changing look of RTA, The

My husband and I are in the process of building a new house and when it came to designing a home office, we were seriously concerned about our options. Number One: We're building a new house, therefore it's obvious when I say we have no money. Number Two: Our current office furniture is neither functional nor fashionable. Our home office is decorated in the style of freshman college dormitory, complete with milk crates; a look that we should have abandoned many years ago but stuck with because we didn't know any better. Number Three: Because this is a new house, I feel, much to my husband's dismay, that I am as entitled to new furniture and any furniture more than five years old must be replaced.

When the words ready-to-assemble came to mind, I cringed in fear at what I might find. While more affordable, I pictured boring rectangular desks that lacked style and function; very plain looking bookshelves that were not level and risked falling over; and inadequate storage space for my computer and large monitor. We needed enough desk space for two people to work independently on two separate computers in the same room without getting in each others space or under each other's skin. We also needed filing space and storage for the massive quantity of books that we never read yet fail to throw away. (Hey, we may need them for something, someday.)

I am happy to report that contrary to my initial fears, the ready-to-assemble (RTA) market has made tremendous strides in providing office furnishings that are no longer boring, but functional, stylish, and accommodating to many needs. Furniture is available in a variety of finishes to match any decor. Matching bookcases, credenzas, and file cabinets are sturdy and made with quality construction. Features include rounded corners on many work areas, keyboard trays, ample storage compartments, and a variety of creative styles from early american to highly contemporary.

Thanks to RTA furnishings, our home office looks great, is functional, and provides plenty of workspace. Costs were kept to a minimum without sacrificing quality, and my technically-challenged husband was actually able to put the furniture together with a little elbow grease and some phone support.

Take a look for yourselves. Below is just a sampling of the RTA furniture available on the market.

Copyright B U S Publishing Group, Inc. Mar 2000
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