Can you center each desk under the window and then put a chest (or something with a variable height compared to the desks) in between with an art print hanging over it? The different height of the chest/bookcase will add textural interest.

What a wonderfully bright, clean space! I can understand why you don't want drapery or window treatments.

Vicki's suggestion to center each desk in a window is a great one.

In between, it might be nice to tuck in an upholstered chair, a place to sit when you just need to read something or take a coffee break from working at the desk. Over than, a great round clock in a wooden frame would bring some warmer tones up to the wall, and break up all the rectangles. If you have any love of live plants, hanging a plant from the ceiling would be a nice, softening touch, too.

Love the idea of centering your desks and adding something textural between the windows --- which are Fabulous, btw! An interesting woven artwork (textile) would soften that space. I love the look!

Marimekko has wonderful wall hangings

http://txtlart.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: Marimekko

Oh, rats...I forgot to mention that I can't scoot the desks down! In the first picture I'm standing just in front of an exterior door to take the picture. It swings in, so requires some of the space in front of the window.

Also, if it matters, I will probably replace the two desks with 3 at some point. The tall one is perfect for DH but the kids and I can't work there at all, it's too high. So eventually he'll get a shorter (but still high) desk and the kids and I will snag some of that horizontal space for ourselves.

I hadn't thought about the Marimekko in a while, that's a great suggestion.

Can you center each desk under the window and then put a chest (or something with a variable height compared to the desks) in between with an art print hanging over it? The different height of the chest/bookcase will add textural interest.

Deb, it's good to see you back on the GW. Love this room. I'd recommend some fiber art for between your windows. I found this lady in a Google Image search.
Doodle Bug Dezines fiber art on her website
Here's an example:

Here is a link that might be useful: Doodle Bug Dezines on Flickr

Well, this isn't a proper decorating answer, but I'd put a flat panel television there so I could have Bloomberg or CNBC running while I was working. LOL!

For acoustic help - hang a rug, quilt or something fabric on a rod between the windows. A couple of inches between the wall and the rod maximizes the echo-reducing effect.

It's clean, efficient and functional - that's what offices need.

What about a large, interesting clock?

Love your room! How about something like this?
A group of five or so?

what creekylis said!! Make it a ginourmous clock.

I love it just the way it is, it has such a pure orderliness to it. But how about a large oil painting (or canvas transfer). Canvas is soft. Frame it with a "soft" wood painted a soft color, meaning a frame that just has a soft feel to it.

Could you re-hang the door so it swings in the other way?

Honestly, I love the room as is. Is there room to put a narrow upholstered bench on the wall opposite the desks? I know when my kids were younger and we all shared one computer/office space, it was nice to have a 'perch' for someone who wanted to be in the room with everyone else but wasn't working at the time.

On the wall between the windows, I'd hang an antique clock with a dark wood case to be the counterpoint to the white, blond and modern. But I'm a clock lover. I think an antique of any kind would have the same impact. A small wall hung cabinet perhaps. If you walk through an antique mall something will speak to you.

You could hang a collage of varied sized frames with either favorite art, photos you've taken, family or a mix.

Wow, I knew you all would have great ideas! This is fantastic!

So I'm hearing lots of votes for clocks, I'll start searching for something today. I will also look on etsy since there were a few suggestions for art quilt/textile art, and I think that's the best place to find things like that. I went on this morning and saw all these mobiles...that might be really cool too. I like the suggestion of wall-hanging plant, I think plants add so much life to a room. But I worry about watering considering my Mac is just under where the plant would be.

forhgtv - you're so right, a tv in this room is imperative! I put one on the wall you can't see...it's mounted next to the door, with a folding treadmill below it. I didn't show a picture because it's not cute. At all. But I use both the TV and the treadmill almost every day...especially during girl scout cookie season.

Les, that's a great idea about rehanging the door - I'd have to remove the frame and it would be a huge deal, but having that door swing the other way could be really great. I never considered that!! Then I could move the desk down another 2 feet at least. Maybe I'll do that when I get new desks...sometime in the future.

dlm, I've thought about a couch or a bench over there too, it would be great. But it would need to be really narrow since I pull out the treadmill (that you can't see) and use a lot of that floor space. But in reality my kids sit at the desk and work when they're in there - they get out paper and scissors and markers and go to town. That's why we'll reconfigure the desks at some point. The kids really need space there to work.

Thank you all so much for the feedback, this really helps! You all are the best!
Deb

That's a wonderful space.

I think something fabric would be better than a clock since you don't have any fabric in there. It would add color and a smidgen of sound absorption.

While on the treadmill or working at the desk, I would feel pressured by a big clock ever so slowly ticking away the minutes.

Have you thought about putting the two desks together? Have them perpendicular and centered on the wall area between the windows. It looks like there would be enough space along the opposite wall to get past them. (Just trying to think outside the box!!)

If the door is exterior, then you won't want to chain its swing direction. Because doors swing toward their hinges. I expect you would not want the hinges outside for security reasons.

As to your lovely space, consider:
Quilt
Shallow shelving for object display
Large modern art piece
Smaller Gilt framed classical art arrangement.
Dartboard
Classroom world map
And if you wanted to do something personal, Costco photo dept will put your photo or drawing onto printed canvas. Have one for each family member

I like it just the way it is, nothing added.

Love your room. I agree with those that mention some type of textile hung between the windows. It will give the softness you are seeking. If you could find something with the colors of your room it would look fabulous.

Deb

Love your new space -

Some ideas to help soften
- Burlap or linen drapes to just frame the window not to cover. Hung even with the opening.
- A chandy where the current light fixture is
- A nice piece of salvaged architectural iron work - Like an old gate
http://www.google.com/images?q=salvaged+iron+work&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=836&bih=397
- You could repeat the iron with an old plant stand some funky pots w/succulents or other plants
- Frame the bulletin board
- A metal vintage desk lamp for the other desk
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=836&bih=397&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=vintage+desk+lamp&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=
- Vintage posters
Do you want to add any color?

Keep us posted

Here is a link that might be useful: burlap drapes

Such great suggestions! I do think color would be nice, honestly. And I was thinking the room needed some curves since everything is so boxy. I am allergic to curves, I never feel as comfortable decorating with them as I do with nice parallel and perpendicular lines! But then things end up feeling a little hard...

What do you all think of this? The only thing is, it's huge - it would take up the entire space between the windows with inches to spare. It's a Marimekko fabric on a frame. I like that it's curvy, I like that the pattern feels handmade. But I worry about the size.

Oh, and Julie - thank goodness you said that about the hinges, I wouldn't have considered that. But you're right...that would be a nonstarter, so that kills that idea.

Just for fun, here's where I started - I had painted the back wall dark brown and was too lazy to paint the ceiling and other walls (which were a light putty color) when we first moved into the house. So this project included painting the ceiling, all the walls, the trim, and refurbishing and painting these old windows. I removed the fabric cover from the corkboard and moved the elfa shelving around a bit.

Since you've already got the television in the room, my vote is to leave the space the way it is. I love the clean-lined, graphic look, especially in a work area.

Well, the setup is just amazing!! You can place photographs of people who inspire you on the walls or you can also place artistic paintings to give a creative look to the setup. You can also contact them for wall decorations