Is this doable without too much cost and having to employ a builder?

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

We currently live in a 1 bed flat with an extra half bedroom/cot room. The kitchen has no space for a fridge freezer or tumble drier so we are having to use the cot room as a utility room. We are expecting dc1 in October and are struggling to find an exchange for a two bed flat, so could really do with being able to use the cot room.

The kitchen currently has an archway in one of the walls (just a plasterboard wall, was added after the property was built), archway approx dimensions: width: 130cm height: 100cm. Either side of the arch is a proper brick wall, the fake part is just the width of the arch.

Could we remove the arch and the fake wall and replace part of it with a brick wall leaving an entry way into the kitchen? The original doorway to the kitchen could then be closed off and the fridge freezer would fit there, and the tumble drier could be put up against the new brick wall, leaving the cot room free.

It would mean building a brick wall of approx dimensions: height 230cm width 70cm, then of course we would need plasterboard, but have a family member who is a plasterer.

As the entire fake wall would have been removed, how would we construct the top of the entry way into the kitchen?

Is this possible without employing a builder? Dh is very handy, and we have access to plenty of power tools. I have found bricks online for 17p each, so that doesn't seem to expensive, but neither of us are experts!! What do you think? Thanks in advance for any advice, it would be very much appreciated!!

So you are talking about bricking up the existing kitchen doorway and opening up another doorway where the arch currently is to create more room/flexibility in your kitchen?

Worth investigating which walls in your kitchen are supporting walls, because even if a wall is brick it isn't necessarily structurally important. Taking out a door or part of a wall in another place might give you more flexibility for redesigning your kitchen layout.

Also - a simple one: why not change your washing machine for a washer/dryer making one less appliance to make room for?

I'm not too fussed about bricking up the doorway, was just going to close it off and put the fridge freezer infront. Even if I changed the washing machine and tumble drier for a washer drier, there would still be no room at all for the fridge freezer.

Cant do any of the other walls, so it would have to be the one with the arch in it. Also would it be easier to build another fake wall rather than a brick one? Thanks for the reply.

Hi - if this is a rental property - have you discussed this with the landlord first ?! They may have a handy person that they would use for such work ?!