Reflections On... Bespoke Rise & Fall Desk

When Samantha Bartlett Interiors came to us with a brief to create a Shagreen height-adjustable desk for a home office in Hampstead, London, we took our Ovington Desk as the starting point and set about reengineering it for the room.

The headline was a rise-and-fall top that allowed the client to move between sitting and standing throughout the day. Whilst several Simpsons pieces feature a rise-and-fall element (this Belvedere Sideboard, the Charleston TV Trunk and even the original Ovington Desk with optional screen storage), raising the entire desktop was a design first for us.

It meant rethinking the desk’s construction from the inside out so the mechanism could work smoothly while staying invisible within the Ovington’s proportions.

From there, the details kept building. The front corners were reshaped into curves to echo the cabinetry and cornicing in the surrounding scheme, and the lower drawers were fitted with discreet safes. Distinctive design features of the Ovington were retained: integrated cables and sockets, Shagreen leather finishing and antique brass trims.

It was a challenging brief to resolve and a deeply rewarding one to see installed. Below, award-winning interior designer Samantha Bartlett reflects on the project:

'There is something incredibly special about creating a piece of furniture for an individual — designed not only for them, but for the space in which they live and work.

For this project, we wanted to reimagine the working desk as a beautifully crafted piece of furniture: something that would sit effortlessly within the interior, while discreetly accommodating the demands of contemporary working.

Collaborating closely with Simpsons gave us the freedom to consider every element, from proportion and materiality to the finer details of construction and finish. The height-adjustable mechanism is seamlessly integrated within the design, allowing the desk to transition effortlessly between sitting and standing without compromising its elegance.

"Our relationship with Simpsons was integral to the process. By bringing together our respective knowledge and expertise, ideas could be explored and the concept evolved as the piece developed."

Drawings were refined through an understanding of craftsmanship, while technical challenges became opportunities to create something even more considered.

Ultimately, it is this level of thought and collaboration that allowed us to capture our client’s individuality. The finished desk doesn’t announce its functionality; it simply works beautifully. It belongs within its surroundings, responds perfectly to its purpose and, above all, feels entirely personal to the client for whom it was created. My client, the end user is extremely happy with his desk and we thank Simpsons for making this possible!'