The Farmhouse: Living and Dining Room Before & After

So where did we make the biggest change at the farmhouse?  In the main living space.  It changed A LOT.

Our starting point???  Well, we started with 4 distinctly separately spaces.  You entered an enclosed front porch, with knotty pine paneling

A long foyer.














A big dining room

Dining Room - Before

And the 'staircase room' - a small room with built ins that connected the kitchen and the dining room.


We changed all that, but it wasn't easy.  This house is a 'double garrison', which means the 2nd floor is larger than the first - the front and back of the house extend 2 feet farther than the first floor.  So we ended up having to install 3 steel beams, to handle the load of all the walls we removed.

All the bathroom plumbing was buried in the dining room wall

Oh - and that meant we had to move all the plumbing too!!  

And you see the 'hobbit hutch' (a nickname the guys gave it, because it is rather small!)?  Well it came very close to getting eliminated, until we brought in a structural engineer to figure out how to save it! So much nicer than me throwing myself in front of it, screaming no, no, you can't tear it out J

But it was worth all the challenges!  We wrapped the steel beams in reclaimed lumber.

We added a gas fireplace, with a custom mantle that I designed.  The centerpiece of the mantle?  This massive reclaimed beam that I've dragged around from house to house....just waiting for the perfect spot.  We had a long debate about whether we should fill the hole that was originally for a wooden peg.  But we finally decided it added character!

The former 'staircase room' became the dining room.

And the staircase got opened up, so tall people could walk up without whacking their head!

And the room that was the original foyer?












Well now it's this cozy office, with windows on two walls and these fantastic antique arched doors (that have been sitting in my storage facility for years, just waiting for the right place to use them).

So what do you think?  Is this an open floor plan that you could enjoy?

Sources:  

Chandelier - Pottery Barn French Bottle Chandelier

Dining Table - Crate & Barrel

Table Setting - Lulu Ceramics

Dining Chairs and Office Shelving - Pottery Barn

Large Clock and Beveled Mirror - HomeGoods

Mantle Clock - Pottery Barn

Sconces - Wayfair 

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