The original owners still living in the house, our possession begins November 1st, where I will call a contractor. Just trying to get an idea of what’s possible so I can begin planning :)

you need to get your contractor or hire a architect to look up in the attic to determine if they are load bearing. You can't remove those if they are holding up your ceiling.

It’s impossible to know without getting into the attic. Any open floor plan (no columns) will be expensive if beams are required in the ceiling to support the load. Can do flush beams or beams that are below the rafters depending on the design. It’s hard to give any advice since it all depends on structural work.

@pcride it’s good to know that the option could be there with extra budget. I guess I will have to get someone to come in and take a look. Thanks for the opinions. I’m wondering if it would be possible for that area to look nice without removing those beams.

Sure. At the end of the day there needs to to a beam somewhere to hold up the roof. A no beam open floor plan is super expensive. Sometimes this columns are
Built bigger than they need to be, so maybe tearing into the sheet rock wool reveille a smaller post that you could use as a natural wood look.

"You can't remove those if they are holding up your ceiling."

Sure you can. You just need to transfer the load they're carrying.

no one knows if they are load bearing until a comtractor pokes their head into the ceiling.

Assuming they are load bearing, sure anything can be removed. In my experience, you should plan on $10k to address each post.

They’re probably load bearing. And can be removed and replaced with a semi exposed beam. Or a flush beam (more $ obv)

I think opening it up will look SO much better. And if this is your forever home you should definitely do it. Even if it means saving up and waiting

—-

The other question is,
Is there the same wood flooring underneath those posts.
And if not can you still get the same wood ?

IMO get a structural engineer to tell you what can be done to transfer the load I would never trust a contractor to figure that out and no architect is going to come and check tht out without you already hiring them to do a job. As for what you can do , anything with enough money. I will say I do not like kitchens open to living rooms . We need proper picutures not realtors distorted ones too. IMO from what I see someone opened tihis wall at some time and it is not attractive I would close that wall in on the hallway side I see nothing to be gained by opening it up more to a hallway and certainly not to the LR.

The posts are so fat I wonder if there are air ducts inside them. I think open concept is highly overrated.

Open concept may be going the way of shiplap and gray paint. They are fading in popularity. I would close that wall. That might be an opportunity for more cabinetry or open shelving. Please do change the mustard color.

It may be that the owners' choice was wide posts or a beam across the ceiling slicing the overhead visual of the room or some other visual they didn't articularly like.

https://www.bitterrootdiy.com/diy-wood-beam-and-columns/

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/21-creative-ways-with-load-bearing-columns-stsetivw-vs~26902635

Even if they are load bearing, it might be that you could decrease their size IF they are wrapped to be large for a reason you can otherwise address. For instance, if there are two poles, you might be able to utilize the poles in ways that make them look like more of a feature than an impediment to a feature.

You cannot know what is possible or how costly it will be until you know more about how much of the post(s) are essential weight bearing posts.

If there is no wiring or duct work within the post above countertop height, the chances increase that you can do more with it without as much of a rebuild.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/127860076901230399/

If you can leave the "base" of the post -- the part below countertop/bar height -- as a "fat" post and yet decrease the size of the upper half of the posts by removing drywall, that has the potential to make the larger part of the post appear to be only a part of the base cabinet -- IF you can decrease the /thickness of the upper part of the post and re work them to make them more visually pleasing.

Not a fan of the current wall colors -- but, then, if you're altering the posts, that's a good reason to choose a new paint color.

Post again in November and let us know what you found out.

honestly don't fret until you can actually get a pro in there to look at the supports. if you wind up having to keep columns to save money, I've seen some really great kitchen designs that have them. you might be able to get slimmer columns, and all that might cost less than a beam.

or who knows, maybe they'll figure out a compromise, with a beam and just one column.

but you really can't know anything for sure until you get experts in there.

Thanks for all the insight and links everyone. Good to think about these options! Before I move in, the floors will be updated to light beige oak and all the walls will be white! Doing a full kitchen remodel and pot lights throughout as well. I’m eager to share results :)

If you repaint the columns white, that alone will improve the look.

If the bar at the island is useful, as you replace your countertops, consider whether you want to keep it that height or create one level:

If you choose white or mostly white countertops and white posts within the bar countertop rather than framing it, that might make the columns less visible and the bar more useful.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/29/67/22/29672294beb5ed2a9dd8030fbd58d92f.jpg

Then you might consider a high overhead cabinet with glass doors on both sides for displaying some of your best serving dishes or canister sets or art or family treasures.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/559501953679331712/

Because of the "return vent? in the base of the bar, that kitchen counter appears deeper than usual which might well give you enough countertop room to add shallow cabinets to the kitchen side of the posts and still have work space in front of the cabinet.

https://www.wayfair.com/NewAge-Products--9-Piece-Bar-Cabinet-615-L73-K~NOD12662.html?refid=GX528897189796-NOD12662&device=c&ptid=902664818048&network=g&targetid=aud-354999624671:pla-902664818048&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=97966143&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=45343396&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxtXj4tqT8wIVVm1vBB3TIA2dEAQYAiABEgKUJvD_BwE 

-- or use that side as an appliance garage -- there are different kinds of doors for those:.

https://www.bhg.com/kitchen/storage/organization/options-for-appliance-garages/

https://www.bhg.com/kitchen/storage/organization/options-for-appliance-garages/?slide=slide_4cd82047-1253-41c1-bc90-f652b6e9589f#slide_4cd82047-1253-41c1-bc90-f652b6e9589f

@suezbell those are really really wonderful ideas I have not seen before. This thread is endlessly helpful, especially as a first time home owner I am very grateful for discovering the houzz community

OP UPDATE: we went with a drop beam to open up kitchen. Construction still in progress:

BEFORE:

looks great! thanks for the update!