Who couldn’t use a bit more flow in their lives? We decided to add a bit more flow to our house last weekend by opening up the wall between the kitchen and living room. It was a tough sell to Cam and one I’ve been pitching since we moved into this house. He started to come around to the idea last week and thank goodness because any day I was going to use his sawzall to start the project whether he liked it or not! I had become convinced that we needed the wall opened up and he gladly agrees with me now that it’s finished.
Before this renovation, we were either in the kitchen and dining room side of the house OR in the living room side. The terribleness of this is especially pronounced when we have guests and everyone but me is in the living room because I’m busy making tea or supper.
This wall was originally open when the house was first built so it was a relatively easy project. Cam took great care to keep the dust and debris from invading the whole house by hoarding each side of the wall and vacuuming with each step. It’s not perfectly finished but after capping and trim it will be enough until we decide what we want to do with the kitchen. The previous owners did a lot of their own work to the house and the kitchen cabinets are poorly built and painted with latex paint over oil so paint flecks usually have to be wiped out of our pots before we use them.
I’m so very happy with our living space being more open and flowing. Our kitchen table is back being the heart of the home. Lily especially is happy sitting at the table with writing and drawing projects constantly on the go. The natural light while working or eating at the table is amazing and there is much more room when entertaining friends!
Before from the living room side:
Wow, that is amazing!! Really transforms the house beautifully!
LOVE it Annie. Our house is similar…meaning that our kitchen, dining room and liviing room all open up to one another. I love the flow that open concepts provide. Sadly, our house does not have the natural light that yours does. Nor do we have the space that you have. I feel as though we live in a cave most of the time. Ah well…it’s cozy and it’s ours. :) Enjoy your “new” space.
Did you check for load bearing walls–I’m just sayin’
Flow is important, feung shui-lovely job letting all that energy free and all the light loose….like unloosening a belt or too tight collar…
Wow! It looks great, I for one am a HUGE fan of open floor plans…glad your husband came around to the idea!!
Looks great Annie! Our new house has a U shaped kitchen, with the dining room and living room on the other side of one part of the U. If we have the cash at some point, we would love to take down that side of the U and put in an island instead and open the whole thing up more.
Nice!
Our new house is so small that the kitchen, dining room, and living room are the same room. :-)
But the kids “den” at the back of the house has double-doors that we keep open all the time, and it makes all the difference, especially with kids, to be able to see and hear each other while being in separate rooms.
Thanks everyone! I’m so so happy with the new space!
Courtney- come in for tea or a visit some time!
Debbie- This is a tried and true home layout. We are lucky that are space is so large but we could make do with less. I love a cozy house. Can you believe that neighbours think our house is small!?
Minnegrl- It’s not a load bearing wall which I should have mentioned because it’s important to know before tearing open walls! The load bearing walls in our house go the other way.
Lindsay- Can’t wait to see more of your house when you get settled!
Stacey- exactly. I love that it’s open but it can still feel like separate rooms. When I was making meals and my kids were inside, they were often in the living room playing. I hated that I couldn’t see them then.
Isn’t it crazy what people have done to ‘improve’ houses in the past? We’re trying to decide where to start to ‘unimprove’ what the last owners did to our house.
And I forgot to add how much better your house looks without that wall. There is nothing worse than feeling like you’re chained to the oven and sink while life is being lived in the room next door!
Oh, how I dream of taking a sledge hammer to parts of my house. Good for you for convincing Cam and going for it. Walls are overrated!
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Wow! What a change! It looks great. It really does create a lovely flow. So what do you have in the space your table used to be in?
Great flow Annie. Lovin all the light.
Your story reminded me of my mom opening up our kitchen/dinning area with a sledge hammer. That kinda foced the issue and renovation came quickly after.