Having counter height space as your only eating area is not ideal. I don't know what your family is - kids, no kids - even if you eat all your meals at a counter now doesn't mean that will continue and it's very limiting so have to agree with your builder on this one. Is there a reason you can't use the den as your office?

Agree that Den appears to be a perfect office.

Don't agree on the counter - I've been eating at my kitchen "eating island" (counter height) every day now for 19 years now. We have a table in the kitchen that has never been used!

It's going to be awkward to partition that dining room with anything other than drapery or something else "soft" and easy to install that won't muck up the floors - ESPECIALLY - at that ceiling height

jannicone if you have friends over for dinner do you eat at the kitchen counter? Do you have a dining room or a table on a porch or patio or deck? I know we all have different lifestyles and I don't do 'formal' dinners but I can't imagine not having some table option somewhere!!

Thanks for the replies so far! Just to clear things up - The "Den" is also going to be an office - we need two. The idea of making the dining room into an office is about function over form, and actually using the space instead of wasting it.

We've had guests over 0 times in the last 15 years. We've owned 6 homes in those years (including the one we are in now) with formal dining rooms and not used the dining table once. There is just us two - Our family lives 3000 miles away - and we are busy professionals - in retirement we will be at our country club for food/entertaining.. As is - we eat in the family room 99% of the time and only use our nook table for holidays... The large counter in this build would replace functionality of the nook table.

The patio/pool area will have an extension with a fully screened in cage, and be a gathering space with tables/chairs - though where we live, it's miserable to be outside 8 months out of the year - so it's never used.

That's our life - it's not even close to the same for everyone - which is why we wanted to make the conversion temporary - so it can be converted back for resale.

How do you like the idea of using a row of bookcases that sit back-to-back? They could be built however tall you wanted (8' minimum?), with an opening or break wherever you wanted the entrance to the room to be. I'm thinking office supplies/books on the inside of the room, and pottery/art/photography on the side facing the great room. Maybe a room divider in the opening to close it off? Or not? lol

I've never lived in a home with such high ceilings, so forgive me if my idea somehow just won't work! :-)

Do you need two guest bedrooms? Can one do double duty?

What about cubby type shelving like this one from Ikea as a partition? Provides separation without obstructing air flow and is useful too.

You could easily build a free-standing wall panel held top and bottom, or with some judicious screws into the studs in the walls and ceiling.

Built to fit the opening, maybe even have a door built into it ...

ADDING: Look at the "french door library entrance" ... where the entire wall was bookcases, french doors and transoms over the doors, set into a frame.

Nothing in this image had to be permanent:

That would be a terrific look

Thats a nice option too Lazy Gardens - albeit possibly expensive it looks great - thanks!

Karyn, my suggestion would be to get the house built first and then post on the decorating or remodeling forum to see ways you can inexpensively create your office. Live in it first for a short while because when living there, you may come up with your own solution