We love cool projects, and we love them even more if they’re Australian-made. Melbourne-based Maram is a group of two carpenters seeking to build furniture that works with the device’s we use every day, and we think Mesa 57 – their first venture – is pretty neat.

Mesa 57 is a gorgeous hardwood desk with clever solutions to keep devices powered and useful (we’re talking integrated power and cable management, with optional wireless charging), keeping your workspace neat and tidy, but useful and connected.

Maram aims to create furniture that helps us use our devices, is well constructed and durable, and minimises waste. They also use responsibly-sourced lumber from regrowth forests.

Mesa 57 has a few neat features that caught our eye. Read on to find out why I’m looking for a space to put one in my study.

Firstly, there’s power, and options. An 8-port power board is integrated into a sunken compartment at the back of the desk behind an elegant press-to-open/shut panel with space for cables when closed. Ports are accessible from the bottom of the desk as well. The power to the table is routed through one of the rear desk legs.

Devices’ power cables can run into this area and stay hidden away without leaving bundles of cable hanging from the desk or on the floor. Cables can also be clipped into place inside, ensuring it stays tidy. Sitting a monitor or computer in front, you wouldn’t know it’s there.

Theres USB A (2.1A) and USB C (with 30W Power Delivery) sockets, and you can optionally add a Qi wireless charger (it uses the USB A socket).

Secondly, there’s the space afforded in the design. It’s a generous 1.6m wide and 72cm deep.

It might not fit the space available to us all, but if you’ve got the room to fit it, that’s a lovely area in which to spread out and organise your work area.

I only wish my apartment looked like this shot:

Finally, there’s the clever magnetic hook system at the front of the desk.

Rather than just placing hooks where they think they should go, Maram’s giving you some choice in their placement with magnetic bars on the underside of the desk’s front edge, to the left and right.

You can choose a standard magnetic hook that holds around 1.5kg (more than enough to hang your headphones on) or opt for the Big Boi, a larger hook that takes up more space along the bar that can hold up to 6kg.

There’s two options for colour/finish – Espresso, with a black power board and rear compartment and a lighter Sand colour with white board/compartment.

Maram is looking for funding to ramp up production at their Melbourne workshop now on Kickstarter. The desk’s final retail price is set at $890, but you can get it at up to $200 cheaper by getting on board early in the campaign. Add-ons like the hooks and wireless charger cost a little more.

You can find out more about Mesa 57 at Maram’s website, or head on over to the Kickstarter campaign page.

Of course, the usual caveats with Kickstarter campaigns apply – you’re backing a project, not placing an order. Read all the available materials and ensure you’re making the right decision before committing to your backing pledge.

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    Jay

    Not height adjustable, so no deal.

    Bryan

    The Pricetag is just silly, don’t see this getting very far.

    Kit

    Agreed Jeni. The pricetag is very high for the little it offers. Was an interesting read, and the magnetic hook is a clever idea, but the desk is just far too limited compared to others out there. Hopefully they manage to sucker enough into this version so they can get a v2 out… Being Australians I’d like to see them succeed.

    Jeni Skunk

    Nice idea, if you don’t need and actively use a hutch above your monitor. The hutch that’s a part of the computer workstation I use is already full, so I need another hutch above it.
    Hardest sell is going to be the pricetag. Going up against Ikea, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, and Kmart pricing, for all the good design and environmental sustainability it has, it’s expensive.