Where is the upstairs light going to come from? Are there more windows there than are shown in the picture? I do think it will visually open up the space.

@hatetoshop -- there is a bathroom on the other side of the knee wall with a window. And 2 bedrooms on either side that will allow light in.

@nngrit- love your space. We just really have a 'landing' at the top and bedrooms on each side. If we do open it up we thought about putting a nice chair up there so you will see something when you walk in a look up the stairs.

well, think really hard about how the bathroom will look with the door open. even with a chair there to distract, i'm not sure i'd like a bathroom door open on the landing. i feel like i'd have spent a lot of time yelling at my family *ffs will you PLEASE close the bathroom door most of the way?'

I'd also consider having a bit more lighting than that small flushmount at the top of the stairs. Is there a substantial hanging light in this space, for example? maybe just off the top of the photo?

I would add a hanging chandelier.

I would like to hang a bigger light, however I don't know what would look good in the space. We like an 'antique/country' feel for our house and would eventually like to replace all the lighting. Just haven't gotten around to it yet we moved in about 7 months ago. Any ideas for lights? I will post a complete pic in just a few minutes

Before you start demo, how about addressing the lighting situation first?

Here are pics of the stairway from the bottom and top. . . And I will add a different light fixture, however I am wanting this demo to add more natural light during the day.

ok thanks for the pictures. is the bathroom blind usually down? will you raise and lower it every time the bathroom is used? do you really want the open bathroom door to be what you and everyone see when you look up the stairs? opening the kneewall wont change that view, just will make the view happen from more angles.

if it were me (and it isnt, of course) i'd want to keep that door closed and work at increased light from some place else. perhaps a light tube through the attic into your upper landing.

We don't have kids yet so we usually don't go upstairs much- so the blinds would stay open in the upstairs bathroom. I haven't thought of a 'light tube' ? However, I don't personally think seeing the bathroom would bother me. We have a barroom downstairs where the door typically stays open now.

I think the railing will look great. Also it looks like your current ceiling light has just one bulb. Consider changing it to a three light fixture. It will make a big difference. Here are two flush mount lights from Overstock:

I think opening it up would be fine, but it would seem to be a big expense for a little gain. The wall does afford some privacy for someone, perhaps a guest, walking from the bedroom to the bathroom. And when you do have kids, if that's in the plan, you're certain to have lots of toy cars and plush bunnies pushed through the railing and onto the floor below. Consider improving the lighting, as previously suggested, and rethink the project. You haven't lived there very long, so give it a bit more time. Good luck.

I currently have the opposite happening in my home. I have the open railing and can't wait to replace it with a half wall. Our homes are different however, I have a split so there is a full open view to the bedrooms/bathroom from the main living area. I do like the openness of it but I am willing to sacrifice that for the privacy I would gain. Another thing to consider, I do have kids and there is always something - laundry, toys etc. out in the landing and it would be nice to not have that mess front and center.

I would not take the wall down, but fish electric through the wall and mount a sconce on the face of the wall and select a correlating semi flush fixture at least 24" in diameter for the upper hall. I think this could be a simple cost effective solution.