[blunte]

I didn't immediately see some desktop covering that would make the surface flat and smooth. This is something that some users would have to have - for writing on paper on the desk, and for mousing.

And since I don't want to have to have a special "desk mat" that looks odd and may slide around, I would skip this desk. Perhaps you can devise one that fits the style and provides the flat smooth surface that some of us would want.