Sorry, no time to draw at the moment, but how about making the part to the left of the post a desk and the part to the right just storage?

I'd put a built-in bench with storage below against the green wall, facing a work surface. That's where I'd keep my laptop and bills, etc. and it would be a place to drop my keys and the mail. The work surface could even be hinged like a drop front desk.

To the right I'd put a single big triangular panel on a hinge and use that space to store whatever would fit. The vacuum, a case of wine, the step ladder, etc...

Also, google "under-stair storage"

This is pretty cool:

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.workbenchmagazine.com/main/wb305-stair01.html

Under our stairs, I put a 36 inch high counter with a slide out flip top table (2x3 ft, 30 inches high)underneath that can come out completely and open to 4x6 feet. Underneath that table, we have a file cabinet which is 25 inches tall, and a stool beside the file drawer for using the table. The flip top table can also slide out partway and be used for a laptop. It has been a very versatile arrangement. You would also have room for bookshelves or cabinets above the counter.

What a nifty project, September. Pictures would be great, Scrappy. To develop that nook and cranny aspect, Rob's layout of facing a desk surface into the stairs sounds good. Depending on how much you'd expect to use it it might be a permanent fixed desk or could be a fold-down surface of some type. You don't mention a file drawer, but one could roll out from under, if desired a partial-width drawer from under a fixed desk against the house's outside wall or full-width set close to floor at the very back of the work surface of either fixed or fold-up. That last would work well if you wanted to keep an open look to your nook by suspending the work surface on a large decoratively curved wood bracket. Depending on your comfort level with the ceiling height, the rear of the desk could potentially set farther back than the post, with the post itself part of the support detail.

So, desk to your right as you look in. On the green wall, whatever else you end up doing definitely if possible remove the existing drywall and retrieve up to an additional 3-1/2" of depth, probably 3 or less after finishing, but precious inches added to perhaps 9" of the space already there. Then using those 12" or so, perhaps the bar and other shallow storage on the full height of that wall, the space enclosed with doors below a desk-height counter, open for about 20" above that counter for working and openness, then open shelves above that for storage of anything you wanted. Books? A book shelf or two could also be fitted in along the back of the desk.

Back/outside wall--how about wrapping that counter and the closed storage below right on around to the desk? At whatever depth felt good to you. The wall above could hold a single favorite piece of art.

To the right of the column, keeping it simple for now, as suggested a single door to storage. Drawers are a possibility, though.

Regarding cost--Ikea if anywhere near at all. Their 12" and 24" deep cabinets can be cut down easily to whatever depth is needed, the shelves and rest pop together as an evening project while you watch TV, and they're so inexpensive a mistake is a shrug and try again. But especially for their extremely inexpensive smooth-glide full-extension drawer units of various sizes that hold a great deal of weight and are great for maximizing use of space. Including, if you want, ones that fit into 12"-deep cabinets that are pretty modest in the amount of actual storage space they offer but are still very good for organizing pencils, bottle openers etc. If you could spare 12" on the outside wall, instead of say 8, a row of those could run around both walls under the counter and serve both desk and bar, as well as little household thingies in general.

Ikea has a couple of solid-wood doors you might use, but only the slab one lends itself to custom sizing. You might make these yourself. Their solid-wood counters could be used for...counters.

Seat--something small but comfy and attractive on wheels with a swivel seat.

I'm looking forward to seeing what other ideas are generated and what you end up doing with this nice little space.

September, I don't have as many nifty ideas as the others, but I keep coming back to your thread and thinking about the bar aspect. One thought was to have a hinged bar counter that could drop across from the tall side if there's actually room to stand under there.

The other idea would be more like a version of what Rob's link showed. I keep thinking of

, and the {{gwi:1899309}} that that have that are similar. If you're handy with a hammer, you can make a pullout on castors that hinges open to be like a patent desk, with a drop down surface. You can even wire it with a light, power strip and broadband hookup, and run these to the wall. Then have a smaller one for the bar, and a smallest for filing. But that would take some pretty good furniture skills.

Another way to go, since you have that post there, would be to build a counter that runs all the way from the green wall, around the post, and to the end of the stairs. That would delineate the staircase for you, and give you a place under the counter to have shelves, drawers, cupboards, and/or cubbies. Have the section in front of the understairs area either swing or roll out for access.

Oh, I think those pullouts rob posted are perfect for the section to the right of the post. That is definitely the section for over-sized storage. If those pullouts don't work, then I like the idea of the triangular door to cover that space. I would try to store things on a platform or shelves with wheels for sure so that you can take full advantage of the 40" depth. I would also put a divider of some kind between that section and the desk area so that you are not looking at all of your stuff from your desk.

The remaining space is a great space for sitting at a desk and accessing things to be used in the space from a sitting position. I think it might be a little awkward to walk in and out of to retrieve things you'll use frequently outside of the space (like bottles). I wonder if it would work to have narrow (12" - 16") floor-to-stair cabinets flanking the space (one next to the kitchen and one next to the post) that face the hallway. You could store your most frequently used things there and access them without having to enter the space. A removable counter that you could somehow run between these cabinets could serve double-duty during parties for a bar surface and keeping your guests out of your offices space. I think this arrangement would require you to have your desk against the exterior wall, which would be workable, I think, but maybe not what you are looking for.

Anyway - neat project. Good luck - I am looking forward to seeing what you do with the space!

bump.

If you haven't already seen it, you should really check out Elizpiz's pics of the area under her stairs. She had some really cool custom drawers built that used the space beautifully.

Here is a link that might be useful: Elizpiz's slideshow

Sorry so late in a reply. Work has been crazy. Being self-employed, it always seems to win out over anything else.

Thanks fro your posts so far! I know that I wouldn't be disappointed. Such great suggestions.

*rob_p- A desk built-in desk the WIDTH of the staircase. I wouldn't have thought about that one. My natural inclination would have been against the back exterior wall. Wow! a bench could add a even more storage with a hinged lid. I'll have to sketch this and rethink the space. interesting. BTW thanks for the link thats a really set up for a weird space.

*scrappy25- that sound really cool. I would love to see a picture of the space and how the pull-out workspace surface looks both in use and not full extended. Does it work on the principal of a trundle bed? Look forward to pics or a further description of the counter/table space.

*Rosie- Thanks for painting the "picture" for me. I can definitely visualize it! I love the idea of incorporating artwork in that nook.

Im not a "filer". When I put things in a file its similar to a black hole. Im a stacker- but I know where everything is! I love the curved idea.

Good drywall tip. I've had clients do that but have never used it for my own application.

*Plllog- There are so very few things in this world that I would use in the same sentence as the word covet. One of them is Patent Desk. I worked in an antique/design and cabinetry making shop fresh out of school. They had a patent desk there that I just adored. That would truly be the 'Bee's knees'!

*Cawila- Actually, in my mind I had thought of the desk being on that wall. I like the idea of separating the office space when people are in and out. Thanks for pointing out the potentially awkwardness of using that space for often used items. Thanks!

*holligator- I had NOT seen Elizpiz's finished kitchen/ storage area. Oh my goodness gracious. Its stunning! Those picture and that space she has created is divine.
Thanks for bringing to my attention.

I'm hoping to print these out. When I have a moment, I hope to sketch up the possible scenario presented. It would help me get a better visual. The ideas so far are wonderful. Thank you all for weighing in on this.

I really appreciate it.

-September