[Advertisement – this is a paid partnership with the Hairpin Leg Co, but all words and opinions are my own]
I love starting a new year with new stationery, new notebooks and a crisp, blank planner – it always gives me a wonderful sense of back-to-school freshness and anticipation. But for 2018, I’ve gone one step further with a sparkling new desk for my home office.
I first shared a glimpse of my office a few months ago, not long after I started working from home. I loved the look and feel of the room, but the more I used it the more I realised that the desk I’d chosen was just a little bit too small – I didn’t have space for anything other than my laptop, and knocking over a full cup of coffee when reaching for my mouse was the final straw. So, when the Hairpin Leg Co got in touch asking if I’d like to try out one of their bespoke tables, it was the perfect solution.
As you might have guessed from the name, the Hairpin Leg Co produces furniture using hairpin legs, which were first created by American designer Henry P. Glass back in the 1940s. They were initially developed as a solution to the wartime need for sturdy pieces made from minimal materials, but their elegant simplicity and canny blend of form and function mean they work just as well in modern interiors.
The company’s tables come in two different sizes (prices start at £170 for the smaller option shown here), with a range of leg colours and formica-covered birch tops which allow you to build exactly the look you want – I chose a white top and white legs to match my existing furniture. You can also buy legs on their own to make stools, benches, coffee tables and more, as well as hairpin-style shelf brackets.
My home office is tiny and doubles as a guest bedroom, so the desk has to slot into a tight corner between the bed and the window. Because hairpin legs are so slim and the table needs no other supporting frame, I was able to go for a wider desk top than I previously had without taking up any additional floor space. The white surface also bounces light around the room, making it seem larger than it is, and the fact that it’s wipe-clean is a big bonus as my cat likes to wander across it and often leaves a trail of muddy paw prints in his wake.
So there you have it: a calmer, brighter working environment with more space for me to spread things out and move my mouse. And no more coffee all over my keyboard and the floor…
All images by Abi Dare
Beautiful styling. What’s the name of the shelf plant?
Thanks so much! The plant is a String of Hearts – though I’ve actually had to move it since I took these photos, as it was getting so long the cat could reach it and he was trying to pull it over!
Looks great, really fresh and calm. I love the Hairpin Leg company. I totally wanted a table for my living/dining room but sadly the size wasn’t quite right. Love the way it bounces the light around. What a lovely place to work.
Thanks so much Stacey! It’s so nice to have a proper work set-up at home now – it makes all the difference.
I didn’t know they date back to the 40s. That’s very interesting. The table blends seamlessly with the rest of the room. (And I love the fact it’s always tidy as seen in your Instagram post!).
Thanks Juan! I didn’t know the history of them before this either – it was interesting to find out the background to the design
I think hairpin legs make anything look great. Your work area looks lovely and peaceful.
Thanks so much! They’re so elegant aren’t they? And you can be so creative with them.
Such a gorgeous and tidy space (so not like mine!!) !! I absolutely love the plant and was about to ask what it was – off to get myself a String of Hearts plant right away!!
Thanks – so glad you like it! Strings of Hearts are lovely plants to have – and fairly easy to look after too (at least, I think so – mine is still alive after 6 months, which is saying something!) x
Always been a fan of hairpins and these look really sturdy too. Going to check them out now. 🙂
They’re very sturdy – and they look so elegant too. Glad you like them!
This is a really stylish desk. Great to have a lovely position by the window too. I wish my workspace was this tidy!
Thanks so much! I am a bit of neat freak I’m afraid… I can’t help it! x
I love your photography, it looks stunning! The hairpin legs look beautiful in this and that table is beautiful. Loving the grey top and wood on the edges – so nice!
Thanks! I’m so pleased with the desk – it fits perfectly in the space.
I love the Scandinavian feel of this office room, it feels so calm, peaceful and tranquil. The desk looks fantastic and hairpin legs make it look so modern.
Thank you! I’m really pleased with how it’s come together, and the hairpin legs were the perfect addition!
What a lovely light-filled place to work, love the table! I’m sure you’re very happy with it
Thank you! I’m really pleased with it – now I work from home, having a proper desk makes a massive difference.
Love how you kept the decor monochromatic – it makes the whole room feel relaxed, zen and uncluttered, well done. I also really like that you are using a desk that feels so light. Anything too bulky would have felt out of place in the room. Great shots!
Thanks so much! It’s a really small room and it also has our boiler cupboard in one corner, so keeping it light and airy was really important x
It looks absolutely stunning! We have hairpin legs from these guys on our breakfast bar and the quality is top notch. I love the look you’ve created, it’s so fresh and calming xx
Thanks for the kind words! Your breakfast bar sounds wonderful – what a great way to use hairpin legs xx
Love the hairpin legs! Still looking for the perfect light grey paint. Is your spare room done in grey or white (shadows and low light make it difficult to tell)? Thanks
Thanks so much! The paint is a very pale grey called Harp String, by Valspar.
I really like this desk and your styling of the images! My desk is nowhere near as tidy, hahaha.
Thank you! I’m a bit of a neat freak I’m afraid…