Also check used office furniture stores. You can sometimes find very nice executive furniture that has been refurbished for excellent prices. Great place to find bookcases etc

Thanks everyone for the advice! Another question - if I were to get the Costco or Kathy Ireland executive desk, would you recommend that I find white bookshelves/storage or matching brown ones (which are available through the Kathy Ireland set) http://www.cymax.com/Kathy-Ireland-By-Martin-Fulton-Office-Lower-Door-Bookcase-FL3072D.htm I'm thinking 3 of these together.

Did you notice that the bookcases are out of stock until February? In any case, I think the dark wood tone ones would have more of a professional office look. If you decided to go white with the bookcases, the Liatorp ones at Ikea are nice. Of course, then you're back to having an assembly/office party.

How has no one suggested a mini fridge? Even a programmable wine fridge for water , or beer for after work! This is a husband we are talking about here;)

you can also buy inexpensive desks at staples and have them delivered. If you need assembly, they offer that service too. I have used it .

Another idea, have you thought about painting the walls navy blue? Since you have the two large windows, the beautiful colour light wood floor, the white trim... and your husband loves boating. Just a thought. I think it will look stunning with dark wood furniture.

Love the idea/color combo carolins. However, we just did a "big boy" room for my son and did navy blue walls with that color furniture (it's a nautical theme). Do you think possibly a slate blue could work?

Sure :-)

Do you remember which colour you used for your son's room?

It was Old Navy by Benjamin Moore - great color!

That is a gorgeous colour. So deep and rich. Beautiful.
A slate gray or something like these would be really nice too. Always depends on what they look like in the room of course.

I was having heart palpitations painting my white walls that navy blue. It was so dark. But I must say, his room is now my favorite in our house!

haha... yes, it is scary. I don't know why actually, it's only paint, but still... I can imagine that the navy blue room is your favourite.

Carolins - what are your thoughts on this desk w/ return hutch: http://www.jordans.com/wynwood-desk-with-return-and-hutch-wz1120331 Would this be a better use of space? I'm just not 100% sure if I love it. I really want bookshelves on the back wall and to float the executive desk, but I've been measuring this morning and I feel like the room will be overtaken with furniture.

I'm liking a slate like this: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/169096160981553282/

I really like that desk nimackay. You could place it on the long wall opposite the windows, so the desk faces the doorway. I think it would also disguise that big Mac better, it would kind of disappear into the hutch. Then, maybe in the future get some shorter bookcases for the back wall, a coffee maker on top, maybe a beverage centre in there too, in one corner, and hang that great map and some other nautical themed accessories above. I really like that colour too, more of a charcoal colour, very masculine.

I've had an office in home for many years... it is always nice and convenient. Think of the $$$$ saved on fuel!!! wow. Spend some of that for an atmosphere that will foster his work ethic, yet attractive in your home.... some the ideas above are really nice.

I absolutely would go with the first comment image here by OnePlan. That is nice looking!

" would love to surprise him with an at home executive office space"

Offices are very personal ... size of chair, layout, storage needs, etc. so you may be doing a lot of work that he has to undo.

How about surprising him with an EMPTY space free of all the dumping and clutter, with freshly painted walls and a totally clean floor. Then ask him what he needs to work from home.

If it were my office, I'd prefer a desk and two bookcases behind it. But then again I have a 'thing' about flexibility and that will make you more flexible in the layout. Have you tried the Icovia room planner? I just did, but I can't save and post it for some reason. I've put two of the double bookcases on the back wall and the 66" desk in front of it, facing the door. Left 42" between the desk and the bookcases. Leaves you enough space to put a comfy chair or something else in the corner.
You know your husband, you probably know what he'd prefer ;-)
And I love that slate colour in the Pinterest photo.

Hi Carolins - you make a very good point! I'm putting my little guy in for a nap, then I'll fool around with that planning site. I'm hoping to go to Jordan's Furniture tomorrow to start looking at some pieces in person. I've made a few calls, and it seems that may be my best option of getting furniture w/in my time constraint. I also had a painter come by this morning, and he'll be emailing me later today with an estimate. I'm excited but nervous. I hope I can pull this off!

