Assistance with creating a more open-plan living space
Hi there, we want to remove a gas fire and take down a wall to make a more open-plan living space in a house which as two separate areas. We would then like to add a gas fire to the room in a different position and jazz up the living area but don't know where to begin with ideas. Current pictures and plans are attached. Many thanks.
Comments (11)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agosubject to structural restriction removing walls my suggestion includes removing the whole fireplace wall and keeping part of the hall wall (support and relocate gas and electricity) to create a chimney to relocate the old fire or install a new gas heater with an optional door to close of the new living area from the front entry
Ashley Hasforth thanked oklouiseRelated Discussions
Chaise on left or right to create an open space
Comments (6)Option 1 - having the single chair on the left makes the room appear smaller. Option 2 - will have a more open feeling when walking up the stairs. Option 3 - you could have the chaise under the window on the right side with the single chair and side table backing on to the dining area. This way the living area would be easier to access and should give a better sense of space. However this arrangement would not be ideal when viewing the TV. The entertainment unit could be moved a bit further to the left. Why don't you try Option 1 for a week or two and if you don't like it, change to Option 2 or 3?...See MoreHelp with open plan Kitchen/Dining/Living space c
Comments (12)not a professional just obsessed with building and renovating..bagging the fireplace wall would make it easy to fill in the old master bedroom doorway with bricks to make a seamless match for the whole wall and brighten the whole new room and a simple roof extension on legs at right angles to the house with a gable roof, simple steel framed construction with Colorbond and lazerlite roofing and raked ceilings would make an ideal alfresco but you would probably need a skylight in the new kitchen to keep indoors from being too dark (and/or check out Solar Skylights that are excellent for adding extra light without holes in the roof) ...the alfresco could have basic concrete slab extended out from the existing verandah, screen walls, outdoor fireplace and outdoor barbq kitchen and sink..we've done something similar in a previous reno using a custom sized steel carport supplied by a local garage maker and then adding screen walls with lazerlite, lattice and plastic cafe blinds subject to views and direction of the weather ... you should also consider bug screening using horticultural shade cloth as you may find rural living a bit more fly blown than the suburbs and the screened room makes a safe play area for small kids and for pets left home alone btw don't forget to check the measurements of all the rooms as there are some discrepancies that need to be corrected in the plans and would be happy to redraw with correct measurements...See MoreHow do I create more bench space in this kitchen?
Comments (6)if you plan to demolish in 12 months i assume that a cheap cheerful fix is wanted so i would keep the kitchen wall cabinets and the base cabinets around the corner and the sink and relocate the long section of cabinets against the bedroom wall for a place to use a MW, electric frypan and toaster with some open wall shelving for crockery, glasses and serving dishes and for a little extra effort you could create a new bedroom door off the hallway and use the original bedroom door space to relocate the extra fridge and keep some of the kitchen traffic away from the sink and stove and then add an extra counter to extend the length of the short section of cabinets next to the stairs (keeping the original counter around the sink) ... the new counter can be placed on top of the original counter and/or supported by brackets attached to the side of the cabinets and the post and open underneath for a couple of stools or waste bins? ...the major hardware stores sell approx 2m lengths of solid wood counters that look like and can be oiled and used as chunky chopping boards and the timber counters would tone nicely with the architraves around your windows ... with care you should be able to recycle the cabinets and if necessary any obvious rough bits painted to be hidden...See MoreHow can I improve this floor plan to be more open and have more light
Comments (18)I would re-evaluate my brief, my budget and my site. It is another case of trying to squeeze too many rooms into too small a space and compromising the living space. If you draw furniture to scale in your living room then you will see that it is undersized for a four bedroom home. With the best orientation going to the garage door and bedroom 4 I would look at a complete redesign by pushing some of the bedrooms to the rear, and a central courtyard to give you an opportunity for north facing light to a living room. There is nothing nice about the current design and will feel like an apartment with little resale appeal. The designer has shown no flair or imagination in this "gun-barrel" floorplan, and is a variation on a concept that has been around for centuries. But your biggest problem is the number of rooms. Do you really need 4 bedrooms plus a study and 2.5 bathrooms, a long wasteful hallway, and only one modestly sized open plan living area and kitchen on a narrow block? I would start again with a smaller brief and a designer who can challenge your thinking about what good small house design actually means. Small house design is the hardest to do really well, so don't use a large house designer. Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls and Dr Retro Virtual Visits...See More
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoMy suggestion is to keep the two way gas fire in situ, and push the wall of windows out to the eaves and then open up the other side of the fireplace between the kitchen Family, living room. If needed a Vergola Pergola could be added along this new extension.
Ashley Hasforth thanked siriuskey- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
To save on costs you could just push the wall of windows out and not replace them with bi fold or sliding doors. the extra internal space gives you a kitchen family
Ashley Hasforth thanked siriuskey 
PRO7 years agoAshley Hasforth thanked Kitchen and Home Sketch Designs- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
To follow up on my first post, this is a mock up as there are no dimensions. The following will give both a kitchen family dining plus a living that can be opened up with floor to ceiling doors on both sides of the fire place. By pushing the wall out under the eaves will give better internal space, while allowing what appears to be northern into that whole space. I can see that there's already an alfresco with kitchen servery plus bi fold doors opening out to it
Ashley Hasforth thanked siriuskey - 7 years ago
7 years agoI can see that the gas fire may be in a tricky walkway.
I’ve always liked this asymmetry of tv and gas fire
- 7 years ago
PRO7 years agoHave you considered taking away the cavity door beside the stairs and open a section of the wall opposite the stairs to create a 2 way open ended shelving with some down light for displaying purposes?
A series of full height vertical blade screening beside the shelving can then help add visual depth in the living room and still define the living room. It will also help frame the tv cabinetry with the existing nib wall on the other side.
You will have minimal issues with reducing structural integrity of a potential load bearing wall. The existing fireplace is too nice to remove or make alterations to as it nicely divides dining with the living room.
Alistair McLean