I really do love the skirt look, but was wondering the same thing regarding functionality…maybe with a softer material it wouldn’t be so itchy or uncomfortable on your legs? Can’t wait to see pics of your wknd project. Have fun and good luck!

What about adding a little loop of fabric along the seam hitting the ground on the inside? You can then screw a very small hook into the bottom of the desk and then hang it up when you sit down.

I know this sounds cumbersome but I’m also the gal with my tower under my desk. I do a lot of crawling I guess!

PS: Love this post and the “abstract” art in the second inspiration pic! Looks like I have a weekend project myself now!

It looks like your legs are perfectly positioned to be used as tie-back anchors. So, make the front skirt with a slit down the middle, then when you want to sit, tie the sides back (like you would with curtains) to the legs with rustic ribbon. If you add ruffles down the middle slit, all the prettier.

love #2. you’re stuff is great! good luck with it.

Ikea makes a tension wire to hang curtians from perhaps that would work better then a tension rod.

I love the legs and think they will look awesome with the top painted. But, if you really want the skirt, I love the velcro idea above. Of course, if it was sitting in the middle of the room (facing the incoming doorway a la presidential style), then you could skirt 3 sides and leave the sitting side free.

I like the idea of pulling back the opening flaps — sort of like the “doors” on a tee-pee. And depending on how big of an opening you want for your knees, you could unlatch a portion of the skirt on top, them pull back the flaps. BTW — have to thank you for all your ideas. I recently dug out all my IKEA curtains and “emilyized” my house — made a pleated skirt for my desk (but only on 3 sides since it’s not against a wall) used your gathering tape idea and put up curtains in the guest bedroom (only I left the tabs on the curtains and let them flop over — cute) and made several pillows and a teddy bear from the great linen fabric. I love your ideas — and know you will solve this challenge wonderfully. Thanks for the time you invest in us.

huh – I don’t think its ugly at all. In fact, I think the legs are pretty great. I’m more of an airy kind of girl, though.

good luck!

My second thought, after most of the commenters shamelessly stole the first one right out of my head, was something like a soft Roman shade. You could attach small buttons (or decorative knob/somethingerother) at intervals along the front, with a small loop halfway up the back of the fabric. When you want to use the desk, roll up the skirt and put the loop over the button. Alternatively, you could put teacup hooks under the desk and do the same thing. Good luck!

I love the table legs. What about covering the top with a nice snake-skin texture or the table skirt I do love over at Grant Gibson’s blog is one of my faves.
Happy weekend.
pve

Hi! I like that old table. I actually like the gathered skirt on #1. And since I’m always cold I wouldn’t mind having the fabric draping my legs. You could do like everyone suggested above and put in a slit for your legs to fit through or some kind of a rod to allow you to move the sides away so you can put your legs in. That’s what I thought when I first read your post.

Have fun with your new office! Wish I had one LOL

How fun!! I don’t know if my idea is “brilliant” …but I’d just attach the skirt to a rod( cafe rod style) underneath. Then just slide it over when you sit down to work and slide the skirt back when your done. Hugs

oops guess I should have read the other comments before I posted mine

I would make the skirt so the front had two panels that overlapped in the center and were gathered a bit to disguise the fact that there were two panels in front. Place the overlap where you normally would push your chair in and the two side drapes should stay at the outside of your chair allowing you free movement of your legs without having the fabric in your lap.

Can’t wait to see the final product!

I would put the skirt around the sides as you did on the others but in the front leave about 3 feet in the middle and inset the fabric as far in as your knees go. Not sure if that makes sense but basically it would allow you to still have the hidden storage space and a place to sit down.

Love all the great ideas for the skirt! Here’s another option for the top. Mod Podge with a pretty gift wrap paper. I did this with a hollow core door destined for the trash and placed it in a closet for a concealed home office in our guest room.
Good Luck. Can’t wait to see what you decide but I know it’ll be fabulous!

I’m actually in the process of doing this on a table/desk os my own. What i’m doing is having a contrasting fabric lining the front part of the skirt. I’ll put cup hooks on the front corners and attach a loop the back bottom corner of the front ( where I will “split” the fabric in front where my legs will go). Then I can take the front opening, flip the fabric skirt over and hook it on the corners of the sk when I am working and unhook it, let it fall and fully cover the front when I’m not at the desk. Don’t know if they makes any sense at all–hard to put it in words. Will poat a photo when I do it.

Awwww very nice project. I like the skirted idea but instead of having the same length for the whole front side, why don’t you hem the fabric in the center third only and leave the sides long. That way if you want to stash some bins or a trashcan below the table, they will be hidden from a front view. Oh and I just though of this: apply some velcro to the table in the center section and sew the other part of the velcro to the fabric so you have the option to add that “panel” back on the table at a later time.