Also - tsudhonimh, I do get your point. However, I've tried creating this room with my husband for over 6 years and he has ZERO interest in shopping or putting in any effort. A few months' back I asked him what he really wants for the room. All he said was an executive double pedestal desk. I'll make sure the room is his taste and has plenty of storage. If I don't do this FOR him, it'll never get done. Now that he works from home 2 days, it really has to get done. I couldn't imagine doing a video conference in that disaster! And I'd love to have everything done for him when he returns from his trip :)

LOVE the task lighting suggestions! Excellent idea, he would love one of those! I'll add it to my shopping list, thanks :)

I've been to several local furniture stores since my last post, and I have been told by the sales people that a 66" executive desk may be too big for my space and I have yet to find a smaller piece. Does anyone know of any double pedestal executive style desks that are around 60-62" in width? What do you think of this type of desk as an alternative: http://www.hookerfurniture.com/index.cfm/furniture/furniture-catalog.show-product/American-furniture/5083-10302/kneehole-desk.cfm

I had the idea to do this for my husband too but it's not in the budget right now. He is going to love what you're doing.

My husband chose SW Wall Street paint color for his office. It's a deep gray with blue undertones and it looks really good with white trim. I have no idea how to attach a swatch though.

Thanks, I just google imaged that color and LOVE it! Have you chosen curtains and/or rug? If so, would love to see what you got to go with it!

How fun! My husband now works from our home office, which is 12.5' by 10.5' and has windows in the same wall. After a lot of trial and error, we decided on a built in desk with flanking cabinets/bookshelves on the wall opposite the entry door. This is also where the giant computer screen lives. We also had a 60" by 30" desk made that floats in the center of the room where he sorts, writes, and reads. His chair swivels between the two desks. I would love to show a picture, but you may not see the layout due to paper overload! I'll look for a Houzz photo. Good luck with your surprise!

http://houzz.com/photos/3578883

SW Wall Street, beautiful colour JRH76.

The Hemnes desk from Ikea is 61". The one that you linked to looks a bit tiny. I'm metric so I have to convert everything, but by my calculations your back wall is 3 meters wide, the Hemnes is 1.50 meters wide, so that takes up half of the width of that wall. That seems fine? You can easily walk around that can't you?

You don't have to centre it on the wall so it leaves you more space on one side.

If you want to create something like curlycook suggests, you could have this combination on the back wall (I posted it somewhere above too). Please check if I'm right, if you're considering going for that, because as I said, I have to convert all the numbers and I could have made a mistake.
The cabinets come without doors too.

So, how about something like this. The grey/blue paint, Persian or natural fibre rug, comfy chair, nautical signal flag posters on the wall, nautical pillow in the chair....?

Hi,
I think with your floor colors a grey paint on the wall could be nice . A medium grey with white ceilings and trim. It would be hard to get built ins done in a week but that could be part of the plan and something you and your husband could work out together based on his need but the rest of the room , ie: clean out and paint , desk and chairs could be done.

Thank you ALL so very much for your help!!! I'm starting to panic that this may not be possible to get done by next week. I had a painter (one I've used before) come by to give me an estimate. He was supposed to email me a quote last week, now he wont return my calls! I'm also having a heck of a time finding "the desk". There are so many gorgeous options, but at 66" wide. I really need between 60-62". I'm going nuts searching for the perfect double pedestal desk! I found this desk, but there are no reviews and I don't know if it's decent quality. Plus there's no matching storage (just open bookcases). http://www.costco.com/INSPIRED-by-Bassett-Yesler-Executive-Desk.product.11769150.html

Thank you so much carolins for your suggestions! I love the decor ideas you've sent me. Originally I was thinking of getting one of these two rugs (although the reviews say they shed like crazy). http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Safavieh-Vintage-Stone-Viscose-Rug-67-x-92/8076948/product.html?refccid=7VNGACANXLF3PFCNRV4EXRM5SI&searchidx=29

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Safavieh-Vintage-Grey-Viscose-Rug-53-x-76/8260172/product.html?refccid=UCPCC4LIGLSYW7CBEKZWXCDU6M&searchidx=10

Then I thought of sisal, like you suggested. (I really love that rug!)

I tend to love gray neutrals, however my whole house is that color scheme. My husband would probably like a little color :) I never thought of doing red. I'm a little hesitant to use the ikea furniture though. 1) I'm not handy and can't put it together and 2) I think I want something a little better quality.

