Thanks for all the comments. My wife just cannot get over the modern look of Ikea. We've decided to go a different route entirely. While visiting a friend, she noticed their home office was a converted dining room as well. Similar to ours - hard wood floors, chair rail, crown molding. This person had two beautiful antique barrister bookcases, a small leather couch, a tastefully done large desk, and a oriental rug. It was nicely pulled together. So we are dropping the Ikea route and considering a partners desk with two sets of barrister bookshelves. Perhaps something like this: To answer the other questions: - this is just a home office for the family - the ideal space should accommodate, a PC, laptop and printer (and shredder) One option if the antique desks are too expensive: we have a custom Amish furniture maker local. He said he would make whatever we want. I'm curious to hear how much he would charge. Even the Ikea stuff added up to $2,000 - $3,000. Here is a link that might be useful: Antique partners desks

Those desks are nice if you don't need any file storage at all. I think it would be helpful to start with a design inspiration. Given the desks you selected and your posters, maybe something like this can serve as inspiration. I think the blue walls would look great with your posters, and the desk is similar in style. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rough-hollow-parade-home-contemporary-home-office-austin-phvw-vp~202111) [Contemporary Home Office[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-home-office-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_732~s_2103) by Austin Interior Designers & Decorators PPDS Maybe something more feminine like the soft powder blue...here they use a dresser as a storage unit behind the desk. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/nest-home-office-eclectic-home-office-boise-phvw-vp~70149) [Eclectic Home Office[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-home-office-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_732~s_2104) by Boise Interior Designers & Decorators Judith Balis Interiors [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/pella®-350-series-casement-window-traditional-home-office-cedar-rapids-phvw-vp~1427906) [Traditional Home Office[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-home-office-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_732~s_2107) by Other Metro Windows Pella Windows and Doors It would also be helpful to do a room layout so you can play with how and where and what size furniture might work for you. I've played with homestyler.com. It's free on line and seems relatively intuitive to use. You can also think about window treatment...if you want a fabric one, the fabric would need to coordinate with your poster colors. Or you could use something like a woven wood blind which is more neutral.

Love the idea of green. What about continuing it around the entire room? It’d give a very cohesive, cozy, and sophisticated English library feel, especially with your nice wood trim and beautiful window.

Perhaps something like this could work for you and make a statement in the room. I really like the idea of a roman shade with the gray trim for the window, rather than blinds & sheers, would make the room look brighter and more inviting. The inspirations room is painted in a light gray (looks similar to yours), and it's easy for you to find a white desk lamp. Editing: Can't really sea the space on the left side of the desk. If you don't have space for an etagere perhaps some decor similar to below (decorative ladder against the wall, a plant of 2, and nice frame that can be hung on the wall instead of on the floor) would fill the narrow space nicely...