lynn: Your cherry office sounds wonderful. Are they built-in or freestanding? I can't wait to share pics!! I'm also wondering what to do for chairs since we have hardwood floors. It would work best to have chairs with castors so we can roll out of the way when we need to open the drawers, but am worried now I'll scratch the floors. rmkitchen: Ah, gentleman's closet, yes something like that. Who knows it'll have all our files, charging station, etc. DH wants it to go to the ceiling so my new idea is to do that and split the difference between ceiling and top of window molding (which is about 12") for the other cabinets. Would you mind posting a pic of your taller cabinets? I'm also wondering how it will work/feel with the huge upper doors (about 56"H)? Sort of like pantry doors sitting on top of a desk. I could td two stacked cabinets instead, but that will cost more, plus make the space less flexible to store larger items in adjustable shelves. Perhaps she could break up the look visually by making it look like one door is stacked on another. Does that make sense? I should probably go back through the FKB to see what the taller doors look like. Also with the taller cabinets, now the shorter base seems out of scale. Where it'd be really nice is for the two cabinets between the desks, but would be odd I think to do 2 different heights. I can't quite comprehend how these drawers eat up so much space with the glides, framing, etc. I'd at least like a drawer to store envelopes there. I can't quite get it as I have it in my freestanding desk--top pencil drawer, middle for envelopes, bottom of files--but it's a shorter base. I may have to loose the notion of a trash cabinet and just put under one of the desks--which I suppose there is room towards the back area. Anyway she'll come tomorrow and I think for the base, I'll see what she recommends will work best for the area where the cabinet butts up to the step and carry that look everwhere.

Patty - thanks for your perspective! We do need the lamps as they are arranged, because we use them at different times - usually not all at once. And no, the room doesn't feel like a Starbucks with a small chair in the corner; in fact, it feels perfect and complete with that chair there. I'm really excited that the new chair has already shipped and should be here on Saturday. Last night I arranged the books on the shelves and am amazed at how few books we actually have in contrast to the space now available to put them on! I love the look though. I especially love that we can now easily locate our reading material. In our previous home the books were scattered all over the place - upstairs, downstairs, and all points in between. I really like storing them in one central location. I know I do tackle and complete projects quickly. I just can't stand to have things that I want to do and not do them if the budget permits. Having recently closed on our old home, we are in a better position to move forward on the new house. DH really can't stand unfinished projects, and actually stresses when things aren't worked to completion. So that kinda works to my advantage as well. ;-) I know we all do things differently though, at our own pace. There's absolutely nothing wrong with taking one's time! Anitamo, thanks for asking about our kitchen cabinets. That job has been completed, and they look fantastic. A crew came out and pretty much dismantled the kitchen, rebuilt a few things and redid the finish on the cabinets. We are very pleased with the way they addressed the problem.

"I could consider facing the slider. Perhaps I could build the desk so that it is T shaped along the wall with the window and I could sit at the desk facing the slider?" I think this is your best solution. That way, you have the view of the outside, but the monitors aren't floating in the middle of the room. To me, I think your best investment is a larger desk. Built-ins are great, but technology change each day and we are using less and less paper with more stored in our computers. You have that closet already, where items (including your printer) could be stored. Also, consider how long you will be in this house. Will a future owner want to use that space for a bedroom, for example? Best to keep things flexible. On the other hand, if you really want built-ins and have the funds, then go for it. But, the way you wanted the desk arranged in the beginning, the monitors will be floating out in the room. No horrible, but something to consider.

Put things you like on the shelves; "things that give you joy." It's your house and even if you don't know "how to decorate," you know what you like to see. I have shelves and case goods overloaded with books, photos and just things. I'm also very well aware that if I ever put my house on the market, those things would disappear. I'm also very well aware my home won't be featured in a magazine. In the meantime, I like seeing my "stuff." I've had that swivel thingy for a television in built-ins almost the same as your photo and it worked very well.