How to re-arrange to be more open? Ideas please

EMC2011

12 years ago

Hi,

I have a small 1940's cape house. 1st floor: walk in to living room (15x10), then behind LR is kitchen on right and dining room on left. in the very center are two back to back closets with needed storage space.

There's a half wall between living room and dining room as well that can be removed but not sure how big a difference it'll make for the 1k it costs to do that.

Removing the big block in the center (2 closets) would add openness and space but we need at least one closet. Any idea where to put a closet? The first floor consists of what i just mentioned..then on the right side of the house are two bedrooms and a bath with a narrow hallway. it's pretty much like a small rectangular box lol. when you walk in the front door there's a wall immediately on the right which has a bedroom on the other side. so if we put a closet there we'd have to take away space from the bedroom. directly in front are stairs going to 2nd floor.

here's living room pics:

http://s1166.photobucket.com/albums/q602/elana1976/?start=all

any way to better lay out furniture? remove walls? also very dark so thinking about adding some ceiling light...any ideas very welcome! thank you!

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Comments (6)

dainaadele
12 years ago
You may not be in the best forum for ideas. Take a few more pictures and post over in the decorating forum. The folks on that side can usually offer lots of ideas that would include remodeling decisions.
chibimimi
12 years ago
Opening up the wall to the dining room would definitely open up the space. To me it would be worth it, but try to keep that wonderful Moorish archway -- just make it larger.

If you took out the two closets, what would you do with the fireplace? Get rid of it (no!)? Make it two-sided, so you could enjoy it from the dining room and kitchen, too? Or just leave it in the living room? Is the fireplace wall load-bearing?

Do you have a space under the stairs that can be converted to a closet or are there stairs to a basement there?

A floorplan -- even a rough sketch -- would help a lot.

Ceiling lights are not pleasant - they are functional. If you want to add more light, how about sconces above the fireplace?
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EMC2011
Original Author
12 years ago
thanks! the fireplace is fake so i can move it to another wall. i believe that wall is not load bearing.

unfortunately the space under the stairs are down-stairs to the basement :(

i will try to post a sketch of the 1st floor layout soon...
EMC2011
Original Author
12 years ago
hello again
i've updated this link with more photos so you can see better what i'm talking about:

http://s1166.photobucket.com/albums/q602/elana1976/?start=all

my question is....if i am able to remove the center block that's in the middle of the kitchen, dining and living room and make the whole room one open space...where to build /add closet storage?

also any ideas for better furniture/room arrangement?

thank you very much! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: More pics here
chibimimi
12 years ago
What is between the living room and the kitchen on the right,opposite the current closet block?
EMC2011
Original Author
12 years ago
opposite the closet, on the right, is a hallway leading to a bathroom and 2 bedrooms, and the down stairs to the basement.

the closet block is in between the liv. room and the kitchen.