You can't live in peace...you can't, your husband can't, and your kids can't...if you are keeping more things than you have room for. We all live with space constraints, and I can tell you from experience that the constant stress of too much stuff and no room put it, and no efficient means of living and working, is TERRIBLE for your relationships, your energy, your sense of accomplishment, and your health. I am still sorting and pitching from our move out of a big house into a small one two years ago. Trying to keep more than you can live with makes you feel poor, not rich. The thing that jumped out at me in your post was that your husband doesn't want your workroom in your bedroom. And assuming that your childrens' reasonable needs are met, nothing is more important to family life than the happiness of your relationship. So from the way you describe your house, it seems to me that perhaps your dining room would make the ideal office for you. If you can keep it organized and hide it away when your workday is over, then you can turn your attention to storage for the toys your children will keep...after you explain than nobody can live with more stuff than they have room for. Last idea...do you have the budget for a small storage locker somewhere? Can you ease the process of reducing the toy mess by making a game out of choosing this month's toys...only as many as you can put away every night...and storing the rest? Then once a month, you all go to the locker and pick out a different set for that month. Like going to the toy store, only without the spending? If your children are very young, twice a month might be better...or even once a week. I think if you make a whole-house, whole family project out of this, you will all gain a sense of control and accomplishment that will bring you closer, and make everything go better.

This is real easy. It is a basic 2 pedistal desk. (Pedistal is what I call a stack of drawers that support a desk top) The pedistals will reduce the center span to 6'. With the continuous ledger along the back wall, you could get away without a center support. When I say you could get away with it, you'll have to build the top out of double thickness Baltic or Russian birch plywood. My office has this exact setup, the only difference is my unsupported center span is 53". The top is constructed of 3/4" russian birch ply, with the front 3" double thickness. It is laminated with black Wilsonart and has a solid cherry front edge. I weigh about 200 pounds, and when I sit in the middle there is exactly 1/16" deflection. I believe you can span 72" with 1.5" thick solid plywood top, if you build it the same way. Most people are working with MDF or particle board, so their ideas of span and load capabilities are based on totally different materials. If the center span proves to be too long, install a countertop cantilever bracket directly to a wall stud near mid span. The countertop cantilever brackets are designed with the top corner relieved to allow space for the continuous ledger. It is an easy thing install after the fact.

I THINK this is the bed/desk you've ordered, which I'm posting to help people help you. This happens to be in the all white version. Is the desk a separate piece? I didn't see the bed with a desk on the site. Closed: 89” H x 64” W x 17” D Bed Open: 89” H x 64” W x 86” D Optional Table: 30” H x 61.3” W x 23.6” D Do you have room for a comfortable upholstered chair or loveseat? What are the dimensions of the room?

Take everything off the shelves. You may find that you can move the shelves as well and then do so -- remove them. Then you have a a lot of space to work with and you can add a shelf here and there as it suits your needs. In the empty spaces you can add some art work -- or some sculpture, and real plants! But first you'll have to see if the shelves can be removed. If you can remove the entire structure -- the better. Good luck!