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Removing the wall of staircase

11 years ago
We are remodeling a new we just bought and in order to have an open floor plan and be able to see the living room through kitchen we have removed the walls of the staircase. Now I think the opening has a odd shape and it's not what I had in mind. Any suggestions?

Comments (17)

  • 11 years ago
    I agree. It's very different looking. Frame it back in and make it a nice storage area.
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Continue to open the wall on the stairs (leaving the supports) to the height of the opening. Trim out the wall to square off the supports. It will be fine once you replace the banister. In the bottom opening under the stairs place something like a large potted fern or a small sideboard it will look great and you will have the view through you were intending.

    If you can put a spot light under the steps it will make for wonderful night time accent lighting.
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Agree with opening the staircase completely.

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  • 11 years ago
    Open the staircase completely for an open feel. You could also add storage or a bar under for a fun and functional touch.
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  • 11 years ago
    Cannot open up the staircase completely bc that wall has a lot of load on it
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    You will have the one king stud (where the knee wall is) when you open it just sheetrock or clad it as a pillar. The light coming through will be worth it.
  • 11 years ago
    Turning the stairs around 1/4 could make a huge difference, but requires more work/budget.
  • 11 years ago
    Yes make open shelves under and do what you can to open above. If not, just closing back up w shelving will be nice. Either way it needs to be closed under stair.
  • 11 years ago
    Quirky, bookcase pic looks good, double sided fireplace awesome, though not sure if that can be done, love it, a real feature
  • 11 years ago
    Can you reframe enough of the wall to make a doorway?
  • 11 years ago
    Ye whole purpose of the opening was to be able to see the living room while being in the kitchen. I have a 2 years old and I want to keep an eye on her while I'm in the kitchen most of the day and she is playing in the living room. If we reframe it to make a hallway I will be having two doorways side by side plus I'm closing off the view again. Our contractor said we cannot open more of the wall bc of the Load of the second level on the walls of the staircase. Removing the wall on the left side also is impossible since they have to put beams that would be able to hold the load of 2 walls and such a beam is so wide that would bring the ceiling level down.
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Open the stair case completely raise the opening height if possible by changing king and cripple studs and replace with a framed structural column in 3 areas far left far right and middle of opening. Without being on site it's difficult to see what is possible to do but I think square federal columns would look great tied in with a wrot iron or white railing.
  • 11 years ago
    We couldn't open the whole wall, This is how it turned out, actually I like it now!what u think?
  • 11 years ago
    IMO, it kinda looked weird. Why not make that space a storage area?
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    It looks fine, and you've achieved what you wanted to achieve -- a view into the living room. .
  • 11 years ago
    As far as watching a child in a different room you still have a blind spot. I agree with Steele above. This wall can be opened up more, i.e. sheetrock/plaster is not the structural elements to a load bearing wall.
    And maybe put in a landing and have the stairs turn 1/4 as Carolins said