Is that just a big box that you’d like to get rid of if you could? To open up the two spaces and create one large space?

Where is the electrical box in that configuration?

You could probably relocate the laundry. I’m planning to relocate mine into a large coat closet and stack the washer and dryer. You have to look at concerns like venting and plumbing and electrical. It may be worth it.

The electrical panel I’m not sure about. It’s worth asking an electrician. I thought I heard about somebody doing it on a TV show. I wonder if it would be easier than most if the panel were moved closer to the back wall.

It would be a major remodel, with the flooring change and storage issues. If you have some budget for this, think about where the laundry and electrical panel could go (and the TV I guess), how you would deal with combining the rooms, and how you could get the pantry storage back. Then get at least one estimate. It could be an amazing room without that box.

If you’re going to keep the box, I’d look at taking the walls up to the ceiling.

Thanks, we're trying to work on the exterior, windows, roof first and a major inside remodel later. (That dividing wall is the only place for the TV since large windows are on the other two walls.) I can't even find something similar online to get ideas because it's such a weird set up.

How much natural light would kitchen lose if you boxed the top in? Since the offensive view is limited to being seen when coming down the stairs, I’d explore if there’s a way to extend only the front facing wall to the ceiling. Seems like the new top would need crown all around the top & for sure the peak in middle presents a challenge to doing that so maybe top goes only to height of each of the sides. Maybe you could mock that up with a very large piece of cardboard to get a visual of what that might look like. Might be the easiest & least costly fix for an issue that annoys you.

I really like the idea of closing the top of the 4' side to the ceiling! I'm definitely going to put up some cardboard to see how it feels. (The light does help the rooms not feel so narrow.) I appreciate these ideas!

We have moulding along the top of each wall side now, so I'll have to rethink removing it all or something.

Since that is the only place with trim, I would not worry about boxing that area in and loosing the trim.

I see crown at wall top on right coming down the stairs so I think it’s in more places than just this center utility closet piece. I don’t think it will look odd to have 2 layers of crown on that front facing wall with extended top. The existing crown would certainly help hide the seam of new top & the new top will need something to finish it off. What you’ll have to figure out is how deep to make the top - wider than just a 2 x 4 I think. Could be that a carpenter / builder person can build the extension & attach to top without having to do any demo to the ceiling of the closet. That new wall surface might be a place to hang some kind of art - not a picture but something with a shape that is framed by the crown top & bottom. A chance to be creative!

I think sitting in the rooms you probably don't notice any issue, but coming down the stairs is a different story. Could you wallpaper the top of the "box" with the same wallpaper you have on the living room side? You'd be looking at pattern instead of an expanse of white from the stairs. My only other suggestion would be to add plants. Perhaps succulants that don't need a lot of watering.