Need help deciding options for opening doorway to kitchen

11 years ago

Any advice? We want to open up the kitchen so are considering doubling our door opening and putting two glass doors there, or two rustic sliding doors (theme goal: rustic meets modern), or tearing down both walls and totally opening up the kitchen. It isn't a load bearing wall so we can do anything. We don't want to do a 'half' job and make a hole with the top still on cause it makes it feel well an add-on idea. I am also a bit worried about two tables next to each other. Thoughts?

Featured Answer

Careth Beard

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I know this post is over a year old, but I thought I would reply with some pictures of our kitchen remodel in case it can help anyone else in a similar situation!

We're not huge fans of a 100% open concept, and knew it wouldn't work with our 1925 bungalow, so we opted to widen our kitchen entry. This helped to (almost) center up the doorway along the wall, but still retain the feel of designated rooms. It also brightened the entire house, since light can now transfer from the kitchen all the way through to the living room and vice versa.

You can kinda see in this picture how the new opening mimics the size of the doorway to the dining room and creates great sight-lines into the living room, which were non-existent before. Entertaining is so much easier now! I actually think this balances out the layout, and it feels like this is always how the house was meant to be!

I know I searched hours and hours on the internet during our remodel, agonizing over every little decision, so I hope this helps someone else decide what to do with theirs!

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Comments (12)

michelle_ekkert
Original Author
11 years ago
Yes, and we are planning on changing the floors to laminate (light wood grain), cabinets to white and appliances to white or stainless. Those are for after we decide on what we are going to do with this opening? We want more light into our living room. That is one of our reasons for opening it up. Thoughts?
Gqrol. Roll
11 years ago
Is this a stand alone dining area room, or does it open up to something else, ie., family room etc.. ?
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michelle_ekkert
Original Author
11 years ago
It splits up into our family room
sunnydrew
11 years ago
I would leave your dining room wall as it is. Open concepts are overrated anyway.
jhmarie
11 years ago
I am not overly fond of open concept though many love it. I think it works at certain stages of life. It looks like you have a little one - open concept means messes can be seen from everywhere - not easy to keep everything picked up with children - its nice to shut the door on the mess sometimes:) However, French doors or barn doors might work.
handymam
11 years ago
The two table thing was what caught my eye right off. Honestly, I don't understand the rustic part of your idea at all either. How will you accomplish that? So far, you have no rustic at all.
User
11 years ago
I wouldn't open up your kitchen. What I would do is put a console under your lovely three picture arrangement and put a nice lamp there.
michelle_ekkert
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for your comments. We plan to get the rustic look with our new laminate flooring, new coffee table/side tables made from pallets (still shopping for this), and a credenza for under the painting.

One of the main reasons why we want to open it up is for the natural light...and for not seeing so many walls (yuck). However, I know mess is a drawback (hence we would do a higher up counter), cost of moving kitchen stuff, and noise (especially with little ones).

I would love any other thoughts.
decoenthusiaste
11 years ago
The pocket door wall would probably have no issues to deal with if you want to enlarge it. Is that pass through from the dining to kitchen? I hate them, so I'd either close if for additional wall/decor space, or that would be the wall I'd want to remove.
jck910
11 years ago
If you are going to change the cabinets etc in kitchen I would consult a kitchen designer about layout. You may need that wall for the best kitchen layout. Think about the lovely crown molding that would now have to go into kitchen. The crown molding is traditional don't see rustic there either
Gqrol. Roll
11 years ago
I love my open concept, I think formal dining rooms are a waste unless you have a lot of formal dinners, of course IMHO. Opening up the kitchen to the dining to the family room will make the space seem large. You can set up a large island with stools for breakfast sitting etc in the kitchen , and use the table for more of a sit down dinner or when you have guest over. It's stressful but fun, huh?