Office in the alcove

We live in a townhouse, and though every house is similar, the builder changed something so that each was unique in some way. One thing about our home is that instead of having the stairs to the basement under the stairs to the second level, they were put at the back of house cutting off about 30 sq.ft. of the dining room but giving us a huge 2-level window that lights the basement. Strangely, the builder left the alcove where the door to the basement stairs should be.

I put those squiggly IKEA mirrors in there with an extra dining chair, but felt there was better use for such a cool, central space. Cucumbersome's blog (which I love!) planted the idea in my brain of an office in that space. I imagine the alcove with floating glass shelves and a glass desk -- all about two inches from the back wall for cords to be run back there. The extra dining chair would sit in the curve of the stairs to the second level, just next to the desk, and the desk would be hidden behind a curtain when not in use. Chris was skeptical at first, I think, but has since warmed to the idea.

This is what the desk will look like and how I'll mount the shelves:

"Nook Desk Made Simple…", Ready Made

I will post before and after shots, but for now here are some examples of cool closet offices:

The Container Store

"Closet becomes office", Sunset

"Office in a closet", Creating Organizing 101