Knocking through kitchen into dining room-who has done this?

[Holidayshopping]

We are thinking of doing this as our (1930s) kitchen is tiny and it would be really nice to open it all out.

I would prefer to extend out across the whole back of the house tbh and knock it through and have a big extension but I think it would cost £40,000+ and we really can’t afford it!

Has anyone on here knocked through their kitchen into the dining room (without having an extension) and can tell me anything useful (a photo would be so great!) I’ve been looking on Pinterest but it’s all massive extensions, not straight knock throughs or relatively small rooms. We have quite a big lounge so am happy with that, but the kitchen is just squashed .

Did you need planning permission or B regs?
Was it a load bearing wall? How did you get round that?
Did you just fit kitchen units around the edge of the ‘old’ dining room -I just can’t imagine how it would look and worry we’d lose cupboard space?
Did you need a whole new kitchen with units etc?
Did you lose an internal and an external door?
Did you have an island in the middle?

I would really appreciate any advice or tips-I just can’t imagine how it would look?!

We've done this is both previous houses. Both load bearing walls. Installed new kitchens both times, cupboards effectively where the old kitchens were and then islands in the place where the walls were. We blocked up the dining room doors in both cases. We needed building regs.

Thank you so much for replying.

Did it feel like it gave you more living space? Did you feel your lost cupboards? Did you wish you’d extended as well?

Can I also be horribly nosey and ask for a ball park figure of costs?

We did this also in a 1930's house, the wall wasn't load bearing so was very simple...the previous owners had extended the dining room so it was one long room with the original small kitchen to the side.
It cost very little in terms of the knock through and then just the cost of the new kitchen.

Here's a pic you can see where we knocked through, very outing!!

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/49601084

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/49105102

Check these out
@LightanotherCandle really nice job you've done ✅

We have partially opened up between the kitchen and a lounge area. We have a table in the “lounge” bay window that looks down the garden. Yes it was loadbearing but DH is a Structural Engineer so all taken care of!

My advice would be to think about putting cupboards into the dining area - eg dresser style cupboards or similar. This means you don’t keep everything in the kitchen. You don’t need to. Many people value large kitchens over formal dining areas.

I do have a large kitchen but in your case I would have the kitchen effectively extended into the dining room so storage is seamless. All you need then is a table and chairs. Make use of the walls. It might be a bit more expensive to do this but it’s way better use of space. Have an Island only if you have space. Squishing in a tiny one is pointless.

Thanks iboogy ☺️

This shows the other angle and I agree you can add in sideboards or more built in cupboards for extra storage.

By no way recommending but will tell you anyway - I wanted it through and dh didn't, had mentioned to a builder ndn..
Who appeared one tea time carrying a huge mallet.
Asked where I wanted the double doors and started on a hole!!
Dh's (ex now) face was a bloody picture!!

We've just bought a new house - we are thinking of opening up the kitchen/dining room too, but I don't want a totally open plan area where all the mess in the kitchen is visible from the dining area if we are entertaining.. contemplating something like this... which would make the space more sociable but screen the mess a little and also allow me to have units against the half-wall in the kitchen.

To answer your post, it was about £4k for the works - knocking down the wall, making good and plastering. Obviously then plus new kitchen and flooring (to have the same flooring throughout). It did make a real difference - really brought the family together, didnt feel closed off in the kitchen as before. We did subsequently extend although that was driven by the desire to get an extra bedroom.

I would really recommend it. If you can also take out the chimney breast in the dining space + bedroom above (obviously means decorating room above too) it makes the space feel much bigger, and is a huge improvement in the bedroom too.

We did this and took out wall - not loadbearing. DH is engineer and could tell, don't chance this though. Just knocked it down with a hammer then needed replastering to make good damage and also needed new flooring, new electrics and new lighting when re did kitchen. Then added in a new kitchen I designed - cream shaker units, solid oak worktop, Rangemaster cooker and solid oak floor, pale blue paint and some tiles, fairly large room once opened up. Whole project was around £12k 10 years ago. We don't have an island but a table and chairs - I wanted solid oak but DH said to get cheaper one as very young kids at time so we got the cheaper one and the table did get some damage.

Floor has also got worn over time but I sanded it down a bit and revarnished a few years ago and looked back to new again. Didn't lose any external doors but lost an internal one. Far better, EA recommended we did it when bought. DH and I both designed kitchens and manger at Homebase looked at them both and told my husband about his that he was sorry to be rude but his was one of the worst designed kitchens ever and wouldn't meet fire regulations or be easy to cook in so went with my design. Looks great.