Application
The desk front is the only place the stone is touched.
A reception desk is a handrail, a leaning post and a boot target in one. It is also the one curve in the lobby, which is why it is cast rather than cut.
A travertine look reception desk front is normally cast to the plan radius in 20 mm, with the return and any shadow reveal formed in the mould. The worktop is a separate piece in 25 to 30 mm, and the junction between them is detailed as a shadow gap rather than a butt joint.
Cast the curve, do not segment it
A curved desk built from narrow flat strips needs a joint every 100 mm, and every joint shows at hand height. A cast curved panel arrives as one piece to the plan radius, with the top and bottom edges formed. On a desk that is 4 m long, that is the difference between a curve and a polygon.
Where the thickness goes
| Element | Thickness | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Front panel | 20 mm | Vertical, supported off a frame |
| Worktop | 25–30 mm | Point loads, elbow pressure, cantilever |
| Return / end panel | 20 mm | Formed with the front where possible |
| Shadow reveal | Formed in mould | Hides the junction with the joinery |
The joint with the worktop
A flush butt between front and top collects dirt and chips at the arris. A 6 to 10 mm shadow gap, or a formed reveal in the panel, gives a clean line and a place for tolerances to disappear. It also lets the front panel be replaced without removing the top.
Questions buyers ask
- Can a curved reception desk be clad in travertine?
- Yes. The front is cast to the plan radius as a single piece, so there is no joint every 100 mm as there would be with flat strips.
- What thickness for a desk top?
- 25 to 30 mm. A 20 mm top is a wall panel; on a desk it takes point loads and elbow pressure at a cantilever.
- How is the corner detailed?
- Formed in the mould as a return, or mitred only where the plan requires a sharp corner. A formed return is stronger and has no visible cut at the arris.
Send the drawing. We will return a joint layout.
Panel layout, area, substrate and required delivery date are enough to start. Quotation within 24 hours.