Sauder Palladia Computer Desk

One of the things I found really aesthetically pleasing when looking at the pictures was something that didn't work for me - the little door on the keyboard and mouse tray. The hinges are in the way. Also, you can't pull the keyboard and mouse out very far. So, I took it off. It looks great without it too. Another negative is the assembly. The instructions are really good. It takes hours, though. We worked on it together, didn't have any snags, and it took us 4 hours. Every little piece has to be screwed in or popped into place. Every little piece is separate, and there are a lot of pieces. We carefully used a drill for some screws, but mostly used a screwdriver. Be careful as to what piece goes on which side. That part could be easy to mix up. I love the desk, though, especially for the price. It's not solid wood. It is particle board, but it's still very nice. The drawers slide smoothly. It has a really nice look to it. If I could give it 4.5 stars, I would have for the assembly time, but I'd rather give it 5 than 4. It doesn't deserve a 4. Overall, I'm very happy with it.

First, to the reviewers who decribed this desk as "junk", here's a hint: High end furniture is not assembled by the consumer. Go to a real furniture store and pay real furniture prices if that is what you're looking for and expecting. This desk is attractive, very sturdy and will serve it's purpose without breaking the bank. Points to consider 1) It is very heavy (140+ lbs) delivered in one very awkward box. Plan to have help moving it. 2) I assembled (and re-assembled the step I messed up!) the desk in just under 4 hours. Having a place to lay out the pieces is an advantage. 3) The instructions are clear, nearly all of the parts are clearly marked, the rest are easily identifiable. The hardware is grouped and sealed in labeled sections. A Phillips screwdriver and hammer are the only tools needed. 4) I found that attaching brackets snug, but not tight, allowed for alignment and fitting of parts. I tightened them once I was happy with the fit. 5) The drawers should NOT bump or catch on each other. Loosen the screw holding the slide and adjust as needed. I spent 30 minutes getting these right, but it was time well spent. If your looking for an affordable, attractive desk, I would reccomend this one, or any of the Sauder line. I've been buying them for years, always a good product.

OK here is the true and false. It is very sturdy - TRUE. it weighs over 140 pounds and is very solid. It comes in a lot of pieces and takes a while to assemble - TRUE. It took me about 5 hours over two days. The 21 step assembly is easy to follow and just read it carefully and you'll be fine. The holes don't line-up and you have to drill some yourself - FALSE. I got my drill ready and never used it. All pre-drilled holes lined up with the parts in every case. The parts are not all labelled - TRUE. However, be aware that the parts that are labelled have two different ways of labelling - some have white stickers and some are labelled on the unfinished edges so make sure you check the piece carefully and all the major pieces are in fact labelled. Some of the smaller pieces are indeed unlabeled but the diagrams make identification pretty easy. It is solid wood - FALSE. Most people think of "solid wood" as true finished wood, and this unit is primarily a very heavy wood composite with laminates - very heavy and not particle board. Be aware the top is laminated and not what most would consider "solid wood". The drawers are real wood. There are pieces missing - TRUE (one fastener), but in my case at least it was only a screw for the drawer-handle (there are 5 handles). Since you install these last, it can be frustrating, and only one was missing. Lucky that I had one in my garage. All-in-all I definitely would buy this thing again. it came out beautiful. All drawers line up perfect, and the dark cherry is classic.

I looked for months to find a desk second-hand or in a retail store that had all three of these qualities: keyboard tray, file drawer, and two additional drawers. This desk is the ONLY one I could find of decent quality. (There are other Sauder desks with keyboard tray, file drawer, and one additional drawer that we saw put together in a retail store; not as nice as this one.) I just wish I had bought it on Amazon months ago when it was $20 cheaper but I had hoped to find something already assembled. It took my husband (who is quite talented at assembly) at least 6 hours to put this desk together. It wasn't difficult to follow the instructions, there were just LOTS of pieces and parts. It really looks good. It looks surprisingly good for the price. It's very sturdy. And the rounded 'pillars' sitting on the block bottoms is a really nice touch. There is a finished back to the desk so you could use it in the middle of a room. The drawers slide well and there's a nice access area for cables.

First the good news. This is a beautiful desk once assembled. The cherry finish is very nice. It is sturdy, solid and fairly heavy. I expect it to hold up fine for a long time. Now the bad. The sides of the keyboard drawer had the predrilled holes in the exposed finished edge on top instead of the underneath edge out of site where they belong. I will have to fill in these holes with a matching filler. I had to drill the holes myself in the proper place. There were at least two dozen wooden pieces that were not marked for identification. Many of them look very similar and it can be difficult to sort through them and make sure you have the right piece. This severely slowed down assembly. I spent about 16 hours spread out over four days on it as a result. I'd estimate this to be about a four hour job if all parts are marked as they should be. All in all, I don't regret this purchase. It is cheaper than I would have expected for this nice a quality and it is a very nice desk. Just be aware you may be in for some serious time to assemble it and you may have to deal with issues with the predrilled holes.