Sauder Palladia L-Shaped Home Office Desk

After a thorough search for the perfect home office upgrade, I settled on this executive desk from Amazon, and I couldn't be happier with my choice. The assembly process, while challenging, was a rewarding DIY project for me (52 yo female) with lots of experience in building and assembling furniture. It took about 6-7 hours to complete the assembly alone, and I did need help flipping it over. Despite eight pieces being unlabeled, including a crucial piece from Step 1, the clear and detailed instructions provided a roadmap to success. It's imperative to lay out all pieces beforehand and closely examine each diagram, especially when assembling the drawers. The slides are numbered 1-4 and might appear upside down, but fear not, that's intentional. Additionally, watch for the wood pieces at the bottom of the uprights; they are unlabeled and are easy to miss, but are crucial for securing the desk properly.The materials exceeded my expectations, with a nicely laminated surface that adds a touch of elegance to my office space. The pre-drilled holes aligned perfectly, and the package arrived without any damaged parts, which is always a relief. The design and functionality of the desk are top-notch. While I would have appreciated a wider pencil drawer, the keyboard drawer and other storage compartments are thoughtfully designed. The bottom drawer is spacious enough for either letter or legal-sized files, which is a major plus. Moreover, the desk's cord management system is great, allowing me to keep all wires neatly tucked away.The desk arrived in two well-packaged boxes, and I recommend inspecting for any potential shipping damage upon delivery (I did have to reorder this because the shipper sent the first back due to visible damage). Considering the quality, aesthetics, and functionality, this desk represents a significant value, costing less than half what a comparable, fully-assembled desk would have sold for.In conclusion, I am over the moon with my new executive desk. It not only looks stunning in my space but is also highly functional for my daily needs. The assembly process, while not for the faint of heart, was well worth the effort. My advice to potential buyers is to take your time with the assembly and to thoroughly review each step before proceeding. I am delighted with how it transformed my space, and while I hope I never have to move it, I am thrilled with the result.

I looked at so many desks out on the market. This desk is wonderful in 2 major ways that other desks are very deceiving:1. This desk's main section is 30" deep which is so necessary to accommodate a standard flat screen monitor/laptop and keyboard. Most other desks at/close to this price point look really great in pictures, but what you don't know is that many are too shallow to actually serve as quality, comfortable desks. Many are 21" or 22", some are even 19", which is way way too shallow for comfort.2. This desk has a REAL LAMINATE top that's very durable. Many other desks at this price point are so misleading and are what is now known as a photo finish, but list themselves as laminate, which most folks picture as similar to Formica laminate. Photo finish is literally a printed picture on paper that is glued on. This can be easily ripped and nicked and any moisture literally destroys the finish.Other pros include:1. Great height. I actually had to raise my seat a bit to be comfortable. Other desk reviews show clashing with arm rests or pinching on the tops of peoples' legs when moved in.2. The color is awesome.3. There a many drawers, a keyboard drawer and a bunch of smaller drawers.4. There are reliefs at the bottom and several cable holes that make wire management really great.5. A very nice product for the cost.Drawbacks are as other reviews state.1. The boxes are heavy when delivered. I had to make a make-shift lifting strap from ratchet strap to hoist it up and move into my house. Or you'll need a friends/spouses help for sure.2. The assembly is not for the faint of heart. I think the number of pieces really speaks to the quality versus of other desks in this category, but man there are a lot of parts and steps. I am very proficient at DIY assembly furniture and this was desk took the most effort of any I've ever done. Still 5 stars because I knew this when ordering, but it was a lot. Probably every bit of 5 hours.3. Some pieces are photo finished, but these pieces are really not prominent and you'll never notice it. The lower plinths are which may get nicked up when vacuuming, but very tolerable for the value.All in all, super happy with this desk and would definitely buy again.