thank you! this is really nice, only downside is that i dont get to enjoy that view, but maybe thats ok.

what is ”F” file cabinets? and is that the whiteboard on the left?

i just came across this photo of non built in shelves that appealed to me, im thinking i could try to get them fabricated. maybe placed on the wall to the right of the desk in your drawing

I love those brackets. Might be challenging to hang but look great and self bookends to keep items from sliding off. Yes, the F means file cabinet or closed door storage or to house supplies and possibly printer. You have a good eye. I put bookshelf’s on left side (wall with radiator) because it is basically walkway space so good spot to utilize sq footage. But up to you.

You could put a long wood shelf behind the desk under the windows and have a spot to set a cup of coffee and turn to gaze out the window. I find looking out window a bit too glaring on the eyes when working but great for daydreaming or creative thinking. The desk would need to be pushed a foot more toward the TV wall. I like being able to sit at the desk and see anyone approaching or coming into the office. Some interesting ceiling lighting, desk task lighting and ambient wall sconces would be nice additions too. Over bookshelves, beside TV OR an “art light” over large art. Love the saturated wall colors on your inspirational photos too with your woods. Very timeless look. Sophisticated but not stuffy.

@Flo Mangan Love all your thoughts! Thank you so much! I'm wondering if your plan would also work if rotated 90 degrees -- do you think it would "flow" as well that way? Reason being, then I'd have the view out the door next to me, and less glare from the windows (that's why I have the desk there now). I'll probably play with both before putting the shelves in, but curious if you have any gut reactions.

Also, any chance you have ideas on where to get find shelf brackets like that? I've been scouring the internet and coming up short, so I think I'll have to fabricate something, which is always a pain.

From Amazon

If you rotate, that puts your back to the entry door. That is not desirable and creates negative “flow”. Feng Shui principles guide me to keeping view to entry of the room. That’s why I avoided that orientation. I will see if I can locate bookshelf bracket source for you.

@Flo Mangan strongly agree with you there! Having your back to the door is not a good feeling. I meant rotate the other way, so the door to my left is the exit to the balcony, and facing the entry door to the room. So i meant rotate 90 counter clockwise

Thanks so much for your help!

Oh. Ok. I will show basics first. Let’s confirm I have the basic room orientation right. The exterior door is on upper left of my drawing. Second, since there are two doors in and out of this room it requires furniture be placed so there is 3’ walking room around the main furniture arrangement. By placing the desk as I did in Option 1 this is achieved. Third, not sure which direction you want the TV as you face from the desk? Do you do your zoom calls from your laptop? So background would be what’s behind you? In this room, you have 12’ long x about 8-9’ deep to place main furniture and maintain walk around space. Additionally, I use 3’ push back space for a desk chair of medium size to function fairly well. So take a look and see if I am understanding properly.

By locating the bookshelf if and TV on outer walls, you maximize the usable floor space for office function.

@Flo Mangan Yes, you've got it. What i'm asking about is option 2. The door by the desk in that picture is to the balcony, and is how the desk is placed today.

Option 3 or variants of it with back to door doesn't work IMO (and seems you agree).

Option 2 would be nice if it works because the door to the balcony is all glass, so you get the view to your left without the distracting light source behind the monitor. And it faces the door. Thing is, i really like your layout and the flow, so wondering if this will feel as good when it's all put together.

@Flo Mangan sorry I didnt answer your question, did I. Today I take the zoom calls on my monitor, but my hope is to take them from the TV which is much more comfortable. So in your original drawing, thinking those chairs could swivel to face the desk or the TV, and I'd sit there when having a call (sometimes with a colleague in my office, so 2 chairs is nice to have).

I'm not concerned about my zoom background, I'm selfish and prioritize my experience 🤣

This discussion inspired another option! This option offers the ability to face door and view AND move or swivel desk chair to room entry. Best of both worlds. Then I put a wall unit with bookshelves and a console or shelf with a 48” wide space for a TV/picture TV. A pair of guest swivel chairs and large distinctive art on wall with radiator. Not sure of the window location, but these are details you can figure out once you settle on main desk size and orientation. This might be your “ideal” layout. See what you think.

There are some great modular units available that could help meet your vision in a reasonable budget. You can pick and choose. Etsy also has sources for modular hardware to achieve your vision.

A TV can be incorporated into a modular arrangement pretty easily. Many available in range of price points. 😊

Here is link to on Etsy source for potential bookshelf hardware. https://www.etsy.com/listing/804855104/bookshelf-brackets-w-bookend-heavy-duty?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=shelf+brackets&ref=sc_gallery-2-20&frs=1&etp=1&sts=1&plkey=6f3083e06352bd43466073b8d485b0e8e0160beb:804855104

You need Beverly. She's the layout queen.

Jon, any thoughts on Option 4? Just wondering.

