If you open the dining room to the kitchen, it becomes less formal. I am only saying that because you called it formal and some people do like both a formal and an informal dining area.

It looks like you've already gotten some opening with the passthrough. I'd put a couple bar stools there and see if it doesn't feel more a part of the living room.

Thank you! You are right, I guess I am looking for a larger space to host more formal dinners (doesn't necessarily need to be a separate room, since the current space is a bit small.

Plenty of ideas in the photo section under Kitchen. Or, hire a local pro to look at this, find your supporting walls and make a plan that won't bring the roof down on you. You have a lovely home. Happy Houzzing.

Beautiful Home! I also live in a 1920's home and I can appreciate your dilemma. Would it be possible to open the wall from the kitchen to the dining room ( left of sink?) and perhaps close off the current " window" to the LR? Opening the kitchen to that beautiful LR may make the entire space feel like a kitchen. I think you could enlarge the doorway from the DR to the LR ( possibly mimic the archway at the opposite end of the room for continuity) and provide the feeling of openness you're looking for. Perhaps a narrow rectangular table with a bench on one side could give you the extra seating you crave in the DR?

I assume the cook wants to watch TV from the sink area. If that is not the case, I would close the pass-through to the family room, and enlarge all the openings that can be and shape and trim them out to match. This will allow for better circulation between the spaces and will add a more open and airy feeling without going for a totally open floor plan. Check out the way Joanna Gaines often does this without having to reinforce with laminate beams. Here's a small door she enlarged.

Your space has such amazing potential for a great open-feeling. We recently completed this client's home that was previously closed off and reminds me a lot of yours. Hope it inspires you for your own remodeling project, knocking down a wall might be a great option.