To me the floorplan already seems pretty undifferentiated like the stagers had difficulty even deciding how the furniture should be arranged, so I am going to vote no, you'd literally end up with one big room for everything. I think you could get a much better kitchen arrangement than exists and maybe have something a little more open but I would not want to see kitchen first thing.

That appears to be a nice size galley kitchen. Opening it up will present a new set of problems. . I would upgrade the flooring, the cabinet hardware, the closet doors, and the countertops. You will then have an attractive kitchen without it being open to the rest of the space.

Can you sketch up a floorplan?

What is in the closet at the end of the wall? Is it for some mechanical? Can it be removed to give you more counter in the kitchen, or to open up the end of the kitchen to the dining area (but don’t open to the LR)?

My kitchen is an open concept galley. I love it.

Please see sketches I added to the photos.

bpath asked about the closets at the end of the kitchen. Those are pantries . The kitchen is already open to the dining area, and also the hallway .

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm curious what are the pros and cons of having an open kitchen. I agree with one comment that it would create one huge room without separation of kitchen, dining and living room. Kinda like Romper Room!

In a small space, storage is often at a premium, so you might be sorry to lose all the wall cabinets that would be required by opening up the wall. (and is that closet facing the LR important?) Also, a big draw for an island for many people is to create seating at the kitchen, but you don't want seating up against a cook top, and you have a little peninsula with seating currently (although of dubious value)...

Other thoughts: opening a kitchen is a way of inviting guests into the kitchen to chat while you cook. Is that your mode of entertaining? Also, if you open the space, the kitchen will feel larger because your eyes can travel (and see the view? the TV?), but you also don't get to "change spaces" as you move from one task to another, but are always seeing everything. Would that make you restless or feel at home?

Hope this helps! There's no right or wrong here -- the best plan might be to make equally detailed renovation plans for both approaches and see what features that allows you to get one way or the other.

I think the decision would be best made knowing how you use your home. Do you like to entertain? Do you tidy up the kitchen after each meal? Knowing these types of things will help because if you entertain, the kitchen is always a typical gathering place, and keeping an open floor plan would be very conducive to this. If you typically keep a tidy kitchen, having an open floor plan won't be an issue.

Looking at your proposed sketch, I wouldn't do a hood vent over the island, but instead would opt for one thats retractable in the island. I'd also do the cabinets on the sink wall a little differently and not in a L shape.

I think the open concept has tons of potential and could look absolutely stunning, but would have to be designed properly to have cohesion with the rest of the spaces.

In my honest opinion, the rooms shown are currently not living up to any potential with the furniture choices, layout of the rooms and overall design.

On the option of keeping the wall and a galley kitchen, I think it is spacious enough to work really well too, but would still want to see the rest of the joining rooms space planned and design better.

I feel this home has some amazing potential but first to get really clear on which way you want to go before beginning any renos, I would definitely suggest you have some 3d renders of the space with various design plans. Personally, I'm leaning towards the open concept.

Hope this helps!

Your drawings are wonderful!

Thank you to many people who confirmed my initial idea to keep the galley but update the cabinets, flooring etc. I've decided to not remove the wall.

We have an extensive art collection and I want that wall to display a painting and be the first thing one sees upon entering the home.

As to the furniture, thankfully it was the seller's agent's staging. Any suggestions for furniture and arrangement are welcome. That will be for another discussion!

Galley style is my favorite and I would want that arrangement even with open concept. The key will be drawers for more accessible storage.