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Home Repair Design Dilemma Kitchens

Open concept to the kitchen. What to do about removing wall?

3 years ago

We are looking to open up the kitchen doorway by removing the wall in the photos. Should we remove the whole wall to the right or leave some wall so there is a corner and clear distinction between rooms? If we take the whole wall down then I think the wall color will need to be the same in all rooms right?

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Comments (9)

AAA BBB
Original Author
3 years ago
AAA BBB
Original Author
3 years ago
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Load bearing walls corner removal for kitchen open concept
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We had a similar layout change in our kitchen remodel and they used LVL beams (manufactured beams) and wood posts to replace the existing framed wall. The new posts were right on top of the existing steel beam in the floor, so keeping the proper load transfer to the basement footings was relatively simple. Our contractor made the design and we had the structural engineer sign off on the plans that went to the city. The tables for LVL beam size requirements were easy to understand, and they already assumed the load of one story above the beam. One option our contractor offered was whether to put the 2nd floor joists on top of the new LVL beam (like they already were on top of the existing framed wall) or put the LVL beam up higher and connect the floor joists to the side of the LVL beam (which would hide the beam in the ceiling.) We chose to just replace the wall with a beam under the joists, so there is still a "divider" that projects down about one foot from the ceiling. Bruce
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With a 2 story structure, removing load bearing walls gets to be infinitely more difficult than in a one story. There's also snow loads, and seismic and high wind stability with resistance to shearing to consider in creating the support for what you are thinking of removing. If this is to be a DIY project, you need to have a pretty well experienced friend list in the trades that are willing to give you a couple of weekends for a heck of a lot of pizza and beer, and you'd better be well experienced as well. Might be cheaper (and safer!) to just call a licensed contractor who already has the burly guys on his payroll and can do this a bit quicker. And that IS after a consult with a structural engineer who will create the support plan! That's how you know for sure that your house won't fall down in the next high wind. :-)
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It probably seems odd to put back part of the wall that you removed, but that is what I propose. The new short wall would serve to: 1 - hide the refrigerator (usually the least attractive appliance - which I changed to a 30-in counter-depth one btw). The refrigerator is a little out of the way from triangle work space goal, but I think it is worth it to have a kitchen that is pretty to view from your living and dining areas. Along those lines, the refrigerator would be in a full-height and full-depth cabinet. 2- enlarge your pantry to a nice size, with pretty narrow doors that open for full access. 3 - on the living room side, give you back some needed wall space. If you keep a layout similar to what you have now, your large chair or loveseat will not overhang the wall. On the range side of the plan, you could leave the cabinet run exposed, or add a narrow wall there are well. Note that I guessed on a few dimensions, and did not have a scale handy, so I free-handed the drawing. You would want to "field-test" it for sure.
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Open concept wall removal
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Demolition of the existing floor, $1-3 a square, depending on how easy it comes up. By the time you buy the good vinyl plank, you’re at $4-$6 a square and up. Floor prep to get it flat enough for the vinyl will cost you right at $1-$2 a square. Installation labor $2-$4 a square. Yeah, $10 a square might not be enough. 6K might get you quartz counters, but the national average expenditure for cabinets in a mid grade remodel is 20-25K. Sure, you can fonstock box store and laminate tops for that, no problem. You’ve got electrical, plumbing, and HVAC in those walls. You’ll need that rerouted in addition to any structural components and drywall repair. And the permits and inspections that you can’t do this without. Even if you choose budget components, and DIY all of the labor other than the structural and counters, you’re still looking at 30K to start. http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2018/
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AAA BBB
Original Author
3 years ago
We will remove the barn door from the family
AAA BBB
Original Author
3 years ago
We have a general contractor and he said he can do it but just asking us if we like to leave a little corner to the right or no corner. Which style should we pick.
amanda99999
3 years ago
In this house I would remove as much of the wall as possible.
AAA BBB thanked amanda99999
wilson853
3 years ago
I would leave a corner so that you still have some delineation between the rooms. I would square up the family room entrance and raise it to the same height as the kitchen opening.
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julieste
3 years ago
I would replicate the arch and only take out a portion of the wall.

Something else you need to think about is how visible you want everything in your kitchen to be from the dining room. We just bought a second home and are planning for remodeling the kitchen. I too was struggling between leaving the kitchen partially closed off and nearly completely removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room. Then, we returned to our primary home and had family over for dinner. When I realized the trail of mess that is left behind as I put all of the pieces of dinner together at the last minute right before serving, I immediately realized that for me I need to have some visual separation between the spaces. We'll be leaving a portion of the wall.
AAA BBB
Original Author
3 years ago
AAA BBB
Original Author
3 years ago
This is an example of another house that has same floor plan. But if I do square door for kitchen and leave arch door for the the family. Will it look strange ?

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