Need advice on dividing wall over island between kitchen and dining

5 years ago

We are in the design phase of a remodel of our 1920s colonial home. Pre-remodel the dining+kitchen area is one big open space and we like the idea of creating a bit more separation suiting the style of home. Our architect has proposed a wall with an arched opening separating the two spaces. The dimensions of the room and placement of the windows mean this opening would be centered over the island. We like the concept and think the large ~10' island can connect the two spaces and the arch will allow us to give each room a separate visual feel (we'd like to wallpaper the dining but not the kitchen, for instance).

However, in looking through Houzz we're not finding many examples of having a wall/arch that goes over an island. Most examples seem to either have a fully open concept, or have the wall put the island fully in the kitchen. Would love to hear the community's feedback on whether the wall/arch over the island is a good idea.

Here's a photo showing the overall floorplan. The arch is the dotted line over the island

Here is the Kitchen as seen from the dining room:

Here is the view looking at side of island from under arch. Dining is on left (with built-in hutch and door to closet/pantry along that wall). Kitchen is on right.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

shirlpp
5 years ago
shirlpp
5 years ago
A few more. The first one below is like the other above, but seems to be more clear.

2009 Showcase Home on Park Alley · More Info

Walnut and White · More Info

Milledge Circle Renovation · More Info

Black and White Beauty · More Info
Related Professionals
Fort Smith Interior Designers & Decorators · Portland Architects & Building Designers · Natchitoches Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · St. Louis Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Bowling Green Kitchen Remodelers · Beatrice Kitchen Remodelers · California Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Jackson Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Akron Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Cornwall Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Pocatello Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Vernal Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Bainbridge Custom Countertops · Ashland Custom Countertops · Kennewick Custom Countertops
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
There’s some lovely examples there and I can see the arches are providing a bit of separation. (Wouldn’t be enough for me, but there’s separation nonetheless). But I’d definitely set the arch fully inside the dining area, not over the island. If you want to divide the kitchen and the dining room, clearly and cleanly divide them.

Do you have a round dining table as shown in the first sketch? It seems that a rectangular table would fit the space better and provide more milling-around room.
Jim Lamb
Original Author
5 years ago
@littlebug, setting the arch fully inside the dining isn't an option due to the window placement, so this is as close to dining as it can get if we choose to have it

agree on rectangular table!
chispa
5 years ago
You have existing arches, so I think it will look good with the arch as designed by the architect.

I am doing a project right now and the framers missed a similar dividing wall! They are framing it out today ... if it turns out I don't love it ... they will take it down tomorrow! Just to say that you have flexibility in your project and can make changes if reality turns out to not be as great as the 2D paper version. Yes, there will be a cost for making such a change, but better that, than living with something you don't love and could have changed!

Since you are still designing this remodel, why not hang some cardboard or craft paper in those spots and see how it feels to have those sight lines interrupted?
felizlady
5 years ago
I think a high arch will look fine over the island, giving a sense of separation in an open, casual, plan. With the kitchen visible from the dining room, you will want to get cooking pots and utensils out of view before dinner is served. I am not a neat cook, and a separate formal dining room is what I need when we have company.
porkchop_z5b_MI
5 years ago
It's something I wouldn't do -- it's kind of like leaving a desk between an office and a hallway, it just looks odd to me. I suggest making the island smaller and keep it contained within the boundary of the kitchen.
lucky998877
5 years ago
I love the idea of a large arch giving some separation of the spaces!
Peter Barnard
5 years ago
Shallow arches without trim adornment are a quintessential 1920’s architectural detail. I think it’s a fantastic move by your architect to reflect the time period of the house while giving you that dividing line you have been looking for between the two rooms. Personally, I also love the island protruding slightly beyond the arch - we plan to use a similar detail, though we are going square rather than arched as our house is a bit older. This detail helps blend the two rooms while also emphasizing the dividing line. I also like how the placement divides the two front windows on the house - again, a detail typical of the 1920’s. The combination will make the space feel more like it has grown/changed over time than was a starkly new addition in 2021.