Well I looked back and forth a number of times. I think that you will gain a lot if you move the wall out. I also think that once it is painted to match you will never notice that it was moved. It will become the new norm.

I think that the art you will hang there will make it look like it has always been that way. I understand your concern with making it flush and agree. The only other thing you could do it put the cardboard flush with something hung on it and see if you bump it as you round the corner. The more I look at it I am not completely convinced that it would be a problem...you would most likely get used to it right away and the symmetry with the other side would be better...

I guess I have been NO help. I am excited for you to have new "old " wood floors !! c

I would move the wall fully against the other. Unless you have found yourself bumping into the corner in past, art would be obvious with the large opening. Not knowing what the other side looks like, if there is a slight indent wall then perhaps match it. Otherwise I choose straight to corner.

Also, to give more storage...build the wall so you can use the inside of it on the office side. The wall isn't so large that you couldn't be a bit creative and frame inside to use for additional shelving without posing a problem to support. Add cupboard doors if needed. Hope this is clear enough, but there have been many photos of adding storage by going into a wall. You are one step ahead to do this.

What a great sanctuary for an office.

I would also move the wall out. After a while, you won't even notice it. Right now, it's new and different, and feels strange. Can't wait to see what you do with it!

And, trailrunner, you must keep very looooong hours to be posting at 3am!

Dee

Ha, Dee, I was thinking the same thing when I saw trail's timestamp!

Thank you all for your quick replies...I'll try the cardboard with some art on it flush to the edge, and see. The only thing is that we do tend to have only about 4' away from that edge, so I want to make sure people feel comfortable walking past.

I also get to choose some lighting for in there, too. I have a desk light I love (mcm, two necks and burlap-covered-fiberglass asymmetrical shades) but I'd like another task light for the counter that will be behind me, and an overhead as well. Since there's no light in there, I'll be using high CRI bulbs, that much I know.

emagineer, may I ask a question--do you mean to build the wall so as to install *recessed* storage in it? That's a great idea! The wall is 5" wasted space and since we'll be framing it, might as well dig into it. Brilliant. And a bit embarrassed I didn't think of it myself, but that's what g'web is for : )

fly, I really think you will get used to having a perpendicular wall flush with the other and won't have to worry about your art. Your baseboard will also project a bit to help protect paintings. I'd turn the corner of the new wall to make the recessed area in your office also. Would you like transoms at the top of the wall(s)? It should help a lot with bringing some light into your office so you won't always have to rely on lamps. Don't know the width of the passage currently, but perhaps you'll have enough room to also widen the office in addition to gaining maximum depth.

Your project is exciting. Congrats.

Ooh--a transom! I can find them all the time at ReBuilding Center...I could even do some fun mosaic thing with all clear glass, different textures...whoa, whoa, don't get ahead of yourself, function first!

We were thinking of going without a return because I want to be able to see as much as possible into the family room--don't want to be cut off. I'd even toyed with making the wall only half-height, so I'd have a clear view, but then I'm thinking storage probably outweighs that...and the wall would close the study off from immediate view if folks come into the kitchen.

And again, emagineer, *brilliant* on the recessed cabinetry. DD is visiting a friend tonight, so DH and I will have fun planning storage in my study : )

I agree if you are going to move the wall, to move it so that it is perpendicular to the other. I would not turn the corner, however, as it will limit your storage options for cabinetry. A half-wall sounds nice and would make it feel more open, but I'd consider your home environment and the way you work. If you need more privacy, have a cluttered work surface and/or have issues with noise control from nearby TVs while you are on the phone the added soundproofing of a full wall would be most practical. You can always use some type of gum or putty to anchor the art better to the wall.

ha...time stamp is off by one hour ! It was 2 AM. CST..so only a little different than fly's. I go to bed about 10 PM and then wake up. Usually walk around and think and look at the full moon...maybe go out on the porch...get a drink of lemonade...get on the computer...read. Go back to bed and freeze poor DH's legs with my frozed up feet LOL.

You guys are so funny. c

Fly and all...my suggestion was "on the fly". It occurred to me while writing and looking at my office which is a disaster being reorganized. Realized the many ideas for breaking into a wall for storage and your current status, it could be done easily.

I love the idea of a transom door too. Or even a long window type inset on the wall if you want to be able to view outside of the office. Would help with lighting too.

