Would you remove this half wall?
We are having our bathroom tiled and I need to decide what to do with the half wall and vanity. We were going to keep them and just replace the countertop, but I just got a quote of 1k for a remnant quartz top. For that much I’d rather replace the whole vanity. Unfortunately the vanity is only 59.5 inches so a 60” vanity won’t fit unless we remove the wall. To complicate it, there is only one sink and it’s off center. How do I fix this bathroom? Does the wall need to go?
Comments (21)
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Should we remove half wall??
Comments (8)Remove the wall completely, and have the counter extend past the sink at counter height creating a seating are which can double as a buffet for parties. It will make the area more spacious feeling. To get a more comfortable overhang of about 15" you can install a narrow depth bookshelf on the outside end and a cleat of 2x4 bolted to the studs on the wall side. This will take away the need for expensive supports under the countertop material, and will give it a nice built-in look. make sure to put an electrical outlet under the overhang - I find this very handy. To cover the backs of the cabinets, you can order a finishing panel, or, just use drywall painted in the same color as the walls. If there is a concern about flooring material under where the wall used to be, you can just move your peninsula back by 4-6" to cover the spot, giving you a few more inches of kitchen....See MoreShould we remove half wall??
Comments (6)Are you keeping the sink where it is now? Right now, the wall is high enough to block the view of the sink from the eating area. If you lower or remove the wall, you will be able to see all the dirty dishes in the sink and everything on the counter. This would bother some people, and not bother others. To get your homework/snack area, if the kitchen table doesn't work well for those activities, I'd consider removing the wall, but not making the counter all one height. I'd have the counterspace, then a backsplash-y sort of thing, and then the counter for homework and snacks, raised about 6 inches from the rest of the counter, to block sight lines from the eating area. You could even put some electrical outlets in the vertical area, giving you more functionality for that stretch of counter. The big challenge in doing this would be the flooring--finding new flooring to match. The backs of the cabinets should be easy for a contractor to fabricate, as should the supports for the counter overhang. I don't necessarily think doing this would make the kitchen seem larger. But it would give you what you want--a space for the kids to sit and snack, do homework and chat with you while you are working in the kitchen. But I'm also going to suggest, if you haven't already done this, posting this question on the Kitchens forum. You'd need a few more pictures and a floor plan to do that--they always ask for them. And the posters over there do not pull any punches. But many of them are quite talented at seeing solutions to problems that no one else can see, or ways of redoing a kitchen that hadn't been thought of before. So I think it's worth getting their opinion, too. Here is a link that might be useful: [split level counters[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/split-level-counter-phbr0lbl-bl~l_144949)...See MoreIs it safe to remove half wall if support beams to ceiling are left
Comments (5)The only safe answer is to get a structural engineer out to take a look. Shouldn't cost more than a few hundred and well worth your peace of mind and family safety...See MoreWhat would you do with this half wall?
Comments (16)Remove it. Once you have the flooring in, if you still want a divider, that can be accomplished with a piece of furniture. You'll have more layout flexibility that way. A sofa table with 2 lamps (or a long, low bookcase) would make a much nicer divider than that wall. Get floor plugs installed before the flooring. I do that with my living room/dining room. During most of the year the DR is rarely used, so the sofa table and couch slide back for a bigger LR (and the DR still looks normal). When it comes time for enlarging the DR table for holidays, we just slide the couch and sofa table forward a couple of feet. Presto!...See More
chiflipper
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
bpath
3 years agoI like chiflipper’s idea. Then, to bring more light in but keep some separation, you could do a variation on this bathroom:
Sorry it’s not Pinterest-ready, but hey, real life. You could size the length of the pony and half wall to whatever you like, longer at the bottom if you really want to hide the toilet. The small top is handy for setting, say, the new roll of toilet paper or anything you don’t want to get wet on the vanity, like a phone.lisarh04
3 years ago
PROBeth H. :
3 years agoeasy to locate the switch.
do a pony wall there if you like.
but yes, remove it.everyone knows there's a toilet there. a wall isn't fooling anyone.
if you remove it completely, do your 60" vanity, move the plumbing so that it hits the center (or, but an offset vanity)
double sink
single. notice they tiled the entire wall here.
Emily
3 years agoMy personal choice would be to remove the wall so it opens up your space. But if you prefer to keep it you could do a 55" cabinet and not have it edge to edge. It looks more like a piece of furniture when the sides aren't touching the wall. Plumbing is pretty easy to move, so I'd center the sink with the vanity. If you have flooring under your current vanity then you don't have to change flooring if that wasn't in the plan/budget. Small recessed lights to wash the front of your face with pendant lights to the sides and front of your face help to reduce shadows and are good for putting on makeup and getting ready in the morning. Plus lighting is a great way to make a dark space bright and more open looking.
Baths · More InfoShowing lighting.....
Guest bathroom · More InfoFreestanding cabinet....
PROHALLETT & Co.
3 years agolkloes
3 years agoTara
3 years agolisarh04
3 years agoThanks! I really like the openness of the bathrooms without the wall. I think we will remove the wall and look for a replacement vanity.
We will be using the leftover tile from our master bath.
I’m not sure I like it next to the navy vanity? Should I look for white?
ci_lantro
3 years agolisarh04
2 years agoThe wall is gone.
Now I have to pick tile. I have these two, but I’m not sure if either will work with the shower tile. And they look completely different at night vs. in the day.
lisarh04
2 years ago
K R