We are wanting to put together a homeschool room. The space is 12 x 15 and we would love to put in a combination desk/shelving system. So far I've only found this Pottery Barn system that fits the bill (the medium Logan office suite). I'm open to other options, especially if they are better quality (I know PB's furniture reputation) but would like to keep the price at the $3000 or less mark. Any other suggestions? Pottery Barn Logan link: http://www.potterybarn.com/products/logan-office-set/?pkey=e:logan%2Boffice%2Bsuite:37:best:0:1:24::1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH::NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules

Ya ya - you just made me find one advantage to being bereft of craft skills and talents! My pile tends to be paper filing on my filing cabinet in the office, but often after reading this forum I get motivated to eliminate it. (Which last a week or so!) My current "get rid of it" project is my closet. I mean, unless you are Simon Cowell, do you really need 4 black tee shirts? How about that suit from '92?

Ok. So, like me, you're working and can't take off on Wed morning at 8 to go look at a great desk. But unlike me, you're many miles away from nearest town, and will need either to have several things to look at or get a really good lead on something and then, go for it. Now, I've haunted CL locally, looking for something, then, gone right after work or on Saturday morning. I've also haunted cities 2-3 HOURS away, when I wanted something particular. My best tip for doing that? Find it, and email the seller immediately, asking if they still have it and for more details. If they say yes, then, let them know you are out of town but willing to travel for the right item, so you realize that if I can't come till Saturday, I'm going to have to check back with you to make sure you still have it. Get the phone number. And if it's something you really want, just the right size and style, you've had the seller send great photos, then, call them. Call them and tell them you want to come see but can't do it till whenever. Don't ask them to hold it, they won't. But do tell them you will call the night before and make definite arrangements. Get GOOD directions and google them. Take the phone number with you. If you make a good connection with the seller, have emailed back & forth, call just before leaving town and saying, "Ok. I'm leaving now, will be there in 1 hour or so" they will most likely be willing to wait for you at that point. I always tell a far-off seller that I need all my info up front, good photos and such, so that I am 90% sure I want it when I get there. I've bought 3 sideboards, one dining set, and one armoire this way. Now, last month I wanted a desk like you want. I set a top price of $125 but was hoping for less. Like you, the ones I saw early in the week, were gone or unreachable when I got serious about looking. We ended up with an old wooden hospital desk (green with off white laminate top, file drawers 60" wide) for $40. It wasn't what I wanted, I wanted something done and nice. We spend about $30 on spray paint and painted it black. It's pretty nice, but one day, I will start looking again. I was down to the last day to get a desk and needed to get something. I go to my city's Craigslist and in the search box, type "desk". That brings up every ad with a desk, the antiques, the crap, the kid's stuff, everything. Then, when I find something that looks worthwhile, I email immediately. My email may read like this. Hi. Do you still have the desk you listed on Craigslist? Do you have the measurements? I'm looking for something to go in a particular spot. Thanks, Red 559-222-1122. Adding the phone lets them know I'm serious. Now, if the measurements are already in the ad, I may ask if they have it still and do the drawers move smoothly, or something like that. If the photo is bad (cell phone) then, I ask if they could email me more photos. I also ask what area they are in. If I get a good response, I ask when I could come see. I don't ask if they will take less money, and I don't offer less money. It's stupid to offer ANYTHING for something that you don't even know you want. If there is no email addy for the ad, I call to ask my questions. Calling is simple and sometimes gets you much further along faster. If I get something that's pretty darn perfect, I move heaven and earth to get over there to look. And don't be daunted by the fact that a good desk at a good price may be rare. There may be 3 other people that want it bad. But they may be in the same fix you are........working and only the weekend to go check it out. Now, if I see one and it's priced too high, but it's really nice, I WILL ask in my email if the "price is firm?" That gives both of you wiggle room. Red

. If this is about workflow , what you need is a well supported shelf anchored to the wall OR monitor brackets directly to the wall so you can free up the space on the desk to work. Thats where the inefficiency is. I liked the chalk paint idea. Remove the drawers from your exec desk and paint both near side (sitting side) and top of the desk and the wall behind the monitors. (use blue tape) What desk you have is sufficient for show. What people don't see shouldn't cost you extra. I don't know where your entrance to this room is . Wherever that is, the front of that exec desk should face it or be most prominent like it is in the photo. .A wrap around section is easy to make on your own . Plywood from homedepot set on 3 file cabinets.. A glass piece on top of each desk serves to freshen it up. Also , edge the nearside/bothsides of plywood with PVC 3"/4" pipe so your pens don't go rollin all over the place. If thats the route you go. paint the whole section the same flat black primer for continuity and then the chalkboard paint as necessary. I'm sure Houzz has some nice office decorations , Chia pet and *empty peanut butter jars for highlighters. *The best location is screwed into the desk at about calf or knee height. Just bore the hole through the outer wall of the jar so the drill bit and screw can be sunk into the near side. Knowing your workflow helps you plan the space for accomplishing your workflow.