I vote for desk height. I added a table height area to my island and I use this as a desk. I love it. I actually added it for the grands when they are over. I was fixing breakfast for 3 of them while they waited patiently , seated on stools and watching the TV we put in the cabinet over the fridge. There was a huge crash and I turned around to find my 4yr old GS on the floor with a large deep scratch up his back. His stool had shot across the room and almost gone through a window. No one could tell me what happened. All I got was "I don't know." I could only assume a little extra gas on his part. BOYS! so--- I wouldn't want the kids any higher off the ground than necessary.

Thanks all. I guess I should have added in background info on our situation. We are recently retired, empty nesters who live in a 100 year old house, and, as we all know, there is never enough closet space in older houses. That is why I initially wanted to try to open up this inaccessible closet space. Then, we had the window dilemma, and using the double door type opening we want there will still be some dead space on each end of the closet. (I do think I've figured out a way to make it usable and accessible in a reach-in closet though.) I worked at home a lot, so our smallest bedroom is an office, and I still use that space a lot. My husband typically works with his laptop at a desk/table in the living room. He is the one who is asking for a desk nook so he'll have room to spread out paperwork (and not have it visible all of the time if he wants to walk away from it). The desk nook would be in a guest bedroom that we don't use at all because we hardly ever have overnight guests. All of your comments have been immensely helpful, and I now am starting to wonder whether he would actually ever go up to that second floor space and shut himself away when we have a large, open first floor. I think maybe the solution I should suggest is that I give up my habit of stationing myself in the office and turn it over to him. I can sit at any table in the first floor with a laptop instead of upstairs in the office. Thanks for all the help. And, yes, we are not a completely paperless world and often have printed documents we want to reference while using the computer.

Not trying to yell at you, and I'm so sorry to be posting this as the plank looks great and its a very good solution for the space, but this is kind of a warning... A good part of that slab is supported by air unless you drilled it for metal rods projecting from the wall? The front edges of something like that are subject to a lot of stress from people pushing away from the surface and pushing down on the surface to push themselves up and away from it. Adding to that, wide surfaces cut like that are subject to cracking along the grain lines. Pile on more for visiting adult people or teens who may lean against it, if not outright sit on it. This type of thing needs to take loads of about 200 lbs or more that are not evenly distributed. One of the ways to view what you built is 6-10 inches of plank with very weak support on one long side, good support on one short side and air on the other two sides. Using some guesses at dimensions for that plank makes some point loads that the unsupported section can't handle - the plank may break OR the little 2x2 may break but most likely is that the front will simply crack off from a large person using it as a support. Followed closely by the softwood 2x2 worming its way off the screws over time or crack through - because roughly, the "business" part of the 2x2 is only the part above the screw. So that's the warning - because it looks scary to me. I am not competent enough to make any suggestions for you, but I'd ask around about it on a woodworking forum or two.

Congratulations on your new pretty home! 1) My preference is always to go with a chandelier over a dining table-it creates special atmosphere, and does better job on defining the area and making it feel cozier. They can be really bright-depends on amount of bulbs, and wattage of said bulbs. We keep just several of ours in"working" position, unless we have a dinner with guests. It's always a good idea to keep it(and other lights) on a dimmer-gives you so much control over how much light you'll get-bright, moody, or just a little bit of light. If you go for shades(which you probably won't-my impression from the pics in the link)-the light will be more diffused and thus more flattering. I wouldn't put a big rectangle there-I think it's too formal for a nook.. Between the fixtures you saved-I'd go with a Pottery Barn one, which is also visually light, see-through so to say, and you'll still be able to enjoy the mantel view. The drum one might be a nice idea too. As for wall art and furniture-there is no rules what has to come first(unless you have no table at all)) Just take into account that if you start with art-it will have to relate to the future sideboard/console/buffet. Art on a blank wall should correlate with people only-so that its center is approximately where your eyes will go when standing straight. Art over the furniture takes this furniture into account too. But if you don't mind some patching holes and touching with paint, and already have a beautiful art in mind-then there is no reason not to start with it. Now, in the dining area, where people mostly sit)) you'd rather see your art when you are sitting too. So in case of a dining or a nook-your art might be placed a tad lower than usual. No, it's not important to choose the dining table right now, but you'll need to keep it in mind. I mean, you'll need to keep in mind the whole room, your plan for it, and how you want it to be. A sideboard, to me, is always a great idea. And you can put a lamp on it too. Or sconces on the sides. But I'd start with a table probably, rather then a sideboard. Even though you have the table for now. Why? because the table is the major player. After you know which shape material and color your table will be-it will give you much better idea for a sideboard. Advice that you didn't ask for)) but I'll still say it-don't rush. I know how it is-you have new place, get this bug "faster! everything should be done!" But there is no urgency in decor, so take your time to think it over, plan, look for the right things for you. I waited for six years until I found a hutch that I consider ideal. I'm not saying you should also wait six years)) Just don't try to get everything at once. You don't have to. Go and purchase as you see something that makes your heart skip a little bit. It might be tomorrow, or in three months, who knows. When a room is not finished-it still is beautiful. It's like a bud. It will, at some point become a rose, but buds are pretty too. More than that-they have this promise inside of them. It is this promise that makes decorating(and other things in life) fun.