luxury Writing Desk for Your Home
A beautiful writing desk is one of the most personal pieces of furniture you can own.
Whether you use it daily for work, correspondence, and creativity, or simply as a statement piece that anchors a room, the right desk brings a sense of purpose, elegance, and character that few other pieces of furniture can match.
At Brights of Nettlebed, we stock one of the finest and most diverse collections of writing desks available anywhere in the UK, from hand-painted Chinoiserie pedestal desks and grand partner's desks to contemporary luxury writing tables and magnificent bureau bookcases. Here's everything you need to know to find the perfect desk for your home.
Step One: Consider How You'll Use It
A Practical Working Desk
If you'll be using your desk regularly — for working from home, writing, or creative pursuits — prioritise surface area, storage, and comfort. Look for generous tops, useful drawers, and enough depth to accommodate a lamp, a laptop, and your materials without feeling cramped.
The Henry Writing Desk — Art Deco-inspired walnut and maple veneer
The Sophia Writing Desk — burl veneer with tooled leather top
The Henry Writing Desk (141cm x 70cm) offers an excellent working surface with two spacious drawers in a beautifully Art Deco-inspired walnut and maple veneer design with sleek silver square pulls. The Sophia Writing Desk combines a finely tooled leather top, burl veneer, and brass-handled drawers with subtle gilded highlights — practical luxury at its finest. Both are available to view at our Nettlebed showroom.
A Grand Statement Piece
For a study, library, or drawing room where visual impact is paramount, our most decorative desks make an unforgettable impression.
Gilded Writing Table or Desk — a breathtaking statement piece
Floral Inlaid Mahogany Desk or Writing Table — exquisite decorative craftsmanship
The Gilded Writing Table or Desk is a breathtaking choice for a formal interior, its gilded detailing and elegant proportions commanding immediate attention. The Floral Inlaid Mahogany Desk or Writing Table offers intricate floral inlay work across a rich mahogany surface that rewards close inspection and elevates any room it occupies.
Step Two: Choose Your Style
The Bureau: Heritage and Practicality Combined
The fall-front bureau is one of the most enduring forms in British furniture history — elegant when closed, beautifully functional when open, with a fitted interior of drawers and pigeonholes that keeps everything neatly concealed.
Gillows Replica Bureau — a faithful reproduction of an English classic
The Grand Staircase Bureau — inspired by Althorp House, endorsed by Earl Spencer
Our Gillows Replica Bureau is a faithful reproduction of a piece by Gillows of Lancaster, one of England's most celebrated cabinet-making firms. The Grand Staircase Bureau is inspired by the grand staircase at Althorp House and endorsed by Earl Spencer — a piece with genuine provenance and storytelling power. For something truly spectacular, The Golden Madrone Bureau is a bureau bookcase of extraordinary ambition, veneered in golden Madrone burl with brass line inlay, glazed doors, Corinthian pilasters, and standing at 246cm tall. And for lovers of Chinoiserie, The Chinoiserie Pavilion Bureaux features hand-painted panels, upper cabinet doors, a central desktop workspace, and three generous drawers — a piece that is as decorative as it is functional.
The Pedestal Desk: Timeless Authority
The pedestal desk — with its twin banks of drawers flanking a central kneehole — is the classic choice for a serious study or home office. Our collection offers exceptional variety within this form.
Neoclassical Cerejeira Pedestal Desk — with mother-of-pearl inlay
Chocolate Chinoiserie Hand Painted Pedestal Desk — a truly unique piece
The Neoclassical Style Cerejeira Pedestal Desk with Mother of Pearl is a stunning interpretation of a George III original, with mother-of-pearl fan medallions and a central leather writing surface. The Flame Mahogany and Crossbanded Pedestal Desk, inspired by a late George III original, features reeded columns with acanthus-cast brass capitals and a gilt-tooled leather top. For something truly one-of-a-kind, the Chocolate Chinoiserie Hand Painted Pedestal Desk combines imbuya burl veneer with hand-painted Chinoiserie decoration and a vintage leather surface — a desk that is as much a work of art as a functional piece of furniture. The Harrison Desk in Crotch Sycamore offers a more contemporary take on the pedestal form, with a hand-tooled brown leather top with silver leaf accent and eight generous oak-lined drawers.
The Partner's Desk: For Those Who Think Big
The partner's desk — designed to be used from both sides — is the grandest form in the pedestal desk family, and a natural choice for a large study, library, or home office where scale and presence are desired.
Walnut and Rosewood Serpentine Partners Desk — 198cm of pure grandeur
Flame Mahogany Serpentine Partners Desk — hand-carved lion heads and paw feet
The Walnut and Rosewood Serpentine Partners Desk (198cm wide) is a magnificent piece with tooled leather-inlaid end slides and lockable side cabinets. The Flame Mahogany Serpentine Partners Pedestal Desk is perhaps the most dramatic piece in our collection — hand-carved lion heads, scrolls, and acanthus leaf motifs on the pedestals, intricately designed brass drop handles, and hand-carved lion paw feet. A desk that makes an unforgettable statement.
