Interior wall removal to open a home’s floor plan

This client found a resale home at a price she liked in a neighborhood she loved, but the main level was too boxy. Before she made a decision to pass on purchasing the home, she called us in to examine the house and offer our recommendations.

Palmer’s Project Goals and Challenges

• This two-story home was ideal for the client, but the downstairs floor plan was too divided, with a combination living room and family room separated from the family room by a main wall. This structural wall also housed electrical and plumbing lines, complicating its removal.

Solutions

• Because the client sought our advice while she was considering purchasing the home, we were able to help her see the possibility of opening up the space. We also were able to identify some moisture issues the home inspector had missed, which gave her additional negotiating leverage for the sale.
• Once her purchase was complete, we carefully removed the wall. We were able to use a portion of the existing doorframe to help support the headers that braced the second floor. We then rerouted the critical electrical and plumbing connections through the ceiling and into an exterior wall.
• Once the wall was removed, there was a considerable area of flooring that needed to be patched in. We were able to feather in new hardwood flooring that matched the existing floors perfectly. We then refinished the floor so that it looks as if it has always been there.
• This simple change dramatically opened up the flow of the home. Now, the client is able to enjoy the fireplace from her front room, and traffic flows much better for entertaining. Ironically enough, one of the homeowners’ friends said she had initially looked at the home, but decided not to purchase it because of the “boxy” floor plan.

The entire transformation took about 4 to 6 weeks, which included not only the wall removal and floor refinishing, but installing new sash window kits throughout the entire house, as well as some additional repairs.