It is a beautiful and functional piece of furniture. The flip down writing area also quickly flips up when unexpected guests stop by.

Yes, it flips up in an instant, but only if you don't have several dozen things sitting on it. Mine was in the entryway so that I was never tempted to clutter. I wouldn't have been able to go out or let guests in!

Would love to see Monticello!! We visited the Biltmore for our silver wedding anniversary. I would love to go back! If you haven't seen it, it's a must!!

Woops- wrong thread; and I'm unsure as to how to delete a comment!! Please excuse me! (But I still highly recommend the Biltmore!;)

I love desks of many types: I have had an antique oak secretary-ladies' desk for 40 years with carving on the outside of the front that drops down. Below that are two doors that swing open. They are each just the right size for a banker's file storage box or empty paper reams' box to corral files or other items. Above the two doors is a narrower drawer, the width of the desk, for smaller items. The "front' opens downward above these. It is held "up" by old chains. Inside the top there are compartments for staplers, paper clips, etc., etc. I saved small cans with nice tops that fit these areas, papered them with pretty scrapbook paper that accents the decor and the desk is lovely when opened or closed. It now sits in a little alcove at the top of our stairs, overlooking the vaulted front entryway. Great for handwriting journal, garden planning, using IPad, writing Christmas cards (when I do it). The grand girls love it for homework, diary entries!

In one house, we seldom used the front door. There was easily room for the secretary in the entryway with a chair next to it. It was a cozy place. Had to close the desk to open front door, but that was okay.

Also have a very large and heavy mahogany roll-top desk. I use that for more serious laptop typing, financial and household record keeping.

Okay, I DO LIKE DESKS! My third one is in the master bedroom. It is part of the same furniture line as other major pieces in the room. It has three drawers to the left, kneehole to the right. Good size mirror on wall above latter part. Am I old fashioned? I use it as my vanity! Not for me putting make-up on in the bathroom, esp. when steamed up from the shower. I like sitting there each day, my mind free to think pleasant thoughts as I go through my "beauty" routine....

Maybe a nice place to store small items, but not a desk/workshop for me,. I
Took a slab of curly burly maple with live edge to create this.
Thanks Houzz!

I have two and I love them. In addition to being lovely, I find them very practical. Lots of cubbies for organization, a perfect space for my laptop and I can erase the inevitable desk clutter instantly when unexpected guests arrive simply by closing the lid :) They come in every imaginable size and time period. I love the feeling of having cozy, secret spaces... I should have a hidden drawer installed. If I can't afford the other sort of secretary, then I'll take this kind.

Great piece of furniture if you have space for it, but useless as an actual desk.

There were two in my family growing up. As a piece for decor or of sentimental value, yes certainly. As a serious desk (other than writing a thank you note, as one comment suggested), definitely no. Not enough room and can't support much weight. Always have to have a drawer or other support underneath if seriously using it as a desk. Lovely if it is simply a showpiece.

Love them! They are the perfect peice to add height to a room. This secretary desk I converted to a bar and a handy surface for appetizers. I gave the glass a mercury glass treatment, put in Corian for the stain free surface, wine glass holders and the draws hold napkins and such. One draw is sectioned off to hold wine and I painted the inside cabinet with art.

Years ago for an anniversary my husband and I were trying to decide between and Arts and Crafts library table and an Arts and Crafts drop front desk. I preferred the drop front, but the library table won out because it seemed more practical for our needs. My husband went back to pick up the desk in our van and decided to surprise me by getting the drop front desk, too. He is not one for spontaneous actions so when he walked through the front door I knew something was wrong. My first thought was that someone had died. He then explained what he had done by splurging and getting both desks, BUT on the way home going up a small hill the drop front desk had slid toward the rear hatch (which had not properly latched and flew out the back of the van landing in the middle of the street in pieces. He was horrified. Fortunately the desk landed back side to the ground and even though it broke into several pieces each piece was intact and we were able to put it back together. It has graced our home for 20+ years. As with most calamities in life we look at each other and said, "It will make a good story!" and it did.

Ultimately, it depends on space and needs. It can be a "nice to have" decorative piece, a functional mail drop zone, a "must have" mini office in a small space, or a painfully cramped space if you need a full office. It's versatile, but doesn't always make sense; to each their own!

Personally, I need a full office because I prefer using double screens and have a lot of books, papers, and things to store; but it would also be nice to have a secretary desk in addition to keep important papers/bills to take care of in a not-so-cluttered area and can be hidden away.

My husband inherited a large 18th century, dark oak English secretary desk many years ago. This desk has followed us through several moves, but was a challenge to place....so ended up in out-of-the way spots in our home. When we built our current home (modified timber frame) we designed a front hallway nook for a roll-top desk we also had, but quickly saw that desk was too small for the space. The large secretary meanwhile sat in the library/office waiting for its final resting place. On a hunch I thought it might work in the front hallway. We measured carefully and moved the desk once more, and there it remains. My antique glass and china is displayed behind glass, under lock and key (the original key) in the upper cabinet, while our car keys, bills to be paid, etc. sit in the cubbyholes below (and the drop-down front remains raised to hide the clutter). The four rows of drawers below that hold everything from old china to owner's manuals and instruction booklets. The secretary is old, useful, and certainly draws attention in its place of honour.

I had one years back and it was very much used! We had it on the porch one time too as it was great for writing out letters while in the breeze!

