Audiophile’s IKEA Desk Setup in Virginia, US

Name: Emmanuel

Location: Virginia, US

Occupation: Senior Engineer

Room size: 16 m² (169 ft²)

Social media: Instagram

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a Project Manager/Senior Engineer for a Telecom company.

My hobbies are tech, cars, gaming, anime, music, and recently, resin figure collecting.

Growing up, I was your typical guy who enjoyed playing sports, gaming, and watching anime.

As I grew up, I expanded my hobbies out of curiosity and discovered there are many fun things to do in the world, some more expensive than others.

While I’m not technically working my “dream job”, I am fortunate for the opportunities my employer has provided, and I am a firm believer in always trying to better yourself.

I was a full remote worker from 2017 up until 2022, when we transitioned to going to the office once a month. The same continues today.

I’ve been with my current company for nearly ten years, originally starting in sales.

Through hard work, I was able to get promoted to manager, then project manager.

Coincidentally, we had a company realignment, and several of us found ourselves in new roles as Senior Engineers.

Although technically in an engineer role, I perform the same duties as a project manager with additional responsibilities as an engineer.

Take us through your setup

After many years of moving around and being a remote worker for the past seven, we finally found a home where I can have a dedicated office.

I needed a room where I can work uninterrupted and where I can relax, unwind, and have some alone time.

However, having children makes the alone time impossible.

Officially, I had the room completed within the first few months at the height of the pandemic.

For the next two years, I kept a minimalist mid-century home office.

In the summer of ‘22, I decided I wanted a complete refresh, something that was a little bit more my personality.

The highlight of my office is the desk itself.

The desk is what ties in all my equipment. However, the placement of the desk I chose proved to be difficult.

My room is approximately 13×13 ft.

Two walls have large windows, one wall has a door in the centre leading to the downstairs bathroom, which left me with one wall with a tiny window to the top right.

I knew I wanted a larger-than-typical desk, so I opted for the wall with the tiny window and painted it black to make it stand out from the rest of the room.

With the desk in place, I had ample space to start placing all my equipment.

I went with a traditional IKEA desk hack so that I could better spend money on equipment.

I purchased the widest KARLBY you can buy and mounted it to a Fully Jarvis Standing Desk Frame standing on Uplift caster wheels.

What the desk lacks in depth, it made up for in width. (Though the ideal depth should be about 30″, in my opinion.)

Originally, I went through several trials and errors to see which setup I enjoyed the most, and my current setup is my favourite.

Although I used the same IKEA desk, I first had it resting on furniture legs which were mounted to my ALEX drawers, with a much smaller Apple Studio Display and Apple Studio.

I then realised that I change my setup and rotate my equipment quite often, and so I needed a way to do that without it taking up so much of my time.

That’s when the idea of mounting it to a sit/stand frame and installing casters came to me.

58 Best Standing Desks (With Photos From Real People)

Stand up and keep it going with the standing desks tested by WFHers from all over the world.

Maker StationsEditorial Team

The casters allow me to easily pull my desk forward and access the back.

It also provided a sense of relief as I was always afraid my youngest might push the desk back and it would cause the desk to fall, breaking or severely damaging my equipment.

While I have a pretty good system in place for how my setup is configured, another challenge was where to display my ever-growing resin figure collection.

Early last year, I displayed several figures on my desk, but I found out soon after that they cluttered my desk and they didn’t specifically flow well with my setup.

I wanted my setup to consist of just my consoles, computer, and audio equipment. I now place my figures on certain shelves after completing a DIY shelf build.

That’s a topic for a whole other conversation.

Overall, I am happy with the setup and the room, though I wish I had another blank wall or two.

On the flip side, with so many windows, I have tons of natural light.

At the end of the day, my original desire to have a dedicated office has turned into a “man cave”.

It sparks many conversations when guests come over as my room is the first room seen after opening the front door.

What’s your favourite item on your desk?

As of writing this, my Hexcal Studio monitor stand is my favourite item on my desk.

The Hexcal Studio comes with a host of features, most importantly several outlets where I can plug in all my audio equipment and peripherals on my desk.

The top of the monitor stand slides off, allowing you to hide your cables inside.

