I think the size of the desk is OK. But I have a couple questions. Are there any client or customers that will visit, or is it just for family use? And does the diagram show 20" or 30" monitors? if 30", try to mock that up like it will be set up on the 46" wide table and make sure you have enough room.

I would also consider putting the desk @ the window. I really like looming out the window from my desk. I know you can see the window from the other side of the room, but being right next to a window would be great if there isn't a glare issue.

It is for family use only. There won't be customers or clients visiting.

We plan to put two 30'' monitors on the desk, with them back to back, so my husband and I can use the desk and the computers at the same time. This is important because sometimes both of us need to work from home.

Do you mean placing the desk parallel or penpendicuar to the window? Since we need to sit at either side of the desk, parallel placement may not work? We do have silhouettes shades on the windows, so there is no glare issue.

I was thinking perpendicular to the window. Just flopped from the way it is now. With the 30" monitors make sure that 23" on each side is enough for the monitor and keyboard and gives you enough visual distance from the monitor. Otherwise you might end up staggering them a bit so they can push back to the other side of the desk. My desk @ home is 30" deep and I have just a 21" monitor. It is pushed all the way back and I wouldn't want it any closer.

IMHO, a partners desk is less than optimal. Also, I think having it stick out into the room diminishes the open space every room should have. If this were my office, I would build in a long desk-like counter with cabinets or shelving above (and tall cabinets at the ends for hidden storage) on that 15 foot wall. You can go deeper than a traditional counter or bump out certain areas to 28 or 30 inches. The long counter would allow you to roll your desk chairs together to look at what you are working on, or you can have separate areas for separate things (like work on 2011 tax returns, writing, business projects, etc). Fifteen feet of "desk" counter space is not a lot of real estate for two people. And it gives you far more flexibility than a stand-alone desk. You could shorten it with tall storage cabinets at either end. What does your budget look like for this renovation? What about a coffee table in front of the sofa? What a fun project. Please post your results!

We thought about doing custom desks & cabinets, but quickly gave up that idea because we lack imagination ability and design skills. It would be a different story if someone with good tastes could help us figure everything out, though!

Hooker Furniture has some nice Computer Credenza & Hutch sets. What about putting two identical sets along the 15' wall, and putting a Lateral File along the 8' wall? I like these two sets:

European Renaissance II: Computer Credenza & Hutch, Lateral File
New Castle II: Computer Credenza & Hutch, Lateral File

It's a good idea to add a coffee table. Maybe with an eye-catching rug underneath. Our current budget is $8k~$10k for the furniture, but we don't have to get everything all at once.

Btw, Sligh, Coucil, Henken also have some nice Credenza and Hutch sets. I don't know if we could afford them, but it sounds they have better quality than Hooker..

I really like your partners' desk idea, ILove, wherever you put it, particularly the way neither of you has to sit facing a wall or try to chat over a shoulder. To me, for a room that'll be lived in, one really needs to start with how to make it live well, then figure out how to make that look good. In this case, it'd feel good to work there and also look nice.

Plus, didn't somebody or other say every room needs one big piece? I'm not sure I believe that at all as a blanket statement, but--there's your big piece. My concern would be all those other little pieces. I suspect some of them might be too much for navigation.

rosie, thank you for your wonderful suggestions. I think we could replace the small items with paintings or something that would get less in the way. The partners desk itself has lots of storage space, so we don't really need so many filing/storage cabinets.

Hooker furniture is more than good quality wood; it is as heavy as oak. Even our moving guys made a remark that my husband's desk would never wear out or fall apart. It is same location where they moved it almost 7 yrs. ago. Too heavy for us to move around, with or without anything inside it.

We don't have any Hooker furniture. My impression came from the previous posts on this forum, where people seem to have mixed reviews on Hooker Furniture.

ILC:

I don't think that the room could handle two hutch desks, seems to me that it would be overpowering.

I think every room needs a focal point, be it a fireplace, built-in, bed, or something else. I also think that piece needs to fill a space height-wise, or you have to group something above it to fill the focal point on the wall as well.

With a wall of built-ins, then the sofa becomes a balancing focal point. I would look to a custom kitchen cabinet shop for ideas. All better-quality cabinet makers create pieces for a home office. It's a matter of how you arrangement them and what sort of material you use for the surface. Corian is easy to clean and granite would look fabulous, but you can also get stained or painted wood to match the cabinets. Google on it or look at cabinet maker websites for more ideas. No matter what look you go for (old world, modern, traditional, English country, etc), it will be clean and efficient because you design it to fit your requirements. The downside is you don't get to face your partner, but rolling chairs on a hardwood floor can help you there. What a fun project!

Here is a link that might be useful: Google Search: Built-In Desk Wall

Thank you so much for the great ideas and the helpful link. Our kitchen has Corian countertops, so we will do granite or wood for the office countertops, probably in the old-world or traditional style. We are going to look into it. Thanks again!