While used as an example of bootstrapping, I have to say that one of my favorite desks ever was a solid-core door on cinderblocks.
You can adjust the height to your specifications with bricks or wood shims; the cinderblocks can become cubbies for holding various bits and bobs; you can paint the door whatever color you want cheaply; it can take a huge load, as I had two giant 20" Radius monitors on it.
I even experimented with giving the desk a slight upward angle with shims, which worked pretty well.