Convertible furniture has become popular in recent times due to insufficient space in small apartments ah for useful things.
But similar pieces of furniture were invented for a long time. This applies to such an interesting piece of furniture as a secretaire. Despite the fact that earlier living space was measured not by individual rooms, but by floors, houses and entire palaces, this multifunctional cabinet even then he gained his fame. Later, they began to replace this furniture with heavy walls and began to take it to summer cottages or simply get rid of it. Now secretaries are again at the peak of popularity, however, and the variety of models allows them to successfully fit into almost any room. What has gained such popularity and how to use a modern secretaire in the interior, we will tell below.
Secretaire secrets
It is believed that the first secretaire was created in 1730, but the prototype of this piece of furniture appeared in XII-XIII centuries... Then it was exclusively ladies' furniture, where romantic young ladies wrote messages to their beloved, and women close to power decided the fate of individuals and entire states. Later, men also appreciated the charm of such an unusual wardrobe-table, and used it by the highest strata of society, up to kings and emperors. The furniture of some of them still boggles the imagination, pleasing the eye of connoisseurs in historical museums and galleries. Secretaires were also often used by doctors, since it is convenient to store papers, medicines, and various medical devices in its numerous departments.
It is worth noting that the secretaire has always been a combination of a wardrobe, a writing desk and a safe, and it has remained the same until now, only appearance thanks to the efforts of designers and furniture manufacturers, it can now be completely different. Sometimes a written secretary is compared to a bureau. However, there is one main difference between them: a secretaire is a type of cabinet, i.e. storage space, and the bureau is a kind of table, i.e. workplace. Thus, main function these multifunctional home furnishings are different.
Interior use
Designers have always understood the charm of such interior items, although they could not always use them. And if a modern secretaire in the interior occupies a separate place and is an independent piece of furniture, then quite recently, in Soviet time, it was often built into furniture walls or headsets. So, a separate section or module was diverted bookshelves, several drawers and a permanent folding table top, which make up the secretaire. We can say that it was a variant of the built-in secretaire.
The advantage modern models is that they can be either part of a furniture group belonging to the same collection or skillfully matched to each other in color and style, or differ from all other pieces of furniture, being the main object or accent in the space.
The options for today's secretaries can be completely different: massive and miniature, stationary and mobile, ordinary rectangular and angular. Appearance - shape, fittings, color and other characteristics - can delight people with completely different tastes.
It can be a classic writing desk made of solid wood, an exquisite console locker for the hallway, more like a dresser, a multifunctional secretaire for a bedroom, a modern computer desk-secretaire, etc. There are specialized or, better to say, "professional" secretaries, for example, accounting, filing cabinet or library models.
A variety of models allows you to present a modern secretaire in the interior of any room. In the office, this is an indispensable writing secretary, combining a sturdy tabletop with a convenient storage for papers and small items. In the living room, this is a storage area with the possibility of turning it into a work area. In the nursery it comfortable spot for creativity, where all things are in order, but at the same time always at hand. Also, in all these rooms, you can install a computer secretary desk if there is no separate place for it.
This will appeal to many remote workers, because such interior items are designed not only for laptops, but also for stationary computers. In any case, if necessary, for example, when receiving guests, you can workplace hide by lifting the table top or closing the door if the secretaire is a table in a wardrobe.
You can use a modern secretaire in the bedroom interior or to create working area easy to hide while relaxing by lifting or sliding the table top, or for storing bedding, women's magazines and other little things, as well as writing plans for the next day or keeping a diary every night.
The kitchen can also provide a convertible cabinet-type secretaire, but still, few people organize a work area here in order to work with papers or at a computer. For the kitchen, it is better to choose dish tables or cupboards similar to secretaires with pull-out or folding tabletops.
A small written secretary with high legs can be placed in the hallway or hallway so that it is convenient to put the press on it, sign bills or leave some small things (keys, travel change, a shoe spoon) so that they are not lost.
