My studio desktop build!

Hi, guys!
I'm going to be starting a small-scale tabletop shelf project for my studio. It's going to be a way to have my screens at a height I prefer, and my monitors placed more properly in-line with where I sit. But I'll have a few big questions that are going to change the overall construction of the final build:
 
"Studio" Questions
- I've got only a pair of 'monitors' with 3in woofers (Alesis Elevate 3's). In the build, they're raised so that the tweeters are right in line with my ears. Is that okay? I've read they should be that way as high frequencies are more directional and low freq's are more "surrounding".
- What should I make it a point to accommodate? I know this is up to personal preference, and I know what I need on my desk and available to me, but any ideas on this?
 
Construction Questions
- I'm willing to spend a bit - but not more than, say, $125, on this project. What are some good ways to get my hands on a lot of free wood? I'm searching Craiglist, but I'd also need to be able to get it cut. So....
- Where can I get wood cut? Even reclaimed wood, parts from old wood-products, etc. The whole build only has maybe 4 right-angle cuts, plus that large slabs and planks need to be downsized, but I don't have the equipment, time to waste, skill to perform, or money to risk such a job.
 
 
Sorry, not many questions, not much to say yet. This thread is also just so that those who want to can follow along in the construction process. I'll hopefully be starting next week. Photos coming later today- I've made size-accurate 3d mockups and 2d overhead diagrams! Super excited :)

I've always wanted to build my own desk. If I did, I would put a shelf UNDER the desk for monitors, with a glass desktop to see them through. Turn on your evening news program and look closely at the news desk. They have monitors there, but you can't see them because they're below the desk. They do it for the camera's benefit, but for a studio that would also remove the displays from line-of-sight to the speakers so they don't impact frequency response. 
 
And yes, line the tweeters up with your ears.

After thinking about it, I'm going to rather go with a nice plywood instead of reclaimed wood, as it'd be much easier (although far more expensive) to get my hands on. I heard that at Home Depot, one can get cuts in wood, each for $0.50. 
 
My (bad-quality) renders below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/22emkqurgvg5fli/std_dsktp_002.bmp?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cb1uw5ar3wcmku7/std_dsktp_005.bmp?dl=0
 
The surface underneath (the wood frame with glass in the middle) is the existing table, and the new part sits on top. You guys can probably see that it's conceptually pretty darned simple - raising the monitors and the screens so that everything is just a bit more comfortable. it can also accommodate some of my books and gear so that I don't need to go to the closet every time I want to find a mic.
 
Either way, I'll keep you guys posted. The process starts this coming week.

I could sit on this table and it wouldn't collapse, that I'm certain of. I was in fact more worried about how the thickness of wood I use might affect the sturdiness of the desktop unit itself (the build, that is), given that two rather weighty monitors will be sitting on top of it.
I've thought about both 1/2in and 1in wood, but I haven't made a final decision yet. Either way, i'll end up need a little bit of stuff under the monitors to raise them to the exact right height, it seems.

Any building center will sell pine shelving. I've been using it for years and years. They sell it in all sorts of sizes too. 
So if you don'thave a saw you might be able to get exactly what you need already cut. It comes in 8", 12", 16" and 20" width, And then 2', 3' 4' 6' and 8' lengths.  
My currant desk was a corner unit I scored at Ikea for $30 in the reject dept. That's another real good place to scrounge desk parts. They discount it because it has a tiny blemish or a screw missing. I then added 4' wings to either end. I used Ikea wooden self brackets ( $8) and some 8"  pine selves for upper selves for my monitors etc.  Well under $100 as you see it in this pic
 
 

Yeah Cactus, super nice! Little more cuttered than mine, no doubt, but really nice still XD
How much would you reckon the whole set cost altogether (tabletops and shelves)? I've considered getting some shelves for my setup as well (for my 'pleasure listening' setup), I'm going in part for a really nice appearance.

yea, the corner layout is not helping you one bit!
 

Cactus Music

batsbrew
yea, the corner layout is not helping you one bit!

Strange comment? have you been listening to my mixes :) 

I think he means that a corner desk for mixing goes against convention on how to set up a desk for mixing. Corners have weird reflections etc. I'm sure it wasn't a dig towards your personal mixes.

Looks great Jonesey!

I'm actually designing a desk for myself and I can't decide if I want the computer keyboard below the desk and the midi keyboard on the desk or vise-versa. How's the comfort with that setup? What about knee clearance? I'm not really a piano player so I can't decide if it would bother me higher up.

Bristol_Jonesey
Built mine for about £600 GBP
 

Yikes, Bristol, that one sure was nice! I can't tell fromt he picture, but it looks like your monitors are quite high. Quite expensive setup, but the cost speaks for itself in quality, it seems. Is it modular?
 
My desk actually has a slide out section like that where my (computer) keyboard is, in my design there'll be a partition at the front of the work surface where maybe a keyboard or controller can go. I'm weighing the P's and C's of having the keyboard up top with a MIDI controller on the slide out, or vice versa.

Cactus Music
PS.. I took the picture after spending a half hour tiding up.. It's a work space and I'm not very tidy when I'm working. 
 

Cactus - it's okay:

 
It's getting closer to that day where I really I need to clean up a bit myself. I did it about a week ago, but in the past few days I've been going so hard on projects that I just haven't even tried to get any cleaning done before getting to work.

Yep. give me a horizontal surface and I'll populate it! 
Cables are alway's an issue. 

WallyG
I see on the lower right of the picture that you have muting capability. Cool!

Haha Walt, took me a good 7 minutes before I got that one 

davdud101

Bristol_Jonesey
Built mine for about £600 GBP
 

Yikes, Bristol, that one sure was nice! I can't tell fromt he picture, but it looks like your monitors are quite high. Quite expensive setup, but the cost speaks for itself in quality, it seems. Is it modular?
 
My desk actually has a slide out section like that where my (computer) keyboard is, in my design there'll be a partition at the front of the work surface where maybe a keyboard or controller can go. I'm weighing the P's and C's of having the keyboard up top with a MIDI controller on the slide out, or vice versa.

It's kind of semi modular in that if I wanted to relocate it, I can easily remove the desktop & sidecars
The stand are a bit high, that's why they're angled DOWN pointing towards my ears.

[whoops. looks like I managed to double-post]