Building a desk..what order would you place your gear?

[wyattt]

Ok, I am building a L shaped desk in which on one section of the L (in front of my window) will be my Audioarts 8x console (recesssed into the desk) computer monitors, and speakers. I figure the other part of the L should be able to accommodate or make room for my Teac 1" 16 track (should I build this into the desk?), Digi002 console (recessed into the desk), powerbook (for REASON/MIDI, etc..) with a keystation 49 as well as enough rack space for patchbays, my ADA8000, rack tuner, etc...

So I am at a few crossroads...

First, in deciding between rackspaces underneath a shelf which would hold a computer monitor additional speakers etc.. sort of like this Buy Studio RTA Mix Station online at Musician's Friend but only in that it has racks built in under the shelf, building flat laying racks that would be on the sides of my console, or putting the majority of my rack stuff underneath the desk in racks built down there. Granted I need some leg room underneath the mixer, there will be no room where the TEAC is placed and what not. I'm not too sure (since I am mostly an ITB person) how much rack stuff I will aquire at this point. I would love to get a few channel strips, some different compressors and some SCA (or others) pre kits in a rack unit. Aside from those and some power conditioners I don't see myself loading up, but I don't want to kill options for expansion if I change my mind in the future.

Second, I have just acquired the tape machine and though I have learned on a tape machine I have primarily been a ProTools user most of the time. And so I am wondering if you were in my place what order woulf you place these various components on the desk. I should note that with the 002 will see most of it's use (besides transport) in editing/mixdown. I'm not sure how much use I will give the TEAC. I may run into it during tracking for that tape sound or I may track entirely and then keep dumping into Protools instead of bouncing down tracks. As far as MIDI goes, I am not a heavy user of it. It's more for overdub type parts to fill out sections of a song or to use some unique sound that the client wants to add. I will have everything set up so that I can utilize my intergrated TT patchbay (on the audioarts console) as well as the Balanced bay. Should those two go side by side then?

I am sure I am missing some elements or questions I have but forgot (A.D.D.) but I would appreciate any suggestions / advice.

Thanks!

Btw, I checked out the "desks" thread on T.O.M.B. and I was very impressed with most of the desks. I'm really looking to make a top notch desk similar to Argosy or pro built desks to house all my gear.

Tom