wearybuilder, Are you talking about what kind of furniture to buy? Or were you asking for built in ideas?

My neighbor did an awesome built in for her office. It runs the span of the back wall and has all the spaces you are talking about...shelves, cabinets, fax area etc. It turned out awesome.

We didn't do a built in because we mistakenly left in a window on the back wall...slapping forehead...but are making up for it buy purchasing office furniture that will fit the space and has a similar set up as our neighbor.

What kind of decor is the rest of your house? Contemporary, traditional?

I thought I had more photos of offices in my idea file but I just looked and I don't have much. If I find some good ones, I'll post them.

wearybuilder- We will also have a home office for the first time. We put an outlet in the closet for fax/copy machine and have two sets of large bookcases that will go along a full wall for files, books etc. We will need to purchase a desk, and chair plus a couple of chairs for clients. Other than that I'm planning on some artwork and curtains to give it a professional feel. We also chose a darker paint for this room.

I telecommute from my home office so have found a bunch of things that work for me.

1) I built a closet so I can have supplies, printer, shredder, older market research binders, etc. close but not visible.

2) I had a desktop built with a hidden area underneath for the powerstrip, cable modem, extra Hard drive, etc. so I don't have to have the desk cluttered nor lots of wires on the floor.

3) Personally I find a big white board critical having on the wall next to me desk for lists, sketches, etc.

4) I have a book case next to my desk for the obvious

5) I have a reading chair (in addition to my computer chair)

6) mini blinds - there are times I love to look out, others I just want to close off and concentrate

7) locate away from household noise - I am under one of my son's bedrooms which make it a little loud when he is stomping around before bed

Good luck

Here's some photos on HGTV Home Offices I snapped a pic of my neighbors built ins. She designed it herself. I think it's so pretty!

jabbahop reminded me that we also insulated this room for sound. The office is on our main floor with the grand piano in the adjacent livingroom. When you close the doors it is very quiet.

jabbahop reminded me that we also insulated this room for sound. The office is on our main floor with the grand piano in the adjacent livingroom. When you close the doors it is very quiet.

here is a picture of my office as a FYI

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May sound odd, but I'm wary of too much horizontal space: in my current house, I have a 10 foot long desk that attracts clutter like you wouldn't beleive, and I can never find anything...

Says more about my organizational skills than actual design, I know.

cindylou2006....what did you use for the sound "proof" insulation?

Also, where are you buying furniture if it isn't built in? Office store? Furniture store?

Thanks for all the tips! Please keep them coming!

We used a spray foam insulation, the name escapes me now, and had it done at the same time the exterior walls were sprayed. I have drawn out on paper "what" I'd like to buy for furniture, but haven't begun thinking "where" to buy yet. You?

Still in the design stage, too! I didn't really like what Office Max had here locally, haven't looked at the website. Sam's Club had a possibility...will need to look closer when I have more time. Planning on checking local furniture stores too. We are tired of having an office that is bits and pieces of this and that....time to go "grown up!" LOL

We know we want wood, probably oak. Classic, timeless, professional, but not stuffy and like "grandpa's!"

Yes, same with us. It's important to have a professional look to the office, as he will probably have clients in from time to time. I haven't looked yet at Costco Home, but that may be a place to begin.

I just posted my recently-completed den project over on the kitchen forum if you're interested in doing built-ins.

Here is a link that might be useful: Den with built-ins

chiefneil...thank you so much! looks great! I'll be asking DH if he's ready for a project!

If your DH is up to the install, you can have Scherr's do the finish. I wish I had done that, it would have saved me months. I didn't want any of Scherr's standard finishes and wasn't aware at the time that they offer custom finishes.