Instead of the desk, put up a shelf - 15-18" deep. Make it longer to go all the way across (under the window) that way he can enjoy the light and view while he works. The desk wood or surface material and edge treatment needs to match one of these things: the table top, the bookshelf, the wall paint, or the picture frames. With no legs, the desk area will take up less visual room. Get rid of the desk chair and simply turn around one of the dining chairs for his work chair.

Put your wine bottles somewhere else. Get 2 more photos framed exactly like the ones over by the spices, and hang them side by side over the bookshelf, at the same height as all the other framed items. This will move the eye around the space.

At some point you may want to put up a more interesting light fixture.

use the wall next to the kitchen cart instead of below the window. Find desk, file cabinet, book shelf etc. to blend in with the kitchen cabinet/kitchen cart so it looks like an extension of the kitchen counters. Go the full the length of the available wall space to give it a 'built in' feel. Boot the tall book case and use wall for artwork to draw the eye away from work space.

Can you consolidate the computer and work supplies into a small footprint (cart or credenza) and use the dining room table for work space?

I suggest going BIG.. Do an L shaped narrow desk that wraps around the kitchen from bookshelf underneath window to your wood cart/counter. Make the desk out of ash or pine (same color as your cart/counter) and consider painting your kitchen table and bookshelf your favorite color(s) to mix things up. Definitely lose the desk/office chair and replace it with one that can double as extra seating at the kitchen table or at least looks less office like. For the window go with a roman shade with a nice pattern that coordinates with your new kitchen table color.

I would flip everything 90 degrees as well, making the wall where the trash can is the desk wall.

It's a very neat, clean desk. It looks like he could swap his desktop model for a wireless laptop and just work on the table and clear away during mealtimes. Get an even bigger table and make a corner bench by the lovely window. Less is more. Mobility.

The desk and the bookhelf really jump out as too dark in that room. Paint the bookshelf, then consider a corner desk in white. That will push the desk chair out far enough to catch some daylight from the outdoors which is always better for working, also allow his eyes a place to rest every so often, utilize underused spaces like a corner and still allow plenty of space around the dining table. A desk chair with a lower profile would also help.

Get a round dining table.

When we lived in a 700 sq ft one bedroom, we got rid of the dining room table and just used the dining room as an office. We always ate at the coffee table, anyway, and never had diner parties, so it worked much better for us that way!

All the ideas are good. . .maybe. It's critical to understand how much this office is being used. If this is his full time office (he works from home), getting rid of an ergonomically correct chair for an unpadded, rigid dining room chair is a bad idea--you can always roll the chair into the bedroom when you have people over for dinner. But I agree with folks that a long (or even L-shaped) shelf/desk would work well. My dining room is the largest room in my place--I have both my dining room table and office in there. I decided to go with a low and wide armoire (similar to the linear at R&B http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=20181&catalog=room&category=rm_office&subcategory=wks_armoire but purchased off craigslist) and I've gotten used to it well. I like having a broad surface to work on--but then be able to "close shop" and allow the room to transition back to entertaining when I want.

One more thing-- I also think rotating the Dining room table 90 degrees (or going for the round table mandymod suggested) would help avoid the furniture showroom look.

Consider getting a vintage secretary desk (there are usually lots of good ones on Craigslist) and swap out the desk chair for a stool which tucks neatly underneath. When closed, the secretary desk will look almost like a sideboard (and blend in with the rest of the dining room).

I agree with the long shelf idea - you can either wrap it as an L shape towards the kitchen or move the bookcase where the 4 pictures are and extend a shelf/desk towards the door. Don't give up a comfortable desk chair unless the sit-time is measured in a couple of hours rather than all day long. Think seriously of moving the books somewhere else and pitching the bookcase - unless you REALLY read them/reference them frequently. I'm an avid reader but find that I don't really use the books that often once I've read them.

From the photograph it seems that the boyfriend keeps a very clean work surface. Why not get rid of the desk all together and use the dining table (how often do you really use it, anyway)?

What about a counter width, open back, bookshelf protruding from the wall where the cart is now? Then put the desk (or a shelf desk) on that wall all of the way over to the window. On the desk side of the bookcase mount a piece of wood or bulletin board from counter upwards. The shelves behind it would replace some of the lost kitchen storage.The office can have storage on the desk side. If you used the shelf as a desk idea and you ever did have a dinner party it would make a nice buffet.

Would you consider flipping the dining table 90 degrees, moving the desk under the window, and then the bookshelf against the wall to the right of the desk? Also since your desk and office chair are dark (and yes, a bit heavy) you could consider going in for a monochrome palette -- black and white frames on the walls, black-bordered window treatment, paint the chairs and bookshelf white, and a different runner/table cloth...

I don't know if its possible for your kitchen, being unable to see the disposition and the full entrance but I would put a breakfast bar, in wood with metal legs, the ones made of tubing are a late obsession of mine, in two levels, one for the working kitchen, counter high, one for the eating side, chair high. Just two chairs, thinking it would generally be your BF and you. Freeing the space under the window and making space for the suggestions above, secretarial desk, long table that could work as buffet, or something like that. I would maximize storage under the desk and under the bar, for office supplies and kitchen necessities, respectively, so you can get rid of the bookcase and the cart.
Oh, and about the office chair you could get one of those kneeling benches, my sister is in IT and swears by them.