Models for different design styles
Antique secretaries look great in classic styles interior design, especially retro style, and a modern secretaire - in the interior of minimalist design, high-tech style or other modern trends... The old written secretaire is usually massive, "pot-bellied" and solid: made of solid wood expensive tree and decorated with carvings. Such aristocratic furniture dark colors suitable for baroque, rococo, modern and other styles classic interiors... The use of antiques or fake aging of new furniture is also quite common in these interior styles.
Sophisticated furniture options with graceful shapes and original fittings are suitable for the Art Deco style. Usually secretaries for them look more like narrow console tables with small boxes on top. Such tables are usually made in black and white, which is one of the characteristic features of Art Deco.
The modern computer desk-secretaire is presented either by a light, airy model, or combines a roomy bookcase with a pull-out or opening table top.
Such secretaries with a minimum of decoration and simple fittings are suitable for minimalism, hi-tech, pop art styles, however, the materials and color for each option should be different. So, the high-tech style is characterized by translucent matte facades, grey colour, laconic form, chrome parts and technological options for transforming the table. Pop art "love" combination bright colors, slightly naive details, pictures or photographs on the facades. Basically, for some modern styles interior, you can independently decorate a computer desk-secretaire, taking as a basis an inexpensive purchased model.
For ethnic styles, you can choose your own forms. So, French, English or scandinavian interior easy to create using furniture from certain manufacturers. Country-style provides for slightly naive writing cabinets with natural or artificial scuffs on the body. Small secretaires of laconic forms made of wood and with rough processing are suitable for eco-style.
The competent use of the secretaire's features, the rational storage of books, papers, writing utensils and other things necessary for work, as well as the interesting appearance of this piece of furniture will certainly be appreciated by any homeowner. By the way, the secrets of some old secretaries have not yet been solved, maybe your furniture will later be of interest to descendants?
The classic secretaire is a chest of drawers with a top-down door, behind which there are many secret drawers and compartments. At first, this furniture was considered ladies'. The open door served as a table for writing love letters, and pearls and diamonds glimmered in locked caches. However, the design turned out to be successful, and it was borrowed for more prosaic purposes: storage of documents and writing materials. Let's try and assemble a simple secretaire with our own hands, so that markers, disks and folders with papers finally find their permanent place.
Let's make a very simple secretaire
Preparation for work
Our secretaire will have the simplest device, but in convenience and functionality it will not be inferior to the factory one. To make it, you will need the following materials:
- Ready table stands for folders made of plywood (sold in stationery stores) - 6 pcs.
- Blank from MDF for the top cover - 890x330x16 mm.
- MDF blank for the back cover - 890x325x16 mm.
- Joiner's glue.
- Screws.
- Sanding paper.
- Double-sided tape.
From the tools we will need:
- Jigsaw with blade for curvilinear cut.
- Drill.
- Screwdriver or screwdriver.
As you can see in the picture, our module is mounted on an ordinary dining table with the dimensions of the table top 100x80 cm. The add-on for placing papers looks like a complex of interconnected horizontal and vertical supports, united by the top and back covers made of MDF.
In conditions small apartment it would be nice to figure out how to make a secretaire mobile. This condition is precisely incorporated into our design. The trick is that our module from the shelves is removable, which means that, if necessary, it can be quickly removed to any other place.
Marking and cutting MDF
First, we cut out the top cover. To do this, we put the stand on the sheet with its side so that the back side of the future cover is flush with the horizontal shelf. The front side of the cover should protrude 1.5 cm forward beyond the horizontal shelf. We mark the position of the first part of the shelf.
Marking the outline of the lid
We turn over the stand and mark the position of the second, mirrored part of the shelf.
Cut out the top cover
We cut out the top cover with a jigsaw, installing a file for a curved cut into it. The pendulum stroke must be turned off during operation. The dimensions of the cover should be:
- Length - 890 mm,
- Width at the junction of the horizontal supports - 320 mm,
- Width at the ends - 170 mm.
We cut out the back wall in the form of a rectangle, according to the given dimensions - 890x325x16 mm.
Scheme of our secretaire
We grind the finished lids and cover them 2-3 times. furniture varnish or we cover it with self-adhesive film.
