Hello...Happy New Year to you all.
This is more of a pre-project post where I'll go through what I have in mind.....but before I go into it I'll admit, I have next to no DIY know how. I can do the bare basics (paint, wallpaper, put up simple shelves etc). So, naturally I'll be following up this post with some questions and plea's for advice in the Wood/Woodwork/Carpentry forum. So thank you anyone in advance who lends their expertise......this could turn out awesome or be a complete disaster.
I unfortunately don't have my own den/office so my setup is plonked in the corner of the living room. Not ideal but my son's equipment takes up a lot of space (electric chair, standing frame, walker etc), he has Cerebral Palsy and his needs come first and foremost. It is hard but ya know....you gotta do what you gotta do. However, this little 6ft ish by 3ft ish space in this corner of the living room is my place of zen. I spend 15 - 17 hours a day in this chair working (DevOps/Software Engineer) and gaming.
Up to now it's just been an IKEA desk. There's wasted space behind where my desk in the shape of an alcove. Not big enough to really do anything with apart from shelves but I'd like to include it in the aesthetic. I just want it be 'warmer' instead of it looking like it's plonked there. Below is my current setup:
The project:
1. So first thing I think would be best to do is get rid of the awkwardness of the alcove. You can see a bit of 'wall' sticking out on the left. I had the idea of just putting in some form of wood (MDF?) the length and width of the alcove so it's all uniform. That would also allow me a hollow space behind that for wires if I decide to put some lights in. And of course the actual shelves... probably two or three depending on how much room I'll have (haven't properly measured that yet), same material as the desk.
2. For the desk, I had the idea of a "floating" desk 1800mm x 700mm. So battens along the back and right wall with a standing leg on the front left corner (or resting on the draws, not sure if that will ruin the aesthetic though). But I would also like to add a piece onto the back right of the main section of the desk so it slides into the alcove as one big piece. The Computer will be situated at the back of the desk in the alcove so it's off the floor. Again not sure what wood to use that's sturdy...was thinking a darker grain that will go with the wall panels (which I'll come on to)
3. At least one of the monitors will be bracket mounted on the wall instead of being attached to the desk. But behind the monitors, I'd like to snake wood panelling round the wall and alcove starting where the displate is now and finish where the three pictures are...not the full height of the wall maybe 15 - 17 inches. I think putting battens round first, maybe half a CM of the wall and then pin the panels on them. Gives space for funky lights wires to snake round behind the panels. I'm thinking something like this for that (the walnut ones) - https://woodupp.co.uk/product/akupanel-60/?attribute_pa_colors=classic-oak-black-felt. They come 60 x 60 as standard but I think that might be too much....maybe 40 x 60 so I'd have to cut them down.
And I think that about covers it, thank you for reading if you got this far.....hope this is an adequate explanation of what I have in mind. I would love suggestions and/or advice. I have a lot of questions with regards to materials, where to source, best practice and 'how to' but I'll save them for the Wood/Woodwork/Carpentry forum.
Cheers,
B
This is more of a pre-project post where I'll go through what I have in mind.....but before I go into it I'll admit, I have next to no DIY know how. I can do the bare basics (paint, wallpaper, put up simple shelves etc). So, naturally I'll be following up this post with some questions and plea's for advice in the Wood/Woodwork/Carpentry forum. So thank you anyone in advance who lends their expertise......this could turn out awesome or be a complete disaster.
I unfortunately don't have my own den/office so my setup is plonked in the corner of the living room. Not ideal but my son's equipment takes up a lot of space (electric chair, standing frame, walker etc), he has Cerebral Palsy and his needs come first and foremost. It is hard but ya know....you gotta do what you gotta do. However, this little 6ft ish by 3ft ish space in this corner of the living room is my place of zen. I spend 15 - 17 hours a day in this chair working (DevOps/Software Engineer) and gaming.
Up to now it's just been an IKEA desk. There's wasted space behind where my desk in the shape of an alcove. Not big enough to really do anything with apart from shelves but I'd like to include it in the aesthetic. I just want it be 'warmer' instead of it looking like it's plonked there. Below is my current setup:
The project:
1. So first thing I think would be best to do is get rid of the awkwardness of the alcove. You can see a bit of 'wall' sticking out on the left. I had the idea of just putting in some form of wood (MDF?) the length and width of the alcove so it's all uniform. That would also allow me a hollow space behind that for wires if I decide to put some lights in. And of course the actual shelves... probably two or three depending on how much room I'll have (haven't properly measured that yet), same material as the desk.
2. For the desk, I had the idea of a "floating" desk 1800mm x 700mm. So battens along the back and right wall with a standing leg on the front left corner (or resting on the draws, not sure if that will ruin the aesthetic though). But I would also like to add a piece onto the back right of the main section of the desk so it slides into the alcove as one big piece. The Computer will be situated at the back of the desk in the alcove so it's off the floor. Again not sure what wood to use that's sturdy...was thinking a darker grain that will go with the wall panels (which I'll come on to)
3. At least one of the monitors will be bracket mounted on the wall instead of being attached to the desk. But behind the monitors, I'd like to snake wood panelling round the wall and alcove starting where the displate is now and finish where the three pictures are...not the full height of the wall maybe 15 - 17 inches. I think putting battens round first, maybe half a CM of the wall and then pin the panels on them. Gives space for funky lights wires to snake round behind the panels. I'm thinking something like this for that (the walnut ones) - https://woodupp.co.uk/product/akupanel-60/?attribute_pa_colors=classic-oak-black-felt. They come 60 x 60 as standard but I think that might be too much....maybe 40 x 60 so I'd have to cut them down.
And I think that about covers it, thank you for reading if you got this far.....hope this is an adequate explanation of what I have in mind. I would love suggestions and/or advice. I have a lot of questions with regards to materials, where to source, best practice and 'how to' but I'll save them for the Wood/Woodwork/Carpentry forum.
Cheers,
B
