Arched Doorway - should we remove it?

last year

Dear all, thanks again for your help!

As you know we are doing a major remodeling project for our ~1500 sqft San Francisco single family home. There is an existing arched doorway which wife and I are debating whether we should remove it or not. Originally we wanted to remove the two sides of the arched door way, so that when people entering the main door (where the camera's location), if they look left, they will be able to see the entire living room (plus the fireplace which is blocked by the wall with the niche). This seems to be more aligned with recent trend, which is open concept. However, removing those two side-walls next to the arched doorway (circled in red) would require the architect to redraw the blueprint and get another permit which would delay the project and cost more money, so wife is thinking that at least we should remove the top of the arched doorway (circled in blue). Her reasoning is that (1) that arched doorway might remind people of an "old" style (a lot of newly remodeled homes in this area all has very modern design), plus visually people would be able to see more of the living room (at least see more spaces on the ceiling) when they enter the main door (which hopefully can still give people a sense of open concept).

We will, however, keep the niche on the wall, and square it up (remove the top curve) and put in some shelf, so that it can be used as decorative shelf).

Do you think this idea would work? Originally after people enter the main door, they will see the arched door way on the left, and a formal dining room on the right. However, we are now converting that formal dining room into another bedroom, thus the opening into the dining room will become a wall, and that's why we want to draw people's attention to the LEFT by opening it up as much as possible (see photo below):

Any thoughts? Do you think it would be a good idea by enlarge that arched doorway on the left (vertically, by removing the top of the arch) and make the wall niche to be rectangle (remove the curve)? Why and why not? Thanks again for your help!

Featured Answer

chinacatpeekin

last year

Original architectural features, like your arches, have real value. Without question, if it were my home, I would take great care to preserve these details whenever and wherever possible. “Open concept” is becoming a dated concept.

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Comments (24)

elcieg
last year
last modified: last year
Valid points. A thought...by opening up the doorway, are you losing (precious?) solid wall for placing furniture?

Another thought...now with one doorway closed up, the entry has become private (in that the only time a person is in the area is either coming or going). You might consider a full view front door (lets in lots of light) a chandelier, maybe a mirror on the back wall, maybe wallpaper, maybe art and sconces. I think you have a little treasure in the entry.

Found this picture with some of my ideas and an arched doorway opened up higher.
W C thanked elcieg
palimpsest
last year
last modified: last year
I would not remove it. Either of them. It removes the architectural character of the house. The attention will be drawn left anyway, not right, to a wall behind the door.
W C thanked palimpsest
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arcy_gw
last year
My 20 something daughter bought a home two years ago that has several of these arches. I think people appreciate original design more than you are giving them credit for. I heard talk of how CA permits people to death but this is insane. If you want them gone get a sawzs all and go at it. Easy DIY!!
W C thanked arcy_gw
Mrs Pete
last year
No! Don't remove a lovely architectural feature unique to the house! True, these are not found in new builds today -- that's because they're expensive and difficult to build. The larger, more open view to the living room will not be worth the loss of an original feature.
palimpsest
last year
The other thing is that if you open things up a lot you lose "the sense of entry" and the house revealing itself as you walk through it. There's not much point in seeing everything from the front door as far as I am concerned. Architects used to intentionally design houses to make you want to go from an entry to other larger living spaces with views out and so forth. This has been lost. Most new construction here, you can see the entire first floor if you stand on the stoop and someone opens the door.
cat_ky
last year
Please leave the arched doorways. They look great. You may be remodeling, but, please do not take away the character of your house.
W C thanked cat_ky
W C
Original Author
last year
OK you guys are awesome! You helped me to convince my wife to keep the arched doorway! Yay! She also agreed to keep the arched niche on the wall as well. As you can see, that niche used to be used for old style hard-wired doorbells. Now we are thinking of using it for open racks, etc. Any ideas how we can use that niche for some sort of decoration, etc.? Thanks! :)
PRO
User
last year
Not every single inch in your house needs to be open concept in order for the whole house to feel open.
Design Fan (NE z7a)
last year
last modified: last year
Consider posting a floor plan with measurements and photos of all foyer walls for design suggestions.

Besides reusing the niche for door bells as suggested by @Jilly (or eliminating it), perhaps your foyer could use a console or bench with art or a mirror on the back wall?

Does the foyer have a coat closet? If not, could you create one in the first 2-3’ of the opening to the dining room that will be closed up to create a bedroom?
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
last modified: last year
I think the niche is more dated than the arch . A couple more pics and a floor plan coulld get you much better help .The arch adds interest to an entry and nothing wrong with an entry into a room that is not instantly on display So more pics and a floor plan please post both here in comments.
Maureen
last year
Love the arch and I’d close up the niche.
cat_ky
last year
I would keep the niche, and put something tall in it. A tall statue, maybe. They used to have the old fashioned wood telephones in them too. Maybe you could find an antique one and put that in there.
PRO
lisedv
last year
I would fill-in the niche but keep the arche(s). If you look at trends for 2025 you'll see a lot of arches in homes, some that were already in place (embrace them) some recently added.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
last modified: last year
There's a wood header above the arch that would have to be removed to eliminate the wall/arch. That's what the drywall is attached to.

We can't tell form your photo if that is a load bearing wall. Could be a small project or a BIG PROJECT depending if it's load bearing.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
You could dress up the arch with trim.
Renee
last year
I would fill in the niche. It is too shallow for useful shelves. I think you will torture yourselves finding something proportionate there.
Be tortured finding something to fit the space.
melindas1977
last year
Love the arch, but not a fan of the niche.
elunia
last year
^^team keep the arch, fill the niche
Jilly
last year
last modified: last year
I hope you keep the arch AND niche. I’d use it as it was intended — for doorbells.

I have arches in my house (and last house) and would definitely not want them to be squared off. I love the rounded shapes that compliment all the hard angles elsewhere.
Sigrid
last year
The arches are nice. Trends change. Who know, those arches might be the next hot thing a few years after you've spent money to remove yours. No one is going to notice the difference between arches and no arches. If anyone is focusing on it, that's their problem, not a flaw of the house.
elunia
last year
last modified: last year
If you keep the niche, I like @jilly ’s suggestion. Electrachime makes some…

https://electrachime.com/collections/all
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
last year
LOVE the doorbells!

Unless you do a total gut - raise the ceilings, completely redo the floorplan - the whole nine yards, this is always going to be a remodel of a vintage house. There is no reason to hide that, and many reasons to lean into it.
chinacatpeekin
last year
The 1930s house I grew up in had those doorbells! You are SO fortunate to have a vintage house with character in San Francisco. Embrace it! I hope you don’t “modernize” all the charm out of it and wind up with bland remuddle. If you plan to sell or rent it, I believe you’ll get the most value (and might spend less) by preserving its vintage features.