Pick up a tension rod to use between the 2 table legs. When in use push each side back like a curtain, when not sitting down slide both sides closed. (use velco if your concerned about anyone seeing under the table). Note to eliminate any fabric brushing your legs make tiebacks to wrap around the table legs. Can’t wait to see picks of finished product

I really like the table too. I was thinking that you could just paint it white or gray and add large nailheads along the edge, or you could go out on a limb and do a stiff, pleated, tailored mini skirt (like 6 inches) with a linen material around the edge. That’s about all I’ve got. Can’t wait to see the finished product!

I like the velcro idea for keeping the skirt out of your way when you’re using the desk. That way, you don’t lose the look you’re after with the skirting and yet you don’t have the skirt in the way when you’re sitting at the desk. Great idea! BTW, love all the pics!

Perhaps you could have your seam in the front middle, and have bows to tie it up to the legs for when you sit. It would be pretty and functional.

I think the legs look great and should be shown off!

I did this with my desk a while back and I did two pieces across the front for more comfort while sitting and easier access to storage underneath. I did the gathered similar to the first and third photos so the two pieces could be layered and hidden very well!

Though the skirting is lovely, I also like the clean, modern lines of the legs. So, what if you wrapped the desk top in that kind of burlap-y fabric. You can staple-gun it and then you don’t have to worry about too much work, fabric on your legs, or an ugly desk.

Can you just put the skirt on 3 sides? If you have the desk positioned so you are sitting with your back to the wall and the skirt facing the door or rest of the room no one would know that the side you sit on doesn’t have the skirt. Just an idea

I love the pleated option then at your sit down spot you could do a big curved ruffle…kinda like these little girls open back dresses. http://www.etsy.com/listing/81667619/sophias-open-back-ruffled-dress-pdf?ref=sc_1

You could do the softer pleats with an opening hidden in the pleating with can be pushed aside when sitting at your desk. That could work or also I like the thugth of pulling the desk out from the wall and have the skirting on three sides.

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

I hope you will come and join my Giveaway from Interieurs! It is very special.

Put it on a tension rod and pull the fabric to one side and the other when you sit down

i would paint the top and add glass over it. For the fabric not rubbing your legs, why dont you use dowels or cheap drapery rods bolted to the underside of the table. Hot glue then sew/witcherystitch/hot glue your fabric to form a pocket to slide over the rods. use 2 separate pieces of fabric on the longer sides so you can simply slide the curtains to the sides- as you would open drapes- for when you are using the desk. This will also allow you to pleat fold, gather etc the fabric to your liking. Also, to disguise the gap (if there is one) between your fabric and the side of your door- you can add either a fat ribbon glued to the door sides or use a long, thick piece of your fabric. Or you can add a ruffled top to your fabric to cover the gap.

cant wait to see!

this post made me giggle because I saw your before pic and said, OH, what an awesome desk!

Maybe screw a dowel rod to the legs so you can push the fabric back like a curtian when you’re at the desk?

Curious to see what you come up with!

Amy

We have three tables in our studio, all of which are skirted with osnaburg, which lends a great textural element. I really like having them skirted; however, for us it was out of necessity. We have dozens and dozens of samples and swatches that we needed easily accessible, but not cluttering up the tables. So, this solved the problem perfectly. The skirting has never bothered me or been uncomfortable to sit next to.

You could staple the fabric to the underside of the desk (or attach it to 1x2s and mount them) to make a knee hole for your legs. Then you can still have it draped, but with the drape going back in a box or U shape. Like wooden desks, only out of fabric!

I’ve had a couple of cloth covered desks. I primarily use file cabinets with fabric and glass. Here’s some photos of my original, larger desk that was open on the side of the file cabinets and closed in the back for leg/privacy panel.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlphilbr13/6054073621/in/set-72157627334246593
Also note that I raised the glass with metal rings (napkin rings actually to create a great storage space under the glass to show my journals, calendars, etc.

Now in my much smaller space I have individual covers for my file cabinets with the glass placed on top. This doesn’t help you as far as your table but you still might find some inspiration.

http://con-tain-it.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/04/im-lovin-it-studio-sneak-peek.html

Looking through the photos on flicker…like old home week …I also found this desk that I had in my sunroom that I used tension rods to hang fabric on. I used crates on wheels underneath this desk for storage and easy access so when I used the desk I simply pulled down the front tension rod and placed it out of the way when I sat here and used my laptop, etc. Hope this helps

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlphilbr13/6067779307/in/set-72157627364969237

Can you attach a cable system, like the one ikea sells to the bottom of the desk top? You could then put the fabric on the cool little curtain hangers ikea also conveniently sells. They have two kinds in the pack, clips and ones that sew one. But then you could easily slide the curtain when you are working, and then close it when you are done!

Oh I have a table I like that one and I use it as my sewing table.

Just make it like a regular curtain, instead of opening the curtain for the beautiful sun, open it for your sexy mamma legs!

If you the tailored version you can have a pleat in the center with what is called a gusset. The gusset is a separate strip of fabric centered behind the pleat that allows your legs to get under the table and still allow the skirt to hang properly.

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