I have a small, 1927 English colonial and would like to take down a wall that separates the kitchen and the (barely used) formal dining room to create one big room. What’s the best way to arrange this into a functional, family-friendly area?

Sometimes, it’s easy to take a wall down, but sometimes it’s not -- especially in the kitchen. I’d suggest knocking down the top half of the wall to make room for a kitchen bar and seating. The bottom half of the wall could be full of pipes and electrical outlets, which could prove to be tricky. Plus, you’ll be able to keep a less formal eat-in area by turning the island into a place for meals just by adding stools. You’ll also open up the space and be able to see into your new family room.

Nestpert Taniya Nayak, host of HGTV’s upcoming series, Destination Design, and HGTV.com’s $100 Half Day Designs series

-- Taniya Nayak

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