'Aks' me another time

We wielded the budget ax over the weekend. Gone are the built-in bookcase and wainscot for the office. We'll have a simple chair rail and inexpensive department store bookshelves instead. We are going to keep the built-ins by the fireplace since that is an integral part of the design of the great room. I had to swallow some at the cost, but in the scheme of things, I suppose it's not out of line. I haven't seen the estimate for the built-in desk in the office, but am concerned considering the prices I've seen from Ed, at the The Speed of Wood. I stressed to our builder that I view this as an essential piece, since the room is so small and really could not accommodate a decent desk. I also emphasized that it's a working office, not a work of art, so reel in any desire to overengineer or make the desk something it does not need to be. I'm hoping the keep it simple message will translate into a workable dollar figure. If not, I'll have to take a crack at it myself, which I don't view as impossible, but could take some time. Ellen will be most displeased moving in with a big hole in the wall accompanied by a promise from me to build out the desk. I'll have some 'splainin to do if Spring finds me working from the kitchen island with an unfinished wall in the office.