Opening Up A Doorway Between Rooms

by Kammy's Korner

$10

1 Day

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Most people like open floor plans. Not everyone, but I'm in that chunk of people that likes to be able to see from room to room without too much blocking my vision! And lots of sunlight! We all need sun! Well with an old home, that's just not always the way it is. But it doesn't have to stay that way!

opening up a doorway between rooms, diy, home improvement, living room ideas

Once upon a time, there was actually a door way here in this big blank wall. I only know this because A) I have an old photo of this room from the family who lived her in the sixties and B) The previous owners never finished it off on the other side when they walled over it. You'll see what I mean a few photos down - all the insulation is pressed into the old door frame with nothing covering it.

It was slightly more complicated than just cutting into a regular wall since it had heavy duty wood paneling on the top, it was plaster, we had to match trim and stuff and such.

We used old trim from around an exterior doorway that we were going to side over (who needs nine exterior doors?!) to finish it off since it happened to match the rest of what was in this room. We also like projects that don't cost any money. ;)

I can now see all the way from one end of the house to the other! And the added natural light is a big mood booster. Win, win!

Let's have a peek at the OTHER SIDE........ before:

And after! Stay tuned for a future post on the interesting story behind my salvaged barn door. :)

The step is not completely finished, but the tread was actually found in a pile of wood in one of our outbuildings and now I'm not sure how exactly to best finish it...... if you have good ideas for me let me know - someday I'd love to get rid of that yellowish colored laminate from the 90's in the family room, also. It's just all glued in, before the lovely snap-together stuff! And I know there are beautiful hard wood floors hiding underneath..... ohhhhhh! (I can hear most of you - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!)

Check out my blog for lots more photos and renovation projects on our historical old mansion!

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3 of 5 questions

Elaine Shoyren Morris on Jan 17, 2016
Beautiful! I love the color of the paneling. What is it?

1
Mary Flath Raymond on Jan 14, 2017
What is the room on the other side of the family room? Was that brick under what looks like paneling? Great job!!!

2
Kim Cudney Rouse on Jan 14, 2017
I have an open that goes from hallway to living room. The house is under construction, but I think I would be able to fix this.

1