When the child goes beyond the age of plush toys and wooden rockers, his growing up is not a reason to send old favorites "into exile". But it's worth thinking about rebuilding the nursery. For example, a horse can be easily turned into a compact, fun secretary for a teenager. A little bit of savvy, some planks and screws, a reliable tool and love for your rapidly growing child - that's what you need for this.
What materials are needed
In this case, the frame of the hull is made of wood. conifers... 42 slats measuring 3.4 x 1.8 x 100 cm were used for the semicircular body, as well as plywood with a thickness of 27 and 18 mm.For internal structure mainly used MDF medium density. This gives two advantages at once: firstly, MDF with a thickness of 16 and 19 mm is quite strong and works well for bending even at large sizes. Secondly, its surfaces are easy to paint. Sanding before applying paint, as a rule, is not required, only the edges, due to their high absorbency, need at least two treatments - "sandpaper" No. 100 and No. 180.
The screws will be needed very different: 4.0 x 45 mm; 4.0 x 20mm; 3.5 x 50 mm; 3.5 x 25 mm; 3.5 x 16 mm.
You will need
cordless drill wood drills 3.5 and 6 mm Forstner drills 30 and 35 mm jigsaw miter box hammer chisel pencil and ruler tape joiner's and assembly glue * lighter MDF screws 19 and 16 mm plywood 27 and 18 mm lumber rubber cord rollers with guides belt for the handle.
Frame
Strictly speaking, the secretary will inherit only the head and tail from his favorite wooden horse. Everything else will have to be built from scratch using the drawing (see fig.). The task will be greatly simplified if, in addition to the unnecessary toys, there is also a ready-made chest of drawers for little things, which can be adapted for our purposes. No dresser? Well, okay. The drawers are great with 16mm MDF, while the note board and both countertops are 19mm. Please note that the drawers of the chest of drawers are only 2-3 mm narrower than the corresponding recesses in the case. The outer edges of the drawers should be thoroughly rounded to make inserting the drawers easier.Thrust rail
Before equipping the horse with a set useful functions, it is necessary to create for this primary constructive conditions.
1 ... The length for the right stop rail on the outer cover panel should be measured to the nearest millimeter.
2 ... Using a miter box, you need to cut the rail lengthwise. Slices should be carefully rounded.
Z... For the fastening strap screw, make a blind hole Ø 35 mm, 10 mm deep in the rail.
Note board
It's a great idea to equip your secretaire with a note board. Moreover, it does not have to be magnetic at all: perhaps laces as fasteners are an even more interesting option.
1 ... The row of holes on the board is 15 mm from the edge. It should be noted the gap at the top ...
2 ... and at the bottom edge and connect the marks with a ruler. In this case, you can immediately mark the holes.
3 ... The hole pattern is easily done with a wood drill (6 mm). A rubber cord will be threaded through them later.
Surface treatment
Colored enamel will not only add color to the look of the secretaire, but also protect MDF from moisture and scratches.
1 ... At the note board, sand the edges first. It is better to round them with a sanding block so that the paint is better
held on.
2 ... Once the surfaces are free of dust, coat the edges with 2-in-1 paint. This way you can do without a primer.
3 ... After drying, it remains to sand the painted surfaces with sanding paper no. 220 and apply another layer of paint.
Note board
The combination of screws and assembly adhesive will firmly fix the board in the secretaire lid. A stretched rubber cord will hold all your sticky notes in place.
1 ... Insert the rubber cord (4 m) into the hole on the back of the board and secure with a knot. The ends should first be melted with a lighter.
2 ... Pass the cord through all holes; at the end, tighten and secure the tension with a knot.
3 ... Place the stop rail with the drilled blind hole over the screw of the lashing strap.
4 ... Use three 4.0 x 45mm screws to secure. The heads should be "recessed" into the material flush.
5 ... Pre-drill the center board: about 10 mm (1/2 board thickness) from the front edge and 60 mm from the top and bottom edges.
6 ... Apply a thick continuous strip of assembly glue to the stop rail (ordinary wood glue will not cope here).
7 ... Place the note board in the lid and briefly press it firmly against the glue stop strip.
8 ... Through pre drilled holes screw the plate into place with two screws 3.5 x 50 mm.
9 ... From the bottom of the horse's body, carefully unscrew both upper wooden slats.
