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good lord hang some curtains quickly! put a rod up close to the ceiling and hang something funky. i can't tell you anything else without a floor plan... but you have simpley got to get rid of those vertical blinds as fast as you can!

First thing's first...get rid of the vertical blinds ASAP!! I like the idea of curtains to the floor...I don't think it will look odd when open. Although it's hard to judge since I can't see the entire room, I think some sort of storage hutch under the window would be a nice touch, and perhaps help to hide its awkward position. Plants on top would make a nice warm addition and they'd have plenty of light!

Rather than hanging drapes, I'd put up some funky wallpaper and replace the verticals with a simple treatment like a Roman shade. The wallpaper would draw the eye away from the long window instead of trying to hide it with draperies that might actually draw attention to the imperfection.

Or. It would also be possible to put a piece of furniture (the couch or desk, or a console) under the window. It might make it look like there's a reason for the window to be that narrow.

Good luck!

I like the idea of hanging curtains from the ceiling to the floor. It will give you something lovely to look at, and it will also allow you to balance the height that tall hutch or cabinet you want next to the sofa. You could hide the printer in that cabinet/hutch, too, depending on how far away it can be without becoming inconvenient.

For windows like these - short draperies are OK, but Roman Shades would be even better.

I'd also urge you to consider calling someplace like California Closets or Techline to come in and design/install a custom office solution - a long worksurface along the back wall with files and enclosed storage for your printers, etc. underneath, and a pair of bookcases up to the ceiling on either side of the windows - and your workstation in the center under the window where you'd then install a fabric-covered bulletin board beneath the windows and between the bookcases - perhaps even in the same fabric as your draperies.

I've always been a fan of Roman shades - you could hang above the windows so as not to block them when the shades are up. From what I can see in the photo, I'd lean towards shelves under the windows that are the same width as the windows - making them feel like they're almost all one piece of furniture in a way.

A floor plan would be a big help, though, as I'm tempted to think there is a better orientation for the entire room. You want it to work daily as an office space, but be super easy to convert to a guest room.

Hard without a floor plan, but here goes. You could take your countertop with legs and place it directly under the window. Build shelves to "represent" a shelving unit on both sides and connect them with a top board connecting the two, sort of "framing in" the window. Buy two coording fabrics. One to make a curtain for the window. Bear in mind, this one will sort of appear as an "art piece" when finished. This way your "eye sore" turns into a piece of art. The other?? Use heavy duty velcro to adhere the other fabric surrounding the countertop to hide some file cabinets under the countertop. Use the scrap pieces of fabric to sew throw pillows for the couch to tie everything in together.

If you're in a rental, don't worry about removing the verticals. Just hang sheers in front.

Hmm, I'm not quite sure why you look at the windows as evil. I look at it as a welcome natural light source. Especially in an office. I had windows like this in a bedroom, and for privacy during the day I put some quality textured vinyl covering directly on them, which still let light in but totally blocked the view from outside. I hung long drapes over them, because it was a bedroom, but still had my lightsource during the day. I wouldn't hang long drapes in an office, but if you're going to use it as a guestroom, perhaps. The Roman shade idea sounds good and easy, but not as fancy as drapes if that's the look you want. Curtains the length of the windows might be more fitting for an office. (Just my humble opinion, of course, since I'm not a designer).

I guess I would have put the desk under the window, and built shelving up to the ceiling on either side for storage and interest. Rolling file cabinet below the desk top, and some sort of pull out shelf for the printer or a rolling cart that holds the printer, but can also live under the desk top.

Roman blinds or maybe some sort of folding shutters are less trouble than long drapes.

an office is a brain kitchen

so think like a kitchen designer

what do you want light on?

where do you want your tools (printers, paper, supplies, back up hard-drives: important that, so you'll USE them...and phones)?

where do you want your stove (your computer, or writing plannning surface)

your fridge (files)?

they all have to be HANDY

how do you want to move in the room?


now warm it up...

what inspires you? put it in front of you... pictures objects...

what is beautiful? the color of the walls, the shapes of some furniture. I hate office chairs (seemingly designed for paraplegics, advertisements for bad backs, harbingers of joyless toil).... I love a beautiful chair...


keep it honest... it is an office.... printers and wires belong in it and THAT is your window... a file cabinet is a file cabinet

make it easy to clean... and clear... so you can feel a start fresh often

add fun: I learned to hate blackboard paint... but I am intrigued by magnetic paint and i love the proliferation of brightly colored post-its on a wall... and the way they fall like leaves as the long summer of a project comes to a close

remember your body... have your yoga mat there and some brightly colored light weights... something to get your blood going.

love and honor your silly horizontal gauche little window: light is pouring through it

get it the way you want it

your carpet is a problem, pet... it is the only note hint of potential sadness in this room

and you are not going to love having the sleeper couch in there... it's going to catch papers and stuff... UNLESS you have a cat or a dog snoozing on it, which is the nicest thing on earth to have in an office... the real point I am trying to make is calculate how much time a guest will spend there as compared with how much time you intend to spend working in it... see where I'm going with this? It's not a showpiece bedroom with office stuff that needs to be hidden... it's a great office that the occasional guest can sleep in.

I suggest using white cellular shades, wallpaper on the back wall, and placing 28-30" high filing cabinets on the window-wall each touching the sidewalls and then putting your ikea kitchen counter over top. Since the window is small, I suggest white cellulars to allow as much light into the space as possible with your small window. I'm on the fence whether to just paint the wall or use wallpaper on this wall to add some visual interest to the area...

By putting the desk here it wouldn't make the window seem so small, as the long counter would help stretch this space horizontally. The long counter would also unclutter your area by offering a place to put all the electronics and would have plenty of storage on the side.

For the desk idea see here: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/10/02/garden/20081002-STUDENTS_11.html

I would hang curtains to fit about twice the height of the window you've got, then hang a sort of faux top-down shade to cover the wall underneath to give the illusion that the window is larger.

I would try to find some old stained glass windows to hang in front of your current windows. Get colors you like (or clear but textured or frosted glass) in a pleasing pattern. This will add interest and privacy while still letting light in.

I'm by far not an expert, but I would hang floor to ceiling curtains. Gives a designer feel. But I like the idea of a roman shade if you have guests sleep in there to block out the light completely if you don't do black out curtains. As far as the printer is concerned, I'm in the same dilemma and was hoping to go wireless as well. I was planning on putting the printer inside my bookcase(when I get doors for it) and then just open the door when I'm ready to print. It's out of sight and I don't use the printer that often, so the idea works for me. Can those drawers the printer is on now fit(with the printer) under your desk? They look the same color in the photo.

Good luck!

Ikea and Target have some snazzy blacK/white curtains which you could extend beyond the actual window. Extra fabric from hemming could be made into cushion covers for couch. Underneath a bookcase. The space in between window and case little pictures. Hang some plants above curtain hardware to catch the light and give you a place to rest your eyes when thinking which is the real advantage of any window.You could also harmonize a cabinet/bookcase on each side of the window which would draw attention away from it. Shutters or Roman blinds then. Just remember that the darkest part of a room is beside and underneath a window so please paint that one wall. How about a cheery tangerine. Is it possible to position your desk to capture some natural light - you will be happier. Every room in your home should elevate you and offer a respite.

Second the floor to ceiling drapes. The window itself is not evil it's just a shape that doesn't lend itself easily to anything useful and, of course, I have yet to see a successful execution of vertical blinds.

As for the printer, I'd find a table that has 2 levels and stick it in the corner. Even better would be to stash it under the desk.