Can you help me design our Magnetic Command Center?

Submissions needed, advice appreciated, and constructive criticism welcome :) Linking to OrgJunkie where the mavens of organization lurk!

This is our magnetic wall currently.Note that I've already taken the first steps and have a custom made week-by-week calendar (it looks like one piece, but each week is a seperate strip), to do list, and menu boards; mesh containers for the PECS I need to integrate (already have magnets on them) and for dry erase markers; and a shopping list (currently sheets of paper, but this may dissappear entirely as I continue to use Cozi to keep track of such things now).

 

Still lots of usable space that I need to organize. 

What I know I need ideas for:

1. Separating paper for each child's schoolwork (since the FridgeFile went out of business and I cannot sew, I've no idea what to use) - 3 children
2. Some type of removable magnetic boards that are safe for children to handle, and that are themselves magnetic - to apply our PECS to for chore charts and routines. Also needed for 3 children. (Thinking, maybe, to do the files on one side and pecs on the other?) 
3. Some nice magnets to put up important upcoming school papers/event reminders - I don't really like the thin, or ceramic, ones we have. 
4. There is a long desk (8 feet) below this wall center. I want to keep most of it clear so the older children can use their laptops or books to study at supervised. But I think something to hold pens and supplies and such sitting in the middle would be a good idea.
5. There are 3 drawers under the desk in the middle, one for each child, as well. Drawer organizers? They are not large enough for papers, only smaller supplies or objects.

And of course, I'm interested in anything I haven't thought of. I saw some magnetic frames that I love the idea of, and may try that out for showing some artwork, etc along the top.

I don't want it to be too crammed with stuff so that it appears nice and clean, but I want to make as much use of it as possible to be as functional as possible.

To an extent, price is not an object - I'm more concerned with making it beautiful and functional than just functional - I'd like to stay away from white plastic and the like and opt for more beautiful possibilities. On the flipside, there is, somewhere, an upper limit to the budget for this. The calendar was fairly expensive but I think an excellent investment at $60 including shipping from Etsy. I loved being able to choose my own size, colors, font, and the number of weekly strips - along with the matching to do and menu boards.

Things are coming along!

It's been awhile since I updated - I know how busy I am if I can't find a few minutes to update the blog or link it to OrgJunkie!

The kitchen cabinets and granite have been installed, and they are GORGEOUS. Here are some pictures!

We went to ceiling height cabinets which ggave us a LOT more space; the corners are now accessible, also giving additional space; the bar was cut down by 6" (it was a very odd height) and paneled to match the cabinetry; and we gained more cabinets above the pass through bar and over the fridge (not pictured). We also added a bookshelf onto the end that you can see here for my cookbooks, recipe binders, index card holder, etc. I will probably re-home my coupon items here as well when I can find a pretty and accessible storage solution since I tend to sort them at the kitchen table.

Interior view - lots of custom items here! In the very middle, bottom drawer - that was custom created to hold my crockpot so I can get it out easily. The drawer above that is sized to hold DH's waffle makers (also used frequently). The slot not filled in on the left is for a pull-out butcher block. Not pictured to the right of the stove is a vertical cabinet to hold all my cookie sheets out of the way (I plan to replace the stove with one that has a warmer drawer, in stainless steel).

My pride and joy! This is our custom designed workstation! These are not bookcases, but cabinets - the doors have not yet been installed. There is a drawer for each of the kids in the middle of the desk area, TONS of storage, and an entire SHEET of sheet metal for magnetic organizing! I've already ordered a huge magnetic custom week-by-week calendar on Etsy to match our decor. I will post pics of the filled cabinets later to show just how much they hold!

Not the best shot in the world, but it will have to do - a closeup of our chosen granite and woodstain :) I love how the color of the stain is actually part of the stone! We could not have had something *made* that matched this well! I'm so proud of myself for picking this out, can you tell?

Last highlight so far - my new sink and fixture. That's the Moen faucet I've always dreamed of - pull out, button to spray, and a single dish extra deep sink that I can wash my biggest roaster or cookie sheets in! I sparkly heart it - and the matching soap dispenser on the right too! As you can tel, we still need to pick out tile, which I have to make room in our busy schedule for very, very shortly.