Retractable table top
Of course, the secretaire would not be bad without a pull-out tabletop. But the transforming table is much cooler than usual.
So let's try!
1 ... The roller guide must be installed in the housing on both sides at the same height.
2 ... Screws 4.0 x 20 mm must be screwed in strictly perpendicularly so that their heads are exactly flush.
3 ... The tabletop is supported by two slats 10x10 mm thick. You will need to pre-drill the holes with a 3.5 mm drill.
4 ... When screwing on the rails, make sure that they are positioned exactly over the guide rails. Secure with 3.5 x 25mm screws.
5 ... Use three 3.6 x 16 mm screws to secure the counterparts of the rails to the worktop.
6 ... Insert the tabletop with the rollers first into the guides. In this case, not a single screw head should interfere.
7 ... And this rail forms the front of the table top. To fasten the handle-belt in the middle of it from the back side, you will have to hollow out a recess.
8 ... Fix the rail temporarily to the body to screw it to the end of the table top. Pre-drill the holes for the screws.
9 ... Unscrew the rail from the cabinet again - it is now attached to the worktop at the correct height.
Wardrobe with drawers
There is enough space on the left side of the lid for a chest of drawers. A little trick with the cord will help prevent the drawers from falling out when tilted.
1 ... Place the second countertop (which is not on the runners) on the installed slats.
2 ... Measure the depth of the cabinet with drawers on the lid. Leave approximately 2.5 cm of free space at the top and bottom.
3 ... Mark the cabinet body approximately 10 mm (1/2 board thickness) from the edge. Leave about 50 mm on the side.
4 ... Drill holes to the diameter of the screws (3.5 mm) so that later the side plates do not crack when screwing in.
5 ... Use a countersink to deepen the holes
6 ... Apply a thin strip of waterproof wood glue to the contact surfaces before screwing together the housing parts.
7 ... Connect the top board and center pieces in the same way with screws and glue.
8 ... Draw construction lines to screw the bottom. The spacer blocks ensure the correct squareness of the drawer recesses.
9 ... Glue and screw on the back wall, like the rest of the parts. This plate ensures the perpendicularity of the body.
The final
As already mentioned, the drawers are also made of 19 mm MDF.When gluing, it is necessary high accuracy due to the lack of fixing screws. Simple duct tape will help you.
1 ... There will be holes in the drawers instead of furniture handles. To do them neatly, make marks.
2 ... Using a 30 mm Forstner drill, make holes for the handles in the drawer fronts.
3 ... Now we need to glue the boxes. For fixing, use strong tape, which will be removed after the glue dries.
4 ... All the edges of the boxes must be rounded off with a sanding block. Don't forget to do this with inside boxes.
5 ... Details of the chest of drawers are painted with 2 in 1 paint. The second layer is applied after drying and intermediate sanding.
6 ... On the left (by analogy with the stop rail), a blind hole with a diameter of 35 mm must be made in order to sink the screw of the fastening strap.
7 ... A second rubber cord stretched between the screwed-in hooks will prevent the drawers from falling out when the secretaire lid is opened.
As small cabinet with drawers and shelves for storing papers, documents, books, office supplies and a fold-out or slide-out board that replaces. The secretaire is very close in structure to. It should also be noted that the term "secretaire" is applied to many types of furniture that have several similar functions.
Secretaire history
The first was made in 1730, and at that time it was classified exclusively as "ladies'", and had the form small locker for storing papers with folding board designed for writing letters. Over time, the secretaries have increased, they have been equipped with big amount boxes and began to be used mainly for storing business and private letters, papers, etc. A large number of drawers made it possible to conveniently organize papers, and complex systems locks, all kinds of locks and secret compartments ensured decent reliability of the secretaries.
In the Nissim de Camondo Museum, located in Paris, today you can see the secretary of King Louis XV, who was recognized as a miracle of furniture art. Famous furniture makers of those times Jean Henri Rieseneur and Jean François Eben worked on it for several years in a row. The massive body of the secretaire made of tortoiseshell platinum is covered with floral patterns and curls made of chased gilded bronze, silver and exotic breeds wood. The secretaire is equipped with a very complex and ingenious system of constipation, which cost the king almost a million francs.
