Anonymous wrote:OP:
Another option might be to just do a cut out in that wall and have a counter. Is that a popular option? Wondering if the cost would be less...

That's what we have in our TH. perfect compromise in my opinion.

How important is the piano? Does someone play or is it family heirloom or some other reason you want to keep it on the main level? If so, I think that is a good reason to keep the wall.

There are pros and cons. One con I have felt is just the sense of not having a separate DR and kitchen.

Anonymous wrote:Hide dirty dishes /messy counters with a bar height counter on dining room side.

I HATE bar height. It's very dated. We're tearing down my parents bar height counters right now. As soon as they came down, the whole room felt more spacious.

Put dirty dishes in dishwasher immediately.

To knock down a wall or not?
That's what I go through EVERY day... I am an architect and my first instinct is to say "TAKE DOWN THAT WALL!" however, here's a few issues you need to focus on:
-is it load bearing? (probably, being a 18' wide rowhouse)
-do you have utilities in it? (HVAC? piping? electrical?)
Feel free to call me for advice, I am an architect and I can give you a few pointers on how to move forward.
Cheers
ileana schinder
www.ileanaschinder.com

Hide dirty dishes /messy counters with a bar height counter on dining room side.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP:
Another option might be to just do a cut out in that wall and have a counter. Is that a popular option? Wondering if the cost would be less...

I would do a 1/2 wall that goes 1/2 to the room with cabinets and counters. Open 100% on the top though.

Why wouldn't you tear down that wall and put cabinets there instead. The back side could be more cabinets or just a finished backing. Much prettier than a wall.

Either is fine. Whatever is easiest. We did the pony wall because we didn't need a finished backing and we needed electrical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP:
Another option might be to just do a cut out in that wall and have a counter. Is that a popular option? Wondering if the cost would be less...

I would do a 1/2 wall that goes 1/2 to the room with cabinets and counters. Open 100% on the top though.

Why wouldn't you tear down that wall and put cabinets there instead. The back side could be more cabinets or just a finished backing. Much prettier than a wall.

Knock it down. We did . Life changing. Seriously.

Our new cabinets go to ceiling.

Also could extend cabinets, built in buffet or open shelving to dining area - great for non-daily used stuff.

Do it!!

Anonymous wrote:I prefer separate rooms, especially in rowhouses in order to avoid the bowling lane affect. Can you keep the wall but make the opening to the kitchen larger? I wouldn't be a fan of hanging cabinets over a peninsula; I agree that looks heavy and dated.

That's a thought. Might ask about a larger opening....
Thanks.

I prefer separate rooms, especially in rowhouses in order to avoid the bowling lane affect. Can you keep the wall but make the opening to the kitchen larger? I wouldn't be a fan of hanging cabinets over a peninsula; I agree that looks heavy and dated.

Anonymous wrote:Having had an open kitchen: Just be sure there is some way to block the line of sight between the dirty dishes in the kitchen and the rest of the house. Not just all same height counters all over.

We don't leave dirty dishes in the kitchen. They are either in use or being washed. I have a thing about leaving dirty dishes in the sink and on the counters - just is not done in my house. So not an issue.

Anonymous wrote:Small rowhouse with separate kitchen and dining. Replacing cabinets and counters. Deciding whether to knock down wall and create a counter. Torn. Know it will open up the room, make it brighter. Can talk while cooking. (Kitchen is pretty bright as it has a door and window with light coming in.) But will cut down on my wall space on both sides. Will have to forgo shelves in the kitchen and hard to figure out how to squeeze in small piano in dining room. No other place in the house. Everyone I ask thinks the obvious thing is to knock down the wall...

You can salvage much of the lost shelving in the kitchen with some good planning. You said you want to turn the torn down wall into a counter - so you'd still have just as much cabinet space below as you would have if you'd left the wall, right? And then why don't you put 15" deep cabinets on the other side too - that's pretty normal. So instead of a 24 inch wide counter, turn it into a 40 inch wide cabinet. Or if you're worried about eating up that much space into the living room, just do 15" deep cabinets on front and back of the new counter. By doing that, you'll essentially have as much cabinet space as you would have if you'd left the wall.

Also - I disagree with others recommendations that you drop cabinets from the ceiling too. This look is really heavy and looks dated (especially given the current trend of no upper cabinets at all), so I wouldn't do it unless you absolutely needed those extra cabinets. If you did it, I'd do totally open shelves hanging from the ceiling like this: http://www.houzz.com/photos/43593/Knollwood-renovation-midcentury-kitchen-denver

It doesn't solve your piano problem though....

Anonymous wrote:OP:
Another option might be to just do a cut out in that wall and have a counter. Is that a popular option? Wondering if the cost would be less...

I would do a 1/2 wall that goes 1/2 to the room with cabinets and counters. Open 100% on the top though.