Best of lucks. :)

Parnassus' idea was exactly what I was thinking. Although I'd be tempted to make it an elongated parsons table rather than a shelf.

You could take 2 2x2 Expedits and place one where the kitchen cart is now and the other in the corner. Cut a long board or counter top to fit on top. Voila you have not only a desk, but also more storage for your books, bottles etc. I do have to say the office chair is not very sightly and I would replace it with a simple white one.
Move the table against the wall where the book shelf is now and hang some art work. The bookshelf is visually quite heavy and by storing the book in one of the expedit units you won't need it anymore. I love to see how it turns out.

Think about floor to ceiling shelving---from the door, wrapping around to the cabinets. You can do small sections as a time since it is not a cheap solution (but easy to calculate the expense), and start with his desk first. Attach the rails/hardware to the walls with anchor screws (carefully so you can neatly fill the holes when you move). I'd go right over the window (you can provide some clearance to raise and lower a shade), and make his "desk" deeper and add some legs to the front for support.

Living in an apartment means you may not have room to paint or stain the shelving, so think about wrapping the shelves in brown kraft paper---just like wrapping a package. You can buy industrial rolls of kraft paper online from Uline and get it delivered, if you don't live where you can buy it in person.

This gives you lots of room for books, art work, pretty boxes for storage, plants in front of the window, and some blank space too (to rest the eyes), and as you get close to the kitchen, storage for dining and kitchen items. I have used kraft paper to wrap shelves many times, and line drawers, too. It is neutral, inexpensive, and easily replaceable if the paper gets grubby. The matte paper looks a bit like suede. You can even wrap boxes in it, which looks nice. I have wrapped books in the brown paper too, for visual interest. I have also use gift wrapping paper.

The rails. supports, and boards will last a long time. Because everything is adjustable, you can vary the heights of the shelves. A small, low wattage lamp looks great, too, for a chic night light. And with open shelves, you can still reach light switches, electric outlets, fuse box, et cetera. Best wishes.

I would have to have the table by the window area instead of the desk. When does he use the desk, all day or just occasionally at night? That is prime real estate in that corner.

Do not make your boyfriend work all day on a stool or on a kitchen chair. It might look better, but he's going to be miserable. Move the desk chair when company comes and continue to like each other.

3 simple things will make a difference:

- Paint the computer desk to a neutral beige.

- Get rid of that big black office chair. When someone is on the computer they now use one of the dining room chairs.

- Get an electrician to center the light fixture over your dining room table. The electrician could simply cover the existing box at the ceiling with a white plate cover. Then when you move out, the cover could go over the new box. Sell this to your landlord as giving the next tenants this additional option.

This could be done with paintable conduit

Ooopsie: Could also be done with paintable conduit, or a chain/hook swag type thing.

I love MunichMom's suggestion of a corner bench! We have the same issue in our tiny ~925 sq. ft. house; my "office" is part of the dining room, and my husband's "office" is part of the living/family room. I may take MunichMom's suggestion and run with it...

As for lighting, we again have the same issue in the dining room of one central overhead light in a room that currently has two "work areas." We both hated that overhead light. What we ended up doing was installing a flexible track light from Lowe's, which allowed us to use the existing electrical wiring while providing light across the whole room, from the dining table to my desk.

This is the light we used (they have a few other options too): http://low.es/ZqgnUk

So much great ideas in the comments. I'd say go with real furniture for the desk and maybe the chair (although comfort should be the first priority for the chair). If you have a desk that could also pass for a table or has a bit more interest. Also minimize the items that are in sight that scream office (except your computer and monitor, of course). Only leave out items that are commonly used and take advantage of non-office looking furniture that closes up (armoire, credenza). For files and books rarely used, consider storing away in a closet.

Here's what I did in my space:
I have an 800 sq ft space split by a walk-in into two sides - dine/cook/live and bed/office. To make my desk less office like, I put in a rustic brown cabinet with doors that close (I store stationery and office supplies there, tucked away). On top of the cabinet, I have a streamlined printer (HP Envy). I wouldn't recommend it for heavy usage but for the occasional print job it's fine. It's pretty and doesn't scream office, also works with apple mobile devices via wifi. I cover my tech on top of the cabinet with a nice textile to keep out dust and also minimize the office look. For files, I'm 90% electronic and only need to touch a hardcopy file occasionally so those files are stored in 1/2 size banker boxes (from Office Max) and in a utility closet (out of sight).

I agree with most to paint all the furniture to harmonizer the space. Move your dining room table over to the counter area, which can serve as a buffet. Place the desk perpendicular to the window. The wall space that is to the left of the window can have a cork board or magnet strips for notes, deadlines, pix, whatevs. You can keep the desk chair because it will be against the wall and not so in your face. The bookshelf I put on its side. Books and still be place in it and it can serve as a long shelf. The wall, that would do well with a mirror. Finally, put an area rug between the space of the of the kitchen table and the lying-down bookcase to tie it all together.

I agree with most to paint all the furniture to harmonizer the space. Move your dining room table over to the counter area, which can serve as a buffet. Place the desk perpendicular to the window. The wall space that is to the left of the window can have a cork board or magnet strips for notes, deadlines, pix, whatevs. You can keep the desk chair because it will be against the wall and not so in your face. The bookshelf I put on its side. Books and still be place in it and it can serve as a long shelf. The wall, that would do well with a mirror. Finally, put an area rug between the space of the of the kitchen table and the lying-down bookcase to tie it all together.