Compact Standing Desk - A Modified Standard Product

Compact Standing Desk

If you see a product that you like, but it doesn't quite fit the bill, ask us about modifications. Take this example. A customer needed a standing desk, but our standard 45" X 32" Standing Desk 1 was a bit too large. We modified the design to create this 34" X 24" Compact Standing Desk! The customer also needed a keyboard tray and monitor arm that was strong enough to hold his all-in-one computer.

Click Here to see our standard line of Standing Desks!

Small Standing Desk

Modified standard product. Compact Standing Desk.

Click Here to see our standard line of Standing Desks!

How to Wire your iMac Desk

Caretta Desks were designed with cable management in mind, and that is especially true when wiring an iMac computer to your desk. Here are some tips and ideas how to wire up your iMac or iMac Pro so it cleans up the wires and cables at your workspace.
View our offering if desks and standing desks here: Caretta Desks

Each desk has a large cable tray that is integrated into the structure of the desk. There are access points to this cable tray from many places on the desk. On the desktop there is an elongated opening with a cover that was designed for the openings to sit directly under the cables of an iMac. The cables simply drop into the cable tray to be routed wherever you need them.


Attached to inside of the large cable tray is a large surge suppressing power strip. The idea is that once you have plugged in all of your devices (iMac, Thunderbolt display, speakers, printer, desk lamp, etc.) there is only one power cable coming out. We have designed the power strip with 1824 Joules of surge suppression, 6 or 12 plug positions that are set wide apart, and a 9 foot long cord. The power strip is positioned far enough under the desk that you will not see it during day to day use.


If you prefer to mount your iMac, Thunderbolt display, or other monitor on an arm, the desks were designed to attach then securely through the 2.25" thick solid cherry desktop. Apple makes a VESA adapter that allows you to attach them to many different configurations of monitor arms. For one customer, we have even attached three displays on individually moving arms, attached to an iMac Pro.
Here is a drawing of the desk with an iMac Pro and three displays.


If you use an iMac Pro, there are many shelf options that you can put on the desk that provide access to the cable tray.

Tools In Our Factory: The CNC Wood Router

At Caretta Workspace, one of the most important pieces of machinery we use is our SCM Routech CNC Router. It's a computer controlled router that cuts along the X, Y, and Z axes. With a 15 horsepower spindle, it can easily tackle our 2.25" thick desk frames, and it has a 12 position automatic tool changer that can quickly switch from one cutter to the next. This allows it to easily cut a variety of profiles, like the bull-nose edge on our desktops, and transition into drilling holes for dowel pins or the inset for a desk inlay.
Eliminating the need for cumbersome clamps, the machine has two 12 horsepower vacuum pumps that create a suction to hold the pieces so firmly in place that they are impossible to move by hand. Although the pumps only produce about 10 psi of vacuum pressure, we design fixtures that maximize the surface area of the part being held. For example, a part that has 25 square inches of surface area to hold down has 250 pounds of force pushing it against the table. This allows us to make large cuts in the wood while the piece is held securely in place. The router is indispensable to our factory because it cuts our wood pieces much faster than we could cut them with traditional woodworking tools and it makes parts with such precision that each part fits perfectly together.


See the router in action here. At 1:40 is a good view of a tool change. At 3:10 you can see the LARGE bull-nose edge cutter in action. Here it is only cutting a half profile. On our large desk tops, it makes a full bull-nose edge.


This is a front view of the CNC Router in action.


Here are the Vacuum pumps that provide the negative air pressure to hold the parts to the table.


Here is the tool changer caddy.


In this Artistic Computer Desk 2, the router was used to make the desk top, desk legs, desk feet, and Artistic Computer Shelf.

Home office furniture in limited space should be functional and attractive: The Cleveland Plain Dealer covers Caretta Workspace

In the March 9th, 2014 edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, an article titled Home office furniture in limited space should be functional and attractive, journalist Jill Sell examines Caretta Workspace and some of the new products that they are offering, including the new line of stand-up desks.

         What if you could find a stand-up desk that was ergonomically correct, made by an Ohio company with wood from managed Ohio forests, and so well made and beautiful that it will become a family heirloom? Caretta Workspace is a home and small office furniture designer and manufacturer in Lewis Center in Delaware County that offers all those possibilities.  

She goes on to discuss some other attributes of the Caretta line, such as the ability to add custom laser-engraved panels and the green aspect of the company, including the donation to the Save the Sea Turtle Fund with every desk sale.

      The desks can also be personalized. A “modesty panel” on the front of the desk can be laser-engraved to show the logo of a company or any other name. The panels are easily interchanged if the owner decides to remove the name of his company and trade it for a symbol of a hobby or interest.
      “One of our home office customers was really into a band and had the band’s logo on the desk. The desk was in his music room where records lined the walls,” said Tracewell. “Another customer, a horse enthusiast, wanted a picture of a horse engraved.”
      In addition to desks, the company offers a line of tables, LED desk lamps, file cabinets, bookshelves and coat trees. Most products are made from cherry wood, but ash is also available on some furniture.

