Sweet Home Office Ideas

Studstretcher

Whats up guys... I am a fellow remodeler and it is now time to tackle my house a bit. I am turning a big bedroom into- a hallway leading to an office and then a bathroom..... what i need mostly are some ideas on a wrap around desk... the material and the setup. I need a place to get the brain a crankin and crunch my numbers. What kinds of setups do you guys have for offices in your homes.. i know there will be some nice ideas for desks. Let me know what ya got... Thanks a bunch.

Robie

This may sound a little off-beat, but it works really well. Get some long banquet tables (8', 6') and arrange them as you need them around the room. They can be set against the wall or in a square/rectangle inside the room. There is plenty of room underneath for 2 drawer file cabinets. With a good chair with good casters, you can roll from the computer to the fax to the printer to the files. They also give a nice area for laying out plans and such. You can buy stackable stuff for any application at Staples to put on top of the tables.
The tables I have used are a fiberglass type material with fold down legs.
If nothing else, using these temporarily may give you an idea of what you need to make/buy to suit your style.
Good luck.
Rob

__________________

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

leiffearn

I've learned that as a remodeler, I'm constantly remodeling and re organizing. In my opinion I would not build a custom desk that is permanantly installed to the room's walls, rather a free standing desk arrangement that will suit your needs. Make sure you put electrical everywhere and several recessed lights to ensure sufficient light for those long nights studying plans and doing paperwork. Leave some room for adequate file cabinet space seeing as how we are supposed to save seven years of business history.
As for the desk you can make a custom one but I've found that those pre-fab desks are cheaper than you could ever buy just the material for a custom. Plus there are so many different parts and sectionals to customize your arrangement. The rolling chair is a must for flying backwards to pull a file quickly.
Don't forget extra phone jacks for internet and fax in the room, you never know where your components will end up! Oh!...and i wouldn't recommend a plasma...way to distracting.
Anyway, I would make your hallway office and bath jive with the decor of the rest of the house. I recommend smooth wood floors for rolling chair and solid core doors for sound so you can concentrate while the kids are screaming.
Sounds like fun! Good luck!

sage

Similar set up. It aint pretty but it is very functional with plenty of room to work. I have an 8' table and a 6' arranged in an L shape. Computer, two printers, file cabinets underneath, and room to lay out blue prints, phone and all that other stuff too.

__________________
-Lead from the front, or dont lead at all-

IHI

If/when I ever build a dedicated office in my basement I might go ballz out, but for now I just bought a nice wrap around desk-like 4' across one wall, then a 45* section where monitor and computer junk sits, then another 4' section on the other wall. Multiple file cabinets both under desk and at either end. On one side with the file cabinets I have my printer/fax/scanner sitting on them so desk surface is clean (more/less).

My old home I made an office and went crazy with outlet boxes used dual gang boxes every 3' in area desk was at alone with 3 separate cable/phone outlet boxes so no matter what I had it was all within cords reach. Made it nice as well for my battery charging station when I got home-since I have many makes of batteries chargers I had'em all plugged in at once.

One thing I would do if doing again is built in speakers with head unit within easy reach of desk top so you can listen to the radio/change volume/stations with easy reach...or at least get a remote unit. A nice book shelf somewhere for all your code books and other references is nice too. Seen on a TLC show they used old doors and had 1/4" tempered glass cut and laid ontop of the doors for a rustic/cheap desk set-up. they used the old painted 6 panel doors that were replaced.

Just make it flow with rest of your house, right now in the new house my office stuff was built to blend into the hardwood in our old place...does'nt look so cool anymore in the new place.

__________________
Hot Rod Work Van
Car video clip
Web
The Photo Gear- Type Josh into Contact name when ordering

Studstretcher

Damn good ideas... I may try the old doors w/ 1/4'' glass, namely because my house was built in 1900 on the dot , so ill keep up the old fart deco going. In this room for my office project... there two layers of plaster on the ceiling... wood lathe- plaster-metal lathe-plaster.... my experiences w/ metal lathe are very frustrating. That is a bear now!

Have any of ya'll tried any other ways of removing plaster and lathe other than the 'ol smack the plaster off... clean it up and pry off the lathe? I've tried and tried to think of easier ways but it's just not clickin.

When it comes to D-day (demo-day) my craftsman shop-vac is my best buddy...

Thanks for the ideas men

IHI

Best tool to date I've used is my young helpers. Demo is my least favorite and there just is no easy way to do it, regardless of substrate.

__________________
Hot Rod Work Van
Car video clip
Web
The Photo Gear- Type Josh into Contact name when ordering

Teetorbilt

Studs, I've been working on old homes for over 40 yrs. and the slam/bang is the only thing that I know of for those old walls. Use a RESPIRATOR!!!! not particle mask as asbestos was a common binder back then as was horsehair. Manual breaking keeps dust down as opposed to sawing out sections.

I'm a custom built-in guy and like that look for an office. Mine is an 11 X 13 former corner bedroom with two large windows. I floated an L shaped desk into the center of the room to maximize the wall space for shelving. There is room for 2-3 chairs opposite the desk (this layout also keeps the computer screen from prying eyes while you are working). I still have space for a wall mounted rifle rack a stand up cabinet and some art.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Bjd

I am just wrappingp my wifes home office, I added 4" cans all over the place bought 12 for under $100.00 from HD.
We are going with counter tops with draw section under, lamate flooring and networked into fax, printer, and copy.
I added a small open soffet for her pics, tv/dvd, and assorted other iteams.
Directly under soffit I added 12 under counter lites, this is where her comp/copy area is.

I figure we are only going to do this ounce, mine as well do all you can the first time.

BJD