It should be noted that secretaires could not only have large sizes, miniature secretaries were also produced. So, Napoleon was the owner of a small travel secretary, which when folded was small enough, but in the unfolded state he had a large number of pull-out drawers, which made it roomy and convenient. According to the memoirs of historians, the emperor, even in a marching carriage, could work with him with almost the same comfort as in his own Parisian one.
Often secretaries were used by doctors, as they made it possible to store great amount medical instruments, medicines, etc. The secretaire was also a great place to store jewelry and family heirlooms.
An interesting fact is that at one time it was so widespread that it led to the emergence of thieves who specialized precisely in the extraction of the contents of the secretaries. The services of such "specialists" were often used by noble persons in order to find out any secret information, which could then be used for selfish purposes.
In the old days, secretaries were made mainly from expensive breeds. Modern manufacturers used for the manufacture of secretaries as natural wood (inexpensive option are pine secretaries), as well as chipboard, MDF and chipboard, which are finished with veneer or film having a pattern "like natural wood" or some other pattern.
Secretaire in a modern interior
The modern market can offer you models of secretaires for almost any existing one, which makes it possible to choose a secretaire for any setting of a house or apartment. A secretaire is very convenient and expedient for small apartments, as it helps to economically use such a valuable living space. Most often, the secretaire is placed in the area of the library, study or children's room.
In a children's room, a secretaire, as a rule, serves as a workplace for a student: a descending shelf is used as a function, while when it is lowered, it automatically opens access to books and notebooks. When choosing a secretaire for a children's room, be sure to pay attention to the strength of the fasteners folding shelf, since the safety of your child directly depends on this. By the way, it is not recommended to overload the descending secretaire shelf with a large number of items, because in the end it is not at all designed for heavy loads, but is just a place to work.
In addition, the secretary can be one of the constituent elements of the wall, in this case, as a rule, it is complemented by a mezzanine on top. Secretaries can also meet in the office. For example, there are special filing cabinets and accounting secretaries.
In general, a secretaire is absolutely individual approach to the organization of the working area. After all, it can store not only books, papers and documents, but also many different devices that you need to do this or that business. In addition, the secretaire can be made to order, having previously discussed the style and size you need - from small portable to huge roomy.
Secretaire with a secret
So what is the secretaire's secret? Probably, the whole point is that he knows how to keep secrets, and each person, as you know, has the right to his own, even a small secret. After all, any self-respecting secretary should have a secret compartment that is accessible only to its owner.
For illustrative example one can recall the secretary, which is located in Ufa, the Memorial House-Museum. S.T. Aksakov. This secretaire has a multicolor painting on wood covered with gesso and curved legs, which is quite typical for. Presumably the secretaire was made in the middle of the 18th century in France. What is so unusual about this piece of furniture? Yes, because he has so many "secrets", and some of them are so cunning that they have not yet been solved. And to this day, as notes, it is not known what is hidden in some of the drawers of this secretaire.
Furniture that retains the breath of the old days gives our apartments a special touch. In this section, we will mainly talk about the secretaire, but not about the one that we all know as component part modern furniture wall, but about how our ancestors imagined this piece of furniture many years ago. Home master having some carpentry experience, it is quite capable of making such desk together with an extension.
The shape of the table, the area of the table top and the extension have small size... Therefore, the secretaire will not take up much space in the room and it can be placed somewhere against the wall, and maybe in front of the window.
In our design, we will deal with shaped pieces, small drawers, etc. To make them, we need pieces of plywood board or thick plywood.
The secretaire shown in fig. 20 should only be considered as one option. Your own taste and the material you have will tell you the most different variations of this model. First, we will determine the main dimensions of our future design... The height of the table is 75–78 cm (the height of the top edge), the height of the extension is at least 40 cm, the width of the table top is 120–140 cm, the depth is 60–80 cm. When making various parts, you must first draw up an accurate sketch of them. For curly sidewalls and corners, it is necessary to make templates in advance and transfer the forms with a soft pencil to the material.
