Revamping Your Galley Kitchen? Consider Removing Walls
If you're like most homeowners with a galley kitchen layout, you've probably experienced frustration with the narrow, enclosed feel of this type of kitchen. Constantly bumping elbows with others when cooking, limited counter space, and poor visibility from the kitchen to the rest of the home can make a galley kitchen feel cramped and limiting.
But what if we told you there was a simple yet dramatic way to transform your galley kitchen into a more open, functional space? By removing one or more of the walls that define your galley layout, you can radically change the look and feel of your kitchen for the better. Here's an in-depth look at the benefits of removing walls in a galley kitchen remodel, considerations to weigh, and a step-by-step process for completing this project.
Benefits of Removing a Wall in a Galley Kitchen
Taking out a wall in your galley kitchen can provide some major perks. Here are some of the top benefits you can expect:
Creates an Open, Airy Feel
Without the visual barriers of walls, your galley kitchen will instantly take on a more open and spacious aesthetic. Eliminating the tight, tunnel-like galley layout does wonders to make the kitchen feel lighter and less claustrophobic. More natural light will be able to penetrate into the heart of the kitchen. And entertaining becomes much more comfortable when you remove the closed-in galley effect.
Improves Access and Flow
In a typical galley kitchen, walls create awkward transitions as you move from the kitchen to dining or living areas. Appliances and fixtures jammed against the walls further impede natural movement. Removing a wall eliminates these pinch points, allowing you and guests to move freely between rooms. Opening up the space also makes working in the kitchen more ergonomic by allowing you to move effortlessly from sink to stove to fridge.
Enhances Socializing and Relationships
When closed off by walls, the cook in the kitchen becomes isolated from family activities in adjoining rooms. Taking down a barrier wall allows whoever is working in the kitchen to remain connected to the household gathering. Open concept kitchens also facilitate conversation between the cook and guests or kids sitting at a kitchen island. These shared interactions strengthen family bonds.
Evaluating If a Wall is Load-Bearing
Before you take a sledgehammer to your galley kitchen walls, it's important to determine if they are load-bearing walls. These structural walls carry the weight of the floors and roof above them. Clues that a wall is load-bearing include:
- Wall runs the length of the house through multiple rooms
- There's a heavy beam resting on top of the wall
- The wall has ductwork, vents, or plumbing running through it
Consulting an architect or structural engineer is the best way to assess if a wall is load-bearing. If it is, extra work will be required to redistribute the structural load through columns or beams when the wall is removed.
Working With Plumbing and Electrical
Don't be surprised if removing a wall in your galley kitchen requires some plumbing and electrical modifications as well. It's common to find pipes, drain lines, and wiring running through walls in a kitchen. Here's what you need to know:
- A plumber may need to cap some pipes and reroute others when the wall comes down.
- Electrical wires will need to be safely disconnected before demolition and repositioned after.
- Accessing the necessary plumbing and electrical before removing the wall minimizes complications.
- Factor in added cost and time for this part of the project.
Aesthetic Impact of Removing Wall
Ready to daydream about the gorgeous open concept kitchen you can achieve? Knocking down a wall delivers some fabulous aesthetic benefits:
- Gives a clean, modern, updated look
- Unobstructed sightlines throughout the main floor
- Ability to customize the new open space
Once the wall is down, the possibilities for an airy kitchen layout become endless. You control the new traffic flow, appliances, and finishes.
Potential Challenges of Removing Wall
Removing a wall also comes with some potential drawbacks you'll want to be aware of:
- Loss of storage space or countertops that were on the demolished wall
- Exposed plumbing lines along floor or ceiling can look cluttered
- More open space means more ambient noise
Being strategic about relocating storage and designing an aesthetic solution for exposed pipes will help overcome these challenges.
The Removal Process Step-by-Step
When taking out a wall in your kitchen, protect yourself and your home by following these proper demolition steps:
- Obtain necessary building permits
- Map out new kitchen layout and any rewiring/plumbing needs
- Prepare kitchen by removing cabinets, appliances, and flooring
- Turn off water lines and disconnect electrical
- Taking down wall safely using pry bars, saws, and sledgehammers
- Add new supports like beams or columns if load-bearing
- Complete electrical and plumbing modifications
- Install new drywall, paint, cabinets, appliances
A contractor experienced in structural demolition can ensure the job gets done right. Be aware the process creates a lot of dust and debris too.
Alternative Ways to Open Up Galley Kitchen
If taking out a wall is beyond your budget or skill level, these alternatives can add openness without full demolition:
- Replace solid wall with interior glass wall
- Use a peninsula or island in place of wall
- Remove upper cabinets for open shelving
While less dramatic than removing the entire wall, choices like these bring in light and visibility to refresh a cramped galley kitchen.
Factoring in the Costs of Removing a Wall
How much will it set you back to remove a wall between rooms? Here are typical costs:
- $4,000 - $8,000 in contractor fees
- $200 - $500 for permits
- $1,500 - $3,000 for dump charges and debris disposal
- $2,500 - $7,500 for drywall, finishing work
Plumbing and electrical work, new flooring, and upgrades like kitchen islands can drive the total even higher. But balancing investment against gained value is key.
Living with a cramped galley kitchen day after day can really wear you down. But you don't have to endure the claustrophobia, awkward layouts, and limited function any longer. With some strategic demolition work to remove walls, you can utterly transform your galley kitchen into an open, breathtaking space.
It's an involved project, for sure. But by understanding what's involved with assessing load-bearing walls, rerouting utilities, and managing demolition debris, you can feel confident embarking on this galley kitchen upgrade. Just stay focused on the goal--a kitchen that truly becomes the open, inviting heart of your home.