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Just purchased a zero lot line home. I'm basically planning on doing a whole house redo. I'm thinking about opening up the kitchen (behind the orange wall) to the living area. The negative to this is that you will be able to see the kitchen once you enter the home. This would be ok if I kept a spotless kitchen. Also, I would loose wall space that would be suitable for bookcases. I was thinking about having a raised bar. What do you think? I'm thinking hardwood floors and modern furniture.
If I removed the wall, the fridge would be moved to the back in front of one window and a french door next to it. I might just update the main living area and live in the home for about 6 months and see how it lives. One thing that I like about the floor plan is that the kitchen is at the back of the house. It's perfect for a single lady who plans on getting a cat.
Here is the kitchen. Maybe just remove the wall paper and paint and live with the layout for a few months and see how it goes. This will also cut down on some of the decisions I have to make right now. (I am sick of renting an apartment!)
Don't know if this will work, but here is the "feel" i'm going for:
Your house is beautiful! I think you would be insane to open up the kitchen. It's not like you need to open it up to give the appearance of space. Your living room and dining room areas are massive. Your kitchen is big too. Since the house is already longer than wide, opening up the kitchen might make it like a bowling alley.
Leave the floor plan as is. Update the finishes. Definitely hardwood floors throughout. Paint. Window treatments. Tear out wall paper. Update countertop.
Don't replace all the furniture. Some of it is great.
I think you can make an amazing transformation by updating finishes and redecorating. Don't open up the kitchen. You can get better bang for your buck by not wasting money on opening up the kitchen. I just think it would be a big mistake to do that in your particular house.
I recently purchased a new home and had the same deciding to face. I eventually went the way your home is now, but....if, it is not a weight bearing wall, we saw many homes that had a "window" from the kitchen to the dining room. (actually bigger than a window) That way they had the cabinet space in the kitchen and the open feel you may want. Something to think about. It was a "tweener" between fully opened & closed. Some of them were quite attractive.
LOL. All the furniture was the seller's. It is all gone. I did like the idea of the "window" type opening. Not only will it save money (don't have to relocate the fridge), but also leaves me space for books.
There are homes that benefit from opening up a kitchen but as others have noted THIS IS NOT A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR FURTHER OPENING UP!!
If you pulled down the wall you would lose a great deal of flexibility in the use / layout of kitchen -- relocating the fridge next to window / French door would be very foolish. Kitchen has vey dated wall paper, appliances are a miss mash, cabinet and trim is not highlighted well...
Easy updates to things like hardware might have big payoff.
I think the house is beautiful ... I would be more concerned about being so close to neighbors (if I understand "zero lot line house" correctly) with all those windows. (I would rather have a smaller house on a large lot than a massive house on a relatively small lot.)
Love the kitchen, and as others have said, no need to open it up!
[quote=karen_in_nh_2012;27323711]I would be more concerned about being so close to neighbors (if I understand "zero lot line house" correctly) with all those windows. (I would rather have a smaller house on a large lot than a massive house on a relatively small lot.)
I did not want the responsibility of a yard but hate renting an apartment. This style of house actually fits me, a single middle age women, to a "T": no yard, single story, separate bedrooms, within 10 minutes to work, medical facilities, near arts district, grocery store, transportation, urban environment, no HOA, etc. (I've been reading the Retirement Forum on how to pick a house suitable for retirement!)
The way the houses in this community are designed, the side and back of my house with windows do not face the side of the neighbors' house that has windows. This house is only about 1600 square, definitely not in the "massive" category.
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