In our vintage drafting tables post, we ended by lambasting a poorly-thought-out modern-day copy. Which is not to say that all contemporary takes on older designs are horrible; one interesting modern design that we've seen, though it's admittedly not a proper drafting table, is one that expands with side leaves. California-based Martin Furniture has produced this Portland Loft Expandable Architect's Desk:

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As you can see by studying the photos, the top and bottom horizontals of the side units are spaced to clear the drawer in the desk; we assume that they have protruding pegs that ride along dadoes carved into the main desk's interior. The only thing that makes us suspicious about this piece is the product copy, which claims that the table is crafted from "Elm hardwood solids." Why not just say it's made from "elm," are there composites involved?

The Pottery Barn also produced a take on this design, though theirs was considerably uglier:

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In that design you can see the dadoes on the side expansions, and the false drawer fronts are clearly non-functioning, as the side leaves leave no allowance. We're guessing this design was not a bestseller, as it disappeared from Pottery Barn's website around 2010.

Another version of this concept is Inviting Home's Architect Bureau Desk. Featuring three drawers, the side leaves are simple flip-up affairs, rather than sliding units with separate legs:

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It also comes in a standing desk height. And again, this isn't a proper drafting table—you'd never see one with exposed handles like that on the work surface, which would interfere with the paper—but we like the addition of the front cubbies.

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