These came from J&L Orchids. Purple: Masd. Angel Heart (ignea x infracta) Red: Masd. Rosemary (coccinea x glandulosa) I think the temps in your office might be too high. They really like cool temps. Rosemary does well outdoors in the shade and indoors with daytime 65-68 degrees, nights my house is set to 58 degrees. They are also placed away from any heat and by a large window. The area is the coolest I can find. Angel Heart is more difficult. Likes it much cooler. I have a small Oncidium Twinkle in bloom now and I bring it to my office. It is fragrant and holds up well in the office. I don't think Masde's are the right choice for an office. Just my opinion, but you could give it a shot. Jane Here is a link that might be useful: Masdevallia

I am quoting from memory. We do not have the desk. When the last parent died, what remained of their furniture was divided between the two girls and mabe the rest was sold. We got the clock, book case, a wicker rocker in very bad shape, and a mon-descript chest of drawers. The secretary desk could have been sold when my wife's folks down sized when they retired. The 8 day mantel clock is in runing order, but is missing some top pieces. The reverse painted glass front panels needs to be replaced. The clock was made in Amber, NY and has brass strap movement from a facrory in Connecticut. It appraises at $400, fully restored it would be $800. At present, there is not high interest in old clocks except the highly ornate ones, and that is depressing prices. However, I am facinated with its works and how it was designed, and that it is still in working order. The clock is a Jared Arnold made in about 1832 and has the original face. Its pendulum is suspended by a flexural pivot, a vrey modern and extremely low friction element, and is not subject to wear of a pin pivot, My wife's folks also had a very unique bed. The long horizontal parts of the frame were made from unsawn poles. Large screw threads were turned on each end of a pole; one end with a right hand thread and the other end, a left hand thread. The treads were 'timed' with each other, e.g., each thread started at the same rotational location. It was a bearcat to assemble. becasue both ends of the threads had to be started at the same time, one in the head and the other in the foot. Once started, the pole was scewed until fully engaged. Also, once one side was started, the other side had to be started also, and then both screwed in together. Once put togetehr, it was never taken apart unless for putting into long term storage. That was a unique piece of woodwork. Lilely, it was not a factory piece, but one made by a local woodworker.

Thank you all for sharing your desks and ideas. I am going to research several options but now I know what I'm looking for. I would love to be able to sit at this desk and write a letter or two. This desk was a wedding gift to my gr-gr-grandmother and was brought by oxen cart from Nebraska to Iowa. I treasure it in every way so I will definately never paint it. Items like this, as well as mirrors, make me wonder about the person who used it and what their thoughts might have been. I'd love if others would like to continue to share their pictures but I feel I have some good ideas now as well as knowing some of the search words. Blotter, that's what I had forgotten. Also, thanks for the great links. I knew you'd all be able to help me out again.

Hmmm...you probably do not want to close up the wall above the current bar...but you could still put a calendar, etc. on the side walls. As to your comments/question, are you saying you will have 41" b/w the desk's counter edge and the island's counter edge? If the aisle b/w the desk & island is a walkway, then 41" may not even be enough room for an aisle. let alone any kind of seating! The appropriate aisle width depends on... (1) how much traffic there is in the aisle (through-traffic as well as kitchen traffic) (2) if you plan to have a chair at the desk (3) whether you plan to use that side of the island as a work station. If you're planning on seating on that side of the island plus have the desk w/seating, then you need a much wider aisle! I would venture to say as much as 5' (60"). If you make it a Message Center or no desk/desk chair on the kitchen side but still have island seating, then I would still like to see at least a 48" aisle with appropriate seating overhang on the island, and 54" if it's an aisle with traffic (i.e., not a "dead end" aisle) OR your overhang is less than 15"; 48" if there's no traffic. As to the "judges panel"...are you saying you would have the desk front be on the other side and have the back of the cabinet(s) face the kitchen? If so, then I assume you're talking about putting decorative door panels on the back of the desk cabinet(s)...and I think that's a good idea. If you're working on a layout, you might want to post here for comments...if you want comments, that is! (Not everyone does, so if you don't that's fine...just a suggestion.)