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.

I have no clue what you are referring to and you have a duplicate post that is always a PITA if you have pictures post them in a comment in this post .

Of course this could be used in your office/guest room. What needs to you have for storage in your office? This unit doesn't have a lot of closed storages. It seems more of a display shelving unit - especially with the center removed. That might not be a bad thing. However, it is a large piece of furniture (what is the depth?) in the room and I'd think about what you need to have in an office and how it will all fit. Are you thinking you would remove the center piece and put a desk in there to sit at? I agree that murphy beds are not the greatest. A good quality sofa bed is much better.