Hey @Flo Mangan, sorry busy morning!

Thanks for the shelf find, the etsy one seems like a nice option, and i contacted to see if they can get more custom to match the inspo closer.

Option 4 is cool, but not quite ideal. Sitting there, I still have the glare coming in behind me. I think option 3 is closer to ideal, if it works to sit with the door on my left (so the desk chair faces the entry door), since that door is glass, I can look to the left and take in the view, get to keep windows open to take in lots of natural light, and don't have to worry about glare.

I'm curious why you shied away from that though, I suspect your intuition is picking up on something that I'm missing. Maybe it's the draw to have the seating spread further apart which you are afforded by having the desk parallel with the longer wall?

I haven't read the whole thread, but one thing not addressed is the direction of the windows. My office at work had a fabulous east window - but I had to close the blinds in the morning to eliminate glare on my computer monitors, or arrange the space so I faced with window (which put my back to the door, which I didn't like).

When I worked from home in a bedroom with a window on the north wall, glare was never an issue.

My last work from home situation was in a sunroom, with an east window and a south patio door. My desk was under the window facing east; in the afternoon I had to adjust the vertical blinds on the patio door to eliminate glare. The window has a blind that can open from the top or bottom, so I was able to open from the top in the morning to get sunshine, without it shining in my face.

You have both a monitor and a TV to consider in terms of glare from the windows.

If glare is your biggest concern, Solar shades would solve that problem easily. They would work great for this room. Still see through but knocks down glare. My concern with desk up on wall with entry door is that isn’t good view when entering the room. Plus it moves the TV to a position that seems ackward when zooming? It also puts main feature, namely the desk, off to side wall. I like to feature “wow” as first view when entering room. Option 4 is ideal IMO with added solar shades for glare control. And highly functional too. But you are the one who will “live and work” in this space so totally up to you. I will continue playing with ideas and post if I come up with another alternative.

Thanks @Flo Mangan! I think that's a really good point with the wow of option 1 and 4. I think I'll play around with some existing furniture and chairs to get a feel for it this weekend. If any other ideas come to mind, would love to hear them.

Great point @annkh the windows and door to balcony are east facing. The other window is thus North facing. So no glare concerns with that window behind me.

I think Flo's first drawing looks really incredible, but it has the disadvantage of not fully taking advantage of the view. The view is actually what lead us to buy this house (we searched for about a year for a house in the town that had this view), it's quite meaningful to me :) . We've done extensive renovation (including taking down a non-functional chimney, and fireplace that was previously awkwardly placed in this room) to better expose the view to us inside the house.

I have Option 5 ready for you! “view ready”! Bonus, ways to utilize existing tables!

Not sure of size of your tables. Post those measurements and I can update Option 5. Swivel chairs swing to views for morning coffee break or to TV or toward desk. The fits represent “lines of sight” which are so important. Your table bases are so beautiful and unique that showcasing them with coordinating bookcase brackets woukd be fab.

Dots not “fits”! Are “lines of sight”.

Any update from weekend experimenting? Just curious.

Hey @Flo Mangan

Sorry for the delayed response! I unfortunately did not get to do that -- 3 kids, one of which is a newborn...my eyes are bigger than my stomach some times 🤣. But I will get there this week at some point and I'll try to snap some photos as I do :) . Thanks so much for following up!

On the positive side, I did find a local fabricator who can tackle the shelves, just trying to get some drawings together for them to estimate.

Talk soon, and thanks again!

Oh my! Congratulations on new baby. No sleep time! No worries. You have your priorities straight. Best to you and your whole family!! Just post a comment and I will get notifications. Take care.

Would love to see the desk facing the 2 windows. built in bookcases behind it…two comfy chairs…we ran a sofa along the long wall…we love the set up…of course this is a more traditional style but you can have a casual style with a shelf unit along the back wall behind the desk.

Thanks @Home Interiors With Ease -- we actually were working toward that direction originally, that is very similar to our iriginal inspirational photos, but we couldn't find a way to make the built in work given the location of doors and their proximity to adjacent walls. Love what you built, though!

I'm hoping I can get some time to move things around in the office tonight or tomorrow night.

Hi @Flo Mangan -- Finally snapped some photos and tried the different layouts. The one that feels the best I think is option 2

Here is something like option 2 (the chairs wont be used, I took them from another room just to get the feel)

Option 1, which I was most excited about initially doesn't really work quite as well as I'd hoped because I really miss the view (I didn't move the TV over to test because that was difficult and time is scarce 🤣)

Option 5 doesn't feel quite right, not sure if i missed something -- and it doesn't get the view, as you really need a good view of the first window, closest to the balcony door, and it doesn't quite get there)

So I think I'm gonna go with Option 2, unless any other cool ideas come up, happy to try anything, and very much appreciate all your help!

