A while ago I posted that we were designing our home office and wanted some ideas. We've come up with a rough design for our two-person home office built in desks. The measurements are a bit rough right now. Any thoughts? It will look built in but it will be done in pieces so we can always take it with us if we move.
[IMG]http://tinypic.com/kew6fo.jpg[/IMG]
It's going to go against this same wall that the current desks are on in this room.
[url]http://www.jakeandkaren.com/house/office.html[/url]
I'm thinking I want a dark finish on the desks and the walls will be something like Manchester Tan. All the computer equipent will be built in, we'll have wireless keyboard/mice and new LCD screens.
The rest of the room with have a loungey sofa with side table. We're keeping the carpet. Anyways.. just want any additional ideas.
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hope you have a good and safe vacation....make sure you bring back some pics for us :)
Kipper, great idea re the puck lighting, we’ll definitely do that. And the mesh idea on the side is good too, we were just going to leave the back open but it might need the extra ventilation. Nice idea re the pull out work surface but I’m worried about ergonomics, a big part of doing this project is our current setup is causing me severe neck, shoulder issues. Almost everything on the lower cabinets will be on drawer slides. Kipper, if you can think of any enhancements since this may be a jumping off point, let me know.
reno-vator, we considered a return but there’s not enough room plus the more extra desk space we have, the more stuff will get piled up. Our use is primarily on the computer, not much writing, etc.
Jelli, not 100% sure if we’ll do those drawers on the upper area or not or we might just use a stacked tray system. We’ll make it out of MDF/plywood combination with some type of sprayed on finish. I’m currently researching what we can do.
Zulu, the workspace is 3’ wide in the lower area but there’s more room to spread out a bit on the surface. The upper cabinets will be shallower than the desk surface.
Jenjen, the upper cabinets and upper drawers will be much shallower than the desk surface so there should be enough room. Most of my work is on the actual computer, if I let it spread too much it’s too messy so we want as much as possible behind doors. On top of that, we have converted the office closet into shelves and all our books, manuals, extra stationery, etc are in there.
Thanks all… We’ll start working on this after our vacation, It all depends on what kind of finish we do because some finishes are more temperature sensitive than others.
ok looking back at the drawing i noticed that you have included a paper storage cabinet...never mind then...
my brother had a desk exactly like that for the longest time...LOL
i was wondering about the work space area too...i'm the type that has alot of baskets and stuff for sorting my paperwork...you know like a ''to be paid''...''paid''...''file''...and a miscellanious basket...and what if you turned those 4 drawers on either side of your screen into shelves instead??...that way you had somewhere to put your paper...cheques...and stuff like that???
I think it looks great, but as I am sitting at my home office space right now I would be concerned with desktop working area. You don't seem to have any area to do paperwork. I'm not sure what your business is but I would not be able to complete my tasks with the limited desktop space you have alotted. If it is just for basic home stuff you need it for I am sure would work fine. Someone else mentioned a return area, that would provide work space.
Looks like a good plan. What are the dimensions of the workplace named Number 3 on sketch?
the home office that Jason and Kristen did on The Block? The colours are not what you are looking for but their design was so smart very creative couple those two!!
I am worried about the placement of those drawers. You will have to push out from your desk and stand up to get into them. You may need a little step stool (if like me) you are on the shorter side of say tall :D How much room do you have on either side of your moniter? At my desk I am a spreader or well at least the papers on my desk tend to grow outward. If you are the neat and orderly type then this won't bother you at all. What's it being made out of to give you the dark finish?
I have a door on two filing cabinets for a desk ! I do like it, and the hole for the lock-thing is great for cords!
but what I miss most is a return - you know, the L-shaped thing; I like having phone / paperwork etc on a surface at right angles to my computer . . . I guess it depends on how much you use the space, and what for.
jmho !
Thats a great design Karen. Awesome..as usual. I have one teensy tiny complaint to share with you tho...every single time I follow the link in one of your postings to your house pix...I CAN'T STOP TILL I LOOK AT THEM ALL AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!!! :hairpull:
So, I guess in my own funny way...I'm telling you how unbelievably FABULOUS your house is.
:) Mel
Hey, nice design!
some thoughts:
1) consider halogen puck lights or similar under the shelving to save desk space a lamp (that you'll need) would take up
2) what material will be used to house the doored CPU cabinet?
Can you use a mesh panel for the side of the CPU cabinet ( the legspace area side) to allow for more airflow, as well as a cut out or more mesh for the back of the CPU cabinet?
I've found with our CPU cabinet, having the door closed made the CPU overheat, even with the large air cut out at the back of the cabinet. We have the same problem in our armoire for the kids' computer, and the CPU area DOESN'T have a door when in use. I had to remove the pencil drawer above it to create more air space.
3) consider a pullout worksurface with your keyboard tray (see link). Depending on how you work, that extra foot and a half of surface could really make you happy. Problem: you'd have to raise your desktop surface, or have really low chairs to accomodate the new keyboard tray...or paper thin thighs
[url]http://sauder.com/furniture/product.asp?p=491[/url]
4) any shelves in the lower cabinets should slide out... including what your CPU sits on. It just makes it SOOOO much easier to get at the units to clean or plug things in Problem: cords on electronics have to be long enough to extend shelf
That's all I can think of. I really like your design, it looks very functional and still decor forward. I'm not loving what we are currently working with in my home office... I might use your design as a jumping off point for a more suitable set up for us!! (We have major work surface issues)
Hope this helps,
kipper
No additional ideas.....your plans as usual are Fantastic!!!
Very jealous as I sit here at my old -- I want to say Ikea desk but I think it's actually older than that! perhaps a KMart desk?? :eek: But even worse it's probably an old Woolco desk!! :eek: :eek: :eek:
Please tell me I'm not old enough to remember Woolco!