Does anyone know of any smaller sized double pedestal executive desks? Kathy Ireland has a "space saver" but the finished back is flat, and not the double pedestal "look" I'm going for. http://www.cymax.com/Kathy-Ireland-by-Martin-Space-Saver-Double-Pedestal-Desk-FL660.htm

Nimackay, I think you're going to be hard-pressed to find a double pedestal desk small enough as most seem to have file-storage for each of the pedestals. I've found this at Restoration Hardware; http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2110459&categoryId=cat2500004&src=rel it's only a single-drawer style, but at only 55" inches, it would work.

Thanks Lesley - I just looked at RH's site. I like the "look" of this desk better (it's more in line w/ what my husband wants) however I hate that it's zinc! http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2110549&categoryId=search

Yes, I saw that one too but thought the zinc wouldn't work for you. I did see a couple here on Houzz (type "desks" in product-seach) that are 60", but I think you would need to contact the stores to see what delivery time would be. Here's one

nlmackay, I know you're a bit overwhelmed, especially by the time frame, so I would scale back your goals to finding the desk and emptying the room. And if you can't get the desk delivered in time, empty the room and stick a printed picture of it on the wall. He will appreciate his new-found-even-if-unfinished space, and can choose to be part of the process if he wants.

I went to Wayfair because they allow you to filter by size, and the link below takes you to all their executive desks between 58" and 62". There are not many, but perhaps one of these iwill turn out to be right:
http://www.wayfair.com/filters/Executive-Desks-l32-c1774643-O7202~Home+Office-O72822~Executive+Desk-P744~58~62.html

62" wide (I love the look of Restoration Hardware furniture)
http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1679349&categoryId=cat1850031

Don't panic. Even if you don't manage to surprise him with a fantastic looking office, you'll have an idea of what you want it to look like (since he really doesn't care, although I'm sure he'll love a great looking office once it is ready) and then you can tackle it in your own pace. I don't know how much time you can invest in this or if you are physically capable, but painting really isn't difficult to do. You could do that yourself easily.

I concur with the above. Utilize the existing desks if necessary and do as much as reasonably possible in your week. He will appreciate a clean, dedicated space even if the "finishing" takes a few extra weeks!

My "other" profession is records management (there's more crossover than one might think). From this, with experience including a 500 office re-design, I know that file storage is a BIG issue, e-files just as much but that is my other consulting biz.

DO NOT get a lateral cabinet for storage if your space is tight. Vertical cabinets may be od fashion, but are more efficient--but file shelves are the best. Use end-tab folders and adjustable shelves to achieve 2-3 times the storage space in a smaller footprint. With good design, this can be a seamless aspect of book and collectible storage in your home office. Be productive (and pay attention to both the assets and liabilities that come with information resource management ;-)

"I asked him what he really wants for the room. All he said was an executive double pedestal desk. I'll make sure the room is his taste and has plenty of storage. If I don't do this FOR him, it'll never get done."

OK ... in that case, full speed ahead and give him a good backdrop for a video conference.

Thanks Garden Oaks Fine Accommodation. My husband works for Google so most of his files are e-files, however I do need storage space for our personal records. I'm not 100% certain exactly the items you are referring to. Do you happen to have any sample pics and/or links I could check out? Thanks again!

nlmackay, happy to offer a very specific idea (gratis). Pls. write me at http://gardenoaks.ca/?q=contact

I took the measurements of these items and made a floorplan to show you how much space you'd have (62"wide desk)
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/gramercy-queen-anne-winback-armchair-performance/?pkey=coccasional-chairs&

http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Diamond_Jute_Area_Rug/820/

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2580072&categoryId=cat1970012

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod360072&categoryId=cat1850047

...

If you like nautical theme design you can visit http://gonautical.com for more ideas.

Hi Carolins - I appreciate your help SO very much and I apologize for my delayed reply (the kids have been sick, so I haven't been online much). The design you've put together is beautiful. I'm not 100% sure my husband will go for the look of the RH desk though. I personally love it, but I think his style is more the classic, gentleman's executive desk. What I may end up doing, since I'm short on time, is cleaning out and organizing the office while he's gone (maybe even painting and getting a rug) and then showing him the different designs you've put together. Then he can pick. He may surprise me and change his mind when he sees the looks you've put together :) Thank you!

You're very welcome :-) Keep us posted, even if you're going for a totally different look ;-) Hope the kids feel better soon.

Thank you! I'll definitely keep you posted :)