Deciding whether to partially open kitchen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. It is not logistically possible to open into dR in my house. Also DR and LR are part of the same open space so there isn’t a huge difference but we can’t open on the one small wall that directly faces DR.

I would go to the Houzz Kitchen Forum and post pictures and ask for people's suggestions. They are super knowledgeable and helpful.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/kitchens

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: diNing

and I did it twice.

So a barely functional kitchen + too much dining room is favorable to an open eat in kitchen with no "formal" dining room? We aren't a formal anything family, btw. We have no plans of moving so hard to factor in 2040 resale value. I thought we could manage with a small kitchen, but no storage is a real issue. I can't imagine what we will do when our son becomes a hungry teen.

Would you push the kitchen wall back but keep them closed off? Convert some of the dining space to a pantry? The back yard is accessible from the living room as well so we could convert the door to a window or use that space for cabinets, but seems silly. I am really trying to avoid an addition as the answer since we technically have enough space inside, we just need to reconfigure it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: diNing

and I did it twice.

So a barely functional kitchen + too much dining room is favorable to an open eat in kitchen with no "formal" dining room? We aren't a formal anything family, btw. We have no plans of moving so hard to factor in 2040 resale value. I thought we could manage with a small kitchen, but no storage is a real issue. I can't imagine what we will do when our son becomes a hungry teen.

Would you push the kitchen wall back but keep them closed off? Convert some of the dining space to a pantry? The back yard is accessible from the living room as well so we could convert the door to a window or use that space for cabinets, but seems silly. I am really trying to avoid an addition as the answer since we technically have enough space inside, we just need to reconfigure it.

If you do it, hire a good interior designer. Without knowing anything specific, if it suits your interior, could you make the whole space and "unkitchen" with beautiful, furniture-y cabinetry and a nice big farm-style table?
https://laurelberninteriors.com/2018/09/02/unkitchen-kitchen-design-trend/



For resale, some people will really like the big space and some people will insist on a formal dining room. I think it's a situation where good interior design matters a lot. A giant room that's half home depot kitchen won't do it.