It has built-in lighting, wireless charging, and a few other features.

By plugging everything into the Hexcal Studio, I only have one power cable that runs to my power strip from my desk.

This makes swapping out audio equipment quite easy without having to stand behind my desk.

Music Setups and Bedroom Music Studios

Unique home music studio tours from sound artists across the globe

Maker StationsEditorial Team

What apps or tools do you use to get things done?

For apps and tools I enjoy using Apple’s built in tools and all of Google Suite.

For work purposes, we are fully integrated into the Google ecosystem, but for personal use, I am fully integrated into the Apple ecosystem.

I previously used Notion and was a big fan but have opted to use Apple Notes.

Although I’m not a content creator, photographer, videographer, etc., I started using the Loupedeck Live S, which allows me to have open up my most common apps/websites with just the press of a button.

Necessary? Absolutely not. Convenient?

Absolutely yes.

For web calling, I use WebEx for work and Zoom for personal life.

Since I work with dozens of projects at any given time, I have transitioned from Excel to Google Sheets.

This provides me the opportunity to work from anywhere without the risk of corrupting my data in the event my work laptop crashes (which it did, twice).

I built my own tracker with just the information I need to successfully complete my work.

I have observed first-hand how convoluted Excel spreadsheets can be when people input too much information.

I use several other tools and applications at work which I am not at liberty to discuss, but they significantly help with my workflow.

Ultimately, my setup is geared towards personal use, while my laptop is for the sole purpose of work.

A few apps that I use for my Mac Pro are Permute, Adobe Suite, Downie, Freeform, Roon, MS Office, Numi, etc.

During my personal time, I typically game, watch content, and research/study various topics.

The tools help when it comes to researching or studying for certifications.

What books, blogs, or podcasts recently caught your attention?

Honestly, I don’t have the time to watch any podcasts.

I divide my free time into sections.

A portion is for studying scripture, studying for certifications or personal growth, followed by any leisure activity (gaming, anime, Netflix).

Any tips for other makers who want to improve their workspaces?

I recommend watching TechSource.

Ed is great, and you can get inspiration from all the setups he reviews.

Also, don’t get discouraged when you see setups that cost thousands of dollars. Every one of us starts somewhere.

16 Budget Desk Setup Ideas

Your home office doesn’t have to be expensive.

Maker StationsEditorial Team

Honestly, the journey is sometimes more fun than the destination.

I would say pick an area you want to improve so as not to overwhelm yourself.

If you want better audio, then focus on that until it’s done.

What does your typical day look like?

I’m a father to four kids, all eight years old and under.

My day is never typical.

One second it’s peaceful, then the next it’s chaotic.

During the week, I get the kids ready for school, prep breakfast and lunch, and drop them off.

Once I return, I begin my work day while taking breaks here and there to exercise, fold laundry, clean up, etc.

The kids are picked up in the afternoon, and when we return home, I continue to work until the end of the workday.

When the kids are sleeping at night, I use that time to relax in my home office.

Unfortunately, I sense the days of remote office work ending. In 2024, our return to the office increased from once a month to once a week.

Now there’s talk of two to three days a week in the office. Only time will tell.

Your tips for working from home?

It’s important to take scheduled breaks. If possible, take your breaks outside the office.

Create that separation from work.

How to Take Better Breaks When Working from Home

Improve your productivity and cut down on stress with these ideas for taking better breaks while WFH.

Maker StationsEditorial Team

You can get easily distracted working from home. It took me over a year to even like it.

I’m a big fan of music and usually listen to my headphones while working.

Don’t forget to do some physical activities during your break. You’d be surprised how much you eat when you work from home.

Since I still have to work when the kids are home from school, I complete my most important tasks in the morning, when I am the most alert and focused.

Nothing is more frustrating than getting interrupted by loud kids every five minutes when you’re crunching numbers, writing reports, or doing anything that requires your complete focus.

13 Must-Haves for an Organised Shared Home Office

Sharing a home office can be tricky, but with the right gear, it’s a breeze.

Maker StationsEditorial Team

^{We’re a reader-supported publication. This article might contain affiliate links. It means we may receive a commission if you click a link and buy a product that our maker has recommended. The interview was done independently.}