Tony & Shari wanted to update their early 2000’s built home. They wanted to remove the columns and arched structure around the dining room and open up the space as much as possible. Because there was a ceiling height change between the kitchen and dining room, they assumed the wall was load-bearing and that widening doorways was probably the best solution. In the kitchen, they were willing to sacrifice a pantry closet to widen the main kitchen entrance, and a desk area to add another doorway on the other end of the dining room. They wanted to keep the kitchen cabinets, but were in need of new countertops and backsplashes. Eliminating the island sink and painting the island cabinets were also a desired features. Replacing the original carpet and ceramic tile with one continuous surface of luxury vinyl plank to further unify the different spaces completed their wish list.
The Plan:
A trip up into the attic revealed that, even though there was a ceiling height change, the roof trusses spanned the area, making the wall between the dining room and kitchen non-load bearing. Armed with this information, we recommended removing the entire wall, along with removing the top of the wall surrounding the stairway. Other recommendations included widening the chase enclosing the fireplace chimney and adding an open shelf unit to tie the fireplace to the outside wall.
Before After
After:
The transformation is quite dramatic. As always when we remove walls, all of the spaces visually expanded. The former dining room now serves as a small family room, adjacent to the kitchen. The nook space took over dining room duties. The new, continuous flooring did it’s job by erasing boundary lines and unifying the spaces, creating the feel of one large space. The updated countertops, backsplash, cabinet pulls, & island modernized the kitchen. Commercial-look charcoal pendants add an interesting eclectic accent. A new undermount sink and faucet upgraded the working areas. The new space is far better for entertaining; many people can interact with the hosts, without being in the actual kitchen work space. Shari redecorated with new area rugs and furniture to complete the transformation. A huge, additional benefit is the expansion of the stunning view. Standing in the middle of the space, one now has a full 180 degree view of the panorama.