A Desk for KOK Edit For 17 years, my business computer and printer sat in a roll-around computer cart in a corner of my kitchen, because my home is small and has no spare room eligible for conversion to an office. Hardcover and paperback reference works, copies of journals I had edited, and paperwork sat stacked wherever I could find a bare countertop, because I had no office shelves. I had no real desk, so I glommed the kitchen breakfast table. I sat all day while I worked. Finally, in the spring of 2012, my husband, a talented cabinetmaker* who does high-end custom work, built a beautiful sit–stand desk for me so that I could alternate between sitting and standing while I edited. Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, ELS KOK Edit _______________________________ *

Shop drawing for my desk, done by hand, not by computer.

Construction begins.

The man behind the desk: my husband, Ed O’Moore-Klopf.

The desk is made of red oak and will not be stained but will have a clear lacquer topcoat.

Note the adjustable shelves. I can move them up or down as needed to accommodate the various sizes of my reference books. The left section of the desk will have a pullout for me to use as a table when I'm sitting at the desk.

The lower section on the right side of the desk will eventually be motorized so that I can raise it— and my computer, monitor, and keyboard on top of it—to a comfortable height so I can stand while I edit. When that section is raised to its full height, it will be taller than the left section of the desk.

The right half of the desk at its lowest setting. (The adjustable shelves are not in place in this photo.)

The right half of the desk is partially raised here so that it's even with the left half of the desk. (The adjustable shelves are not in place in this photo.)

The right half of the desk is partially raised here so that it's even with the left half of the desk. Because Ed hasn't installed the motor to lift the right half, he has propped it up here with some wood cutoffs. (The adjustable shelves are not in place in this photo.)

The right half of the desk is raised to its full height, propped up by cutoffs. (The adjustable shelves are not in place in this photo.)

Me, imagining my computer monitor and keyboard atop the fully raised right half of my desk, so that I can comfortably stand and edit.

Ed glues up the rollout for the left half of my desk. I'll use it as a table area for doing paperwork, setting out hardcover reference works to consult, etc.

The desk is fully assembled as a last check before it is disassembled so that its lacquer topcoat can be sprayed on. All shelves are in place, the rollout on the left side of the desk is fully extended, and the height-adjustable right half of the desk is at its lowest level.

The desk is fully assembled as a last check before it is disassembled so that its lacquer topcoat can be sprayed on. All shelves are in place, the rollout on the left side of the desk is fully extended, and the height-adjustable right half of the desk is at its highest level, temporarily propped up underneath with wood cutoffs because the motor hasn't been installed yet.

My new desk installed, with the raisable right side at its lowest position, for seated editing.

My new desk installed, with the raisable right side at its lowest position (behind me) and the rollout extended from the left half of the desk for doing paperwork. (Note the Copyediting-L T-shirt and the Editorial Freelancers Association tea mug.)Copyediting-LEditorial Freelancers Association

My new desk installed, with the raisable right side at the proper position for standing editing. I'm so happy! (Note the Copyediting-L T-shirt and the Editorial Freelancers Association tea mug.)Copyediting-LEditorial Freelancers Association