Now, I have two class desks, one similar to the secretary one in that it has cubby holes and small drawers, and the other is for my writing. Both also very much used.

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I was lucky enough to find a 36' wide secretary to just fit a space between my kitchen and family room. It's a used beauty probably from the 20s, has three drawers, a little fold down desk top, cubbies for envelopes and a top big enough to hold baskets for assorted papers that accumulate. We have other desks but this is the spot where we keep stuff that we want to find in a hurry. A bulletin board hangs above it with a calendar. It's perfect.

Here's photos of lady's secretary desk I described above:

here's last photo:

Think out side the box. Doesn't have to be used as a desk. Great storage, love them in entry ways. Bed side table open when you need it, closed to hide the clutter. Play room organizer.

Several years ago, I inherited my mother-in-law's cherry wood reproduction Governor Winthrop drop front desk. It was her cherished possession and she knew how much I, too, admired it. Now it has a special place in our open dining/living room where I store table linens in the drawers.

Hoping that by the time I retire I will have gone paperless enough to have a secretaire. Perfect size for a laptop.

Very handsome piece- is it an option? What size?-Joanie

I inherited a dark cherry governor's winthrop desk. I keep tall margarita glasses and infrequently used items in this in a spare bedroom/office. Unfortunately the double glass front doors are missing the key to keep the doors closed. Still wondering how to find a replacement key that looks authentic.

I have one. I store envelopes etc in it all neat & organized. But I bought a desk to work at instead. I like it better so I guess I didn't really need the secretary.

yes Kathleen, I have one as a dresser. the top holds my nail polish and a basket of stuff and the drawers below are perfect to ladies under things. socks..etc...I have shelves in my closet for jeans and t-shirts etc...small stuff goes in my secretary/vanity!

I have a Mission Oak one that I inherited from from my great grand mother. Love it. We use it for misc supplies in the office. I don't think I would go out and buy one though.

I am using my Grandmother's Birdseye Maple secretary as my dressing table. It's home is in a dormer where it fits perfectly & all the cubbies organize my makeup. The drawer is for hair brushes & curling irons. Fabulous !!

When I was very young newly wed, I was touring a furniture store where I discovered my first secretary. It was immediate adoration (I like to think both ways) and I had to have it. Fast forward 40 years and I discover that it is actually a tiny knock off of a famous piece in museums. I have moved many times since I bought that secretary and even in this, our retirement home, it has a place and is still magnificent!

My Mom got this desk when I was small. Now it is in my bedroom and holds office supplies, misc stuff, medicines, journals, jewelry-making supplies, and more :)

Love them because it seems like each one is unique, and you can customize it to make it your own personal space.

Deepsaini

I love the small secretary I got to use as a vanity in the bedroom. It stores my makeup in the dropdown and i use it every day. The drawers underneath are wonderful to keep all my extra supplies hidden away. I painted the exterior in metallic Rustoleum Soft Iron matte, and the drop down interior in Brushed Silver. Love it

Love them but have to have a great place for them!

Pretty useless and I have 2.

I like the one we have, as it was passed down from previous generations. However, I don't think I would go out and buy one.

I have two, my mother's and mine.

I have my Aunt's secretary which was her fathers. love it.

I have a beautiful mahogany one passed down to me. I probably would have bought one if this one had not been given to me

My mother has two and I have always loved them

I'm addicted to desks. Love secretary desks especially! But my burning question... That front door color is amazing! Can you share brand & name of it? Thank you!

my parents had one we didn't realy use it for the kids it mean troubles for smaal spaces there's more practical prices

I have one inherited from my grandmother. I love it. It has a slide out desk disguised as a drawer, lots of display space & drawers. Sounds huge, but not really- it's just right & has great storage. Somehow it always finds a place. (My grandparents always lived in rather small apartments actually). While I don't use it as a desk, the compartments inside are handy, and I like the fact that the desk slides out with a small drop front, rather than having a whole drop front. As soon as I get the walls painted, it will be in my tiny house living/dining area or my bedroom (haven't decided yet.). This one is very similar:

I would want one since they are great for hidden storage but with a modern, updated look. #BeSeenBeSafe

My secretary desk is now in the guest room. The area behind the glass doors is where my special teddy bears are kept, the middle section is where I store envelopes and greeting cards and I keep gift bags, tissue paper and ribbons in the lower section. I love having all those things stored in one place and I think it looks nice in the guest bedroom.

i have one dated around 40's time frame. i just moved into a little cottage by the water. i plan to paint it white and then add a different color on each drawer.

I love my secretary desk. We use it all the time.

Mine came from a relative and I think of her each time I use it. I've been paying my bills out of it for many years - very handy. It's a good thing I like eclectic style, because as an Early American secretary, it's not my style on its own. If I had to get one, it would be modern.

I love the idea of this type of piece, but I just don't understand how they were originally used/what were all those compartments used for? Incoming bills/outgoing bills? I'd love to hear about how one would organize themselves with all those compartments.

My secretary desk was my grandfather's. When I was young my father and I refinished it, and when we took it apart we found little bits of tobacco from when he had rolled cigarettes there...must've been in the 1940's because this grandfather passed away shortly thereafter. I love having the family heritage, and fond memories of working on it with my dad. These days, I see my millennial daughter and her friends only want and need a flat surface for setting up their laptops, and they have very little need to store papers and books since everything they do is electronic. So I think secretary desks can be a perfect solution for the modern millennial --- what goes around comes around.