Building a house in Katy. Once we come out of Covid, I plan to work from the company office twice a week and home the rest of the time. So really want to build the study out well.

The room is 13.5' deep and 11' wide. The back wall is essentially wall to wall windows. Few inches of clearance on either side. The double doors face out to the kitchen. The pic is from another house with our floor plan; picture makes the room seem narrow, but it's a good size.

I'd like to get built ins in the room, but the windows make it problematic both on the back wall and on the side walls. I asked the builder if I could take out one window and center the other two. He said my only option would be to take out the L and R windows and keep the center one. I figure that'd be good to put built ins around it.

My only question is, am I going to regret having just one window? I think we should have plenty of light from the common area, and I'll have recessed lights instead of the fan.

Any other considerations I should be thinking of?

Additionally, anyone have recommendations for a contractor/carpenter in Katy or Houston area that have done built ins you've been happy with?

Just build your built in's such that they don't extend to the window wall. Leave a foot or two or more at that end. I wouldn't take out the windows in an office.

FreeLunch said:

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Just build your built in's such that they don't extend to the window wall. Leave a foot or two or more at that end. I wouldn't take out the windows in an office.

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I'd leave about 2 ft and put a wall to wall bench seat built-in underneath the windows big enough to lay down on...you know...for the secretary.

I like the idea of going to 1 window and building around it. If you do the single window needs to be about 1.5 times as wide as the center one. That should leave you enough room for built-ins and not make it feel like a submarine.

I would also include a bench under the window to tie it all together.

library shelf built in on left wall, desk in middle of room facing left wall.

Leather chair and small table in front of the window.

Windows have to stay! End of discussion.

FreeLunch said:

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Just build your built in's such that they don't extend to the window wall. Leave a foot or two or more at that end. I wouldn't take out the windows in an office.

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Best idea right here.

just put them along the wall to the right and have an L-shape desk where you can still look out the door and turn to look out the windows.

Agree with comments above about keeping the windows. But if you go with one window, it needs to be 2.5 times as wide as the current window and extend far enough to give adequate light. One window will look less elegant and feel like a much cheaper house.

I'd keep the windows and plant a tree outside unless you like blah fences and rooftops.

one MEEN Ag said:

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library shelf built in on left wall, desk in middle of room facing left wall.

Black leather couch in front of the window.

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FIFY

I think it really depends on what design/layout you are going for. Are you wanting shelving on both sides with a desk in the middle of the room? Are you planning to build the desk into the shelving unit?

How much room between the wall and the window? If you have enough room you could do tiered bookcases with the bookcases closest to the doors and windows slightly shallower than the center bookcase(s). The center deeper bookcase could also act as a built in desk if that is the look you are going for.

If you want to be really ambitious you could figure out a way to incorporate the windows into the mill work, but that would add some coin without much utility. Again really depends on the overall design you are trying to achieve.

one MEEN Ag said:

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library shelf built in on left wall, desk in middle of room facing left wall.

Leather chair and small table in front of the window.

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This. I like to look out of a window but not if my back is to the door. Make your desk perpendicular to the window instead so you can still look out of it. You wouldn't want the light coming in behind you either, especially if you're going to be on zoom calls.

The only change I'd make is putting the bookshelves on the right wall so the window would be on my left. That's just my personal preference though because of how my home office is set up.

not answering your question but I generally don't like built ins.
Wife wanted it for living room and had a space made for TV-we fit a 55" plasma, well you know how that went-who wants "only" a 55" TV.

Point being-once you start working there you will probably want things a little different from your current vision and makes it a lot harder to modify.
Just opinion. :-)

The Dog Lord said:

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one MEEN Ag said:

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library shelf built in on left wall, desk in middle of room facing left wall.

Leather chair and small table in front of the window.

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This. I like to look out of a window but not if my back is to the door. Make your desk perpendicular to the window instead so you can still look out of it. You wouldn't want the light coming in behind you either, especially if you're going to be on zoom calls.

The only change I'd make is putting the bookshelves on the right wall so the window would be on my left. That's just my personal preference though because of how my home office is set up.

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I've assumed the door into the office is just out of view on the left. Judging by the fence line, looks like this is on the furthest right part of the house. Face the desk towards the door. That way you can watch the door and keep prying eyes from seeing your screen. With your setup, anyone can see your screen when they come in the door.

Having my screen face the door makes me feel like a test subject being watched.

Paul Bjork at Bjork Remodeling. He lives in Katy. I've had him do multiple built-in projects. Always high quality work and materials. He also builds and paints it at his house/shop and just installs, so very little mess and time spent at your house. I've been very impressed.