setup of home office

[rz]

We're in the process of enclosing our back porch into an office/man-cave. The room dimensions will be about 13x13. Upon walking into the door, on the left hand side wall will be a large picture window looking out over the pond in our backyard. Straight ahead will be a blank wall. The wall on the right will be mostly old-style chicago brick, with two cut outs. The question is, where should I put my desk/computer?

My original thought was to have a work surface run the length of the brick wall and the back wall, leaving the side with the picture window open. A sofa would most likely go under the picture window. My wife thinks it would be nicer to have the work surface run the length of the wall with the picture window and back wall, and leave the brick wall for the sofa to go against. My biggest concern is facing the window while I'm on the computer, although I imagine the potential glare from the window behind me might be a problem if I have the computer on the opposite wall. Any thoughts on this?

[threeprong]

Pull your desk away from the back wall , so it faces the door and you are more in the room.

[DavidS]

Where are you going to put the keg and big-screen HDTV in your man-cave?

[rz]

DavidS wrote:
Where are you going to put the keg and big-screen HDTV in your man-cave?

I was thinking of mounting the TV against the brick. I prefer microbrews, so no keg!

I actually like threeprong's idea of putting the desk so that it faces the door, but I would really like a large work surface. I have two monitors, a laser printer, two scanners, a photo printer, and a couple of external drives that I need places for. I also have a USB MIDI controller keyboard that I would like to leave out so I can use it more often.

[davester]

Facing or back to a window sucks for computer use. I'd do what threeprong suggested.

[raz]

threeprong wrote:
Pull your desk away from the back wall , so it faces the door and you are more in the room.

And position yourself so you can enjoy the view of the pond

[abevilac]

What will the traffic pattern be like between the house and the outside?

I am always partial to having my desk at 90* angle to wall or window, so I might arrange it so that I could turn my head and look out the window or look straight ahead.

[Dennis S]

Go to the book store and thumb through a feng shui book for ideas.

Build some cabinets or shelves next to the ceiling like airplane overhead storage.

http://www.google.com/search?q=feng+shui&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[cbelt3]

Your #1 issue will be sun glare. Plan accordingly. Everything after that is just interior design.

I will second the notion to NOT nailing your desk to the wall. Let it float so you can adjust your space according to mood.

[mattkime]

hang the pinups and the place the desks in the room as is most flattering to them.