Best,

jon

Sounds like you have tested options well. Only you can decide what best suits your “work flow”. Just make sure you have good walkway spacing to get out your door to outside area. Keep me posted as you get things done. Babies are time hogs. Lovable but exhausting too. Best to you and your sweet family!

I would turn the desk to face the chairs and double windows.

Thanks @Home Interiors With Ease, I will try that once more, it's my second favorite option thus far. I had played with that a little bit but it feels a little funny walking right into the desk from the hallway. Maybe if i push the desk forward more it can work, have to see how much space that leaves for the chairs. The console table doesnt really work for the TV because the TV then sits too high to be functional, so I'll mount it and find a more traditional console or something to put under it.

Would rather look at the side of the desk than the back of the monitor and cords…easier to hide it with it turned..we look into our den at the side of the desk and chairs on the other side..it feels well balanced. Good Luck you have a nice bright space to work in…and can still give it a cozy feel with bookcase or shelves. maybe only one large comfy club chair with an ottoman that can angle towards the TV wall? add a side table.

@Home Interiors With Ease -- I swapped things about, and am thinking your plan might be the best. I have to sit in there for a day to get the feel. Wondering if I should put the bookshelf behind the desk, or on the wall next to the balcony door so it serves as a focal point when you enter the room? Also not sure what to do about that power cable, can't really get an outlet in the floor there without harming the original wood floors.

I dont think I quite followed the comfy chair with ottoman, how would you position that so it doesn't look awkward? Just in a fixed position, not a swivel, perpendicular to the desk?

Good morning…you will need a rug…. you would run your cables under a rug to the back wall….how much space do you have between the desk and back wall right now?

Probably about 3.5', i'll measure when i get back home. And yes going to get a rug

Wow you have a gorgeous view with this layout!

I am thinking built in behind the desk and mount tv there…than you could just switch and use one of the chairs on the other side for zoom calls….I think two swivel chairs in front of windows will be perfect with this layout.

As it stands now, I have 47" between the wall and the desk. I'm wondering if I do a single big swivel chair on the other side of the desk, something like this maybe

https://www.article.com/product/21775/cigar-44-leather-swivel-lounge-chair-rawhide-tan?queryID=ae0239399f4b8bce8684b55511c0c318&index=production_product

In reality, the chair(s) facing the desk is just aeshtetic/"vibes", I don't have clients or anyone coming in who would ever sit there. I think the ideal functional scenario would be to have a comfortable chair or two facing the TV. Something about having a chair sitting perpendicular to the desk feels awkard though?

That’s a great chair but might be a bit too big for the space you have? Stack some boxes the size of that chair in the room and that will help you visualize the “volume”. If you will zoom sitting in that chair, be mindful of height from seat to camera. Maybe a chair you can raise for zoom calls would work?

Arhaus has a great swivel chair, leather too and may meet your measurement needs

Hi Jon…..you could do a chesterfield style sofa under the windows…and the tv behind the desk in a builtin bookcase will work for zoom calls and watching tv…I think it would be beautiful…and very cozy. This would be the exact layout!

Here's a layout you might try. Using cow hide rugs (or faux if preferred), is a good idea for areas that are odd shaped layouts. You could use your existing chairs or change to swivel chairs so it's easy to swing around to view the TV. Add bookcases that look built-in and painted in the same color as the walls.

@Home Interiors With Ease Funny, i just moved a couch like that (brown leather, tufted) down the hall into our bedroom which has navy walls like the photo. It might be a little too tight in that space, so I could use it here. I love that layout and those bookshelves, but the wall behind the desk makes it awkward, i think. The door is *right* up against the wall, so the bookshelf couldn't start until at least 3' in, and then it gets broken again on the other side by the closet door. To me, that makes it look a lot more awkward? Plus then you are walking into the bookshelf extending from the wall. Included 2 photos to show what i mean.

@Flo Mangan -- great call out. I should have mentioned, that side bar thing isn't staying in this room. It is only in here as storage while we were working on the rest of the house. The TV sits too high above it, so I plan on mounting the TV at regular "couch" eye level height, wherever it ends up.

I love Emily’s layout. By angling your desk you solve a lot of your issues. Cord management becomes easier because the pathway is thru the room nicely. You still have a nice view. You can set up TV at best height and bookshelves are good in a couple of spots. Also like the idea of hide rugs, faux or real. Gives off a more masculine vibe. Defines spaces nicely too! Definitely worth a try.

A built in bookshelf shouldn't be much more than 14” depth from the back wall..should not be a problem when entering the room…if not on that back wall behind the desk….it can be built on the wall you have the tv now…I think both would work..if you have a chance post the measurement of that back wall behind the desk with both doors swung into the room…looks like you would have around 12’ that would be a big bookcase…

Post updated pictures when done