We have an older laptop in the kitchen, located in the corner where two runs meet, on a stand that can be pulled forward. We mainly use it for recipes, address/phone book, & internet. DH installed Ethernet & TV cable connections in the bottom of the cabinet above it, but so far we've been running the laptop wireless. I can print using a local network connection to my printer & main computer in my office near the kitchen. We put the junk drawer & message center bulletin board around the corner from the kitchen in an area we call the Drop Zone, since it also has coat hooks, cubbies, & mail boxes. Here is a link that might be useful: Laptop stand

Great news... I think I found homosote in the Montreal area. It is about 45 min. From me and I would have to buy a sheet at 30.00 but it would be 48 by 96 so I could use the balance for other projects. Now before I commit to this, if I cut out my piece by 48 by 36 inches, and just lay my linen fabric on top, can I then staple the fabric into the back of the homosote or do I need to add a backing. Thanks

Thanks all. I guess I should have added in background info on our situation. We are recently retired, empty nesters who live in a 100 year old house, and, as we all know, there is never enough closet space in older houses. That is why I initially wanted to try to open up this inaccessible closet space. Then, we had the window dilemma, and using the double door type opening we want there will still be some dead space on each end of the closet. (I do think I've figured out a way to make it usable and accessible in a reach-in closet though.) I worked at home a lot, so our smallest bedroom is an office, and I still use that space a lot. My husband typically works with his laptop at a desk/table in the living room. He is the one who is asking for a desk nook so he'll have room to spread out paperwork (and not have it visible all of the time if he wants to walk away from it). The desk nook would be in a guest bedroom that we don't use at all because we hardly ever have overnight guests. All of your comments have been immensely helpful, and I now am starting to wonder whether he would actually ever go up to that second floor space and shut himself away when we have a large, open first floor. I think maybe the solution I should suggest is that I give up my habit of stationing myself in the office and turn it over to him. I can sit at any table in the first floor with a laptop instead of upstairs in the office. Thanks for all the help. And, yes, we are not a completely paperless world and often have printed documents we want to reference while using the computer.

My desktop computer faces a wall mostly covered with cork; the cork is covered with inspiration pictures and some impt info (like the kids' annual medical forms), tickets (got to go see Duran Duran earlier this week -- be still my no-longer teenage heart!). I see it everyday but I see what is important to me: my eye doesn't see it is a mess. But I just took a pic for you and looking at the photo I can see how others will see it as untidy, messy, not pretty ... but that's okay. That's how we live here. I think it's nice the way you're thinking of making yours pretty. So that's me being "on-topic." This is me being "off-topic": thank you both valinsv and ttodd for your responses. We moved out here (Boulder, CO) from up the peninsula from Val(Woodside) -- I'm making the assumption that "SV" = Silicon Valley, which I think of as Cupertino / Saratoga / Santa Clara, but maybe Fremont, too? Omigod -- Afghani food & chaat houses in Fremont! ttodd -- I absolutely know what you mean about being where you are meant to be. Doesn't mean I don't sometimes resent it, but I know that for whatever reason I am needed here and can best serve here. To my core I understood what you wrote, and I'm grateful you're there for all those children, too. Thank you. But I also hope you get something *just for you*!