DIY Kitchen wall take down- turned disaster! :(

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hey y'all! I couldn’t stand not having an open concept home for one more day- so I made my husband help me take a wall down on a random Sunday afternoon. Upon initial look, I loved it! I love the open concept but now we are at a loss and about to hire someone to help. We are having our cabinents painted white, getting all new SS appliances, having the floors redone in a grey-whitewash tile that looks like wood, and a white quartz countertop. Our dilemma is the wall where the TV has to hang (it’s the pantry and we have no where else for the TV to go). It’s awkward and we don’t know how to incorporate it into the island when it comes to the kitchen counter. We also don’t know what to do with the random piece of wall leftover in the kitchen from the pantry (Or the space below it where the trash can is for now). Help! Pleaseeeeee!

Featured Answer

sheloveslayouts

8 years ago

I'd slow down and review your kitchen layout before you put everything back together. . It looks like that entire pony wall section needs to go and the range needs to move. Can you sketch out how this space all fits together including the kitchen layout?

If the pony wall is gone, I wonder if the TV could go on the wall where the sofa is and the sofa can float and make a 180 turn to face the TV.

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Comments (16)

Kim
8 years ago
Can you add drywall and moulding to make the pantry wall reach the ceiling, so it doesn't look like a movie set prop. Or close off the entry around it, so it becomes an extension of the wall next to it rather than a free-standing prop. ; )

The backsplash tiles need removed and new drywall installed in its place.
Colleen Rogers thanked Kim
kim k
8 years ago
What are you going to do about the stove?
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Colleen Rogers
Original Author
8 years ago
I was going to leave the stove in place :/ We have a flat stove top picked out... Bad idea??
Kim
8 years ago
Wow...I didn't even notice the stove. Good catch. A sketch of the living room/kitchen would be very helpful. Colleen, you've opened a can of worms, but in an adventurous way!
Colleen Rogers
Original Author
8 years ago
I just added a really amateur sketch of the room (that my kids got ahold of lol).
sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
Colleen, this is a wonderful opportunity! Bless your husband for giving in to you :-)

I think you can shift things around, repurpose the cabinets you have to get a much improved layout.
Colleen Rogers thanked sheloveslayouts
Kim
8 years ago
It seems like someone reversed the layout. Did the living room used to be where the kitchen is now?
sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
My kitchen is at the front of my house. It's not uncommon.
Kim
8 years ago
I like the idea of creating a solid wall for side-by-side pantry and fridge.
mandy_moo_pants
8 years ago
I don’t think the stove is safe there....like that...ideally it should be on an exterior wall to vent outside. I’m not sure what the code is for where you live, but in NJ a range has to have a vent hood or microwave with vent above it
champcamp
8 years ago
My last house had a range plopped in a peninsula facing a common area similar to yours and I couldn’t stand it, especially with young children. My neighbor is an independent kitchen designer and she comes up with super creative solutions for kitchens at a reasonable price for drawings. If you have already gone to the trouble of tearing down a wall (wow you are brave!) I think someone could help improve the layout so it functions better and doesn’t look awkward at the edges. It seems like the person who built your house didn’t really think things through it terms of kitchen layout, so now is a great chance to fix that!
PRO
Baldwin Real Estate Investments, LLC
8 years ago
I like the idea of getting rid of the wall where the tv is entirely and putting the tv where the couch is, but on the wall next to the sliding door (facing the kitchen). You should never put a TV opposite a big window because of glare issues. I have a similar layout and we have a gas stove in a big island in the middle of the kitchen with a downdraft vent that works really well. I also liked that I could cook and watch the kids at the same time, as it faced the family room. When the kids aren't around I also have the option of watching TV while cooking/prepping. Good luck!
Hillside House
8 years ago
What’s the estimate for having the cabinets painted? It might be feasible to just get new cabinetry, because it’s usually pretty expensive to refinish.

Since you’re doing new floors and countertops anyway, definitely take this opportunity to get a better layout, regardless of whether you rework the existing cabinets (like benjesbride suggested) or get new.
Kathi Steele
8 years ago
You have some home work to do.....Read these articles.

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~4306041[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~4306041)

http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/kitchen.design.rules.htm#.Wq1aeWrwaM8

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767033/how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-and-what-information-should-i-include

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638270/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638304/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638376/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/things-you-added-or-removed-that-you-love-regret-in-your-kitchen-renov-dsvw-vd~4273188[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/things-you-added-or-removed-that-you-love-regret-in-your-kitchen-renov-dsvw-vd~4273188)

[b[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/things-you-added-or-removed-that-you-love-regret-in-your-kitchen-renov-dsvw-vd~4273188)enjesbride has a great beginning. The sofa wall or the wall to the right of the slider as you face the slider, will be where you can put your TV.
PRO
Anglophilia
8 years ago
You don't want that floor you have selected. You will quickly tire of it and it dates your kitchen.

I don't mean to sound critical, but you're kind of gotten the cart before the horse here. One needs a FULL plan, taking everything into account, BEFORE tearing things apart. SLOW DOWN! Do nothing more (don't buy anything, don't destroy anything), until you have a budget and a full plan of action.