apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

http://www.anthro.com/ppage.aspx?pmid=54
E-nook at anthro.com Saw this and thought it would be great for notebook users that don't want to devote a big piece of furniture to desk space. It has internet connections, sapce to recharge phones, cameras, whatever, then folds up and away and even locks! I may get one for my mudroom off of my kitchen. I like that the back surface is tackable, as well. The desk surface is 30", but the full frame is 36. It's thin, 7.5", and looks nice in cherry.

Ikea makes corner wardrobes you might be able to convert into a computer armoire. They're a bit rickety, but if it's going into a corner anyhow I'm sure you could brace it in back and brace the shelves. They aren't gorgeous, but they're cheap and fairly modern.

Ikea also sells those modular shelving / storage systems for offices. You can use those to assemble a computer armoire. They have a new line of doors and handles that should help the units better blend into the home. Those units are very solid, and accessories (like keyboard drawers) are available (or you can fashion them yourself).

oh my goodness, I just checked out the E-nook that Heatherf posted about. It's genious! Or at least it looks so on their site. HeatherF, do you have one? And do you like it? I'm thinking of ordering one today!

It's only about a $100 more than that DWR charger tub... and a bit more space conscious.

i needed one also--i cruised craigslist for a long time, and realized there are a few other pieces of furniture that tend to work--for one, old, small dry bars (the kind you'd serve alcohol from) tend to have drop-down leafs like this. I ended up with a somewhat damaged but perfectly functional danish modern secretary (it's got one piece of teak veneer missing, i will get around to replacing it, i will!)

Sallyman–
I just ran across it last night in a mac magazine, so no, I don't have one–yet! It would have been just the thing when I was searching for my own small space solution to a home office about 6 months ago. I went with a corner desk unit and a couple of file drawers from Ballard Designs and it's alot bigger than I had hoped for, plus my kids are all over it. Wish I had something like enook I could lock up!

I would go for the Cyril computer cabinent at Ikea. It's a good price and a nice design. But you might want to check it's quality at the store as I have never seen it in person.

Reagrding the Cyril cabinet, I don't know why it's not on their web site, but it's in the catalog. Cheers!

This doesn't answer your question directly, but could I suggest something different? My guess is that this room is getting MUCH more use as an office than as a guest room - and would even more so if you had a pleasing, comfortable place to work... I'm just not sure if your guests are so worried about seeing your office stuff that it really necessitates getting an office armoire?

Not knowing your space, or your guest situations, I think I still would opt for a nice drop-leaf table to serve as your desk, with a good lamp, and with a well-organized bookcase or closet nearby for hanging files, printer, etc. Your room can thus look perfectly lovely when not in "office mode."

I guess I've just found that you always feel "perched" when working at one of the armoire options, and since you don't REALLY need to camouflage your office (as in a higher-traffic area), I'd embrace the fact that you have extra space and just use "real" furniture!

Just a thought...

Not quite an armoire, but the scale might be just what you are looking for...

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1070&f=12494

Looks like a nice piece of furniture when closed, but is a reasonably useful desk when needed.

The quality is excellent - solid wood and nicely finished.

Tabitha, I think you have a really good point. Don't be shy about it!

This one by Sauder is 31.5 inches wide and 52 inches tall. Nice and small. The price is great too. We just put this one together last week and we were surprised how well made it was. None of the hardware can be seen from the outside. The wood is very nice. Just click on my name for the link.

Here's another Crate and Barrel compact office armoire--still a little bigger than what you're looking for, but it's a nice piece from when I've seen it in the store. Darker wood than the piece linked above.

Just had one other idea - if you've got the money, pick up one of the new 24" iMacs that Apple sells. They'll run Windows too, if you need to run Windows, and it'll double as a DVD player for your guests. You can then leave it out on display in the room, or even mount it to the wall, with a wall-mounted, drop-leaf table beneath, to support the keyboard and mouse while it's being used as a computer. Virtually zero footprint.

Cable clutter can be eliminated with the addition of a wirless keyboard and mouse. Since the iMac has built in wireless networking, it can even be connected to a printer wirelessly, either a new printer with built-in wireless support, or to an existing printer using an AirPort Express module.

Not only will IKEA be ugly, but it will be low-quality, (obviously, low budget in all fairness). I just designed a small-scale computer armoire for Rosewood House, a Bay Area design firm specializing in custom design furniture handcrafted of exotic hardwoods. I am publishing the photos as I type this: check it out www.rosewoodhouse.com and go to the "custom furniture & home design services" link.

- wilson@rosewoodhouse.com

I came across this site because I am looking for the Cyril Cabinet Secretary Desk. I would like one on the design frame of IKEA but not the quality. Can anyone advise me of where I can find it?

Thanks