Rice. 20. Secretaire
Now a few tips for making a secretaire. The table consists of two sides, which are at the same time the supporting legs of the table top, frame drawers and a thick bar reinforcing structure that is positioned in the rear lower third of the table. We connect the frame and tabletop to the sidewalls using dowels in the same way as the crossbars, which act as special legs. We connect the rear support bar to the sidewalls using cuts and, after gluing, also with screws. In accordance with the specified width of the drawers, we insert the false strips between the slats. To the extension, consisting of sidewalls, a top board and a back wall, we add various boxes on both sides. Since our construction uses different material, it is recommended to paint the secretaire, and preferably in two brown tones that go well with each other.
The figure below shows how without special tool it is possible to make preset shapes for the secretaire from the available material. First, with a hacksaw, make the indicated cuts before the start of the molding. Then with a chisel we gouge part of the material (on both sides), and then we make oblique cuts. Finish the kalevki and roundings with a rasp.
Screen in everyday life
It seems that the screen in the middle of the room is completely out of fashion. Nevertheless, screens can be used in our Everyday life... They allow you to fence or close something.
Our first recommendation concerns a screen with which you can equip a comfortable workplace. Two workplaces in a narrow children's room, equipped sideways to the window, give two children the opportunity to study without distraction. The divider can be made from old material you have. If we construct new partition, it is recommended to make a frame from slats (2 cm thick and 6–7 cm wide) with overlapping ends. If a building of large dimensions is intended, it is necessary to provide for a transverse rigid fastening, especially if we (as indicated in Fig. 21) want to equip small shelves on the partitions as well.
Rice. 21. Screen
We carefully sew the frame on both sides of the TPE. We make small shelves from pieces of boards 12-15 cm wide, nailed at right angles. The shelves should be arranged in such a way that they are supported by transverse connections, which are fastened with screws screwed in from the other side of the partition. Since the shelves are not opposite one another, you can hang a tear-off calendar or clipboard on the screw heads on the other side.
We screw in small hooks at regular intervals. On top of our structure, we attach lamps that provide the necessary lighting. In order for the partition to have a solid support, support bars are used as legs (as can be seen from the figure).
Another option for using the screen is shown in the figure below. The screen can be used by placing it in front of the crib to protect it from light and noise. It will also come in handy in the garden in order to temporarily fence off, for example, a swimming pool. To do this, we construct frames with a height of approximately 180 cm, which are upholstered on one side with any stuffed material. As upholstery, mats, straw matting, awning, burlap (by the way, can be painted in a very original way) or even cardboard, which can be pasted over with wallpaper, can be used. The frames form a screen with plug-in hinges.
To use the screen outdoors, at the bottom, we attach two long pins to each frame, which stick into the ground. Using the tent pegs (as indicated in the right figure below), the screen is set so firmly that no wind blows it away.
Multipurpose lockers
As we noted earlier, when equipping apartments, we often have to deal with the fact that the furniture available for sale does not quite correspond to the size of the premises. Often a section of the wall remains unoccupied, although it could be rationally filled with some piece of furniture. One solution to this problem is a homemade cabinet with shelves. Such a locker is extremely useful thing... It can be used, for example, to decorate a youth room, a corner of a room or as a TV bedside table. Its appearance should, of course, be in harmony with all the rest of the furniture in the room.
It is advisable to use parts of a well-preserved old cabinet as a material. If the cabinet is planned to be painted in advance, this greatly simplifies its manufacture, since nails and screws are used to connect the parts; however, their heads should always be recessed. The holes must be filled with wood putty and, after setting, the surface must be sanded. sandpaper... If we want to do without nails and screws, the individual parts can be connected using wooden dowels.
The dimensions of the locker are determined by specific conditions. For our example, they are as follows: width - 90 cm, height - 75 cm and depth - 40 cm. The cabinet frame consists of two side walls, a floor (bottom shelf), a cover, a back wall and a plinth. It is best to use a closed tenon joint to connect the floor to the side walls. To do this, the floor must be between the walls, the cover must be on the side walls (see Fig. 22, bottom left). Back wall fits into the recess, which is located inside, on the side walls. We use TDVP or plywood boards as material for this.