I would do pocket doors straight across underneath that support beam and make them as big as possible. So, if the entire distance is 10 feet (120") I would do 30" wall pocket, paired 30" doors and 30" wall pocket to make up the entire width.

You may need to thicken that wall to do this.

Thanks, Pal! I don't know much about how pocket doors work or are put together. I did have them YEARS ago but one came in from each side.
In this case where it is all one side do they stack in the wall or it's one long run in the wall that you pull out?

I'll definitely look into it. I think it would be a nice feature. BTW, the opening is 11'.

I would probably do one to each side. Remember you need at least as much space in the wall as the width of the door.

Here is a double set I did where two doors are attached but go all to one side. The opening is 4' and the pocket is 4':

But there's no wall on the right to put a door into... Or are you suggesting a wall is put there?

Pocket doors would look good but, like the sample already posted they can be plain glass or opaque or designed like french doors, they don't have to be solid. I agree with you about the noise factor - we removed a couple of doors that were seldom used just to declutter the lines of the house and every once in a while we have dueling tv's. The only thing to be cautioned about, although I don;t think this is an issue for you, is that I don't think you can put electrical outlets where pocket doors are planned.

I was suggesting putting a wall on the right, yes, if necessary to get adequate "pocket" for doors to go into.

We put French door style pocket doors at both entrances to our kitchen, and they do a lot for reducing noise transmission to the nearby rooms, when needed. I put them in to screen the view, but the noise advantage is even bigger.

personally, I am madly in love with barn doors. Not sure if this would work in your space but you can make them look very rustic or modern depending on the materials. And you wouldn't have to worry about relocating outlets as you would with pocket doors.

Here is a link that might be useful: barn doors

I almost would prefer the doors were where that 2' wall is drawn because it is in the middle of the space. However, I think having a separation there and then having that exposed support beam 3 feet to the front of it would look to choppy. Agreed?

If we do this, should we keep it in line with the beam and not do that 2' wall that is a few feet behind it?

You could also do the pocket doors on the outside of the wall that would slide in front of the stair wall on the living room side. In fact it would be perfect if the beam stayed as it could be used to conceal the track the doors would slide on. There's a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse that has beautiful mahogany doors with glass in the top 1/2 like this.

mydreamhome- You mean when the doors were open the one on the left would slide in FRONT of the wall so it would be visible at all times? Just trying to picture what you mean. Thanks!

Hi, 2Little. I'd consider making the doorway narrower and installing a handsome set of bifold doors on each side. At 6', this would create 18" doors to be opened back against wall or to cabinetry, at 5' 15" of course. BTW, the additional wall space in both DRM and LRM would be very useful for setting furniture against.

I would put the division at the header and make the LR a regular rectangle and leave the extra bit of space on the DR side, yes.

Agree with pal. This will make sense of the header and keep the fireplace wall symmetrical. Extra room for furniture is another good point.

Thanks everyone! DH and I are deciding between:

1) Doing the pocket doors

2) Opening up the end 4 feet of that living room stair wall to make an 4 foot railing that looks over the stairs going down. (4' is approximate). The basement door would be at the BOTTOM of the stairs instead and the stairs would be a better type of stairs (oak) with the decorative railing.

I think the open stairs would look nice and airy/pretty. However, I think the pocket doors might be more functional.

What would you do? Any thoughts for each?

There are also accordion doors that could be used to span the space between the stair and the wall to close off the living room. They don't take much space when they are open. We have 2 big bifold doors that close off our breakfast room from the kitchen/family room, but one would want them to be out of the way against a wall when open and I don't see a place on your floor plan where they could go.

As the walls are now, one couldn't have a double pocket door (one coming from the right and one from the left to meet in the middle) because there is no wall on the right for it to slide into. If you added a wall that went 1/3 of the way or more across the opening from the right, you could do a double pocket door to close off the rest of the opening.

A barn door could also work but it would mean that you can't put furniture against that wall.

Fishies- I'm not a professional designer, so FWIW, this is my two cents :)

I'd put french doors, between the living room and dining room, opening into the dining room, where you have the short walls. This way, the basement stairs could be open to the living room and the french doors would buffer sound from the kitchen, into both those spaces.

You could use pocket doors, but swinging french doors are nice, too. If you do the latter, be sure to check your dinng table measurements, in case you need to move the banquette down just a bit, for it all to fit. I think this makes the living room and dining room spaces more equal, rather than the living room being so much smaller, than the dining room. Again, just my two cents...