Why do you want the wall there at all? Unless you are adding a door to close off the office space, it seems a lot of work for not a lot of payoff.

I think it would be nicer to just take out that end wall entirely. I would actually knock out all that closet that is there, so that you open up the other end that is now inset as well.

Build in some lower cabinets for storage that match the oak on the other doors, and leave the upper part of the wall for art. If you don't have that wall on the left blocking things and making the entrance narrow, you can also hang art on the wall that is on the right side of the opening, around the corner from those oak doors.

I wish we could see the rest of that office space, and also the room that is outside of it.

I am going to dissent for 3 reasons, though I am not sure I am seeing everything accurately....

If the current wall lines up with the rest of the wall to the right of the hall (can't tell with DH's feet there), I might leave it as is. Depends on the size and shape of the main room and whether that 'bump in' would look funny in that room. Two, consider the doorways and hallway headers. The opening to the room to the left (the one with the HWF) and to the hall will be affected by the 'bump in'. Right now the openings are framed, giving you options for casing or paint color changes room to room. Think about that before you axe the defined transitions. Three, since the chair will move forward when the wall does, the "gained" space will be behind behind you when you sit at the desk chair. You could always put storage on that back wall - but the space is then the same size as it was, and that storage is visible from the main room.

Careful design will affect how much storage and function you can squeeze out of the desk area as is. I think there is enough there to work with. Instead of moving the wall, I would concentrate on ceiling to desktop storage. Open or closed. that could hold a ton and would be visible only from the desk chair. A return of 1-2 feet would allow a 3 sided recess above the desk for 'mondo storage' and still leave excellent sight line from the desk chair to and from the larger room. Opposite the desk, make the area visible from the main room attractive and simple: a framed print with a wall mounted sliver of a credenza below.

I really like designs that give a work area 'mondo storage' and sight lines that manage to conceal that storage but not the worker. You have that option here.

Transoms would be great, but only if they look good from the main room.

Wow. You all have really made great suggestions. I'm right there with you, les and celtic (HI, btw!). Right now, the area I didn't photo has a wet bar (did I mention the PO was an alcoholic? Seriously...she put a wet bar 15 feet away from the kitchen) and a mini-fridge. I'm wanting to move that stuff into the pantry-to-be, which to me just makes *sense* (we could move the coffee station in there--it's just a bit of replumbing, and it makes so much sense. There had been water in that area before because it was a bathroom originally--the remuddling in this house is astonishing!--but I think moving it closer to the kitchen would really clean things up and separate functions.

DH, however, is resisting...I think he's afraid of the work implied by all my 'visions' so I've been trying to keep things as minimal as possible. We've been talking today and I think I'm easing him slowly toward avoiding committing another 'remuddle' on this poor house, esp. since we've made so many *good* changes in it -- why cop out now?

So you have given me renewed courage to venture back into the polite discussion of moving plumbing...I'll tell you what happens...

Well hey, did I mention I love my DH? : ) I put it to him in terms of not committing another remuddle on this poor old place but rather making it honest and intelligent, and he got it! The cabinets/wet bar are *gone* already! It will be a dry area that is dedicated to office use. We'll look into putting a sink into the pantry soon but the sink wouldn't come out of the countertop so we may have to give that away and buy new.

I thank you all so much for pushing me to be true to my original intent, and for the extra ideas about recessed storage, etc. I really hate tiny little steps and if you're taking drywall down, why not get to the heart of things and make things *right*. Home Dec people, I love you all : )

Hi back at you - didn't even realize the OP was you, fly! Been away way too long...

Excellent you are feeling more sure footed. Your instincts are good. Trust them.

Hope you've been well...my memory isn't so good about specifics sometimes but I definitely remember your name : )

Now that we've taken all the cabinets out in that area, I feel like we've gotten an extra room. The flooring guy is here and even though I'm *seriously* sleep-deprived, I'm elated...I stayed up til 2 Sunday night filling in gaps in the subfloor with "Great STuff", waiting til it dried, and multi-tooling off the excess, just so I can get some little bit extra insulation LOL...it does make a difference, I can feel it already. But man I'm not a college student anymore--2 is the limit of my physical ability now, and the bags under my eyes would have preferred that I'd gone to bed a few hours before that!