skip to main content

Opening up two living spaces

6 years ago

My husband and I purchased our split level home 2 years ago with the intent of opening up one wall that separates two living areas (it's one of those walls with 2 window cutouts). We know it's load bearing and are all good there.
My question is how do I decorate once we have this very large open area? There's a fireplace in the corner which I think will have to remain the focal point. I'm also wondering if we should remove the other wall that separates the kitchen from the front living space, which means we'll lose our built in desk and built in hutch in the dining room (please pardon the mess...we're in transitional phase from another project)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
JAN MOYER
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Nobody can help you from photos alone. Take some graph paper, scale out the existing space WITH walls, and note the ones you would like removed. All dimensions included, meaning all walls. doors, windows, and dimensions .

" How to decorate" begins with a plan, not a sledgehammer.
PRO
Jake Spurgeon, AKBD
6 years ago
Furniture arrangements are the best way to separate and designate the different spaces in an open floor plan. Seating groups/arrangements.
Related Discussions
Can I put a kitchen with an extractor fan in a living space where there is a woodburning stove
Q
Comments (2)
I assume you mean a wood burning stove as fireplace as opposed to a wood burning stove as cooking stove? Takes all kinds to make a world and it's not the first time I've seen the idea. It depends on the strength of the fan. Pulling too many cubic feet per minute may suck smoke and carbon monoxide into the living area from the stove. Make up air ventilation, outside air, is required for fans over a certain CFM. I can't quote code on this one, but the make up air prevents negative pressure within the house. A sealed combustion firebox is probably OK, the air for combustion on such a unit would also come form outside. The EPA rated wood burning fireplace from Fireplace Xtrodinaire is an example. Hope this helps...a call to your local building department may answer your question better.
...See More
Open Plan Kitchen/Living Room
Q
Comments (5)
Thanks for your comments. I think we've decided on wooden flooring throughout the open plan space but it's just what we do in living area. We had wanted carpet to get that warm cosy affect. We are considering under floor heating but I understand that can be expensive. I know we can put a rug down although I'm not sure whether that will have the desired warm and cosy feel. The other option is to fit carpet in a rectangle or circle shape in the living area. Just not sure how that's going to look and how best to join it to the wood so that it looks good. I've not seen open areas with carpet and tiles/wooden flooring...it seems that usually flooring is the same throughout with a rug in the living area. Any suggestions? I attach a plan which shows what it will hopefully look like. The dining table will go near to the patio doors. The sofa will be in an L shape with the back to the kitchen on one side and the other back to the dining area on the other side. Any flooring ideas would be appreciated!
...See More
Paint colour advice for semi open plan kitchen/living area
Q
Comments (4)
Hi I notice your blind and lamp are Laura Ashley Pelham. Laura Ashley does a duck egg white, pale duck egg and duck egg paint colours. Maybe you could have the duck egg white as the predominant colour and use in both rooms but also use the pale duck egg or duck egg in the lounge, or add some wallpaper. Not sure grey walls would work with the kitchen units. Perhaps more of a taupe/warm grey would work in both spaces though.
...See More
Narrow living space
Q
Comments (1)
can that wall be remover between kitchen and table? if so could you put a narrow island in kitchen with a table/counter running off of it into current dining area. this would be alot narrower and allow for more storage unser the window plus open up ypur living space more. also furniture is very dark for a small space and table and chairs seem very big. could you paint ceiling white and light fixture a brighter colour.. all these things should make it seem bigger. the picture i have attached would be quitw narrow and just an idea i saw on houzz.
...See More
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
I agree a detailed floor plan is the best start.
Judy Mishkin
6 years ago
a detailed floor plan is the ONLY start.

or you'll be the poster with the photo of a fridge standing in the living room saying "my husband just took down this wall, where should we put the fridge now?"
Maria Privat
6 years ago
Are you sure about opening everyhing up? Because growing children will want attention all the time and will disturb willingly and unwillingly all the time. Cute, but a handful.

We have had two rooms made into one, but with sliding glass doors in it, so you would be less disturbed by them and their friends and still could watch them. Might that work for you too?

Even then we had a separate media room, where they loved to play with their friends and be able to leave more of their stuff laying around and watch programs and films over and over again, that no adult wishes to see even once.

It gave our family the closeness we wanted, combined with the rest that we needed.

Knocking the wall out to the kitchen will steal your sort of private work area there too. Loving your kids can also mean, taking measurements they do not become an annoyance. So I would at least leave that little bit of wall where the workspace is intact.

Sponsored

Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore

More Discussions

Panelling hallway & cupboard

0

reconfiguring floor plan layout and would love help please

2

Interior Material Clash?

0

Single story extension

1

Tiles for open plan space

5

Ireland

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.