We were originally going to have 12" deep upper & base cabinets on the outside pantry wall b/w the FR & Kitchen for our Message Center. But, when several measuring errors by our KD reduced the doorway b/w the rooms from 5.5' to 4', there was no way the cabinets would fit. So, we now have a "Message Center Niche" recessed into the same outside pantry wall. The niche is only about 7" deep and was sized to fit the phone. It actually could have been an inch or so shallower, but since the studs for the wall gave us 7", we went with it. To us, the most critical elements were: Calendar to keep track of sports practices & games, school events, family happenings, project due dates, meetings, etc. [In this picture we had just put the calendar up & had not yet filled it in.] Land line phone & answering machine in a central location...in our case b/w the FR & Kitchen, which also put it central to the Garage entrance & Foyer/front door. This location is not only for answering the phone, but also so we can see if there are messages when we come into the house. During the remodel, the phone & answering machine were relocated to the Office/Library and we often forgot to check for messages. Keys since the Niche is across from the Garage entrance & a pretty straight shot from the Foyer/front door. We need a visible & easily accessible place! [Will be hung from hooks below the calendar frame.] Message pads (sticky notes) & pens/pencils for taking messages/leaving messages. [Yellow sticky note pads are in the pocket at the bottom of the calendar frame.] Charging station for my phone since I will forget it if it's not w/the keys (unplugged when not in use BlueKitObsessed!) [DH's phone & DH/DS/DD's iPods are charged elsewhere since they don't have a problem w/remembering them...and also unplugged when not in use!] What wasn't a priority since we no longer had the cabinets: Magnetic board b/c over the years I've found the best places to leave a message that I want to be sure my DH or kids see are: bathroom mirror if it's for the next morning or TV in the kitchen (DH) or computer screen (kids) if it's for after school/work. B/c of these locations, we use sticky notes. Our garage door is metal so we do keep two "school bus" clip magnets for the various forms that come home from school. Each child has his/her magnet. HTH!

What I've learned on GW: Built-in desks tend to become junk receptacles, though stand-up ones fare better. Desks seem to work better in larger kitchens, and especially if they're out of the main traffic areas of the kitchens. No pics just now (mine isn't quite finished), but my message center is mostly a cupboard to hide the phone in when I have company--not the best message center for a busy family. It's very shallow--just deep enough for a hanging desk phone--and has a phone jack and electrical outlet, a little shelf for pencils and notepaper, and a fold down surface to write on. The whole thing is high, so that most things are eye level and easy to find while one is busy, and the writing surface is high standing level. Just right for writing down a message, but not comfortable enough for things to grow roots. I'm not sure if I'll put magnet board or something on the inner doors since I'm trying to get papers out of the kitchen. Post-its might be the limit of what I'll allow to hang around. One can use one of the shelves as a charging station, but I'm not encouraging it.

Hi Nansea, glad you like our message center. Our cabinets are made by Cabico and I guess you'd call them a semi custom line. I asked them to stack the wine cubbies horizontally on top of a 30" wide base cabinet only 12" deep. And what you see is the result. I wanted the valence to match two other valences going into the kitchen. They kinda messed up on this detail, but I still like the way it came out. I also wish that they made the ends look more like false doors instead of plain ends. Oh well. I didn't use a KD (or architect) so I guess I was bound to have a mistake or two in the remodel. We use the message center for mail, keys, cell phones, DH's wallet, note pads, DD's camera, etc. One basket holds tape, scissors, pencils, paper clips, elastic bands, etc. The other holds a few tools, the camera charger, tape measure, etc. We don't charge our cell phones there . . . we charge them in an appliance garage. There isn't a message board at the message center (which irks my husband, he's been wanting a message board for years) so we're going to put one in our mud room over the coat hooks. Even still, I find miscellaneous "stuff" left on the counter. Whatever I find (miscell. business cards, notes, coupons, etc.) all gets hidden into a cubby or basket and the culpret has to hunt for whatever "stuff" they left hanging around. That'll teach em.

We were planning on a 27"W x 12"D base cab + wall cab + granite counter for our Message Center with one drawer + shelves in the base rather than all drawers---until it became a victim of our budget. However, I plan to add it back some day! We hadn't decided on the depth of the top cabinet...either 9" or 12" since the counter below wouldn't used for prep work. Counter: A 27"W x 12"D counter is plenty deep enough to hold the land line phone + answering machine + charge phones & cameras + a small message pad & a couple of pens/pencils. Base cabinet: We decided on shelves rather than drawers b/c we wanted to be able to use it as a bookshelf with doors. One shelf for cookbooks and one shelf for phone books & directories. The drawer would have held miscellaneous desk-type things, but not a junk drawer. We were planning on putting 3 outlets inside to accommodate all the phones, etc. w/a a couple of grommets to direct/hide the wires. Wall cabinet: The wall cabinet was going to be for our calendar + dry-erase board for messages + markers. HTH!