The Writing Table: Elegant Simplicity
For those who prefer a cleaner, more open aesthetic, the writing table — with its flat top and lighter frame — offers elegance without bulk.
The Spencer London Desk — geometric brass stringing and inset leather surface
The Sloane Writing Table — handcrafted walnut crotch by Stephen Church
The Spencer London Desk (178cm wide) is a sophisticated piece with three frieze drawers featuring geometric brass stringing, polished brass handles, square tapered legs with brass capping, and a central inset leather writing surface — a desk of considerable presence and refinement. The Sloane Writing Table, from the Sloane Collection by Stephen Church, is a contemporary reinterpretation of 18th and 19th century English designs, handcrafted in walnut crotch veneer with two drawers — a piece that bridges heritage and modernity with great skill.
The Captain's Writing Table: History at Your Fingertips
Dutch East India Company Captain's Writing Table — circa 1730, Anglo-Indonesian craftsmanship
The Captain's Writing Table — inspired by the Dutch East India Company, circa 1730
For those who love furniture with a story, our Captain's Writing Tables are extraordinary. The Dutch East India Company Captain's Writing Table is a genuine antique from circa 1730, blending Anglo-Indonesian craftsmanship with carved rosewood and walnut, VOC insignia, burr walnut inset panels, and bone inlay — a piece of genuine historical significance. The Captain's Writing Table is a handmade contemporary interpretation of this original, crafted from solid mahogany and burr oak veneers with ebonised barley twist legs and an intricately carved frieze — all the romance of the original, built to last another three centuries.
The Dorchester: Understated Contemporary Elegance
The Dorchester Writing Desk — refined elegance for any interior
The Dorchester Writing Desk is a beautifully considered piece for those who want quality and refinement without ostentation. Its clean proportions and elegant finish make it a versatile choice that sits comfortably in both traditional and contemporary interiors — a desk that will never feel out of place.
Step Three: Think About Placement
Facing a Window
Natural light is the best light for working and writing. Positioning your desk to face a window also provides a welcome moment of pause and inspiration during the working day.
In the Centre of the Room
A truly beautiful desk — particularly a partner's desk, a gilded writing table, or a Chinoiserie pedestal desk — deserves to be seen from all angles. Placing it in the centre of a study or library creates a natural focal point and gives the piece the space it deserves.
Against a Wall
A bureau or bureau bookcase works particularly well against a wall, where it can be closed when not in use and styled as a decorative piece in its own right. Hang a mirror or artwork above it to complete the arrangement.
Step Four: Consider the Details
Leather Tops
A leather writing surface is one of the great pleasures of a fine desk — warm to the touch, beautiful to look at, and a genuine pleasure to write on. Many of our desks feature tooled leather insets, including the Sophia Writing Desk, the Spencer London Desk, the Harrison Desk, and several of our pedestal and partner's desks.
Storage
Consider how much storage you need. Bureau bookcases offer the most storage of all. Partner's desks provide generous drawer storage on both sides. Pedestal desks offer practical storage in a more compact footprint. Writing tables offer a cleaner, more minimal aesthetic — ideal if you prefer an uncluttered surface.
Size
Always measure your space carefully. Our team at Brights of Nettlebed are happy to advise on sizing and placement for any piece in our collection.
Visit Our Nettlebed Showroom
The best way to choose a writing desk is to sit at it. Visit our showroom in Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, where you can see a range of our full collection in person and take the time to find the piece that is truly right for you. Our knowledgeable team are on hand to answer any questions and help you make the perfect choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a writing desk and a bureau?
A writing desk has an open, flat top surface, while a bureau features a fall-front lid that folds down to create a writing surface and conceals a fitted interior when closed. Bureaux offer more storage and a tidier appearance when not in use.
What is a partner's desk?
A partner's desk is a large pedestal desk designed to be used from both sides, traditionally allowing two people to work facing each other. They are the grandest form of writing desk and make a magnificent statement in a large study or library.
Do you sell antique writing desks?
Yes. Our collection includes genuine antiques such as the Dutch East India Company Captain's Writing Table (circa 1730), alongside high-quality period-style reproductions and contemporary luxury pieces. Visit our showroom or browse online to explore the full range.
Can I see writing desks in person before buying?
Absolutely. We strongly encourage customers to visit our Nettlebed showroom, where you can see, touch, and sit at our desks before making a decision. Our team are happy to arrange a visit at a time that suits you.
Browse our full collection of writing desks online or visit us at our Nettlebed showroom to find your perfect piece.
