After 330 days of living in near-darkness, we finally have daylight pouring into the kitchen — and the change is nothing short of amazing.
The opening process took our licensed contractor Steve and his skilled right-hand, Tara, nearly seven hours (we’ll explain why we hired pros, how we found them, and permit details in a future post). While they worked, John, Clara, and Burger stayed at his sister’s to avoid the dust and noise, and I stayed home to answer questions, hand out snacks, and document the progress. They did an incredible job — the result is still raw, but so exciting that we might not sleep tonight.
Here’s a straightforward recap of the day. This is a simplified overview and not a how-to guide — structural work like this should be handled by experienced professionals. First, Steve and Tara used a power saw to cut the full doorway opening through the kitchen’s wood paneling. First surprise: there was no plaster or drywall behind the paneling, only studs. Good thing we had previously painted the paneling instead of tearing it down, since that would have been an unpleasant surprise.
With the wall open we could finally see what the electrical wiring was doing. Fortunately we had our electrician on call to address the wiring safely while the wall was exposed.
Steve and Tara then cut the drywall on the other side — which turned out to be two layers — and removed it. As soon as the opening was clear, light streamed into the kitchen and we all lost our composure a little. It was a joyful, emotional moment.
We previously consulted an HVAC professional about vents that would be affected by this change. With the pro’s confirmation that the system wouldn’t be compromised, John went into the crawl space to disconnect and cap the ducts feeding those vents. The visible vents remain as non-functional features, similar to what we did in our previous kitchen remodel.
For structural integrity, Steve and Tara framed two temporary support walls and reinforced the new opening with a substantial header, working above and below (including in the crawl space). They also built the half-wall that will support our peninsula.
Peering through the newly created opening to see grass, leaves, and sunlight felt surreal after so long without a view. From this angle you can clearly see the heavy wooden header that was installed, and the drywall above the doorway that will need patching. The crew purposefully worked the header from the dining room side because drywall is easier to patch for a seamless finish than the older wood paneling on the kitchen side.
Before leaving, they finished framing the half-wall for the peninsula and cleaned up. Here’s a shot as they were pulling out of the driveway:
One of my favorite views is now visible from the kitchen: the magnolia tree out front creates a leafy canopy and lets light stream in. The once-dark kitchen now has sunlight warming the fireplace for the first time — a small, joyful detail that felt deeply satisfying.
We also had an electrical outlet reinstalled on the right side of the half-wall. Once the peninsula is in place with a 12″ countertop overhang, that outlet will be perfectly positioned for laptops or small appliances.
When the crew finished, I paid them and they headed off. Their work is complete, and our next steps are on us: drywall, mud, and sand the half-wall and the dining-room-side area above the new header; add a door jamb, a wooden ledge over the half-wall, and finish trim; then prime and paint the walls, jamb, baseboard, and trim.
- Drywall, mud, and sand the half-wall and the area above the new header
- Install a door jamb, add a wooden ledge over the half-wall, and finish trim
- Prime and paint walls, jambs, baseboard, and trim
We’re already picturing the finished space: two or three pendants over the peninsula, a large chandelier above the dining table, painted cabinets, stainless appliances, rich mocha cork flooring, and a cozy chair by the fire. It’s easy to imagine all those elements coming together now that the space feels open and inviting.
The half-wall looks incomplete without the peninsula, so we’re eager for that next installation. We’ve already started on the drywall work and hope to share another update soon. For comparison, here’s a before shot from move-in day last December — the difference is remarkable.
As a reminder, our plan is to complete this kitchen overhaul over the coming months. Tasks remaining include removing and selling the old countertops, installing the new counters, creating or sourcing matching doors for the added cabinetry that forms the peninsula, priming and painting cabinets, installing a full-wall tile backsplash, building and installing a range hood, adding open shelving, and laying the cork flooring ourselves. There’s a lot to do, but we love a good project — especially now that glorious light fills the space. Oh happy day.