An Ingenious Urban Work Space

Here's a creative solution for city dwellers looking to maximize space: Brooklyn-based architect Peter Pawlak integrated a pair of built-in desks right into a couple's bedroom, creating a home office that can be hidden away when not in use.

Pawlak found a way to provide a versatile work area for the couple, who envisioned a functional space that would conceal all evidence of their work lives; when the desk tops are closed, the built-in unit acts as a console.

Above: Pawlak used anigre wood veneer for the built-ins and seagrass wallpaper to echo the color of the veneer. A pair of Eames Soft Pad Chairs from Herman Miller have rubber wheels, which protects the fumed oak floors.

Above: The desks feature unobstructed legroom; when closed, they function as a console for art and books.

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Above: The desktops open and close with spring-loaded levers on both sides; the lid raises to reveal a corkboard on the underside. The drawers hold files and also conceal the printer.