How shall I renovate my house?

I have a very small house and I need to make some changes that make it better. For example, these windows are our favorite place to eat because it looks out over our chickens and backyard nature area. Typically we eat while standing in front of the windows.

The other area that is close to the window area is my kitchen. I would like to open the kitchen and add a breakfast bar. The house has baseboard heat. This would make for a much better home during entertaining.

 

This is sort of a co-collaboration; I took a bunch pictures of the house how it currently sits...

Gwyn’s daughter wants to add a flip-up breakfast bar along that back wall where the Christmas tree is.

 

This is NOT load-bearing wall and it can be safely removed; Gwyn wants it gone...

 

That pass-thru from the kitchen to the dining room was added by Gwyn’s late husband; Now she just wants the whole wall gone...

 

This wall had to be removed to fit the new fridge...

 

Idea for the kitchen is to keep the same basic layout, but to move the stove location to the right; Range will be replaced with an electric cooktop, and a wall oven with a microwave above would go where the white countertop microwave is located; Gwyn does not like the lazy Susan, and it would be “deleted” if the cooktop is moved to the right...

 

Dishwasher and fridge are new, so they would be put back in...

 

The living room and dining room are located above the drive-under garage; Gwyn wants to add a sliding door here at some point that goes to a wraparound deck...

 

Looks like all good things to me. Renovations can be headaches, but rewarding in the end

 

Wow that is a small house. Really in small houses and apartments it's about maximizing space. I would personally focus on organization that makes logical sense so it's resellable to the next owner.
Really you got the right idea with knocking out pointless walls, my father in law has done construction for years and that was his main focus for smaller renovations, just makes huge differences for little work.

 

House is just under 1,300 square feet and was built in 1958 I believe; 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms...

The finished basement has a fireplace and is home to the half bath; Gwyn says I know more about her house than she does!

 

Also, that wall around the kitchen is not load-bearing which greatly simplifies things!

 

Wow that's

That seems in nice shape for that old. Are those 2*3 or 2*4 walls? Postwar construction baffles me sometimes. When doing house stuff really focus on resale vs cost in, because for a lower income person, under 300k ish, thats a great way to upgrade quickly without much effort.
My brother in law has a very similar house actually in columbus ohio.

 

Go with lighter pastel, earth tone colors. It will create a sense of openness in a smaller house. Skylights or light tubes in the kitchen will also help. Those windows could be opened up with a bay window.

 

You mean 2x4 and 2x6 exterior wall framing...?

A lot of the more difficult work has already been done too; Central A/C was added in 2005 and the asbestos siding was removed over a decade ago.

 

It's not that small. Looks like it has a lot of potential. Definitely remove the extra walls and open up the kitchen to the rest of the living and dining room. A slider being added to the wall where there is an outside deck would be a great bonus also.

 

I meant interior wall thickness.
Highly agree about earth tones, I personally don't care for them, but makes most people more comfortable and more open. Also easier to clean.
Although if it were up to me personally I would have forest green walls with oak floors.
Depends how long you'll own the house really.

Because of the cost of pressure treated lumber now, I recommend to anyone hold off building any decks or new construction. Double the cost isn't fun. But they are usually a great way to add useable space in the summer.

 

The house...

 

The back of the house...