You can read the entire article at the Cleveland Plain Dealer website, or by clicking This Link.

Innovative Ohio Company Expands Product Line to Meet Growing Demand for Innovative, Modern Office Furniture

Lewis Center, Ohio – Caretta Workspace(www.carettaworkspace.com) is a home office furniture and corporate office furniture manufacturer that specializes in creating configurable workspaces that integrate technology, conservation and beauty. They are using traditional materials in a new way to create a desk that is made for today’s technology. The company has expanded its product offerings from the traditional computer desks to include standing desks, conference tables, a contemporary and colorful desk made of composite materials, High efficient LED Desk lamps, and many other products to complete a beautiful modern office.
Caretta desks integrate modern computer technology with attractive design. Their desks, tables, and accessories transform offices from areas cluttered with messy computer wires and power cables to productive, inspiring, attractive workspaces. Incorporated into their desks is a system of cable trays and large integrated power strips that literally cleans up all of the computer wires and cables. A lot of accessories, such as monitor arms for multiple monitors, USB ports at the desktop, computer shelves, and file cabinets can be added to configure the perfect desk for any type of user. Each Caretta product is a one-of-a kind, functional work of art, with a numbered badge included on the piece.
Caretta has put a great deal of thought and attention to detail into every element of the desks and other products they manufacture. Caretta desks are made of solid, premium Ohio-grown Cherry hardwood, hand-selected for unique grain patterns and finished with a durable, bright, natural cherry finish and a bull nose edge that provides comfort. The artistic shaped legs provide a clean, stylish look and finish to what really is a beautiful piece of functional art. The desks can include custom-engraved wood panels that incorporate a customer’s logo or other area of interest to further personalize the workspace. From the precision fit wood joinery, smooth hand-sanded finish and micro-suede lined locking drawers, to the large cable trays, integrated surge-suppressing power strips, ease of assembly, and soft yet durable writing surfaces, Caretta products are truly world-class.   
Customers buy direct from Caretta’s manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio, over their website or from their factory showroom. Caretta Workspace manufactures the best home office furniture and corporate office furniture on the market. Customers span North America, from Canada to Hawaii and everywhere in between.
Caretta Workspace is an American owned and operated company based in central Ohio. By constantly evolving its products and allowing the customer to configure a workspace based on their individual needs and habits, Caretta Workspace has successfully combined innovation and functional art. The company is dedicated to sustainability, using products and processes that protect the environment, including Ohio hardwoods from local suppliers who carry the Forest Stewardship Council ™ (FSC®) Chain-of-Custody certification from the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program. Caretta Workspace is named for the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle (scientific name: Caretta Caretta), a creature perfectly adapted to its environment. For every desk sold, Caretta Workspace makes a donation to the “Save the Turtles” Sea Turtle Conservation Fund through the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio. For more information on the Caretta story or to learn about its products, visit www.carettaworkspace.com or call 877-422-1088.

Building a Standing Cherry Wood Desk: Woodworking Network covers Caretta Workspace

In their January 31, 2014 article Building a Standing Cherry Wood Desk: Caretta Workspace, Woodworking Network reporter Matt Schumake looks into some of the history of people using standing desks, and some of the recent news in the popularity of standing desks, such as the recent article in "Popular Science" titled "Sitting is the new Smoking."
He goes on to discuss how Caretta Workspace has gone on to set itself apart from the other manufacturers of standing desks to incorporate a higher level of style to their desks.

Since standing while writing has been such a far-reaching and ongoing issue, it’s puzzling that so many professionals are still making a living on a foundation of old telephone books rather than proper furniture.

Part of the problem, notes Andy Tracewell from Caretta Workspace, is that nobody has really set out to create heirloom-quality desks specifically for people who prefer to stand while working at a computer.

All of the furniture items at Caretta Workspace are born from this very formula: a solution to a problem. An engineer by profession, founder Larry Tracewell began building desks for customers who wanted to conceal their laptops when not in use.

Caretta’s desks all minimize the presence of tech clutter by integrating the computer into the furniture itself. All of the cables and wires are concealed in hidden passageways throughout the desk and connected to an integrated, 12-position power strip.

And the desks are crafted from solid cherry hardwood, harvested locally in Ohio. As a commitment to sustainability, Caretta only purchases the material from local suppliers who carry the Forest Stewardship Council Chain-of-Custody certification from the Rainforest Alliance’s Smartwood Program.

Schumake continues by describing some of the processes and materials that Caretta uses and how there is some level of customization that can be added to their products.
You can read the complete article on the Woodworking Network site, or find it at this link.

