The live edge curves gently along the front — an organic arc that, by happy accident, feels like the desk was shaped to meet you. Generous surface space for a laptop, a drawing pad, and everything else one needs express oneself. The elm's natural grain and voids, filled and finished, give the top a quiet depth that reveals more the longer you look at it. Hairpin legs keep it light and open, letting the slab do the talking.
The slab looked clean at first glance — until flattening revealed a garden hose buried inside it. Once removed, the real work began: bark stripped from the live edge, voids taped and epoxied, and what felt like endless rounds of sanding before the surface was ready. Several coats of rub-on poly brought the elm's grain forward without masking it. Hairpin legs were fitted to keep the profile minimal. The natural curve of the live edge was never touched — it ended up hugging just right. But as with all the best builds, the only review that mattered came from my daughter, and she loved it.
