What desks does HN use? Do you like it?
It doesn't have the frills that seem to come with desks from stores, but I never used those anyways (I never understood building CD racks into desks). Plus since you build it yourself you can customize it - I put lots of holes in the back to run cables, with hooks underneath to organize them. For drawers, Ikea sells plastic ones that attach with a couple of screws for like $2.
My father also suggests buying some architecture drawing surface and laminating it on top to provide a smooth writing surface.
They are truly one of the best workspace purchases I've ever made. Really, they're very, very nice.
It's an addition I'll have to add on later, but I think having the space available will be very worth it.
I actually cut a hole in the middle of my desk, so I can recline in my office chair, and swivel my monitor out over the edge of the desk and face it down at me. It really helps with neck and back strain.
I've got another desk from an auction which is a great place to check out, if you can deal with the fact of where the desk has been before (a failed business usually, pre disasterised i think of it as)
It's simple and it works great.
http://www.jkhopkins.com.au/showproduct.asp?webno=1
Sitting in the middle gives you a lot of surface area within reach.
1. Aeron chair
2. Pair of trestles and a large piece of wood on top of them.
#1 cost $$$, #2 cost next to nothing. I bought cheap trestles from a hardware store, and a nice piece of flat wood which was prestained and edges smoothed off.