Fishies--yes, the doors would actually be on the outside of the staircase wall. I've posted a link below for a discussion on using doors for room dividers in an existing home. Here are some idea pics for you too...

Here is a link that might be useful: Discussion on Multi-Pass Sliding Doors for Room Dividers

cloudswift- yes, we'd have to add a small wall to do pocket doors.

lavender- the 2' short wall drawn in isn't a definite, but also I don't know what other short wall you mean? To the right of the kitchen cabinetry? There's about a foot of wall (or less) after the cabinetry ends. There won't be much room there for a door to open & I think it would be in the way if that's what you meant. Definitely would want a french door "look" if possible even with pocket doors.

One think I like about closing off the LR (doors in front of stairs) is that once basement is finished kids/DH can go up and have access to the kitchen for food/drinks without having to open any doors.

As I mentioned above, I'd love thoughts on this:

DH and I are deciding between:
1) Doing the pocket doors

OR:

2) Opening up the end 4 feet of that living room stair wall to make an 4 foot railing that looks over the stairs going down. (4' is approximate). The basement door would be at the BOTTOM of the stairs instead and the stairs would be a better type of stairs (oak) with the decorative railing.

I think the open stairs would look nice and airy/pretty. However, I think the pocket doors might be more functional.

What would you do? Any thoughts for each?

Fishies- I would open up the wall to the basement stairs (on the living room side) and put the french doors, between the living room and dining room...where you have the small walls, in the picture. This way, you could do both. The french doors (or pocket doors) would line up with the wall to the basement stairs (kitchen side) where you have the cabinets...over to the small 2' wall, you have drawn, in the plan.

If you want the space very open, then use the pocket doors, but I think 5' french doors would be pretty, too...just have them swing open, into the kitchen, so you don't block the access to the basement.

Yes, you would still have the beam (shown in your picture) but it would line up with the open staircase, so I don't think it would look odd...and your Christmas tree will still fit in the space. I don't know if it will, with pocket doors under the beam...unless you have another spot for it, next year.

This may not be the best choice for you...but that's what I'd do. Hope that helps :)

lavender- thanks! I do like your options- especially on paper- but when looking at the space and seeing that header and then measuring only 3 feet over to picture another separation/small wall I just think it's choppy. Especially when looking up at the ceiling. I will still keep it in mind though for sure.

(I always like to explore all options : )

EVERYONE-
If I put a wall 3 feet above the fireplace as we mentioned, what about instead of a regular wall that acts as a pocket, it is an actually a stationary french door? I'd put my existing chair next to it by the fireplace. Then The pocket door would be coming from the left and i'd only have to pull that over to close instead of pulling both out?
AND, the "wall" would be pretty and glass instead of a sheet rocked 3' wall...

Obviously the pocket door would be larger, then, about 7-8 feet depending..

Do you think that would work at all?

Fishies- Just make sure that whatever you decide to do...you can still fit in your furniture and other items. Like the Christmas tree :)

Yes, I'm always working on that. I have little cut outs to scale. Thanks : )

We met with our architect today and if we use the flush flitch plates in the plan we WON'T HAVE THAT HEADER anymore by the Christmas tree top which would change a lot of things : )
Then, we could line up the doors where that 2' little wall is by the dining area. We'd make it 3 and also put a 3'wall opposite it.

Any thoughts?

OK, so a few more questions if anyone will comment... Now that I realize the header we presently have (above Xmas tree) won't be there anymore I don't have to deal with the 2 ceiling separations 3' from each other.

I'm leaning towards putting the doors behind the stairs on the DR side (as you mentioned lavender). There would be a 6' opening with a 3' pocket on either side... with (2) 36" french (pocket doors). I think that will give LR more open feel b/c if we put doors in front of the stairs -with adding walls for pockets- the room will be more closed off than it is NOW. (The LR is 21' x 12' )

Having the doors on the LR side is making the banquette "off" as well . I planned to put 4' of cabinetry on either side of banquette. Also there's a 6-7' transom window above that is centered in that 16'. Hence, why I think the doors may be better on the DR side... Perhaps in the middle of the 2 rooms in that 3' I can do my organizational space.

OK, lastly, mydreamhome posted this photo. I like it because it would alleviate any closed feeling the (2) 3' sheet rocked walls might give. They are sliding doors. is the track on the top or bottom or both? What do you think? I don't think I'd like a track on the floor being the doors would be open most of the time...