Open-plan kitchen and living room renovation

katzie01

An open-plan kitchen and living area was created by removing a wall, with timber beams making a feature and a large kitchen island connecting the two rooms.

Reclaimed White Cypress feature beams replacing the original wall, and compliment the freshly polished floorboards. With Laminex Surround scallop panelling, in Dulux Olive Blend, used for the feature wall and island bench, and Dulux Renovation Range painted kitchen cabinetry in Nicks Nook

The project

The original layout was very closed off so we always wanted to remove the dividing wall and bring some "wow" to the united space.

Using reclaimed local timbers and new feature products, we chose to go with earthier green tones and brass fittings to best compliment the lighter finished timber and keep a feeling of warmth.

A new breakfast bar island bench was installed and various lighting options including LED strip under all the kitchen cabinetry to reflect off the brass kicks.

Steps

Step 1

First the original wall had to go. Which started by removing all the cladding, skirting boards and cornices.

Step 2

After removing the existing wall using props to hold the ceiling/roof up the beams went in to take its place. The upright beam was utilised to support the span being in two pieces, and also to anchor the island bench and provide a location to place another above-bench power outlet.

Step 3

Once the support was in place it was time to remove what was left of the kitchen and re-sheet the internal walls.

Step 4

After the floor was polished the cabinetry could start to go in. Apart from one Kaboodle blind corner cabinet all the cabinetry came from a second hand kitchen we purchased a year earlier.

Step 5

The panelling was already painted in a taupe colour we didn't like and also needed to be changed.

The paint booth lol

Step 6

Next came benchtops, tiling and feature panels.

Step 7

And finally all the finishing touches - hanging all the cabinetry panels, putting the hardware on, the sink in, connecting up plumbing, and installing all the strip lighting.

Tools and materials

Materials used in the project:

• Laminex surround in scallop 45
• Fluted satin finish white tiles
• Brass tapware and fittings
• White Cypress beams
• Hafele impact benchtops
• Dulux renovation range paint
• Brass kicks
• Threaded rod
• LED strip lighting 
• Plasterboard
• Cornice
• Westinghouse free standing electric stove
• Westinghouse rangehood.

Tools used in the project:

• Planer Thicknesser
• Belt sander
• Orbital sander
• Power Tool Kit 
• Tiling and plastering trowels 
• Painting rollers and brushes.

How to plan a kitchen renovation

Experienced Workshop member Adam has compiled a comprehensive guide How to plan a kitchen renovation.

More inspiration for your kitchen renovation project

Top contributor Wayne absolutely nailed a 70s-era dining room open-plan transformation.

Community member misswinn created an open-plan kitchen after a full gut and wall removal.

Get more inspiration for your home from our Top 10 most popular kitchen projects.

Dave-1

Good Evening @katzie01 

Now that is a beautiful job! I really like that textured wall and also the different power point style you have on it. Do you remember what brand/model it is?

Also love that floor and how you have blended it all. I do have a question tho 🙂 With the wall that was in the middle of the old kitchen, once removed there was a narrower gap. You have replaced the small gap with a wider piece of timber, it looks great and blends well but I was wondering to your reasoning?

Have to also say I cant go past that post and beam! 🙂 Beautiful!

Dave