Innovation Meets Art with Caretta Workspace

A central Ohio company has taken the clutter out of workspaces by creating a world-class desk design that is part artwork, part innovation. Caretta Workspace integrates technology, conservation and beauty while minimizing the clutter of cords on and around the desk.

“We know that people spend more time at their desk and in their home or office workspace than they spend anywhere else during their waking hours, and we also knew how frustrating it was for people to have that space cluttered by cables and charging wires from the ever-evolving technology that dominates business,” said Andy Tracewell, Director of Marketing, Caretta Workspace.
“So, we have developed desks that not only are functional art, but also allow for a clear desk and workspace that allows them to be creative and productive.”
Caretta Workspace is an American owned and operated desk and workspace manufacturer specializing in manufacturing luxurious, configurable workspaces that include computer desks, stand up desks, tables, shelves, coat racks and LED desk lamps. Each Caretta desk is one-of-a kind, with a numbered badge included on the piece.
Each Caretta desk demonstrates attention-to-detail with precision fit wood joinery, smooth hand sanded finish, micro-suede lined locking drawers, large cable trays and integrated surge-suppressing power strips, soft and durable writing surfaces and ease of assembly and shipping.
The manufacturer can also provide custom Laser-engraving on the desk, if desired. This option, by incorporating a customer’s logo or other area of interest in the design, further personalizes the workspace.
Customers buy direct from Caretta’s local manufacturing facility in Central Ohio, but Caretta’s customers span North America – from British Columbia, Canada to Hawaii, New York to California, and everywhere in between.
“I looked high and low for the right furniture configuration for my home office,” said John Chess, CEO of Realty Invest in Columbus, Ohio. “I came across Caretta Workspace. To my good fortune, [their] desk configured with existing components matched my needs perfectly. After the new furniture was delivered and installed I couldn't be happier with the end result. My office is more functional and looks like an interior decorator had designed the space.”
Caretta desks are made of Ohio-grown solid cherry hardwood. The company is dedicated to sustainability, using products and processes that protect the environment, including the best Ohio-grown hardwoods from a Forest Stewardship Council ™ (FSC®) certified supplier, and manufacturing processes that are optimized to produce a minimal amount of waste. Caretta prides itself on quality rooted in “green” values. The wood finishes used in Caretta goods are low VOC (low in volatile organic compounds) and formaldehyde-free.
Caretta Workspace is named for the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle’s scientific name. The Caretta turtle has been able to survive over thousands of years by securely protecting itself inside its shell, much the way the Caretta desk protects computer technology by managing all of the wires and cables inside of the desk. Additionally, for every desk sold, Caretta Workspace makes a donation to the Save the Sea Turtle Fund through the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio.
Information provided by Caretta Workspace. For more information, call 614-430-8660 or visit www.CarettaWorkspace.com

Columbus Business First features Caretta Workspace

On Friday, November 29th, Columbus Business First ran a feature article featuring Caretta Workspace.  In the article titled “Caretta desks hide wires fashionably,” reporter Melissa Dutton writes about Caretta Workspace Founder Larry Tracewell and his reasons for starting the company.

“Tracewell, a designer, was intrigued by the idea of concealing things within the piece of furniture. He designed other desks that had compartments to hide wires and cables for computers, modems and other electronics. He liked the idea of hiding the unsightly wires that distract from the aesthetics of the furniture.

“We integrate the technology in the desk,” he said. “It’s all been designed into the desk.””

The article goes on to discuss why Caretta Workspace was founded as a Green company and why they have a commitment to Sea Turtle Conservation. Dutton also touched on the subject of other products that are offered by Caretta and some new products in the line.

“Caretta also makes tables, hutches, coat racks, file cabinets and a line of desk lamps designed by Tracewell. He developed a new line of desks made of composite material in response to customers looking for a lower price point.”

You can read the article in its entirety on the Columbus Business First website:
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2013/11/29/caretta-desks-hide-wires-fashionably.html?ana=e_ph_prem&page=all

The Columbus Disptach features Caretta Workspace

On Sunday, August 11th, The Columbus Dispatch ran a feature article Caretta Workspace in their Business section.  In the article titled “Caretta Workspace mixes design with technology,” business reporter Dan Gearino tells the story of the history of Caretta and it’s founder and designer Larry Tracewell.

"What started with a sketch of a modern desk has become a furniture manufacturer with a nationwide customer base.
Caretta Workspace in Lewis Center is the latest in a series of ventures for Larry Tracewell, the chief executive and chief designer.
The company uses computer-aided tools to cut hardwood into flowing shapes with rounded edges."

The article continues to cover the design philosophy, markets that Caretta products have found their way into and new products which are soon to be available.

You can read the article in its entirety on the Columbus Dispatch website:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2013/08/11/a-sleeker-look.html