I’m slowly working my way through a de-cluttering reorg of my library, the bulk of which spans two rooms in the lower level of our raised ranch.  Three-quarters of the clutter is gone and I’d say that 98% of the books now have shelf space. I still need to move an old sectional piece out and a small couch in, but the rest of the major furniture pieces are in place, providing attractive, workable reading spaces.

But the bane of this process?  The space right in front this picture window. I swear it’s messing up the feng shui of the room almost as badly as the upright piano off to its left.  The piano, I can do nothing about. My spouse wants to keep it, a family heirloom, and to say he’s been giving and kind about the books about the house would be a gross understatment on my part. Sometimes, one must give back in equal gesture.

click for enlarged image

So, the window.  I’ve decided I want to put a work table there to provide a place to sort books, keep research files (in piles, most likely. LOL!), and house other in-progress sundries.  If I could squeeze some small bookcases into the setup, all the better. I think I’d like to keep its length to equal the broad span of the picture window because of surrounding furniture, but everywhere I look for possibilities, I’m underwhelmed.  A prime example: IKEA work tables.

I suppose I have images of finely constructed home libraries in my head — you know, the kind you’d find in books about the subject — and I’m not really that way. I’m far too practical and price-conscious.  But I’m willing to entertain ideas, so let me put it to you: What would you do? Have you seen any interesting work tables in your home design adventures?

I don’t have space measurements at this time (I’m on the road, traveling), but I will when I return home. The only restrictions I have are no dark woods, white, or all-metal tables. The room’s woods tend towards maple in hue.

So, ideas?

(P.S. I’ll provide a pictoral tour of my library once the reorg is finished.