I have had a beautiful antique Belgian writing desk for the last 20 years. it’s huge! 7’ long by 42” deep, with two lovely little drawers and elegant “spade” legs.

It sat in a large space off a kitchen for several years then became my main desk in my garage office. That office turned into a music rehearsal space for many years and the table languished on its side, in the background. It doesn’t fit anywhere in my current house, and I haven’t had any success trying to sell it on Craigslist. No one seems to have a home big enough for it… (even transporting it is challenging enough…) What to do?

I wondered if I could take the top and use it as a headboard for a bed, but I don’t need one. One day I had a flash of creativity and decided that if I CUT it in HALF lengthwise then it might be more suitably sized to act as a desk/counter in my new reno of the garage – as I turn the space into a guest Bunkie and wellness studio.

The drawers run two-thirds the way into the overall depth. This 28-30” depth is more of a standard desk depth. It could be mounted to a wood rail attached to the wall at the back and keep the drawers functioning. It would act as a long counter desk, with space for someone’s laptop and their overnight bag, and any other guest-y amenities that I could put there. This also saves me buying or finding another piece of furniture for this new space.

I broached the idea to my contractor who was coming over to do some work on the Bunkie. I said: “maybe you think I’m crazy… and I don’t know what kind of saw set-up you would use… but can we do this?” He replied: “of course! I have the perfect saw to do that.”

Hmmmm, now I had a narrow piece remaining. At one time I had created a narrow console “table” behind my sofa in my living room by laying a bookcase on its side. But that bookcase was now full of books in the dining room. Enter the table leftovers. I re-purposed the cut-off third of the writing desk as a long console table behind the current sofa. It creates great space for books and snacks and cups of tea, and my phone. Serendipitously, it’s exactly the same length as the sofa.

I love it. I repurposed a piece that I couldn’t give away and got two fabulous pieces that will be really functional. Big win.